New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-07
NOTES ON INDUSTRY And TRADE.

WHIsKEY GOING on A Notwithstanding to
a published statement-which we do not advise
anybody to believe implicitly arrangements have
already been made to export about 10000 900 gal
Ions of whiskey to German ports and to England"
1t is strange that the reports of freights cast
no ight upon this rather large transaction. One
cannot quite move 2, 100000 barrels of whiskey in
his vest pocket to speak. 1t is not at all improb
able, though, that considerable quantity will be
exported If adequate storage can be obtained In Eu-
ropean ports at low rate as it doubtless can. The
freights, 1t is said and the storage charges will
amount to less than onetenth Of the tax due to the
Government, which the holders evade for time by
sending their whiskey abroad. If any banks are
largely interested, however as 1t has been said
there arc they might well reflect that Congress may
not always be disposed to leave the laws in such
shape as to offer o large premium to those who will
evade the payment of taxes to the Government.
The HUDSON BAY ROUTE-The Canadian Par
lament has at last appropriated $50 900 for the
penses of expedition to investigate tho route by
way of Hudson Bay to Liverpool. The plan is to
send a steamer to spend at least one winter in the
bay and to note accurately TO what extent It's nav
igation can be relied upon for commercial purposes
1t is stated that wealthy firms are ready to put
line of steamers on the route if desired facilities
can be afforded and the producers of Manitoba and
of adjacent portions of our own country are indu G.
ing hope that the new route may secure them
much cheaper rates to Liverpool The uncertainty
and risk of such voyages will be found important
element In the cost OF transportation, however and
survey official investigation can help the mat
ter much In that respect. II is little curious that
a wealthy firm in the United States offered to send
ont the steamer and make the exploration at its own
expense, provided the Canadian Government would
give to the firm certain exclusive mining priv
eges IN regard to the mineral districts of Hudson
Bayp The Government declined tho Offer but 1t
would be interesting to know what it was about.
PIrTsBURG AND WAGEs.-There seems TO be
something in the smoky atmosphere about Pitts
burg which predisposes to unreasOning contests
about wages. The miners of the fourth pool have
hardly reached q settlement yet, and now comes
controversy IN the third pool beside the threat
ened difficulty with miners upon whom the new
coke combination has to depend. In addition, it
appears that the workers in steel begin to thin
they ought to demand higher wages-perhaps be-
cause the steel works at present In greater diff
culty than at any other time In the history of the
country. When steel rails quoted at $33 90 in
Philadelphia, it is hardly promising time to pro-
pose material Increase in the cost of manufact-
ure.
DESTRUCTION IN THE TURPENTINE REGIoN.-The
devastating fire which has been sweeping through
the forests of several broad counties In North and
South Carolina for some days may have important
commercial consequences. From accounts given,
IL may be- inferred that not uncomfortable part of
the neutrality-suspicious. forests have been swept by
flame. These virgin forests long the basis OF an
important industry. yield large partof the worlds
supply of rosln and turpentine. The value of the
products yearly is about $4. OOO, 0O0 and the value
of rosn and turpentne exported last year was over
$1,000, 900. of which nearly half went direct from
Wilmington and Charleston, and another
large part was first moved to this city.
1t is impossible as yet to learn how far
the sources Of future supply have been cut OF by