Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-08-29
Trade and Industry.


to market bv the recent advance in the
price of that metal were twenty huge can
non of very curious design and finish. They
came from Mexico. aud are supposed to
have been made in Seville, Spain, IN LAG.
A MACHINE has just been invented for
cleaning the fibre of the rame plant,
which, 1t is CLAIMED, will also answer for
the iute plant, in which event it will be
possible for the south TO compete with the
East Indies in making jute bagging, Us the
plant itself will grow there and make three
crops year.
OSE Of the dangers of navigating the
River Platte hitherto, has been from the
constant shifting Of the floating beacons
which have marked the various banks.
These beacons are to be replaced by fixed
lighthouses, placed either on the banks or
in the immediate vicinity, so that the dan
gers will be permanently marked both by
day and by night
The mezquite gum Of Western Texas is
almost Identical with gum-arabic, and
during the past year has become an arti-
Gle of export, some 10000 pounds having
been gathered in Baxnr County, and as
much more between that and the coast.
This gum exudes from the stems and
branches of me2Quitc, a mlmosa several
species of which grow in Texas, New
Mexico, and Arizona.
Mr. Gro. II. II. BREWSTER, Of Bos-
ton, claims to have the Oldest book IN Amer
co. ltisa copy of the New Testament, in
quarto form, three inches thick aud about
ten inches long. The chapters printed in
old English type, and the marginal notes
in coarse Roman letters. TWAS published
in London in 1903, and is supposed to
have been used by the Puritan Fathers at
Plymouth.
The Leyant times, in commenting upon
the Porte's interference with the increase
in the Suea Canal tonnag edues, mentions
that II project for cutting u second canal
with English capital is already being
talked OF, and 1t asserted that, as it could
be made at less than one-third the cost of
the present canal, it would pay tue share
holders fair dividend even if the canal
were used only by British shipping,
tbs silk market Of France, especially of
Lyons, is in an unusually depressed state,
and the manufacturers are maniiestly dis
couraged. Lately there has been an i'm
post levied upon homo manufacture, and,
from various causes, the yield of raw silk
will be much less than of other years, ut
an advance Of fifteen per cent. Purchasers
are few and bargains in exporting sill
fewer. Added TO these difficulties the
French have to eoutend with revival 70
foreign competitor in Germany, Swilzer-
land, and England, within the last five years
these countries having doubted the exporst
of silk.
The Russian Government has recently
published some Interesting statistics which
embrace the system Of intcrna commune
cation by water. 1t appears that the total
length of water routes in Russia amounts
to Il 600 American miles, IL per cent of
which the Caspian Sea furnishes, Is per
cent the Black Sea, topper cent. the Sea Of
Aaof, 5 per cent. the Baltic, II per cent.
the White Sea, and but per cent. of
canals OF vessels built, there have been
constructed during the period of 1865 to
1869, 53,GlS, amounting in value to 3D.
100000 roubles, roper cent of which were
built in the Caspian Sea alone. The in
crease in steamboats, has been remarkable,
showing that Russia, has 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 remunern-
tive prices, and they had orders for $50
barrels more, which they were unable to
supply. The present season they are cul-
tlyatlng many more acres Of this corn, and
erecting mammoth brick dry-hnnse, 100
by 80 feet and three stories high to cure
the corn, after it is ioiled aud cut of the
cobs. The drying apparatus is to be com
posed of Il boiler in the basement, with cir
Culating pipes running through the build
ing beneath the screens on which the corn
lsspl cad. The business bids fair to CON
stitute lew and important branch Of
Shaker industry, whereby they will add to
their wealth as hey diminish in numbers.
The Shakers consider the stalks cut up
green, after the corn is gathered, or sufii-
cient value for fodder to compensate for
all the labor and expense oc the crop and
about equal to the same amount Of hay for
cattle in winter. 1t is crop, too, that il
early, and not liable to be destroyed by
frost.