Morris tribune., 1889-09-18

1t seems likely that at length the
United States will be able to export coal.
By way of beginning coal line has been
established between Florida and Cuba.
The fleet for this purpose is not formida-
ble as yet, consisting only of an ocean
tug with half dozen steel barges, an
English steamer and two or three Ameri-
can sailing vessels. But enough fuel has
already been shipped from the Alabama
mines, through Pensacola to the West
Indies, to show that the trade can be
profitably carried on. The Louisville and
Nashville railroad are therefore building
coal dock at Pensacola, and it is ex-
pected that this trade viii reach 400, 900
tons of coal annually. Thus there will
be an outside market for American coal,
one more industry giving employment
to several hundred or thousand men
and prospect that fewer mines viii be
obliged to shut down part of the year on
account of over production.
A fresh impetus has also been given to
the sugar culture in Texas. Hitherto
comparatively little attention has been
paid to cane culture in this great and
growing state. But the possibilities in
that direction have been brought before
the public in an unexpected way. Maj
Garee. manager of the state peniten-
t:ary, casting about for some employ
n,ent that would occupy his convicts
and at the same time not interfere with
the labor Of free men, set them to work
on sugar plantations. He reports that
he has not only paid all their expenses
thereby, but has made on each convict
employed profit of $500 for the year.
If convicts can do as much, what
might not free labor produce in turning
part of the fertile plains Of Texas into
sugar plantations? If Texas could yield
in sugar tenth part of what she does in
cotton, she could annually burst any
sugar trust that might be formed in civ
ilization. Sugar cane grows where cot
ton does in many localities.
Wonderful reports come of the vast
and rapidly enlarging fruit culture in
California. The present year the crop
will be worth ss4, 4,0OO, 900. OF this s3,-
100000 are in raisins and citrons, which,
comparatively few years ago, it was
not thought could be produced in Amer
lea. The whole product drawn from
farming in its various forms in Califor-
mia this year will amount to $185, ,000,-
0o0 Not bad country to live in, this
of ours.
a The Wheat Trade.
It is fact that the foreign demand
for American wheat is slowly but surely
lessening. This is owing chiefly to COM
petition from other countries, especially
Russia With the building of the great
railway across the empire eastward from
st. Petersburg to the Pacific ocean,
Russia will be able to pour wheat into
the markets of Europe by the thousand
car loads. This transcontinental rail-
way will be finished in three years at
most.
The Milestone says that the United
States must make up its mind that the
only shape in which it will shortly be
profitable to ship our wheat abroad will
be flour. But in that case the United
States must also make up its mind to
produce better article of -four. Our
lightning milling machinery turns wheat
into -four faster than any other, but the
slower processes in use in Europe make
a sweeter, more nutritious -four. This
is recognized in the Old World.