The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-08-21
Statistical.
CuriOsitieS OF Commerce.


Turning over the pages Of the Cyclopcdia
o: Commerce, just published few matters
attracted our attention as curiositcs, which
we propose to tranScribc for our readers -
We are looking for the small things IN COM
mc!cc, matters that, in taking a magnificent.
broad, and comprehensive view, would be
overlooked just as the invention of the
creates. Importance for domestic purposes
would be over looked and unnotccd IN its
homely attire, when placed in exhibition
and surrounded by works of polished art.
| costly machinery. and gorgeous furniture
IN humble inventor once placed in such an
| exhibition few punches of friction matches.
They were unncticld. Visitors went there
looking for some great thing, not realizing
| that the dcsp'scd package Of splints, tipped
with chemical fire, was the greatest thing in
he proud collection, destined to work revo-
luton III the means Of procuring artificial
li-ht, ana to trc0lnc universal necessity, to
be deprived of which would be one Of
Tue greatest lnconvcnigHces that could
happen.
1t is not more than twenty years ago since
the Undertook was in universal use 1t is
abolished now. The invention of the friction
match spread slowly; but who, at this day,
would venture to say they could do without
~ Insignificant as they appear to be, single
factories, with expensive machinery, cup up
large RATS of timber annually for matches
Under the head of pin, we find that The
manufacture Of this indispensable little in
Strumcnt was commenced in the United States
between 1872 and 1920 since which time the
business has extended greatly, and several
patents for the Manufacture Of bins have been
taken out. The manufacture in England and
other parts Of Europe, is conducted upon i'm
provelncnts made in the init d States. Not
Wlthstandlng the extent Of our own produc.
tons, the United States imported in 1856
pms to the value Of $40 25j.
Still keeping our attention directed to small
things, We find that The imports of needles
INTO this country, for 1876, Amounted to
22lG 600. 1t is said that needles were first
made III England in the time Of bloody Mary,
by negro from Spain: but as he would not
inpart his secret, it was lost at his death
and not recovered again till 1866. in the reign
OF Queen Elizabeth. when German taught
The art to the English, who have since Brought
1t to the greatest perfection. 1t is stated that
the construction of needle requires about
l2O operations, but they are rapidly and I'M
lntcrlnPtedly successive.
The temperance people will find an argu-
ment to enforce their doctrines in the fact
that 4l,O1 ,G36 bushels of grain, paving
80 100000 duty are annually converted
into malt in Great Blitain for ale and porter.
1t may reasonably be inferred that great
quantity OF these beverages arc drunk there.
Ground nuts are quite an institution with
Young America 800 tons having been i'm
ported into the United States from Gambia in
one year. We, however. dissent from the
encyclopedia, when be says they are most
used here at dessert, roasted as cheStnuts
elsewhere. But France is the great market
for ground nuts, where they are used for oil
Of which they contain large quantities. The
insignificant haZIenut, Sc agreeable to the
palate, but so difficult to get, is exported
from Tarraguna TO the extent OF % 600 or
10000 bags Of four 10 the ton. A kind Of
chocolate is prepared from them, and they
have sometimes been made into bread. The
pressed oil Of hazlenuts is little inferior to that
of almonds.
The original inventor Of the AYRSHIRE snuff
boxes Was cripple, hardly possessing the
power of locomot ion. They are made of
wood, admirably jonted, painted and var
nished, and were first manufactured only
sixty years since. Instead of taking out "A
patent, the inventor entrusted bis secret to a
.loi''Nt ~ wv NiildSt, W iiO uIlldSStu Il great
fortune in few years, while the other died
as he had lived, IN the greatest poverty
Speaking Of snuff boxes, snuff taking, took
its Use IL England, in 1902.
Under the head Of Hair, the Cyclopcdin
says that 200 600 pounds weight Of womens
hair is annually sold in France and that
the price paid for it is usually six cents an
ounce.
One hundred thousand roses are REQUIRED
TO give yield Of ISS grains Of otto or oil Of
roses.
There are, doubtless, in this compcndioas
work many curious, interesting, and instuc.
tive facts, if one had timo to hunt them out.
And now, as we are closing, We notice quite
number of items, such as that Il bale of Sea
Island cotton weighs 3335 pounds, and mea
sules 80 cubic feet while bale of East
Indian cotton weighs $50 pounds, and only
measures Is cubic feet, fact of great lmpol-
lance in the questions Of transportation. -
What makes this grea. difference in cubic
proportions!