The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1857-04-08


pondent of the Liverpool Times gives dis
couraging report of the French effort to supply
the markets of the world with. cotton raised in
Algeria. He writes:
"As to cotton, the utmost that the most en-
thusastic Frenchman can say about tits, that
it is an expensive experiment. have exam
ned in vain for those cotton plantations which
produce the Tongue sole and the cotton jaune,
and fine stockings which we saw at the French
Exposition Worlds fair. / have been told
as fact quite decisive of the cotton question,
that the prize of 20,o0of. offered annually by
the emperor for the best specimen of tongue
sole cotton had been divided, in 1856, between
a Frenchman and an Arab. This fact sug-
gests the conclusion that natives and colonists
are all striving against each other to produce
cotton, and that all French Africa is covered
with competing cotton plantations. The for
tunate winner of the 1O,OOOf. is the Caid Ali
Ben Mohamed, whose plantation is near Guel-
ma AS had asked in vain for cotton, where
ever had been, | had made preparations to
take two days journey on mule back, in or
der to see this famous plantation, when | for
tunately met with a distinguished Arab, who
knew both the place and the Caid, and who
assured me that this cotton plantation amount
ed to about fifteen acres. Subsequent inquiry
confirmed this statement and | came to the
conclusion that the Guema cotton plantation
was not worth four days journey, and the fur
ther chance, if the rain should come on, of
being shut up in that country fora month. a
''With all the forcing Of the government
and its proposition to buy all the cotton there,
at a favorable price, all the land cultivated with
at the last published returns was 900 acres,
and for that produced, the government paid
800, 900 francs. The writer adds: Seeing
that the cotton product produced throughout
the world is, | believe, about 100000 tons,
whereof England consumes about $4,000,
there does not, fear, appear much likelihood
of AIgiers becoming very formidable COM
petition Of the United States.''
DIAMoNDs.-This most precious of stones has
met with greatly increased demand of late,
and has consequently experienced an enhance
ment of price, having advanced twenty five per
cent. within the past year.. The i,nportations
into the United States have had perceptib!e
effect upon the markets of Europe, and yet,
says the New York Journal of Commerce. the
customhouse books scarcely show any trans
actions in the article. Diamonds are easily
concealed about the person. and they are thus
smuggled into the country without paying du-
tv. Their importation is almost wholly man
aged by the unscrupulous who 60 about SELL
ingto local merchants as they have an oppor-
tunity. Honest men cannot compete with them,
and have long since desisted from the attempt.
The Journal of Commerce says the following
instance Of "sharp practice was of recent oc-
currence:
The customhouse officials of this city re-
ceived information that in store in Maiden
Lane, there mi ght probably be found guam
tity of these stones which had not paid duty,
and the officers repaired to the place designa-
ted, to make their investigations. In answer
to their inquiries, they were shown several
drawers filled with the brilliant gems, and un-
equivocally informed that as regarded por-
ton Of what they saw, their suspicious were
undoubtedly correct; but as the stones had
been carefully assorted, and considerably mix
ed in the process, they might have some diff
Guilty in properly discriminating. They were
welcome, however. to take the property in ques-
ton, provided they took no other; otherwise
! they rendered themselves liable to penalties"
strong effort made to get diamonds on
the free list, in the new tariff, but without sue
cess, although the duty was reduced to four per
cent. This will not remedy the evil, for SO
long as there is a duty upon them they will be
,snugyed In other countries diamonds are
regarded as equivalent to specie, being COM
monty used as an exchange, and are treated
accordingly. 1t is calculated that during the
last Eve years the importatons Of diamonds
have been equal to ST 500, ,ooO-certainly at
least 81 ,O0OO 600; considerable portion of
which were received during the past year,
&----~-~--~-~-~~-~-
The FUTURE.-Speaking of Chicago, gov
ernor Matteson, in his late message says four
years ago, according to the best estimates that
could be made, her commerce did not exceed
800, coo 600, and that was then considered
very liberal estimate. Now it will undoubted-
ly reach 5000 900, 900. The Importance of
the great thorouyhfare through the State can
hardly be over estimated. From the extreme