Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-11-26
General Sntelliqfnte.
From south America.--The !. Courier cal

attention 10 the commercial importance oil BAIL
| aThe basin of the Amazon is nearly twice as
large as that OF the Mississippi, and is within a
fraction as large all of the river basins of Eu-
rope combined which disembogue into the Black
| Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Atlantic. Navi-
gable up the very base Of the Andes for ships OF
the largest class-possessing in its tributaries a
lateral navigation of some seventy eighty thou
sand miles in extent, draining the most exuberant
alluvial soils on the continent, passing through
diversity ofclimates favorable alike TO sugar, coffee
| tobacco, cocoa, cotton, rice, indigo, the finest
spices, and the richest dyes, and withal leading
straight to mineral region Of inexhaustible rich
ness, the Amazon, as an outlet 10 the ocean, com
blnes more advantages than any other river in the
world. And no country has so direct an interest
as ours in the opening of this mighty river TO the
commerce of the world. The mouth of the ANA
zon is in its immediate neighborhood. In point of
distance, lies within Ave hundred miles as near
to our southern ports as il does TO the chief port OF
the nation TO which belongs, and in point OF time
| it is in fact very much nearer.
A clipper leaving Para OF the mouth Of the
Amazon, and taking the track laid down in Maurys
| charts, is almost certain to reach New York IN
less time than would be required for il TO go TO
Rio Janciro by the most skfu navigation The
difference in distance is hardly more than thou
sand miles, while the winds and the currents are
vastly in our favor. The BrazHans themselves
are not, and from their very natures, never will
become maritime people. They lack the adven-
turous, enterprsing and hardy spirit which is in
dispensibe TO nautical success. They are essen
italy an agricultural people, and must content
themselves with developing the wonderful re-
sources Of their country. The distribution of
their inland riches over the world must be accom-
plished mainly by the only maritime people on this
continent-the men Of the United States. The
| northeast trade winds particularly facilitate the
| intercourse, both to and fro, between our whole
Atlantic seacoast and the equatorial regions of
South America, and afford no such advantages TO
England or any other commercial country. The
opening Of the Amazon, therefore, will have a
most important bearing upon our shipping IN
terests and we doubt not the subject willreceive
the early and earnest attention Of Congress"
FOreman's Electric Process for Raising
Ships.
We were present few days since at the At
lantic dock, Brooklyn to witness the raising of a
"shp of one hundred tons burden" by the above
process, which has just as much to do with cleo
trcity as it has with the moon, and no more.
Two cast-iron generators were partly filled with
wet gunpowder and connected with castiron
retort or purifier filled with water, from which
passed coil of cast-iron tube of about ninety
feet in length The whole apparatus was placed
i'm box about six feet square and two feet high
which was filed with water. From the end of
the coil hose, dividing in two parts, passed 10
six casks dashed to the sides of old canal boat
which was sunk in about fifteen feet of water
The powder in one of the generators was then
III,
its slow combustion carbonic acid and carbonic
oxyde gases We're of course generated; these
passed through the hose into the casks previously
filed with water and displaced it--holes having
been made in the bottom of the casks for the
water to pass out. In little less than two min
utes after the powder was gnited the boat rose TO
the surface but before all the casks had filed the
hose burst and prevented any further success.
We are inclined to think very favorably of this
process, but the experiment, though trumpeted by
some of the papers, as "eminently successful"
proved nothing. When we arrived at the spot
the canal boat, which had been filed with water,
and pretty well loaded with stones, was yet float
ing; after an additional quantity Of ballast had
been added it sank But mark, an amount just
sufficient 10 sink il used, SO that very slight
change Of specific gravity would cause il again to
float. Hence it would have been strange indeed
iii had not risen.
But, as we have said, we think well Of the plan ;
it is certainly far cheaper, simpler, and more
speedy than those previously employed. The
whole apparatus takes up but little room, and can
be transported by railroad to any part OF the
try. The inventor contemplates using flexible
camels instead of casks, and the employment Of
some other material besides gunpowder for the
generation of the gases. We fearful, how
ever, that the bursting Of his hose will prove a
serious difficulty. II is all we conceive that
stands in the way of complete success
Scientific american
Dora Coal and Iron Mining Company.-The
legislature of Virginia have lately Incorporated the
Dora Coal and Iron Manufacturing Company, with
capital Of one million of dollars, for the purpose
Of working what is believed to be Of the rich
est mineral regions which exist in that State, if not
in the country. The lands of the corporation cover
$4,000 acres, located mostly in Augusta county,
1876 miles southwest of Washington. d. G. The
| Virginia central railroad, from Richmond passes
in close proximity, Staunton station being Is miles
distant. The Manassas Gap railroad will pass
still nearer--within 10 miles; the latter road is
already graded to Strasburg. We have good au-
thority for stating that the mineral resources of
this region Of a nature truly unparalleled. The
deposits exist in an extensive range Of hills, and
cross out at the surface and sides for miles to-
gether. At one locality, near the centre, there is
a large basin of some six miles diameter, formed
by break in the hills. In the cliffs the veins are
exposed TO view for great extent while the APP
proach to them is easy that carts can drive up
and have loads of the finest quality of anthracite
coal dumped in from the veins overhead. The
company intend 10 construct railroad to inter
sect the Virginia Central and the Manassas Gap
The surface of the country is quite level, even up
to the veins themselves, so that the cost of the
road and transportation will be comparatively
small. When this junction is completed the COM
pany will be in communication with Richmond,
Alexandria, and Washington, all very extensive
markets. and delivering their coal at those places
| for 50, mining and freight included The average
price of sale there by the cargo is S4 SO per ton
which leaves nett profit of about 1875 per cent
For SO 25 per ton, all expenses paid, they can de-
| liver coal in New York, leaving handsome mar
gin for profits. Analysis proves the Dora coal to
be fsuperiorquality, il is nearly all pure carbon
| with enough of bitumen to ignite with bright
fame II contains not the slightest trace Of sui
phnret Of iron, and its ash is pure white In ad
dition to the nexhaustible coal, beds of iron ore
are found also in the greatest abundance with easy
| facilities for working A careful analysis shows
these ores TO contain nearly SO per cent. of pure
metal and as the fuel extracting il exists on the
spot enormous quantities of iron can be produced
at very moderate outlay in appliances. The
| lands where these remarkable deposits occur are
| of great luxuriance, and are very valuable for
agricultural purposes.-N y. Express, Sept 26.
1t will be seen by the advertisement that books
for subscription to the stock Of this company are
open at the Office Of adams 81 Stevens, 9th street,
opposite the Patent Office.
Successful Whaling.-The whaling ship Shelf
| field, from the Ochotsk the 9th July is
reported at the Sandwich islands, September g..
She had been thirty-six months on the voyage,