The Galveston Commercial, And Weekly Prices Current. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 27, 1855 Page: 1 of 4
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TU
MilMMl
AND WEEKLY PRICES CURRENT.
9
PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY MORNING
—AT TIIE GALVESTON CIVILIAN OFFICE-
BY STUART, DURNETT & BBOWN.
Yol. II.
GALVESTON, THURSDAY MORNING, DEC. 27, 1855.
No. 11.
FROM
THOS. B. POWER,
General Commission Merchant,
and
COTTON FACTOR
STRAND, GALVESTON, TEXAS.
"Tub Galveston Commercial" Is published every
Thursday. morning, from the Steam Power Press of the
'• Galveston Civilian," in Berlocher's brick building,
on the Strand, at $3 per annum.
Single copies, in wrappors,formailing,....S¡0 10
Three " " « " o 20
Five " " " " o 30
Ten 44 44 i. 44 0 50
Twenty-flvo " " " o 75
Fifty 44 44 44 j 25
One liiin<1rn<l 4>
-2-23-
Kvery additional fifty copios, J 00
Subscribers residing out of the cities of Galveston and
Houston will be required to pay their subscription in
advance.
STUART, DITRNETT & BROWN.
Gonzales.—The Inquirer saya that the cotton
crop has been secured in that county, and planters
have commenced clearing and plowing their ground
ready for another crop. The same paper says :
" Every day witnesses long trains of wagons
passing through our town, heavily laden with cot-
ton, for the Bay. Wagons from the Bay, freighted
with dry goods, groceries, &c., for this and the
towns above, are also arriving daily. From the
number of wagons engaged in hauling, it docH ap-
pear that nothing but a railroad can do the busi-
ness required of them.
The citizfens of upper Peach Creek and the San-
dios, after petitioning Government in vain for post
offices, have wisely taken the matter into their own
hands, and established private post offices for their
own accommodation and benefit. One of the citi-
zens of each neighborhood are employed by the year
to carry the mail weekly to and from Gonzales, for
which ample remuneration is given."
Immigrants.—The Cincinnati Enquirer, of the 2d,
says:
_ "Theadvantages which Cincinnati lias derived
from European immigration, in the last few years,
are so immense that it would bo a work of superero-
gation to depict and present them to our readers;
they are seen and realized on every hand. Solid
blocks of stores, stupendous and world-renowned
factories of art and mechanical skill, splendid and
costly private dwellings, and the busy hum of a
great commercial mart have been produced here, in
part, by an influx of foreign immigration. Of all
places in the world Cincinnati ought to bo the last
one to join in proscription and persecution. There
is not the least sense or reason in it, as those of our
business men will ascertain, who have been led
away by the arts and wiles of unprincipled political
demagogues, both from their political and personal
interests. * * * * * * *
Let us have the old practice of living on terms of
fraternal harmou£ with our adopted fellow-citizens
and away with the unkind and bigoted asperities
which designing politicians have sown in our midst.
In all our political organizations lot questions of
birth and religious crccd be entirely ignored, us not
pertinent to them, as unworthy of the ago, and a
living reproach to it. By so doing, though wo may
destroy tlio occupation of a fow mischovious and
reckless politicians, the interests os our city and
State will be greatly promoted."
India Hump.—Since the supply of hemp from
Russia lias been cut off by the war, Great Britain is
turning her attention to other quarters for that ar-
ticle. A writer in the Edinburg Review says that
although large quantities of fibrous materials are
annually brought from India, the hemp fibre is com
paratively little grown there, notwithstanding the
true hemp plant is a notivo of that country, aud is
largely cultivated for other purposes than the fibre,
lie believes that when hemp is sown thick it will
yield a long and flexible fibre, and that a demand
for the article from England would encourage and
promote its culture.
Fraudulent Assignment Set Aside.—The Su-
premo Court of Now York recently rendered an im
portant decision in a case of the Catskill Bank vs.
