The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-05-06
COMMERCIAL ,MATTERS.

Steps are being taken by several Of the
States and Kingdoms of Europe to effect an
extensive substitution of gold for silver IN
current use as circulating medium. There
has been recently issued in Germany ia,
OO0, 900 marks in gold coin, and still greater
amount is to be put in circulation A marx
is equivalent to about "a ceIts. Belgium is
putting out gold coin at the rate OF 81, OOO, OOO
francs annually In Holland, $780, 600, 600
gold coin is needed, and France imported
last year 431, 064, 900 francs worth OF gold
more than she exported. OF course such
movements will materially affect the relative
market value Of gold and silver in the markets
of the world.
According to present appearances, the sea-
son is likely to prove an unfavorabie one for
maple sugar makers. The Boston Commercial
Bulletin says, last year little Of this sweet
was received as early as the 8th of March,
but it is now much later in The spring, and not
single tree has been tapped in New Hamp-
shire or Vermont. Sap refuses to run till the
snow is melted around the trees, and at the
same time it will be sure to dry up unless
the nights are frosty. This being the case, it
generally happens that when q considerable
depth OF snow remains on the ground until
quite late, as it is the case this spring. the
warm weather comes on SO suddenly after the
appearance of bare ground as to make the
sugar season very short
A Poisoned Cargo of Salt.
The British ship Niagara formerly Gu
nard steamer), Capt. MacFarlane, now owned
by Henderson Brothers, Of the Anchor Steam.
ship Line. arrived at this port from Liverpool
on the 4th instant, with cargo consisting of
1850 sacks of salt, 100 barrels of arsenic, and
other merchandise, principally chemicals.
The salt was slowed in the lower hold and the
arsenic in the "between decks" During the
voyage heavy weather was encountered, and
the stowage of the between decks cargo was
50 much disturbed that some of the PACKAGES
of arsenic were broken and their contents
distributed about the decks, possibly inter-
mingling with the salt.
Upon the ships arrival the cargo was dis
charged and delivered to the consignees, and
the salt vas sold to various parties, and most
of it sent out of the city. Subsequently fears
arose that some of the arsenic might have
found its way through the seams of the deck
to the lower hold and come in contact with
the salt. TO ascertain whether this was the
fact portion of the salt was placed in the
hanfs of Professor Dnremus for analysis. The
result showed the unmistakable presence of
arsenic in that portion Of the cargo. Accord
ingly, with immediate dispatch, the poisonous
salt was ordered back to this city for thorough
examination, and destruction, if found neces-
sary.-N. 7. Bulletin, LIST inst
A New Kind Of Coal.
A test has recently been made in St. Louis
of somewhat recently discovered coal from
Arkansas. This coal is called anthracite and
was tested for steamer use with marked sue
cess Its use for zinc manufacture was well
tried before, but no test for iron smelling has
SO far been made, or at least made public. It
is said to be entirely free from smoke during
combustion, and is also free from sulphur.
Analysis gives 851 per cent of fixed carbon, 81
per cent of volatile carbon, and per cent
ash. When burning the coal looks like the
ordinary charcoal fire-there is intense heat,
very little flame and no cinder. The ashes
are yellow.
The anthracite has been used by the Wash
ingron County Zinc Works for some time on
account of its great purity. 1t is believed it
would be valuable in brick making, and that
one bushel of it will equal four bushels Of
coke. The only drawback to its general use
is that it is somewhat difficult OF ignition,
requires when used in a furnace that the bars
shall be near to the boilers, and must have a
strong draught In point Of cost it is in the
market 50 or So per ton cheaper than Penn
sylvania anthracite The mines are situated
on the Arkansas River, along the line of the
Fort Smith and Little Rock Railroad, about
one hundred miles west of Little Rock. The
mines were opened some three years ago, and
are now worked by a company having cap |
ital CT $1,OOO,0OO
The French Wine Crop.
New York Grocer, LIST inst.]
A review of the products Of France during |
1874 affords q forcible illustration of the sur
passing natural advantages OF the country. |
Without these, combined with the thrifty |
habits of the people, it would have been i'm
possible for France to present at this moment |
so few traces Of the dreadful chastisement
inflicted on her by Germany; with them it
seems as if no power across her frontier can |
inflict on her lasting injury. The wine crop
of 1874 is nearly the largest that has been
gathered for q century, and it is a singular
coincidence that almost unprecedented as is
The wine crop. the year has been nearly as
marked for the abundance of the harvest of
grain.
OF wine, the yield amounts to Sc, LAG, 1875
hectolitres, or more than twenty times that
number Of gallons, which, reckoned in money,
coots up more than $3.50, 000, 900. Though
french wines, from their SURPRISING excel
Ience, fluid market all over the world, yet Of
her own product France consumes larger
portion than all her customers combined.
Last wear out of the 60, 900, 900 hectolitres,
$4,000, 600 were retained for home consump.
ion. Of foreign purchasers, Germany and
switzerland take the most. 1t might seem
strange that Switzerland, with population
not nearly so large as that of the city Of Lon
Ion alone, should head the list, but such is
he case, and must be accounted for chiefly
rom the number of tourists who come yearly
INTO the country, Independent of the popula-
alton.
1t is a bad wind that blows good to no one,
md it appears that the Teutonic visitors who