that there can be little less than 100,000 pounds of hops annually consumed in this city, and the demand is rapidly increasing. We have also ascertained that much the larger portion of these hops are of eastern growth; and to this fact we desire to call the attention of our agricultural readers. In a country like this, where over-production is so liable to occur in every staple, it would seem extremely absurd that we should continue to import from a great distance, and at great expense, an article which can be as easily produced here as in any part of the world. We learn from the brewers that they consider the properties of the western hops superior to the eastern; but, owing to the manner of gathering and preparing them for market, the eastern article is preferred. We perceive from the St. Louis Price Current of January 15th, that prime eastern hops were worth from 14 to 15 cents, and western do. 11 to 14 cents. This difference of price is doubtless owing to the cause above mentioned. If the New England farmer can afford to produce hops on land of many times the market value of land in the west, and where one bushel of corn is worth three times as much money; and, in addition to this, transport the article more than two thousand miles by ocean and river navigation, it would seem to place the matter beyond doubt, that the growth of hops must be highly profitable in Missouri. It is true that the western market is limited, and might be readily overstocked; but why not produce for exportation? It seems to us, upon comparing the elements that enter into the cost of production in the two countries, that we ought to supply New England with hops, rather than to import the article from there for our own consumption. We profess to know nothing of the culture, or of the manner of preparing hops for use. We therefore invite our agricultural readers to inquire into the subject, and to afford us such practical information in regard to the culture and preparation of the article for use, as they may possess. ART. VIII-MANUFACTURES IN ST. LOUIS. GRIMSLEY'S DRAGOON, OR MILITARY SADDLE-TREE. THE nature of this invention consists of an improvement upon the pommel, and cantle made use of in the construction of the French Hussar, or old Dragoon Regulation Saddle-tree, and in the combination, without metalic fastening, of the French Hussar or Dragoon Regulation style of pommel, and cantle with winding side bars, of such a form, and arranged in such a manner, that they will bear equally and uniformly on the back of a horse or mule, thereby superseding the necessity of a pad. The timber of which this saddle-tree is constructed, is ash, beech or maple, and it is fastened together by means of a raw hide covering. The front of the pommel is shaved to a level surface, with a slight curvature at the upper end, giving the head an inclination to the front, while on the inside it is worked off each way from the centre, giving it a convex form. The cantle is worked out each way from the centre, on the inside, bringing it to a concave form, and affording the rider an upright posture, and an easy seat in the saddle. From two and a half to three inches from the upper end of the cantle it is curved to the rear, while the rear surface of the same is brought to a convex form. The side bars, the most important part of the tree, are nineteen to twenty inches long, and are made from timber in the rough state, from three to four inches thick. The two ends where the pommel and cantle are joined to the same, are shaved to a smooth surface. The space between is so formed as to fit the seat of the rider, and afford ease to, and a close application of, the inside muscles of the thighs to the saddle, and the sides of the horse. The under side of the side bars are worked off, and so formed as to fit the back of a horse below the great leaders, and a sufficiently winding and oval surface is given to them, to insure a uniform, even pressure on the back, from front to rear. They are from five to seven inches wide, and from one-fourth to one inch in thickness, An aperture is made through the upper end of the pommel, through which a strap passes, to fasten the coat or other luggage of the Dragoon. There is also an aperture in the upper end of the cantle, to which the valise is suspended, which holds it above the back of the horse, and prevents it from chafing or bruising his loins. From all we can learn of the construction and form of this saddle-tree, it combines the strength and durability of the Spanish, the grace and elegance of the French, and the handsome proportions and finish given to it by the inventor in this city. We learn that the saddles made on these saddle-trees were first constructed by Mr. Grimsley some two years and a half since, and have, since that time, been introduced into every arm of the mounted service of the country. Its great celebrity, and complete adaptation to the purposes for which it was intended, caused the Quarter Master General of the United States army to order samples to be forwarded to Washington, where a board of officers, of high rank and great practical experience, was ordered to convene to decide upon the merits of the equipments of Mr. G., and other samples which were submitted for their inspection. The result of their deliberations was the adoption of every part of the saddle offered by Mr. Grimsley, and of the whole of his equipments except the bridle bit, which was submitted by Lieut. Col. May, of the 2d Dragoons. The improvements in this article are of essential service to the country, and the one under consideration has been tested thoroughly by some of the oldest and ablest officers known to the Dragoon service. Amongst the samples which were in the office and under consideration, was the Spanish, French, the Ringgold, and Sam Walker saddles, with several other specimens, but none were considered equal to the sample from St. Louis. It was, therefore, adopted, and is now the regular army saddle' for the mounted service of the United States. The business capacity and enterprise of Col. Grimsley might well place him at the head of his profession in this, or any other country. His establishment on Main street, in this city, in regard to both extent and arrangement, is unequalled by any thing of the kind that we have ever visited. Here he gives constant employment to from sixty to seventy hands, and so complete is his supervision, that we have never heard of a bad job that was turned out from his establishment. And more than this, his enterprise is not limited to the building up of his own establishment merely, but acting upon the true principles of political economy, he delights to encourage his neighbors, and employs St. Louis mechanics to manufacture the stirrup irons, bridle bits, and other hardware used in his business. Such individuals well deserve the highest degree of prosperity that talent and industry can impart. BLOW'S WHITE LEAD AND OIL FACTORY. The following