the foreign markets without loss-a question of some interest as it is now obvious, that with the additional impulse that must be imparted to the culture by the Opelousas Railroad from the reclamation of swamp lands, and the opening of new plantations in districts hitherto, for all practical purposes, inaccessible from market, the yield may be increased to an amount exceeding the demand for our home supply, in which case the surplus must either be exported, or bearing upon the market, press down prices, under the invariable law of supply and demand, to a ruinous point. There was no improvement in May, excepting in the higher qualities, which recoveredc. of the previous decline. The following table shows the movement of the market with regard to receipts and sales during the seven months ending in May compared with the corresponding period last year. In comparing these figures, we find that while in 1852 the heaviest receipts were in December and January, in the past year they were in February and March, and so also with regard to the sales. We also find that the receipts during these seven months show an excess of 76,000 hhds., and exports of 51,000, the sales of 55,000. During the past three months, operations have been on a more limited scale, but still with regard to quantity, bear the same favorable comparison with last year's, the sales comprising 7,100 hhds. in June against 4.250 last year, 5,700 in July against 1,600, and 1,750 in August against 750. The receipts for these three months are 18.500 hhds. against 9.000 last year. The entire receipts of the year are 274.650 hhds. against 186,000 in 1852-3, and 141,000 in 1851-2, and the exports 174,850 against 78,850 in 1852-3,and 50,800 in 1851-2. The seinclude the greater part of the exports from Attakapas, and show when compared wi h last year, an increase of 54.150 to New York [100,650 against 46.500] 9,300 to Philadelphia [20.500 against 11,200]; 5.850 to Baltimore [16.800 against 10,950]; and to other ports 5,300 [36,900 against 31,600]. The actual crop is set down in Mr. CHAMPOMIER'S Annual Statement at 449,324 hhds., which comprises 366,767 hhds. brown made by the old process, and 82,657 Refined, Clarified, Cistern, &c., and the weight is estimated at 495,156,000 lbs. This does not include the Texas crop, which is stated to have been 8.288 hhds. of 1,000 lbs. each, or nearly 3,000 hhds. less than the previous year. The number of Sugarhouses in Louisiana, is stated by Mr. Champomier to be 1,437, embracing 431 worked by horse power [a decrease compared with last year of 57], and 956 by steam power [an increase of 13], showing a continued tendency to substitute the more economical and productive agent of steam for the old inefficient mode. The amount remaining on hand in the city and State, is estimated at 7,500 hhds. The following is the actual or estimated yield for the past eleven years, and exhibits an irregular but heavy increase in the product. The amount of the increase is forcibly illustrated by taking the average of the crops for every five years during the twenty preceding the last year. Total crops from 1833 to '37 inclusive, 340,000 hhds, average 68,000 The following table compiled from the Register's Report on the Commerce and Navigation of the U. S., shows the quantity of sugar imported from all countries for five years ending June 30, 1853. Year ending June 30, 1849, 253,815,485 lbs. 5,103,741, 400,015 1850, 197,661,819" 19,977,312, 796,219 1851, 367,537,861 " 4,786,437, 12,077,926 1852, 450,312,593 “ 6,461,540, 736,958 From the N. O. Com. Bulletin of Sept. 1st, 1845. THE COFFEE TRADE. The stock of Rio Coffee in first and second hands at New Orleans on the 1st September last was 72,200 bags, and the ruling rates for Prime were 10@101c., which was a material advance on previous rates, the average of the previous month being 9c., and both the foreign and the domestic accounts being favorable, prices continued their upward tendency until February, when the market took an unfavorable turn and continued to recede until the latter part of July, since which, under the influence of a greatly diminished stock it has gradually improved, and closed yesterday at 10@114c. for Fair to Prime, against 94@93 on the 15th of July. The stock remaining on hand is 6500 bags Rio and 2000 mostly Havana.-The following particulars of the crop for the year ending July 1st, we extract from the annual circular issued on that date, by Mr. H. T. LONSDALE, Coffee Broker: July 1, '51, to July 1, '52. Imports direct from Rio,...... bags 325,957 66 coastwise of Rio,..... 