The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-02-08


country looks more like May than January.
Commissioner James, OF Georgia, finds that
the sheep of the State have diminished from
512 6lS ID 1870 TO 3l9, 1926 in 1874, and attrib-
u.es the decrease to the circumstance that
there are 81 dogs to every 100 sheep in
Georgia. The dogs last year killed 28,625
sheep.
The French chemists, NM Peroz and Jes-
molle, have taken out patent for making
ink for letter-press printing, TYPOGRAPHY and
autography from the refuse of the gas works,
from other tar, and the heavy oils Of petro-
feum, rosin, wood, etc. The inventors say
that these substances present valuable quail
ties for the purpose; that they mix readily
with lainpblack and other dry colors in pow
der, and that the ink made from them has
the great adva ltaga of neither penetrating
the paper nor spreading, and, lastly, that it
may be mixed in any desired proportions with
the fatty oils for certain classes.
The Finance Committee of the United
States House of Representatives has settled
the question OF receiving greenbacks and ma
tional bank notes for duties in the negative.
This settles the matter for this year. No
compromise can gain that privilege to those
who desire it.
Direct Trade Between St. Louis and Brazil.
The ST. Louis merchants continue to agi-
tate with great carr estness the question of d.
rect trade with Brazil. So far as the ele-
mentary requirements for trade between the
two points is concerned, there would seem to
be no doubt of success. Brazil imports
from the United States grain, naval stores,
provision S, and, in fact, considerable quanti-
ties of all our domestic products. Ia return,
that country ships goodly amounts Of its own
products and those Of the West Indies as
we'll, among which are coffee, sugar, molasses,
fruits, barks, drugs and woods.
o. our own products, it Is q well known
fact that large quantities are yearly received
at and pass through St. Louis. II is equally
well known that st. Louis is constantly gain
ing prominence as Western distributor Of
Brazilian and West India goods. The only
obstacle in the way of this trade at present are
the distractions at the mouth of the Missis-
sippi, but this is apparently being gradually
removed by Capt. Eids. There is already an
indirect trade between Rio Janeiro aud st.
Louis that has been making its influence felt
for some time. Speaking Of the most advan
tageous route to open this direct commerce,
the st. L ,uis Republican says:
OF course, direct trade between the Missis-
slppi Valley and the tropical regions referred
to must 60 through New Orleans and be car
ried on by river and ocean steamers. The
former we have already; the latter are to be
supplied to take cargoes to and bring cargoes
from K ngston, Laguayra. Port of Spain,
Georgetown, Para, Maranham, Pernambuco,
Bahia and Rio Janeiro. The nearest OF these
ports is five days distant from New Orleans,
and he remotest twenty-five days. When
CapIFE ads shall have given us twenty five
feet water at the mouth of the Mississippi,
permitting a steamer with full cargo to come
over to the bar and up to New Orleans with.
out difficulty, there will be nothing needed
to insure profitable direct trade between St.
Louis and the tropical ports south Of US but q
little determined energy on the part Of st.
Louis and New Orleans merchants.
The Bu.iness Prospects.
New York Bulletin, 4th inst.
Few of our leading merchants are willing
to commit themselves on any positive predic-
ton regarding the spring trade. though 1t is
evident that the present feeling is scarcely SO
buoyant as it was month ago. January has
proved Disappointing, probably from over
sanguine ant,cipations of an immediate ard
general Improvement with the turn of the
year. and this has q somewhat discOuraglng
influence. Exceptions to the rule are to be
found, however, and expressions OF hopeful
nature are not uncommon. A noticeable fea-
ture is an apparent check to the shrinkage on
values in the majority OF cases, while some re-
action has occasionally taken place. This Is
especially the case on choice goods. Buyers
policy SO universally adopted during the past
eighteen months, but where they reject guam
tity, they frequently insist upon higher
average of quality.
The coffee merchants do not look forward
TO a very brisk trade this spring. A moderate
business is expected but nothing more. The
supplies on hand are unusually large, and
prices have latterly declined. Out-of-town
dealers are proceeding with great caution and
limit their purchases to their actual wants,
and are not keeping considerable stock on
hand, as in former years. Nevertheless, the
quantity distributed to all parts Of the coun-
try during the week ending the 23d ult. was
100000 bags, which was larger than during
the corresponding period last year. Out-of-
town dealers, however. seem to expect still
lower prices before purchasing to any consid-
cradle extent.
The policy, of Western merchants especial
~, of not buying any more than they actually
need, has been attended with very favorable
results to their financial standing They pay
promptly and their credit was never better.
The Southern collections are also satisfactory.
About the only difficulty at present is with
New York and Eastern dealers, who are not
quite as prompt as formerly. Still. on the
whole, the financial position OF the trade is
good. The policy of extreme careiulness IN
not purchasing beyond actual requirements
is, however, as intimsted. none the less APP
parent.
The prospects of the trade in refined sugar
are fair. AT present, it is true, only mod
crate business is being done, owing to the
sharp competition with Louisiana sugar. the
crop OF which this season is unusually large
estimated at 1G5. 900 hogsheads; larger than
any time since the war. As in old times, New
Orleans when having large surplus stock
supplied the Western trade entirely, so this
year, with an unusual surplus for these times,
that market is seriously interfering with
the Western trade in foreign refined
sugar. This has been the case for
many weeks past, but the supply there
is being steadily reduced, and prices
are advancing. This leads reiners here to
believe that later in this month and during
succeeding months there will be quite de-
cided increase in trade here, when the New
Orleans competition is to great extent re-
moved. One of the strongest points that the