statement in relation to this extensive and flourishing establishment, has been furnished by Mr. HENRY T. BLOW, the enterprising proprietor. The establishment is situated at the corner of Clark Avenue and Tenth Street, and fronts on the latter one hundred and thirty-five feet. The machinery is propelled by a steam engine of thirty horse power. There is consumed in this establishment annually 16,000 pigs of lead, 98,000 bushels of flax seed and castor beans, 2,000 barrels of vinegar, and fuel, including coal, wood, bean hulls, &c., equal to 40,000 bushels of good coal. The establishment gives employment to sixty-five hands, and produces annually about 50,000 kegs of white lead, 4,000 barrels of oil, and 350 casks of red lead and lytharge, and pays for labor, fuel and insurance, $22,000, and for stock generally, from $140,000 to $175,000. The work at the establishment is carried on both day and night for six days in the week, and has seldom stopped for the last three years, except to repair accidents, and for the holydays. The oil and lead manufactured at this establishment is sold in almost every city in the Union. "The St. Louis Chemical Works carried on by Mr. SAMUEL CUTHBERT, produced last year about 20,000 kegs of white lead, and has machinery and capacity of buildings sufficient to turn out, perhaps three times that quantity. BREWERIES. This is a branch of business which has greatly increased within the last two or three years. We have now in the city sixteen breweries; which, according to information obtained from the proprietors, consumed last year 103,100 bushels of barley, and about 71,700 pounds of hops. The following table will show the amount consumed by each establishment: No bu. Barley. 20,000 6,000 14.000 No. lbs. Names. 15,000 City, 14,000 6,000 PMI 2,500 Union, 6,000 2,900 1,200 500 2,000 43,000 45,700 Names. 8,000 Camp Spring, 8,500 Mound, 6,000 2,500 National, 2,500 No. bu. 67,500 A small quantity of hops purchased was sold for other purposes. No. lbs. Hops. 66 8,000 6.000 5,600 5,000 1,500 600 1,200 800 28,700 DISTILLERIES. There are three distilleries in the city, which, according to information obtained from the proprietors, consume in the aggregate about six hundred and eighty bushels of grain per diem, or over two hundred thousand bushels per annum. Mr. Richard W. Ulrici consumes at his establishment two thousand bushels of corn per week, and employs twenty hands, and makes two hundred barrels of whisky per week, besides feeding two hundred and fifty head of cattle. He has made arrangements to feed and fatten four thousand head of hogs, which he desires to purchase during the season, to which fact he calls the attention of those who may have stock for sa W. C. Jackson & Co. use at the distillery about two hundred bushels of grain per day; and the Rocky Branch Distillery use about one hundred and fifty bushels. There is also an extensive distillery on the opposite side of the river. ART. IX.-ST. LOUIS AND CINCINNATI RAILROAD. The following preamble and resolutions adopted by a convention held not long since at Indianopolis, Indiana, show the laudable interest which our eastern neighbors take in this important work: "WHEREAS, public attention has of late been directed to the importance of constructing a railway between the city of St. Louis on the Mississippi river and Cincinnati on the Ohio, whereby in course of time a continuous railway communication will be formed with the Eastern Atlantic cities; and whereas, the right of way for such purpose has already been granted by the States of Ohio and Indiana under liberal charters passed by the respective Legislatures; and whereas, the Terre Haute and Richmond Railroad Company, created under the charter of the last Legislature of Indiana, has already been organized, be it Resolved, That this Convention does not doult the practicability and ultimate completion of this great public improvement, passing, as it does, through one of the richest agricultural regions in the world-connecting the commerce of the East and West-bringing into the immediate proximity the chief commercial cities of the Union, and promising the richest returns for their investment of capital. "Resolved, That a committee of seven, (of whom the President of this Convention shall be one,) be appointed by the chair to prepare and publish an address setting forth to the country the character, importance and practicability of this work -the commercial and agricultural resources of the country through which it passes- the great advantages it will secure to the country and to capitalists, and such other matters connected with it as may be of general importance, and that the same be prepared and published at as early a period as possible after the adjournment of this convention." ART. X.-PRODUCT OF THE LAKE SUPERIOR COPPER MINES. Colonel D. R, McNair, as we learn from the "Lake Superior News," the or gan of the mining interest in that region, has made up his report to the 30th of September, 1847, which exhibits returns of ores and metals raised, and shipments out of the district for smelting, from the commencement of operations, as follows: Ores and Metals raised. Am't. Shipped. Pounds. 1,114,841 321,000 317.050 7,283,340 190,000 200.000 300,000 120,000 80,000 1,327,969 Companies. Lake Superior Company, Pittsburgh and Boston Copper Harbor Co., Northwest Company, Founds. 34,441 81,164 15,263 1,497,481 7.264 1,329 383 11.135 4,049 40,296 Total, 10,244,200 1,693,805 Leaving the balance of 8,550,395 lbs. of mineral to be smelted in the mining district. It is further stated in the "Lake Superior News," that "the receipts, since the transfer of the charge of these lands from the War Department to the Treasury Department, exceed, by a very considerable amount, every expense attendant upon their management and the collection of rents; and it is computed that, with what will be raised by the 30th September, 1848, at the rates of this year, the rents will amount to some $25,000 over and above expenses. There are many companies who have commenced mining, with good shows of mineral and prospects of success, who are not as yet sufficiently advanced to make returns; and a great many who were doing well have turned their forces to building, opening of roads, clearing the land, and raising potatoes, until they could erect smelting works, four of which are going up, and will be in operation the ensuing summer-one on the Ontonagon, one at Eagle River, one at Dead River, and one at Isle Royal. It should also be mentioned that explorations have been carried on extensively, with the anticipation of taking up these lands when they come into market, and that the discoveries surpass all previous anticipations. Gen. E. J. Roberts, assistant agent United Stafes mineral lands, will, we understand, make his head quarters for the winter at Eagle River, the Ontonagon, or Fort Wilkins, where the business of the agency will be transacted until the re-opening of navigation. |