66 34,821 354,515 241,778 26,370 29,862 66 direct from Cuba,etc. 66 12,562 10,628 11,595 Bags..... Decrease of imports at this port this year compared with 383,340 381,513 283,235 bags 90,105 1852-3 98,278 do Sales Rio Coffee for the year ending July 1st, 1852...... 371,278 Sales and Average Prices of Coffee for Past Year. 1,784 1853, July......15,597.... 8.75 | 1854, Feb......38,148....10.70 August.. 10,746.... 8.84 1854, Jan...... 26,675....10.63 March...54,006....10.24 398,736 10.13 8.95 8.60 The above sales include the transactions from importers and speculators' hands, and exceed the sales for consumption by 74,906 bags. Exports of Coffee to the United States from Rio de Janeiro from May 1, 1853, to May 1, 1854. To New Orleans......... 241,791 To various other ports, 25,002 To Charleston............ 11,451 Decrease ef exports from Rio to U. S. this year compared do with 1852-3........ 278.268 1851-2 119,351 1,599,928 1,968,625 1,825,779 Total export from Rio to all parts of the world, from May 1, 1852, to May 1, 1853 May 1, 1851, to May 1, 1852....... Estimated stock of Coffee on hand in Rio, May 1, 1854... 60,000 United States is estimated at this day......... 143,000 230,000 Decrease of stock this year in United States....... 87,000 Sales for consumption in the U. S. in 1851-2. 845,000 Quuantity of Coffee imported into the United States from all Countries for five years ending June 30th 1853. Compiled from the Registers Report: For the year ending June 30th, 1849...... b165,334,700 .... 90,957 do 1851-2 30,043 Commercial Aspect of California.-HIGH RENTS, PRICE OF FLOUR, WHEAT, &c. Since the year 1849 the productions of California have so much affected the industry and commerce of the nation, that the changes which occur in the financial condition of that State are not less interesting to the States east of the Rocky Mountains, than those which may take place in Great Britain and all Europe combined. Hence no sound estimate can be made of the commercial and financial prospects of the country at large without a correct knowledge of the industry, productions and commerce of California. Great as the productions of California have been and yet are, they cannot long continue to support the spirit of speculation which they have excited in every part of the country. It is fair to conclude that the production of gold has reached its maximum, and it now remains to be tested whether the prices of labor and property, the excessive trading in merchandize, and the prosecution of our immence projects of public improvements can be sustained, even though there should be no material decline in the production of gold. We copy the following articles on the "Existing Commercial Depression," "Iligh Rent," &c. from the Placer Times and Transcript of 1st inst. And in connection with this subject it affords us pleasure to remark that, the commercial and financial articles of the Placer Times and Transcript are uniformly distinguished by a degree of ability and honesty of purpose which we have but rarely met with in any other commercial paper. THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL DEPRESSION. Though we have so often referred to the discouraging aspect of mercantile affairs during a period of many consecutive months, at no time, perhaps within a year past, have business prospects looked more gloomy than at present. It is plain to the most casual observer that this state of things arises, not so much from a decreased rate of consumption of merchandise, but is mainly attributable to large and inordinate supplies, and a greatly increased number of persons engaged in mercantile pursuits. It is useless to look forward to better times while at least onesixth of the entire population of the State is engaged in trade, and controlling a quantity of goods adequate to the wants of our population for a year to come. That prices renumerative either. to the shipper or trader, could exist under such circumstances, is impossible. Low prices must rule, until both are convinced that fewer goods and fewer dealers are sufficient to meet the requirements of the country. Experience, in many instances entailing ruin, must alone teach what reason and argument have failed to do. The lucrativeness of trade in California was once a reality. But it has ceased to be so, and yet the realization of the truth seems difficult to those whom it most concerns. Shipments continue to be made to this port with the same zest that marked previous and paying enter |