Robert Forsyth. Forsyth fled the country in the
summer of 1858, and on tlio evo of his de-
parture mado an assignment of his estate, vaU
ued at $30,000 or $40,000, to his brother Robert,
giving preferences to his father, brother and othor
relatives. It was proved that he. took away with
him in gold $5,000. The moneys ho had drawn
from various banks a short timo prior to his flight,
in forged paper, amounted to about $50,000. The
suit was brought to set aside the assignment, on the
ground that it was made with intent to defraud his
creditors. The jury, after argument, found a ver-
dict for the plaintiif, thus declaring the assignment
fraudulent
Timber*
The growth of timber seems to bo utmost as much
discussed in England as other crops, although it re-
quires many years to mature trees suffieently for
mechanical purposes. Ship timbor requires to stand
sixty or eighty years, as trees of quick growth aro
said to decay speedily. Tlio British Government is
deeply interested in tho production of thisspecics of
timber, yet it is said that of tho quantity used at the
royal dockyards tho Crown forests furnish little
more than one-sixteenth; a small proportion of tho
remainder is derived from private estates, but by
far tho greater bulk comes from abroad. It talcos
2,200 full-grown trees, or tho matured crop of forty-
four acres of woodland, to furnish timber for a
single 71 gun uliip.—'1 ho principal trues giown in
New Orleans Sugar market.
Tho planters of Louisiana complain seriously oi
the modo of selling sugar at New Orleans. A meet-
ing of Sugar Planters was held at New Orleans on
tho 26th ult., for the purpose of devising means of
increasing the facilities for disposing of the sugar
crop, which meeting was adjourned to meet again
in NovvOrleanson Tuesday, the 22d day of January
The plauters complain that whilst the sugar crop
has greatly increased, the space allotted by the city
of New Orleans for tho sale of it has been grcately
diminished. Six or seven years ago the Sugar
market extended from Canal to Toulouse street,
with a platform on which sugar might be exposed
t^~The negro house of Dr. Keenan, at Ilunts-
ville, was destroyed by fire u fow nights since.
Loss $250.
artificial forests are oak, ash, English elm, wycli
elm, beech, sycamore, ehesnut, lime, horso-chest-
nut, chorry, willows and poplars—«11 deciduous
trees ; the evergreen firs, namely, Scotch pine, Nor-
way spruce, silver fir, pinaster, Austrian pine, and
the deciduous larch. It requires pains and skill to
start artificial forests, on lands exposed to strong
winds. Tho London Quarterly Iieviow says that,
in England, pinaster has long been employed iu the
formation of bolts to shelter plantations from tho
sea blast; hence it is sometimes called Pinua mara-
tivia. Even in the most exposed situations it proves
an excellent protector, never showing tho least ten-
dency to bond before the prevailing wind, or having
its outer branches blighted. Tho young trees, in
an extensive plantation, will begin to shelter ono
another us soon as they have mado any advance in
growth ; whereas the whole of a narrow belt will
bo exposed to tho inclemency of the weather. If,
however, there be another belt within them on the
sido away from the prevailing wind, th> ugh stunted
themselves, they will screen their more fortunate
neighbors. On this account it is advisable to make
forty yards the lowest limit of a belt; while a
plantation destined to become a wood should never
full below a hundred yurds in width.
There are very few kinds of trees which do not ri-
pen their timber in an elevated position better than
in valleys. In tho latter situation they grow more
rapidly, but will prove far less serviceable. The
Review says that there are in existence sound spec-
imens of Durmast oak which have lasted three hun-
dred years, some under water and some above
water. Tho beautiful carved roof, mora than three
hundred years old, of Westminster Hall was con-
structed of Durmast oak. The foundation on which
the stone piers of London Bridge were laid consisted
of huge piles of limber of the sanio species, which,
when taken up, wore found to bo perfectly sound,
though they must have stood for upwards of six
hundred years.
In regard to tho proper timo for cutting timber,
tho United States Patent Office report for 1S58 says
that experience has proved that trees for timber, if
cut at one season of the year, are far more durable
than if cut at another. The timo which experienco
has pointed out as tho best for durability, is during
the autumn ; it is generally supposed that this pro-
perty is modified by the amount of sap in the trunk,
and the maturity of tho wood itsolf. It is stated by
Mr. Emerson, author of the valuablo report on the
trees and shrubs of Massachusetts, that tho soft
maple cut in September, is three times more lasting
than atih or walnut cut in the winter ; and, from
numerous inquiries which ho has made in various
quarters, and from information obtained from re-
liublo sources, it seems ho has established tho fact
that autumn is the time for cutting timber.
Tlio United States are already importing lumber
from Canada, and the preservation of valuable for-
est trees becomes of more importanco every year.
