The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-08 00:00:00

ktG, NOVEMBER 8 1856

RUSSIAN RA I tAIVAYS AND RUSSIAN

TARIFFS.

The "Hertfordshire Incumbent" has addressed
the following letter to the editor of the Times :
The following remarks may perhaps be worth the
consideration of those of your readers whose atten-
tion has been attracted by the question of railroads
in Russia, and may serve to mitigate the appre-
hensions of some who view in these a means for
the rapid recovery of that predominating influence
which our late enemy has lost. They may like-
wise operate as a caution to the large class upon
whose shoulders great capitalists generally contrive
to shift the burden of unsuccessful undertakings
before their character is fully known, and thus
prevent widely-spread misery and consequent dis-
content both among ourselves and our neighbours.
The length of rail proposed for construction is
2,500 miles—whether single or doublelines does not
as yet appear. I will assume it to be single, as the
case most favourable to the promoters of the under-
taking, on which supposition the length will still
exceed the aggregate of the lines constructed in
Prussia during the 15 years ending with 1849 by
about 300 miles. In these the quantity of iron em-
ployed has been estimated at 3,800 poods for each
verst of single rail, which, adding 20 per cent.
for the rolling stock, would give a total amount-
ing, in round numbers, to 100 tons of iron
for every English mile. Now, the whole make of
iron in Russia is set down by M. Tengoborski as
no more than 15,000,000 poods—less than 25,000
tons per annum. Assuming, therefore, that the
proposed railroads are to occupy ten years in con-
struction, their material will consume more than a
tithe of the whole production of the country.
Now, what would be the effect of this great in-
crease of consumption of iron--the prime mover,
as it has justly been called, of all industry—in the
country where, all in Europe, it is the scarcest
and the dearest ? The consumption of Russia is
only 9.71 b. per head of the population, whereas in
Austria it is 12.31 b., in Prussia 36.31 b., in France
43.81 b., and in England 138.41 b ! Even now,
throughout a great part of the empire the farm
horses are unshod and the farm carts without tire
to their wheels ; and in many districts the very
ploughshare is of wood with a mere point of iron.
Surely the immediate result of any operations
which materially raised the price of iron would be
to entirely cripple agriculture, and thus at once
create a ferment of discontent throughout the
length and breadth of the land. The average price
of bar iron in Moscow was in the year 1844 (since
which time, says M. Tengoborski, there has been
little variation) 1 rouble 66 copecks the pood—
about 171. 3s. 6d. per ton. When we came to the
southern and south-western governments, through
which railway communication is in a military point
of view of the most importance, the price becomes
much higher. In Bessarabia it is 1 rouble 91 co-
pecks the pood, in Cherson 1 rouble 83 copecks, in
Taurids. 2 roubles 8 copecks, and in Podolia as
much as 2 roubles 16 copecks, which is equivalent
to about 221. 7s. per ton. Enhance such markets
as these by a new demand for the commodity, and
the consequences need not be suggested.
Of course a ready answer may be made, that the
proposed railroads are to be constructed of foreign
iron. This would doubtless be a solution of the
difficulty ; but it is one which implies a complete
change in the financial system of the empire. In
Russia alone, I believe, of all the countries in
Europe, sea-borne iron is absolutely prohibited,
simply with the object of preserving au entire inde
pendence of this country for an article of such ne

cessity. The Czar has chosen to fetter the energies
of his own subjects, and dwarf every department of
industry in which they could labour with effect,
rather than resort to us for the talisman which

would unlock the resources of his country. These
new railroads—if indeed, the "concessions" be
anything more than a puff-apple of discord, thrown
by the Muscovite Ate to disturb the happy union
of France and England—will only prove another
futile attempt to combine the advantages of civili-
sation with a policy of barbarism. To make bricks
without straw was not a more difficult task than it
will be to establish a system of railroad communica-
tion in Russia under a prohibitory tariff. Whatever
the magnates of the Parisian Bourse may choose to
do, I hope the British public will open their eyes
to this fact; in which case there will be little fear

of the power of our late enemy increasing until an
entire change of financial policy shall have deprived
him of the wish to abuse it.

MARKET NE WS.—(Thii say.)

COVENT

UAitDEI~ .

