The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-12-25


Ohio and Mississippi raiIroad-MercantiIeL ibrar!
lectures.
CINCINNATI December 9, 1851.
To the Editor of the National Era.
Since my last we have had moderat,
amount of rain, and not little cloudy, damp
wintry weather; the river has risen, not to a.
high a stage as was desired, but enough to
bring down large quantities of coal from above
reduce the prices Of fuel, and give navigation
and business of all kinds fair start Our
wharyes have been for q week or two past
crowded with steamers for almost every point
above and below; and the hustle and stir there
shows that business operations have begun in
good earnest. Quite q number Of boats have
been building here during the past summer and
autumn, some of which have been put into the
trade, and others are in rapid process of COM
pletion
Among the latter may be mentioned the
James Robb, large steamer now nearly finish
ed, which will surpass in size and magnifcence
anything yet turned out of our ship yards She
measures on deck three hundred feet in length
her water-wheels are thirty eight feet in diam
eter, with twelve feet bucket she has five boil
ers forty-two inches in diameter and thirty feet
long. Her engines, made by Hardness, have
twenty inches cylinder and nine feet stroke
Her cabins are in the most improved style, and
it is supposed will be superior to anything Of
the kind on the Western rivers in costlness and
beauty. The main cabin is two hundred and
seventy-fye feet in length Under the ladies cabin
is an apartment intended for nursery for chill
dren and servants 80 constructed that it will be
impossible for children to fall overboard-afford-
ing at the same time a fine play ground for
them The james Robb will be the most costly,
the most spacious every way, and perhaps the
feetest steamer that ever left our landing She
is intended for the ST. Louis and New Orleans
trade
The pork trade is now in full tide here, droves
of hogs daily coming in from all quarters, and
slaughtering, cutting and packing, going on
vigorously. The prices commenced at 81, and
have ranged from that up TO S466, owing to
the size and quality of the hogs, the average
being from S445 to S4.55 The slaughterers
are paying from thirty to forty-fye cents per
head premium, which droyers get in advance to
the prices given above. Large numbers are
put up this season at Louisville, Madison, In
dianapolis, and other places; and the number
put up here is much greater than at the same
period last year As more care is taken than
formerly to compile reliable statistics Of the
pork business here and at other points in the
West, we shall have in month or two hence,
some authentic tables relative 10 the actual bust
ness of this year, and its comparison with that
of the several previous years.
The great enterprise Of connecting st. Louis
and Cincinnati by direct line Of railway is no
longer problematical The contract has been
given to a company in New York, fully compe-
tent TO fulfil all it, engagement, aud which has
taken five millions OF the stock at par. The
right Of way through Illinois has been secured
the route Of the road, after full survey Of all
the routes located and the directors at st.
Louis have made preparations for commencing
the work at an early day. The work is to BIO
completed in five years. The advantages Of
this railroad to the commerce and intercourse
of the Northwest are 10 apparent need not
enlarge upon them The prospect OF its con-
struction will be hailed with universal JOY in
all Tia Usction Of our country.
The winters rtainments--concerts, exhl-
billions, balls, lectures, &c.-haye set in with
greater yigor than ever before; there is no lack
Of methods of spending the evenings or spending
money. The opening lecture OF the annual
course before the Mercantile Library Associa-