Scholastic Population.—The number of free
white children, in Texas, between the ages of six
and sixteen, according to the last returns of the as-
sessors was 144,102—not including four counties
from which no returns were received. The whole
number is probably 150,000. Those are the people
into whose hands the multifarious interests and
responsibilities of this growing state are to pass in a
few years ; and, whon we consider tho magnitude o
the trusts, wo do not wonder that so many of our
citizens make the subject of education a hobby. Of
all the hackneyed subjects of the day, this is prob-
ably tho most interesting and importunt. The mu-
nificent^ appropriations of land and money, made
by the State, for educational purposes, arc calculated
to be of lasting benefit, if properly applied. Much
of the responsibility of applying this fund now rests
upon the people of the counties themselves. ^
1ST" Tho Supreme Court, as appears from our
Austin correspondence, does not commence its win
ter session in this city until the first Monday in Feb-
ruary, a bill to that effect having passed both Houses
of the Legislature.
for sale for an indefinite period, by paying a moder-
ate storage- But now, when the average crop of
the State is nearly double what it then was, the
platform is removed and the space which it oc-
cupied between Canal and Customhouse streets has
been sold and built up; confining the Sugar Market
to the space between Customhouse and Toulouse
streets (little more than half the former area) to be
shared in common with cotton and other products.
As a consequence of this limited space, the City
found it necessary to pass an ordiance requiring
that sugar should be removed from the leveo with-
in thirty-six hours after its being landed. The plant-
ers ask more space and more time for the salle of
their sugar. They complain also of the injury re-
sulting from combinations of speculators.
Mr. Champomier in his circular of the 15th ult.,
says that in New York, on the 3d Refiners were
scarcely in the market at all, some of them having
lately sold refined sugar at the cost price of raw,
and in some instances less, for the purpose of influenc-
ing tho market to depress the price of raw sugar,
of which they now have to purchase so largely.
Banks in tue United States.—Tho Secrotury of
tho Treasury hus mado a report showing tho com-
parativo condition of tho banks of tho United States,
according to their returns nearest the 1st of Janu-
ary, 1S37, 1854 and 1855.
In 1837 tho bunks numbered 788,. with a capital
of $290,772.091 ; in 1854 there were 120S banks,
with $301,376,071 capital; and in 1855 their num-
ber had increased to 1800 with $322,177,288 eapital.
The loans and discounts in 1855 wore iu round
numbers $576,000,000, nineteen millions more than
in 1854, and fifty-ono millions more than in 1837.
The spei-ie'and specie funds in 1855 amounted to
$75,800,000 which was nineteen millions more than
in 1854, and thirty-two millions more than in 1S37 ;
which shows a large present specie strength. Tho
circulation in 1855 was one hundred and eighty-
seven millions, seventeen millions less than in 1854,
but over thirty millions greater than in 1851; ovor
fifty-four millions inore than in 1848 ; and over ono
hundred and twenty-eight millions more than in
1843. The deposits have increased since 1837 sixty-
three millions. The total immediate liabilities in
1855 was four hundred and twenty-two and one-
half millions, showing a greater disproportion than
in 1837 or 1843. In tho latter year tho proportion
between immediate liabilities and immediate means
was ono hundred and thirty-six millions to seven-
ty-four millions, or less than double.
Effects or Emancipation—The following is ex-
tracted from the American Statistical Annual for
1854, relating to Jamaica:
From papers recently laid before the British Par-
liament, it appears that since the emancipation of
the slaves, more than 600 estates in the island have
been abandoned. These once gave employment to
50,000 laborers. The number of estates abandoned
or partially abandoned from January, 1852, to
January, 1853, was as follows:
Sugar Est. Coffee. Country Seats.
Abandoned 128 96 30
Partially aband'ed, 71 06 22
199 162 52
Total acres 391,187
The language of the late Governor General, Sir
Charles Grey, on the condition of this island, is in.
structivc. "The fertility of its soil and fitness for
both tillage and pasturage, the richness and variety
of its vegetable products, the alternation of moun-
tain and valley, the numerous hot springs and med-
ical waters, the known existence of various and valu-
able minerals, the timber and ornamental woods of
its forest3, the abundance and variety of fish on its
coasts and neighboring reef, indicate peculiar fa-
cilities for the promotion of the future welfare and
prosperity of its inhabitants, and warrant the hope
that, low"as it has fallen, it will not be permitted
to relapse into utter barbarism."
Texas Tobacco.—The New York Courier and En-
quirer reports a sale of eight bales Texas tobacco,
at 25 cents per pound. Florida was selling at tho
same time at 12@14 cents ; Havana at from 20 to
87K cents.
