"The extent of the trade in wool between this city and New Mexico is much greater than is supposed even by our own citizens. We have been so accustomed to look upon the New Mexican as a mere shipping and transfer business, that we hardly can realize the fact that the actual buying and selling, the supplying of the Santa Fé merchants with merchandise and manufactured articles of all kinds, is a branch of business, whose importance and value is not exceeded by all the balance of the trade of the city this year. "It was formerly the case that the Mexican trains came in empty, the merchants bringing nothing but gold to exchange for goods. Every train comes in loaded with wool, hides, sheepskins, &c., &c., which are taken by our merchants either on consignment, or are purchased by our dealers for the eastern markets. "The most important article brought in from Santa Fé is wool, and the quantity is increasing every year. We have taken considerable trouble to find out the exact amount received this year, and after personal conference with the four firms of C. E. KEARNEY, D. V. WHITING, W. H. CHICK & Co., and J. S. CHICK & Co., we have arrived at the following facts: ......lbs. Received up to the present date..... Total number of pounds.. 687,960 265,000 952,960 "In 1857, which was considered the most prosperous year Kansas City had ever experienced, the amount of wool received up to December 31st, was 865,000 pounds, which was considered an immense amount. It must be remembered, however, that at that time the wool trade was but just commenced, and although everything was favorable a comparatively small amount was received. "We are confident from all advices, that could our merchants have concientiously advised the shipping of the full amount of wool intended for this market this year, the quantity would have exceeded three millions of pounds. "This wool is derived from the immense droves of sheep which dot the great plains of New Mexico, and is worth in this city from fifteen to twentyfive cents per pound, according to quality. It is forwarded to the Eastern markets and sold at an advance of twenty-five to fifty per cent. "This business is rapidly increasing, and should perfect peace be preserved on this border and on the road to New Mexico, our next years' receipts will be at least double those of the present." THE COTTON QUESTION. 1. THE COTTON CROP OF 1859-60. 2. COTTON FROM TRINIDAD. 3. A SUBSTITUTE FOR COTTON. 4. ROYAL COMMISSION ON COTTON. 5. AFRICA AS A COTTON FIELD. 6. COTTON CULTIVATION IN INDIA. THE COTTON CROP OF 1859-60. WE have received the following communication which sufficiently explains itself: Mr. Editor: The discrepancy between the official return of the cotton crop, as given in the preliminary report of the 8th census, just issued, and the commercial statistics, is only apparent and is easily reconciled. In 1850 the assistant marshals were instructed to ascertain the number of bales produced of 400 pounds each, and for the purpose of comparison the same standard was used in 1860, notwithstanding the fact that there was a gradual increase in the size of the bale. The average weight for the last seven years has increased from 437 pounds to 458 pounds— 450 may therefore be considered a fair standard. The product of 1860, 5,198,077 bales of 400 lbs. each, is 2,079,230,800 lbs. Is equal to........... 4,620,513 66 450 66 The Shipping Gazette gives the crop of that year as 4,675,770 bales, or 55,257 more than the official returns; an excess of less than one-fourth per centum. The accuracy of the commercial statement is verified by the following figures: The British Monarch has arrived at Bristol, with a small quantity of cotton grown in Trinidad. The importation is the result of a speculative trial, the report on which is that cotton may be cultivated profitably and successfully in Trinidad. The parcel is stated to be the cleanest that has yet been received from the West Indies. A SUBSTITUTE FOR COTTON. On the 28th of August a communication was published in the London Times from the legal firm of PHILLIPS & SON, of Abchurch Lane, London, stating on behalf of a client, that a material had been discovered as a substitute for American cotton, which possesses not only all the qualities of that staple, but is capable of being produced in any quantity and at a small expense. Of course such an announcement was received with distrust, and most persons of full experience must continue to view the matter with the same feeling, until they have seen the article in question submitted to an actual working test. But in the Times of September 8th, we find the following on the same subject, which leads us to feel that possibly this discovery will not share the fate of the multitude of others that in times of emergency are suddenly broached, but which, when they come to an actual working test, are found to break down in some essential point, either of quality, quantity, or price. The Times says "that the proper and prudent steps taken by the parties concerned, have already elicited the subjoined expression of opinion from a disinterested and competent source, which will at all events tend greatly to stimulate the interest awakened and also the hope of some favorable result: SIR: Having been in the cotton trade all my life, though now retired and only a looker on, but still taking great interest in all that concerns it, I read Messrs. PHILLIPS & SON's letter in your money article of this day week, and your remarks. I wrote to Messrs. PHILLIPS the same evening, and have since had two interviews with them and their client, in Liverpool. I have seen the material proposed as a substitute for cotton in several small specimens, and can speak to its color, length, and fineness being all that can be desired. The other quality necessary, viz.: strength, I can only speak of by what was stated, that it is as strong, or stronger than cotton, that it can be supplied in large quantity, and at a price as low or lower than the average price of cotton, which I told them was about 6d. per pound. I have stated simply what I have seen and heard. And further, both Mr. PHILLIPS and his friend are so straightforward, and even modest in what they say and propose, as to a still more thorough investigation of the subject, the profound gravity of which is apparent to every one, that I write this in the hope to promote that object. I am, most respectfully, September 3d. JAMES HARDY WRIGLEY, Late of the firm