The total number of Iron works of all kinds in the State is 504; the capital invested in lands, buildings and machinery, $20,502,076; the number of men employed, 30,103; the number of horses employed, 13,562. The capital invested includes only such lands and buildings as belong to the Iron master, and such as are directly dependent on the Iron works for their value. Thus the value of farms, grist, and saw mills, and similar property, horses, wagons, tools, and the like; and the dwellings of workmen near large cities, are excluded, because, though belonging to the works, they have an independent value. The consumption of fuel in all the Iron works of the State in 1847 was as follows: Anthracite coal, 483,000 tons, at an average value of $3 per ton, $1,449,000 450,380 2,980,504 $4,879,884 Both wood and coal are so abundant in the State, that they have scarcely any value beyond the cost of the labor of getting them to market, and the amount sent to market is only limited by the demand. The reader may infer from the foregoing, the immense interest which Pennsylvania has in the Iron Trade. Yet it is to be considered that only a minority of the citizens of the state are interested in the iron trade, excluding all the farmers; and while the iron manufacturers complain of a want of due protection against foreign competition, the iron consumers set themselves strongly against any change which would increase the price of an article so necessary in almost every art. STEAMERS AND CONSUMPTION OF COAL AT NOTHING can more strongly exhibit the sudden development of commerce in this part of the world, and the gigantic arrangements so promptly made for its extension, than the steam fleet now navigating the coasts and rivers of the North Pacific. The annexed table is designed to enumerate the ocean steamers sailing from the port of San Francisco for the southern ports, and terminating at Panama; also the ocean steamers engaged in navigating the north coast, and terminating at Portland, Oregon; and finally the fleet of steamers engaged in navigating the rivers of Upper California--the whole amounting to 83 steam vessels, large and small, and measuring 19,600 tons. The statement regarding the consumption of coal, is the result of a minute estimate made by Messrs. Wm. McCan & Co., of San Francisco, and may be depended upon as approaching to accuracy. The inland fleet, including tow-boats, consists of sixty steamers, large and small. Of these there are seven whose owners import their own coal, leaving the remainder, for the most part small vessels, dependent on this market for their supply; and from an accurate investigation it appears that they consume monthly 1,100 tons, due allowance being made for such as are withdrawn for repairs and other causes. The consumption of the seven steamers for which coals are imported, is estimated at 1,000 tons monthly; showing the total consumption of coals by the river steamers to be 2,100 tons monthly. The directors of the ocean steamers and a portion of the river boats, are importers of coal for their own consumption. Occa sionally, however, low prices may induce them to become buyers, and high prices, if their stocks permitted, might induce some to become sellers. The monthly consumption of coal, usually dependent upon this market for its supply, may be estimated at 3,300 tons; but at present nearly all the consumers of coal are importers, so that the quantity changing hands is comparatively small. About one third of the whole consumption is anthracite, the remaining two thirds being bituminous. Of the anthracite, consumers prefer Lackawanna, and of the bituminous, the preference is given to Cardiff coals. GENERAL SUMMARY OF COAL CONSUMPTION. Monthly consumption of coal by the River Steamers Tons. 66 66 "Mail Line to Panama 500 500 "Steamers for Southern Ports. 630 Monthly consumption of coal by the steamers for Northern ports, Tons. 1,150 300 120 5,300 This estimate has no reference to coals taken on board during the voyage. A COMPARATIVE VIEW OF THE COMMERCE OF GREAT BRITAIN AND THE UNITED STATES, FOR 1850. Entered Ports of Great Britain and United States for the fiscal year, 1850. TRADE OF CANADA IN 1850. THE following is the value of Canadian imports for 1850, in Halifax currency, (four dollars to the pound): Duty. £233,536 19 30 per cent 66 The duties paid on goods imported were as follows: 42,854 9 5 23,319 13 10 12,857 6 4,663 19 2 1955 25 46 Free goods The value of the Exports from Canada during the same period |