Teiiuaoana Springs, Limestone Co., TsxasJ
December 15th, 1855. J
Editors Civilian and Gasettx :
Gentlemen—Wo have had a very favorable fall
season, in consequence of whioh our farming com-
munity has boon able to gather with oase their corn
and cotton crops. Crops throughout oar county
may be olassed aB a fair average, of corn 20 buBhels
por aero, cotton 700 to 1000 pounds per aore. Our
boef outtlo havo beon driven to supply in part tho
Now Orloans marVcot tho paat fall season, for whioh
the drovers paid us $15 per head. Corn is rating at
75 cents per bushol, plenty to bo had; pork it is
supposed can be had at 4% to 5 cents. Wheat is
growing finely on Boveral farms in tho county r for
tho culture and manufaeturo of whioh considerable
preparations are being made.
We have had no rains to swell water coursos to
uny extent, and consequently we do not know that
wo are to be visited shortly by. steamboats running
the Trinity.
I was disagreeably disappointed in passing thro'gh
tho Houston prairie about the middlo of Novomber
lust, to see such a dullness.
Gold and Grain.—Tho Baltimore American has
the following statistics from a reliable sourco :
The gold in the Uuitod States was, pcevious to the Cali-
fornia discoveries $ 80,000,000
Found in California in the years 1840 to 1854 201,000,000
Todateinl855 45,000,000
Imported in six years from elsewhere 33,000,000
Total $466,000,000
Remitted abroad in 0 y'rs and 10 months.... 214,000^)00
Left in the couatry .$241,000,000
Total estimate of harvest in 1855—
Wheat, bushels.... 168,000,000® 185,000,000
Indian Corn 1,000,000,000
Oats 400,000,000
Rice, pounds 250,000,000
Rye, barrels 10,000,000® 18,000,000
Barley 7,600,000
Potatoes 116,000,000
Peas and lieans 9,600,000
Sugar, pounds 646,000,(100
Cotton, bales 3,200,000 ® 3,500,000
Hay, tons 16,000,000
Now, comparing the above products of the soil
with the yiold of California gold above presented,
and tho resultis not a little remarkable. It will bo
seen that our crop of Indian corn—if wo value it at
but half the present market prices—amounts to moro
than all the gold from California,and our wheat crop,
at tho mo at moderate ostimato, is worth as much as
all tho gold now in the country : whilst the modest
growth of oats with all reasonable allowance for ex-
aggeration, more than equalsnny two years produot
ot the California mines.
Insects injurious to Cotton—Mr. Glover, the
naturalist of the Patont Office, who was sent South
for the purpose of investigating the nature and
habits of the insects injurious and beneflcial to veg-
etation, has returned. ' The Commissioner of Pat-
ents expressos himself as highly gratified with tho
report of Mr. Glover in relation to the orange and
sculo or cocus insects, and the red bug and the cat-
erpillar, which aro very destructivo to the cotten
plant; but wo havo seen no account of the discov-
ery of a remedy against the ravages of those insects.
PnpLiFic.—Wo havo recoived a circular, with
many certificates, sotting forth the many virtues of
"the Wyandot Prolific corn," for salo by J. C.
Thompson, of Statcn Island. What this corn does
at the North is almost incrediblo; but the circular
«ays that in Louisiana "twenty-eight full grown
and six immaturo ears havo boon grown from a
single griñ'n, and the amount of fodder immense."
This is too much for Texas. Tho twenty-eight full
grown ears nro too many for the small breed of don-
koys grown hero; the six nubbins would not bo
touched by our long-horned cows ; and we have no
room for the immense amount of fodder we aro
asked to swallow. Nevertheless wo hope Mr.
Thompson will have good success in the Bale of his
prolific seed.
Tiie Empire State and Citv.—The Albany Re-
gister says tho Consus returns havo been so far com-
pilad as to give tho entire population of Now York
which is throo millions four hundred and sixty-
six thousand ono hundred and eighteen, exclusive of
the Indian reservations, which will add about three
thousand.
The population of New Yerk City is 629,810.
The cost of Railroads dees not alwuys appear from
financial statistics. Men as well as money should
be estimated in roads as well as war.
It is said that six thousand Irishmen, aside from
other laborers, perished in tho construction of tho
Panama Railroad; yet it is asserted that the French
loBt only one man in their attack on tho Malakheff
before they took possession of that work.
II
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The Galveston Commercial, And Weekly Prices Current. (Galveston, Tex.), Vol. 2, No. 11, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 27, 1855, newspaper, December 27, 1855; Galveston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth181346/m1/1/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History.