of JOHN WRIGLEY & SONS, Liverpool. "A further communication on the subject has been received from Messrs. PHILLIPS & SON, in which they state the readiness of their client on certain moderate terms to make his invention public, so as to save the trade of the country from the time that would be lost in the preliminaries of a patent: SIR: We shall be glad if you will allow us to state that the insertion of our letter respecting the supply of cotton, in the Times of the 28th of August, has been responded to by many gentlemen and eminent firms, and otherwise attended with very gratifying results. The material produced by our client has been submitted by him to the inspection of Mr. JAMES HARDY WRIGLEY, of Southport, as one of those who responded and a competent authority on the subject, and, so far, the expectations entertained of the article are completely confirmed. To finally establish, however, its practical value, and render it available in the promptest manner, our client has addressed to Mr. WRIGLEY a communication, of which we send you the accompanying copy, in which he engages to make his secret public property and states the conditions on which he is prepared to do so. Our client's views and desires are sufficiently disinterested to make pecuniary reward a consideration of secondary importance under the circumstances, and hence we make no doubt the co-operation required will soon be secured, and shall be glad to receive communications from those willing to afford it in the way proposed. Your very ABCHURCH LANE, September 5th. obedient servants, PHILLIPS & SON. September, 1862. SIR: Since your first letter was to hand I have received some very advantageous offers of assistance from various parties, but it has occurred to me that a considerable period must elapse before the completion of my patent, and, consequently, before I should be able openly to manufacture the raw material, the season would be rapidly passing away; neither should I be able to produce a sufficient quantity for present purposes; nor could the granting of licenses take effect for some time. All this would be obviated if every manufacturer were able to procure the article without delay, and, as the present is no ordinary emergency and requires no common sacrifice, I beg to state that I am willing to make my invention public property upon certain conditions which are herewith sent. If the conditions are not deemed satisfactory, I am prepared to consider any modification of them. You are at liberty to make this letter public, together with the conditions, if you deem such a course desirable. Being actively engaged in the city, I do not wish my name to be published at the present time, as I should be inundated with letters and inquiries. All communications may be addressed to Messrs. PHILLIPS & SON. Your most obedient servant, J. H. WRIGLEY, Esq., Southport. CONDITIONS. THE INVENTor. 1. That a committee of not less than ten responsible gentlemen be formed, who will guaranty to raise a sum of £--, and who will undertake to use all reasonable means to procure a further sum by subscription or otherwise to the inventor. The amount to be specially agreed upon. 2. That on such committee being formed, and consenting to act, the inventor will submit the cotton produced to such person or persons as may be agreed upon, for the purpose of being tested and analyzed. 3. That the inventor shall be present at all experiments made. 4. That the success shall be determined on the report of the person or persons deputed to test and analyze that the product will answer all the purposes of cotton, or is better than cotton, and that an adequate and immediate supply can be obtained. 5. The inventor reserves to himself all the patent rights for the exclusive use, &c., of the product, or the article or thing from which it is produced for other purposes than textile fabrics. In the Times of the 12th instant we find another article on this same general subject of substitutes for cotton, referring, however, not to the discovery claimed above, but to a method of treating jute which will enable it to be spun on cotton machinery, &c. The writer says: "Excitement continues to increase in the market for the various products to which attention has been turned. Owing to the scarcity of cotton and flax, hemp and jute have all experienced a further advance to-day. In jute the improvement has lately been extraordinary, the present quotation showing a rise of £8 per ton, or more than 25 per cent upon that current a week back. The movement appears to have been greatly accelerated to-day by a statement that Messrs. THOMSON & Co., of Deafield works, Dundee, have introduced a method for its treatment which will enable it to be spun on cotton machinery, and, in fact, to fulfill in a great degree the purposes of that staple. At the same time there are a number of other people putting forth suggestions and claims, and a certain kind of Italian grass is spoken of as a desirable product. Should jute, however, prove really available to the extent anticipated by Messrs. THOMSON, it will be likely to take the lead of all other articles owing to the great abundance in which it can be obtained. About ten or fifteen years ago it was scarcely known as an article of commerce, but the quanity now annually exported from India is thought to be 70,000 or 80,000 tons. It comes principally from the eastern parts of Bengal, and is very easy to cultivate. The first purpose to which it was applied on a large scale was the manufacture of gunny bags, and subsequently it has been introduced for the manufacture of carpets, which have been used in considerable quantities in America. A year would be required before a new crop could be supplied, but it could then be furnished to meet any possible demand." On the following day the same writer says: "The number of applicants yesterday at the counting-house of Messrs. ROBINSON & FLEMING to inspect the samples of prepared jute under the patent of THOMSON & Co., of Dundee, was very great. Those among them who are woolen spinners are stated generally to have expressed a decided opinion as to the value and adaptability of the material for mixing with woolen manufactures. The cotton spinners also seemed disposed to consider that it will answer very well for mixing with cotton in the manufacture of cloths, although not for use alone as an entire substitute for cotton. It is stated that the quantity of jute now afloat for London |