NUMBER OF PATENTS.

18 27 22 7

The following table shows the year in which each State was admitted into the Union, the estimated population in 1848, and the ratio of inventions to the population:

THE CUMBERLAND AND CANNEL COAL TRADE.

TO FREEMAN HUNT, Esq., Editor of the Merchants' Magazine, etc.

In your number for September last, is an article on the "Coal Trade of the United States," and, with the exception of a brief mention of coal in other States, is wholly confined to the coal trade of Pennsylvania, which has grown to be of an immense amount. My object in this note is to mention that, in addition to the anthracite coal of Pennsylvania, and the bituminous coal of Pittsburg, of Virginia, and of the Western States, there is, also, the semi-bituminous coal of Maryland, near Cumberland, of which large quantities will come down to Washington and Alexandria next year, when the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal will be finished to Cumberland. This coal is very superior for steam purposes, and is preferred by most of our ocean steamers. With this coal for fuel, why is not the immense water-power of the Great Falls of the Potomac, of 78 feet, 165 miles from Washington, brought into use?

In addition to the above three varieties of coal, we have, also, the cannel coal, which burns so freely with a full blaze. Previous to 1844, cannel coal was discovered at Hawesville, Kentucky, said to be equal to English cannel coal. The vein extends under the Ohio River, and is worked at Cannelton, on the opposite bank in Indiana, where a manufacturing village has lately sprung up. A vein of cannel coal was discovered in 1844 at Genevieve, Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi, below St. Louis, and more recently very extensive veins of cannel coal are found on the Missouri River. One

vein, about 120 miles above St. Louis; another vein near Boonville, above the Osage River, and about 200 miles above St. Louis. This coal is very good for making gas, and, as the country increases in population and capital, will be brought to market. This coal is probably found in other places than those above mentioned. OBSERVER.

THE MANUFACTURE OF COTTON IN THE SOUTHERN STATES.

Our readers are referred to an article in a former part of the present number of the Merchants' Magazine, on "The Condition and Prospects of American Cotton Manufactures in 1849," elicited by a communication on "The Production and Manufacture of Cotton: with Reference to its Manufacture in the Cotton-Growing States," by General C. T. James, Civil Engineer of Providence, Rhode Island, published in the November number of the Magazine. The article in the present number deserves the careful consideration of our Southern friends, about to engage in the manufacture of cotton goods, coming, as it does, from a gentleman of large experience, and a thorough practical knowledge of the whole subject. In publishing the article of General James -a gentleman supposed to be one of the leading manufacturers at the North, and from the circumstance of his having erected steam factories for individuals or companies, in different sections of the country, supposed to understand the details of the business, in all its bearings-we did not vouch either for the accuracy of his statements or the correctness of his conclusions. The pages of the Merchants' Magazine, as we have frequently had occasion to remark, are open to the free and fair discussion of all topics falling within its original design, or such as an independent journal, devoted to the great industrial and commercial interests of the country and the world, may legitimately embrace in its wide range of subjects. We published the communication in question under the signature, and with the name of the author in our table of contents, in accordance with our uniform custom with all articles voluntarily contributed to the pages of our journal; and we as freely give place to the able article from another pen, in the present number. To this course, no one, we think, can reasonably object. It appears to us the best that can be devised to elicit the truth. Although not practically acquainted with the subject of manufactures, we thought, at the time—and our opinion remains unchanged—that some of the statements made by the author of that article were exaggerated, and the data furnished by the writer of the article in this number, only tends to confirm our impression in that respect. But we must leave the decision of the whole subject, when fully and fairly discussed, to the more enlarged knowledge and better judgment of such of our readers as may take an interest in it. If the tables in Mr. Lawrence's paper are reliable-and of that we think there can be no reasonable doubt, as they were obtained from official sources-the profits of manufacturing establishments have been overstated or exaggerated by the writer of the article in the November number.

It is foreign to our purpose to make our Magazine instrumental in misleading the sanguine to attempt what must prove disastrous if founded in mistake. And if the statements of General James will not bear examination-such examination as all who propose to engage in the enterprise should give the subject, they can do little or no harm. If General James feels agrieved in regard to the preceding remarks, which have been elicited by the publication of an article designed to invalidate the correctness of his statements, we will cheerfully permit him to be heard through the same medium.

As the article referred to has been extracted from our Magazine into most of the le ading journals in the South, we trust our brethren of the press in that section of the

Union will adopt our course, by publishing both sides of the question, and thus place their readers in possession of the means of coming to a correct decision in the matter. The article of General James has also been commented upon in the newspaper press of the North, and a variety of conclusions drawn from its statements. An anonymous writer in the Boston Courier, commenting upon the article, in reply to another anonymous writer, who, it would seem, had taken a different view of the subject, says :— "The whole tenor of the article is so absurd, and many of its statements are so entirely at variance with all experience, that it seemed hardly possible for one having any business acquaintance with cotton manufacturing, to be misled by it. It was evidently intended for some other latitude than this; and if, through its influence, we are not entirely outdone by Southern competition, it will be because the more discriminating of the Southern capitalists prefer an immediate investment in some of our Northern manufacturing stocks, now selling at so great a discount, yet paying such enormous dividends."

In reference to the steam mills erected by General James, the writer in the Courier goes on to say:—

"The 'Globe,' the last mill designed, built and started by Mr. James, at Newburyport, commenced running in 1846, and although it has been in constant operation since that time, it has never divided one per cent. The last sale of the stock that came to our knowledge was $180 per share, upon an original par value of $500.

