The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-04

g.
hiti, Capt. Knowles went to Honolulu in the
French corvette Eurydice, Capt. Pichon, and
from Honolulu to San Francisco on the baro ne
Yankee, where he arrived this morning, 18th
September" =
Messrs. Vsndyck and Wallace, of Philadel.
phia, are the ostensible parties who have Just
effected q contract with Gen. Jerez, the Minis.
ter from Nicaragua, for the opening Of the
transit route, under the title Of the Central
American Transit Company. Com. Vanderbilt,
however, the New York Times says, is the secret
cash partner. The main points of the contract,
which, it is stated, meet the appreciation of our
Government, are that the transit shall be open
within four months, and that there shall be a
mail at least twice q month. The contract ia
for fifty, or, should q railroad be constructed,
for sixty years. The only tax which can be
imposed ID one dollar on each passenger. Ports
at the termini are free, and 30 is all interior
navigation. The contract is subject to all treaty
stipulations which may be hereafter made.
Washington, Oct 2s.-The balance in the
U. s. Treasury on Monday was 81 1888, 900.
The receipts OF the week we're 1856, 900; drafts
paid, $l,442,00O; drafts issued, Sl,72s 900 !;
reduction, $l,O7l 900. m.
Commodore Breese has been appointed to
the command OF the Brooklyn navy yard, in the
place of Commoders Kearney, who has been
ordered to temporary duty as President of the
Lighthouse Board, during the absence of Com
modore Shubrick.
1t is said that there is in course of prepare
ton at the Department a reply to the official
dispatch informing our Government of the pur.
pose of Great Britain to suppress ilibustering
in Central America.
The military force in the department of Texas
will probably be increased by troops sent from
Governors Island, in view of the present In
dian hostilities.
The estimates for the next years expendi.
lures are not yet completed; and not until they
are will it be decided what measures are neces.
sary for an increase of revenue.
The English papers state that Yankee
traders have landed considerable cargoes of
sugar at the port of Nicolojaw, at the mouth of
the river AMOR, which is termed the Missis.
sippi of Northern Asia. From this port the
csrgoes have been conveyed at one, up into
the very heart of Tartary, and the interior of
the Muscovite empire. The unexpected sup
plies have had an astonishing effect on the late
fair at Novrogorod, to which emporium the
Central Asatics resort for the purchase of that
merchandise, the value of which has fallen 80
per cent, owing to the new sources of sugar
importation; and every other commodity will
shortly be similarly affected by what must be
perfect revolution on the border land of China
Mongolistan, and Southern Siberia American
cutlery, crockery, cotton, &C., would find among
the millions now accessible to European trade
a vast outlet, as the Russians have not yet
organized any efficient line of customs, and
their organs admit that smuggling must be for
years positive necessity.
In the American navy, there is but one rank
for all flag officers, and that is known in the
many regulations by no other title than that of
Captain or Flag Officer" By courtesy,
however, American flag offcers are called
Commodores" This rank of " Flag Officer "
is the very highest known in the service, and
every flag officer is alike entitled to it. The
only precedence given to one flag officer over
another is that to which he becomes entitled By
seniority of commission. All this discussion
has grown out of the recent passage of an act
by Congress, authorizing the exchange of the
broad pennant Of the flag officer for blue flag,
and directing that the flag of flag officer
whose commission dates back twenty years or
more shall be worn at the foremost, while those
whose commissions are of more recent date
shall wear it st the mizzenmast. There is no
difference whatever made in the rank of the
several officers.
1t is true that, in the English navy, the AID.
mrals wear their flags at the foremost, and the
Vice Admirals theirs at the mizzen; but the
American flag officer" who wears his flag al
the mizzsn, being of the highest grade of off
GERS in the navy Of his country, ranks Just AZ
high tho Ens,ish Adanirol who wears his al
the foremost, or the American officer who wears
his at the foremast except, in the latter case,
SO far as the date of his commission is con.
cerned.
Not long since, an American flag officer al.
lowed his name TO be pre6xed by the title OF
Admiral i" and on the fact becoming known
to Secretary Toacey, the latter gentleman ad
dressed the officer letter, informing him that
in connection with our navy, and directing that
hereafter he shall neither use it nor permit its
use.
Many estimates have been formed of the TO-
tai amount, or the additions to the stock of
bullion which the mines of South America aud
Mexico have furnished. That of Humboldt is
probably the most reliable, and il as follows, viz
From 1892 TO 1900, rate of $3.50 900 per ann.
From 1900 TO l645, do. 100000 do.
From l545 to 1000, do. 100000 do.
From 100 to 1850, do. 22,000,0O do.
From 1850 to 1903, do. 35,3OO,OOO do.
In 1910, the product of the same mines was
estimated by McCulloch at about $3l, 900, 900,
to which is to be added the product of the gold
district of the United States, then stated to be
$542 ,000. In 1912, the product from all the
different sources in Europe and America is
given by McCulloch at 9,05O,00 pounds ster
ling. At this time the mines of Russian Sbe
ria began to assume prominence as q source
of supply, the annual product having rapidly
risen to $40, 900, 900, an amount which is un.
dertood to have been since largely augmented.
The total amount of gold derived from the
mines of California and Australia, as given on
reliable authority, from l848 to 1856, was
l48, 425 900 pounds sterling, and in 1853 the
product from each of these countries ia set down
at $75 200, 900, an amount from which it has
not varied materially since, and it is probable
that $4,000, 900 more per annum have been
drawn from other sources.
The principal counteracting agent has been
the drain of specie which has been going on
towards the East Indies and China for several
years. This is supposed to have amounted, in
six years, to $3.50, 900, principally in silver,
and accounts for the great dimiuution in the
quantity Of silver change 10 circulation, which
was noticed some five years ago. Under the new
treaties with China, throwing open the internal
trade of that country to the enterprise of West.
ern nations, it is reasonably expected that the
balance of trade will be received, and that many
millions Of dollars Of specie will flow from the
East into the markets Of the Western world.
The Union says that the Secretary of War
has, in conformity with the report of the
second board of ordnance sfficers at West
Point, given the Burnside breech.loading car
bine the preference over all other breech. load.
ers, and has transmitted to Gov. jackson, Of
Rhode Island, representing the Bristol Fire.
Arms Company, an order for the weapon to the