Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1803-05-20
Or TEE coMMERcE THAT 10, AND MAT
n CANNED ON N lonisiana.4Or
n THE coMMoDIfIRs THAT PRovIncE
HAY guRnlsH III kETuast ron THOSE
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X HAVE often reflected on the happi.
j ness Of France, 10 The portion which
Providence has allotted her in America.
She has found in her lands neither the
RoId nor the silver Of Mexico and Peru,
northe precious stones and rich stnffs Of
the East-Indies but she win find there-z
in, WHEN she pleases, mines ofiron, lead,
and copper. She Is there possessed ofa
fertile coil, which only requires to Be &C.
eupied IN order to produce not only al
the fruits necessary and agreeable ID life,
but also al the subjects % which human
industry may exercise itself in order to
supply our wants. What have already
said Of Louisiana ought 10 make this We
~ plain bat 10 bring the whole together,
IN orden and under one point Of view, 4
shall next relate every thing thar regards
the commerce Of thisprovince.
commodiies Iplich Eouisianas.ay txra;sh
n return jer fhose's Enrepe.
France might draw from this colony
several sorts Of fnrs which would not Be
without their value, though held cheap
IN France and by their variety, and the
use that might be made Of them, would
yield satisfaction. Some persons have
dissuaded the traders from taking any
fnrs from the Indians, on . supposision
thar they weuld be moth eaten when car.
redo New.O Orleans, on account Of Ne
heat ofthe climate but / am acquainted
with people Of business who know how 10
preserve them from such an accident.
Dry buffalo hides are Of sufficient va
lue 20 encourage the Indians to procure
them, especially il they were told that
only their skins and tallow were wanted /;
they would then kill the old bulls, which
are % fat Is to be scarce able to 90 each
buffalo would yield at least an hundred
pounds Of tallow the value of which,
with the skin, would make il worth their.
while 70 kin them, and thus none Of our
money would Be sent to Ireland in order
% have tallow from that country; besides
the species Of bunaloes would not be di.
minished, because these fat buffaloes are
always the prey ofwolves. ss
Deer-skins, which were bought Of the
Indians d first, did not please the ma.
nufacturers of Mort, where they are
dressed, because the Indians altered the
quality BY their way Of dressing them,
but since. these skins have been called for
without my preparation but taking ofEthe
hair, they make more Of them, and sell
them cheaper than before. -.
The wax-tree produces wax, which be.
ing much drier than bees-wax, may bear
mixture, which win not hinderits lasting
longer than bees-wax. Some offhis wax
was semitic Paris to q factorof Louisiana,
who set Glow price upon il As to dis.
courage the planters from sowing any
more. The sordid avarice Of this factor
has done service TO the islands, where IL
gives Z higher price than that in France.
heislands also draw timber for build.
ing from Louisiana, which might in time
prevent France from making her profits
ofthe beauty, goodness and quantity Of.
wood of this province. The quality Of
>Ahe timber II great inducement TO build
docks there for the construction IF shipss;
che wood might be had ut . low price Of
the inhabitants, because they would gel
itin winter, which 10 almost an idle time
with them. This labor would also clear
the grounds, and so this timber might
be had almost for nothing. Masts might
also be had in this country, on account
Of the number Of pines which the coast
produces and for the same reason pitch
and tar would be common. For the ianks
Of thips, there 10 no want of oak--but
might not very good ones be made of cy-
press I This wood Is. indeed, softer than
OAK. but endowed with qualities surpas.