Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-08-22
Trade aud Industry.

Trade aud Industry.
AMONG the lots of old copper thrown in
to market by the recent advance in tho
price of that metal were twenty huge can
non of very curious design and finish. They
came from Mexico, and are supposed to
have been made in Seville, Spain, in TAG.
A MACHINE has just been invented for
cleaning tho fibre of the ramie plant,
which, 1t is claimed, will also answer for
tho jute plant, in which event it will be
possible for the south to compete with tho
East Indies in making jute bagging, as the
plant itself will grow thero and make three
crops year.
ONE Of tho dangers of navigating the
River Platte hitherto, has boon from tho
constant shifting Of the floating bcacone
| which have marked tho various banks.
These boacons arc to DO replaced by fixed
lighthouses, placed either on tho banks or
in tic immediate vicinity, 50 that the da,.-
gers will be permanently marked both by
day and by night.
The mczquite gum cf Western Texas is
almost Identical with gun,-arabic, and
during the past year has become an arti.
ele Of export. some 10000 pounds having
been gathered in Bexar County, and US
much moro between that Mnd the coast.
This gum exudes from the stems and
branches Of mezQuitc, II mimosa several
species Of which grow in Texas, New
Mexico, and Arizona.
MR GEO. II. II. BREWSTER, Of Bos-
ton, claims to have tho oldest book in Amer.
leu. tits copy of the New Testament, in
quarto form, three inches thick aud about
ten inches long. The chapters printed il.
old English type, and the marginal notes
in coarse Roman letters. TWAS published.
in London in 1903, and is supposed to
have boon used by the Puritan Fathers ut
Plymouth.
The Levant times, in commenting upon
the Porte's interference with the increase
in tho Suez Canal tonnag edues, mentions
that project for cutting second canal
with English capital is already being
talked Of, and it asserted that, as it could
DO mado ut loss than onc-third tho cost Of
the present canal, it would pay tho share
holders fair dividend, even if the canal
were used only by British shipping.
The silk market of France, especially Of
Lyons, is in an unusually depressed state,
and the manufacturers are manitestly dis
couraged. Lately there has been an i'm
post levied upon homo manufacture, and,
from various causes, the yield Of raw silk
will DO much less than Of other years, at
an advance of fifteen per cent. Purchasers
arc few and bargains in exporting still
fewer. Added to these difficulties the
French have to eoutend WITH revival 70
foreign competitor in Germany, Switzer-
land, and England, within the last five wears
these countries having doubted the sxporst
of silk.
The Russian Government has recently
published some interesting statistics which
embrace tho system of Internal communi-
cation by water. 1t appears that the total
length of water routes in Russia amounts
to q 600 American miles, IL per cent. of
which the Caspian Sea furnishes, 10 per
cent. the Black Sea, Upper cent. the Sea Of
Azof, Is per cent. the Baltic, ii per cent.
tho White Sea, and but 2 per cent, of
canals. Of vessels built. there have been
constructed during the period of 1865 to
1858, 53,6l8, amounting in value to 3d.
900 900 roubles, Topper cent. of which were
built in the Caspian Sea alone. The in
crease in steamboats, has been remarkable,
showing that Russia, has u special eye to
internal navigation. The first steamboat
was built in Russia in 1873.
The Pittsfeld Shakers last year put up
100 barrels Of dried sweet corn for table
use, which was all sold at remunera-
tive prices, and they had orders for $50
barrels more, which they were unable to
supply. The present season thoy are cul-
tivating many more acres Of this corn, and
erecting a mammoth brick dry-house, 100
by so feet. and three stories high, to cure
tho corn, after it is toiled and cut off the
cobs: The drying apparatus is to be CON-
posed of boiler in tho basement, with cir.
culating pipes running through the build
ing beneath the screens on which the orn
isspread. Tho bueiness bids fair to con.
stitute q Few and important branch Of
Shaker industry, whereby they will add to
their wealth as they diminish in numbers.
The Shakers consider the stalks cut un
green, after the corn is gathered, or stuff.
cient value for fodder to compensate for
all tho labor and expense oe the crop, and
about equal to the Same amount of h;lv for
cattle in winter. 1t is !. crop, too, that is
early, and not liable to be destroyed b.
frost.