Fruit was in short supply
Potatoes were quite 10s per
ruled about stationary.

cncl fair request, at high rates
;on clearer. Other vegetables

- „
r R 1
Pineapples, per lb. 3s 01 to 6s.
Colonial do., ea. Os 0.1 to 03(1d
Grapes, per lb. is Od to 4s Od
Foreign-do Os 8d to ls 8d
Melons, each ....2s Oil to 5s Od
Peaches, p. 3s to Ss od'
Nectarines, do. 2s Od to 8s Od
Apples, p. h. sv. 6s Od to 8s Od
Pears, per doz. 3s Od to Os Oj
Oranges, per 100 30s Od to Os
Lemons, p. doz. is 01 to 2s Od
Apricots,p. doz. 2s Od to Os Od
Cherries, per lb. Os to Os Odl
VEGET

Filberts, per lb 104 to is Od
Cobs., p. 1001 be. 1038 to 115 s
Almonds, p. lb. Os Od to Os 04
Walnuts, per 100 Gd to is 04
Figs, per doz is to 3s Od
Strawberries, per
pott!e 04 to Od
I Gooseberries, per
half sieve ... Os 04 to Os Od
Currants, p. do. Os Od to Os Oa
Plums, per do. 2s Od to 5s Od
Green gages, do. 48 04 to 7s Od
Raspberries, p. potl. Od to Od
'ABLEN.
Shallots, per lb.. ..... 44 to Gd
fiorseraddish, p. bun. 2s to is
Parsley, per do. 2d to 4d
Celery, per do Os 9d to 2s 04
Beet, per doz. is Od to 24 Od
Parsnips, per do. 18 Od to Os
Small salad, p. pun. 24 to 3d
Mushrooms, p. potl. 2s to 4s Gd
Artichokes, each ...4d to 8d
Cab. lettuces, per
score is Od to is (id
Endive, per do is Od to 1s 6(.1
Radishes, per doz.
hands is to 2s Od
Tomatoes, p. hf.sv. 4s to Gs 04
Walnuts per 100...03 8d to is
Chillies, per 1001 s Od to is Gd
Capsicums, per 1001 s 04 to 2s
Rhubarb, p. bundle 04 to Od
Asparagus, per 100 Os Od to Os
Sea kail, per pun. Os Od to Os

Greens, per doz.
bunches 9(1 to 2s 03
Cabbages, per doz. Od to is Gd
Savoy do., p. do. is Odto 2s Od
Cauliflowers, p. do. is Od to 20
Brocoli, per do. Os 9d to Is 6d
Old potatoes, per ton Os to OH
New do., per do 85s to 110s1
Peas, per quart 9d to is Od
T urnips,p. doz.bun.2s to 3s 61
Carrots, per bunch...4d to 6d
Cucumbers, each 241 to is Od
Garlic, per lb 4d to Os 6d
Spinach, p. sieve is Gd to 2s Od
Sorrel, per sieve Od to 0:
Brussels sprouts, per
do 1 s 6d to 2s 6d
French beans, p. do. ls 6d to 2s
Old onions, p. bns. 3s 6d to 7s
New do., per bunch Od to Od
Leeks, per do id to 2d

NEWGATE AND LEADENHALL.
Turkey Poults, 5s Od to 7s 0.1 ; Geose, 55 0.1 to 7s each ;
Ducks, 2s 3d to 2s 9d ; tame rabbits, 10d to is 6d. each
wild do., is to is 6d ; Pigeons, 5d to Si each ; large
Surrey Fowls, Os 01 to Os ; middlir;, is 9d to 3s Od;
Chickens, is Gd to 2s 01 ; Capons, 31 6d to 4s 6d ; Hares,
2s 6d to 3s 6d; Grouse, 2s 3d to 2s 9d each • Pheasants,
2s Gd to 3s 6d ; Partridges, is 3d to is 9d ; Guinea
Fowls, is 9d to 3s Od ; Roasting pigs, 6s Od to 8s Od each.
Ostend fresh butter, 12s to 133 6d ; English do., 12s Od to
16s Od. per dozen lbs. ; English eggs, 9s to lOs 0,1 ; French
do., 6s to 7s Od per 120; Leverets, Os Od to Os each.