"If these, as your correspondent asserts, are among the most prosperous in the country,' they lend but feeble confirmation to the glowing statements of General James as to manufacturing profits in New England, and hardly sustain his own representations as to the 'immense fortunes acquired' through this branch of industry, in 'this State and Rhode Island.'"*

The writer in the Courier says "it is not surprising that so little notice should have been taken of an article written by General C. T. James, Civil Engineer of Rhode Island,' which appeared in the last number of Hunt's Merchants' Magazine;" and yet this same writer informs us that, should his antagonist "carry out his intention of making further reference to the same article, he shall feel compelled to descend more into particulars, at some future day."

A gentleman residing in Massachusetts, for whose character and opinions we entertain the utmost respect, in a private letter, referring to the article of General James, says:

"Our Southern neighbors are disposed to go into the business of manufacturing fully fast enough; and if they are not urged on beyond their means, it will be advantageous to them and to us. The effect of such statements as are made by General James, will be to deceive those who are not practically informed on the subject to which they relate; and coming, as they do, through a journal so much relied upon as yours, they are calculated to do much harm. Many persons here have read them with surprise, but more from the circumstance of their being in your Magazine, than for any other

reason."

To the first sentence of our correspondent's remarks, we heartily assent; and we feel flattered with the compliment conveyed in the sentences that follow. It is, however-and we say it with a full consciousness of our defects—but the natural results of more than ten years' honest and persevering study and effort to render our journal an authentic depository of facts bearing upon all the great commercial interests of every section of the Union. Our brethren in the Southern States will not, we trust, infer from the foregoing observations, that we would discourage their laudable and judicious efforts to diversify their pursuits. They should continue the production of cotton, and the great staples indigenous to their soil and climate, and at the same time

• Whatever may be the profits of manufactories, it will not, we venture to say, be denied, tha large fortunes have been acquired in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, &c., "through this branch of in dustry."

introduce such branches of manufactures as promise even a moderate remuneration for the capital invested. The influence of such a course will tend to equalize and improve the condition of the entire people, and cement our Union, by bands that will "grow with the growth, and strengthen with the strength," of a common interest and a common industry.

We have already occupied more space than we can well spare, but in justice to several correspondents in this section of country, who consider the statements of Gen. James erroneous, and in accordance with the principles we shall ever pursue in the conduct of our journal, we take the liberty of laying before our readers the following statement, embraced in a private letter to the editor, but not intended for publication. It will not be improper to remark, in this place, that the respectability and intelligence of the writer should secure for his criticism a fair and candid examination.

According to Gen. James, ten plantations, with a capital of $738,000 in land, slaves, &c., would be required to produce 1,800,000 lbs. of cotton, which one mill of 10,000 spindles, with a capital of $250,000, would use up in a year, leaving the manufacturer a profit of $90,500 clear, besides interest on capital, which is something over 40 per cent in all of annual profit. If this is so, the planter may well rise from reading the article in a state of such discontent as would tempt him to a radical change in his pursuits. But if it is so, how does it happen that the factories at Lowell have not made, on an average, a profit equal to one-fourth of what is thus held out to the planter to tempt him to turn manufacturer? How does it happen that there is but one establishment at Lowell so prosperous that the par value can be obtained for its stock? How does it happen that it was a subject of congratulation among the stockholders there to find, the last summer, that they were likely to get a dividend of 3 per cent for six months on most of them?

If it be said to this that they are not well-managed, in the opinion of Gen. James and others, it will probably be conceded by all that some of the most sagacious men in New England have been concerned in directing them-men as sagacious as any at the South or West who are likely to engage in the business.

If it be said that there is such a vast preference in the use of steam over waterpower as will account for the apparent failure at Lowell, how comes it that we see it announced in the paper of to day, [November 20, 1849,] that the James (steam) Mills at Newburyport have just made a dividend for six months of only three per cent, and that the stockholders of the Naumkeag (steam) Mills at Salem, erected under the particular charge of Gen. James, are looking forward to a semi-annual dividend of four per cent as a great achievement.

Gen. James contends that the raw cotton should be worked where it is raised, and asserts that the cost of transporting 1,800,000 lbs. of cotton (being $18,000) might be saved annually to the planter, who should manufacture his own. Now, if the planters are going to use up all their own goods and pay themselves the 40 per cent of profits out of their own pockets, dropping all exchange of products with the rest of the world, it is needless to gainsay the statement. But if they are going to send goods to market, instead of cotton, they will probably find that though the weight may be diminished by leaving the waste behind, the baling or boxing, and additional care required in transportation, offset that advantage, and that the saving mentioned will turn out to be nearer eighteen hundred than eighteen thousand dollars, and, therefore, of little importance.

Gen. James says that, “should the number of mills in the United States be doubled in twelve months, probably no one would be compelled to suspend operations for a day, because of deficiency of labor and skill." He estimates the number of operatives in five of the New England States, at 57,000. If this number can be doubled in a year, and, as he says, "without calling for aid from Europe," one is at a loss to know how it is that nearly one-fith of the looms at Lowell have been left idle for a part of this year, though the highest wages were offered that would leave the stockholders six per cent per annum on their capital. Such an assertion tends to diminish confidence in his statements generally.

If there be good ground for encouraging planters to engage in manufacturing, and to diminish the product of their great staple, it will only be made more sure by a thorough examination of such points as these.