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

AuB IN IAVOr very fdplOIy. 1uo iooS ooAS
dated statement made in response to tae
call shows that the loans and
discounts are about 81. 500, 600 against - 3oo'
600 two years ago, and S4,6OO.OOO one year
ago. The capital stock aggregates ABOUT
SIS, 100000.
The magnitude Of the fire and marine IN
sursnce business in Connecticut is prooaoly
known to few who have not paid special atten-
ton to the subject. 1t appears from the re-
port of the insurance commissioners o. Tue
State, which has just been issued, tnat the
total assets of the companies which nave gone
fire and marine insurance in 1874 amount 10
$92, 359, S42 ~.
About $4,000, 900 of this sum belongs to
Connecticut companies, $63, 900, 600 to those
of other States, and nearly $13, OOO,OOO to
foreign corporations. Assuming the commits
sions, incidental expenses, aud proper pro-
portion of expenses of management to De 70
per cent of the premiums received, the busl-
ness of the State yielded to the companies
over losses and expenses. $34O, 800 The
year 1874 was prosperous one for the lnsur-
snce ompanies. the Connecticut concerns
making dividends amounting to 20 per cent
of their stock But this prosperity is no.
without exceptions which have followed bad
manae
Importan, Trade Convention.
The New York american Grocer, of the 18th
ult, publishes the call for convention OF
canned. goods packers, to assemble at Phila-
delphia, on Tuesday, June 8, for the purpose
of considering what can be done to secure
uniformity in the standard of cans, to improve
the average quality of the products of packers
in general, to foster and develop foreign mar
kets for the surplus production, and to pro-
mote the general welfare Of this industry.
The objects to be attained are all praiseworthy,
la1 1vyfh o condition
to which the trade in this class of merchan-
disc has been permitted to retrograde, and the
movement toward reform is in exactly the
right hands, and only ones, to bring back
the old honest standard of good goods and
full weights and measures-those who put
them up for the peoples consumption.
Real Esta in New York.
We know that there are symptoms OF in
creased activity in real estate in New York
The New York Ecening Post Of the 18th ult,
says:
The market last week was more lively and
interesting than for several weeks, and the
sales, most of them for foreclosure, have at
tracted attention, and, in some instances,
good prices. The Leger estate was especially
q feature in this regard. The improved prop
erty sold WE'LL taking into account the cost Of
material when the buildings were erected and
the price Of material now. Lots did not fare
as we'll, but some Of the prices may be regard
ed as encouraging
British Breadstuf Imports.
Since January the imports of wheat into
the United Kingdom amounted to 10, 935, 222
cwts. against IL, 852 346 cwts. in the CORE
spending period of 1874, and II, 296. 0S9 cwts.
in the corresponding period of 1873. Since
January the Imports from the United States
were 6.629, 1872 cwts. against 9.797, S73 cwts.
in 1874, and 4,279, 829 cwts. in 1878. The
imports from the United States declined
about 3,1O0 900 cwts., or 300, 600 bushels,
and in the meanwhile the imports from Rus
sia gained $4,000 cwts.
Is total imports of grain and flour since
JanGary l were 26, 468, 342 cwts against
27,742 355 cwts. in the corresponding period
of 1874, and q, 229, 259 cwts. in the CORE
spending period of 1873
Custom House Frauds.
The United States Economist and Dry
Goods Reporter laments the decaying COM
mercial honor Of the dry goods merchants Of
New York city, and asserts that the class Of
men who, twenty years ago, occupied the
stores on Broadway, Broad street, and Ex-
change Place have been pushed out OF busi-
(ness by dishonest sharpers and revenue
&windlers. In illustrating his position, the
writer asks us to compare the names of the
present importing houses with those who
were in business in 1861, and he also cites
Very striking illustrations of the present meth
ODDS of business in support of his position.
The principal aim of the article is to de-
scribe the extreme decentralization brought
about by the competition of "crooked" i'm
ported goods with goods which have paid
legal duties. He refers to invoices in the
appraisers department of the Gu tom-House,
in which lines of certain imported fabrics
IL 1ofe 70 I'd hvf "a al
examiners, when the lowest price at which
honest importers could import the same goods
was 81 25 per yard. It was shown to the
Custom House people that great swindle
was being perpetrated by the appraisement,
but the order was returned, "You had better
pass this invoice, if you can," and passed
they were.
Subsequently the same party imported sew
eral cases more of the same goods, and they
were passed at the same differentiation.
The following case is cited:
On Wednesday last Messrs. Wilmerding,
Hoguet 4 Co. had sale of grapes, silks, rib
bons, laces, ETC. If the examiners of the Ap.
praisers' Department had been there, they
MIGHT have seen how much they had lost in
not demanding more blood money. The mer-
.chandise was advertised as being for account
of q well-known manufacturer, who did not
appear, but by the auctioneer was repre-
sentative Of the house OF Philip Schulon q
Co, Importers of silks. grapes, etc. The
sale of grapes began with lot 81, which was
bid off to Mr.. w. G.. Hitchcock. Of the firm
of Hitchcock & Potter, at 81 57a, and the
sauctioneer was about to continue, when Mr..
Hitchchck, speaking in . most determined
manner, said: "Hold on; I will take from
lot 81 to lot 70 at 334 per cent advance on the
sworn invoice cost, and, to relieve the owner
of any expense, will pay the auctioneer's
fees"
When the invoices above given were passed
one high in authority, if not the highest, al
the appraisers Office, stated that the importer
would sell the entire lot at per cent on the
invoice cost, and, although an offer amount
ing to SO per cent on the invoice was made
the smuggling swindler hasi not had the
politeness to notice the offer, though the
same party openly bid 33B per cent advance
in the auc ion room for q lot of the same i'm.
;portations, which was, however. declined.
4 Al