The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1852-11-27

has increased, according to late accounts, about
33 per cent We believe there is not at this
time particle of railroad iron manufactured
in this country. It was found that the English
capitalists could furnish the article as cheap as
it could be obtained here, and not only that.
but could make the mode of payment much
easier than our manufacturers could afford
and as a natural consequence, the business of
furnishing this material has been entirely in the
hands of our English neighbors during the last
few years. The English capitalists seeing that
all the furnaces for the manufacture of this
article have suspended operations, besides half
of the other iron furnaces throughout the IN
ion, and knowing that our manufacturers will
not start them again until our Government a.
dopts some adequate system of protection from
foreign competition, and believing from the posi-
ton which the Democratic party has of late
assumed toward this subject, that that event is
not very likely soon to happen, have now
raised on their IRON They know that we can
not do without iron, and that we must purchase
of them. This will be heavy loss to our
country, and it is the more provoking, especial
". when we reflect that if our law makers had
not pursued such a suicidal course in regard to
this matter, the possibility of a combination
among foreign capitalists to raise the price Of
iron in this country would have been avoided.
If we are not mistaken, the price of iron is now
higher than it was under the operation of the
tariff of 1912, and it will not be likely to fall
any until change of policy has been made by
the Government. The West will feel this more
heavily than other parts of the Union. She
has but just commenced to build railroads, and
as iron is the principal item of expense in build
ing them the addition of 80 per cent. will not
hasten their completion much. When is that
'good time coming!"
| An ENTERPRIsING HoG-The other day while
sleigh. loaded with several sacks of corn was
standing in front of one of the stores on Third
street, one of these animals, knowing probably
the high price and scarcity of corn in our market
and thinking undoubtedly that this was his only
chance for securing supply or else, being
aware of the high price Of pork, and deeming
it his duty to get fat, went up the sleigh, and
with the greatest noncha!ence pulled sack,
containing two bushels from off the load, and
commenced dragging it off. A bystander, who
witnessed the operation, thought he would stop
him but the hog hung to the sack as hungry
dog would to piece of fresh meat, and could
not be induced to let go until he had received
sundry kicks in the forehead. The bystanders
then went to inform the owner, who was in the
op1 N tho ,orLov bo1 in
taken possession of the sack, and had got it
nearly across the street. This time he deter
mined to keep possession at all hazards, even
at the risk of closing his bacon" concluding
that it would never do to give it up 500 They
found they could not drive him away by any
external applications of shoe leather, and that
he kept gradually getting the sack further
from the load. The owner seeing that some
thing else must be done, seized hold of the 9th
or end of the sack. One pulled one way, and
the other pulled in an opposite direction. 1t
was dead set neither of them could gain
much, but as the hog was pulling down hill and
it was slippery he had the advantage, which he
seemed to be conscious Of At length the sack
getting torn, nearly all the corn was spilled on
the ground, and the hog seeing it was impossi-
BILE to get the sack of corn to his quarters, qui-
city retired in digust, though with dignity.
WooD.-Dry wood is very scarce and high in
st. Paul at this time 1t brings three dollars
and half per cord. There is plenty of green
wood at So 90. Tamarac wood can be got at
SO 90 per cord, French measurement. The pc
cularity of this measurement is that the sticks
which ought to be four feet, are cut from three
to three and a half feet in length, so that when
person thinks he is getting cord of wood, if
he does not make allowance for this deficit, he
gets but little over three quarters. The best
way to buy this kind of wood is to get load Of
poles which is often brought to town. They
are generally from eight to ten feet in length,
and the sticks lie closer on the sled than split
wood. 1t is believed that as soon as the river
gets so that it can be crossed with teams, wood
will be considerable cheaper, at least fifty cents
and probably one dollar per cord. There is a
large amount of wood over there already cut,
and they are cutting it all the time. 1t is mis-
take to suppose that people who have claims
there are not going to let their wood be cut. for
great many of them are laborers who intend
to cut their wood as the most profitable employ
ment to which they can turn their attention.
We heard of a man the other day who seems to
be doing heavy business in wood speculation.
He bought claim on the other side of the river,
on which there is large amount of wood, which
he is to pay for in wood, and set several hands
to cutting it, whom he pays in wood. He hires
their board, for which he pays in wood and f.
nally he has made contract for hauling it to
town, and pays for it in similar manner. Of
what use is money, when business can be done
in this way!
The KNICKERBOcKER.- November number
of this invaluable monthly is on our table. To
say that it fully sustains its previous reputa-
ton, is not saying much for it, for every one