The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-01-21

sufficient bulk to furnish full cargces for four times
the quantity of all the American tonnage employed
in foreign commerce and probably anords the means
OF livelihood to greater number Of persons than the
latter.
The coastwise trade to and from the American
ports in the Gulf of Mexico is Of ITSELF probably.
nearly equal in point OF value, to the entire export
of American productions to foreign nations
striking difference between the magnitude and
Importance of the home market and the foreign
is TO be found in the statistics OF exports OF what Is
familiarly called the famine year OF lS47 There was
some difficulty at that time in procuring sufficient
shipping, including both American and foreign, to
convey our breadstuffs to the furnishing nations of
Europe; and yet our entire exports during that year
of the two principal articles OF food, Indian corn
(maze) and flour, were only about three per cent of
the former and about ten per cent of the latter. es
mated on the whole crop produced in the United
States leaving ninety-scyen per cent OF the Indian
and ninety per cent OF the wheat crop for the
supply of the home market. where it was actually
consumed. Our exports Of breadstufs at present
only about one-third of what they were during the
above year Of unusual demand. exhibiting in still
more striking contrast the immense difference be-
tween the home and foreign markets in favor OF the
former.
The mere tolls collected by the canals and railroads
the transportation of merchandise for the internal
trade Of the country exceeds IN amount the total
value of all the breadsts purchased from US by for
eign nations.
The annual value of the crop of Indian corn, OF
wheat. and of hay each respectively, is fully equal
to the entire value OF our productions exported 10
foreign countries. The annual amount OF the manu-
features in the States of New York or Pennsylvania
in either of those States greatly exceeds the value OF
such exports; and even those OF the comparatively
small State Of Massachusetts, is fully equal to all the
nations.
The latter State probably consumes breadstufs
that are produced in the Middle and Western States
to greater amount than is shipped to Europe, with
the great additional advantage Of this being regular
and uniform demand, not depending on European
crops or the caprces Of foreign governments in the
regulation Of their commerce, and the assessment OF
arbitrary and ever varying duties, according to their
own actual wants and circumstances Yet au these
immense agricultural, mineral, and manufacturing
interests, which are almost exclusively connected
with the internal trade of the country and the home
market receive greatly less attention and conside-
ration from the community than the comparatively
small amount OF our foreign commerce.
My views of the beneficial results which would
follow q tariff with fixed and reliable, rather than
with sliding, and consequently uncertain rates Of
duties, have undergone no change. now recur
to them as duty imposed upon me by the acts es-
tablishing the Treasury Department.
The importatons of foreign merchandise, liable y
for the fiscal year ending 30th June last,
The exports ST for the same period were-of do
nestle merchandise. $l54, $50 AZ
Foreign merchandise re-exported IL, O31 O43
Total exports. sl6s 967, 400
riod, were .. $500 5l4
And the exports of the same. 42674i35
In tobacco liable T) the exports show an increase
in quantity of 41152 hogsheads, and of value OF
$sl2 ,032, having been in 1851 90, 945 hogsheads,
valued at PSI; 1852, l37o97 hogsheads, valued
at $40 ,O31 ,2s3.
The exports of rice were 1878 tierces, valued
at $2,470, 029-being an increase in quantity of
IA A3 tierces and Of value $299, lO2, as compared
with the previous year.
-
ed to $25 1856 1887, being an increase of $685.
The aggregate exports Of domestic merchandise
show decrease, as compared with the previous
year, of $24, 349,5 s5.
$50. and an excess of expectation over importation
Of s3I,l7O,5sl. (see tablet
MINT.
The operations Of the mint, particularly at Phla-
dephia, at which point the greatest portion of all
gold dust and bullion concentrates for assay and
coinage, have been conducted with remarkable de-
gree OF promptness and despatch such as to remove
all cause Of complaint the part Of depOstOrs, not
withstandng the enormous amounts Of gold dust
which have been and still continue to be, received at
that institution.
The coinage at the mint, for the year ending 3lst
December, 1852, was as follows:--
Gold 6094 7f5 pieces Of the value Of SOL 638 so
Copper s. 49, O94 pieces ......... 5l,620 "a
Total $52. 4O4, 500 A
The full returns for the last quarter of the year
have not been received from the branch minis, bnt
the probable amount of their coinage will be abOlt
s4,7O0,OOO, of which the proportion at the branch
mint at New Orleans will be $3,S031O0, and the
remainder about equally divided between the
branch at Charlotte, North Carolina, and Dahlonega,
Georgia.
In accordance with the act Of last session, pro-
posals have been invited by public advertisement
both here and in California, for the erection OF
mint at San Francisco, in accordance with plans
prepared with great care under the direction OF this
department. !, however, have great doubts whether
any proposals will be made for the erection Of
suitable building, and the supply of the needful
machinery, for the sum of 100000, to which amour
Congress has restricted the expenditure, including
both Of these objects.
Even, however, should proposals be made which
would be satisfactory, and could be accepted by the
department, progress could be made with the
work until Congress authorizes the purchase of a
site, and makes the needful appropriation there
for as, from the best information now in possession
of the department, none of the public reserves in
that city afford proper and eligible locations for this
building.
BY the act of the 3Oth September, 1850, making
appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses
OF government for the year ending the 3Oth of June,
1861, Congress authorised the appointment of an
United States assayer for California, and directed
contract to be made by this department with the pro-
prjetors of some well established assayng works for
assaying gold and forming it into bars and ingots,
under the supervision of the assayer contract was
concluded, and ample security required for its faith
ful performances and the contractors were limited in
their charges for the services rendered by them to
the rate fixed by the Legislature Of California in
tablishing State assay Office
The department was induced, with view to fur
nish far as it had the power safe and convenient
currency TO the people of California to authorize the
receipt of the issues Of the assay Office thus esab
lished for public dues especially they have all the
essential requisites Of coin, and this was believed to
be the object Of Congress.
The general appropriation act Of the last session
contained provision by which the further receipt
of these issues was prohibited, and in obedience
thereto the instructions under which they had been
received were revoked.
The department has reason to believe from petit
tons addressed to it by public meeting Of the mer
chants from San Francisco, and from information
ccved through other reliable sources that much in
convenience and embarrassment has resulted from
this legislation. It remains with Congress, however,
to say what relief shall be extended and the subject
is submitted to their consideration.
The inconvenience arising from the scarcity of sill
yer coinage still continues and to such an extent az