do not mean that it has more of everything | supplies. This may be overcome, however, than any other state-it has less of some as soon as teams are employed to carry the things; for instance, it has less coal than ore to market. A trifling encourage ment Pennsylvania, yet it has more than the whole from the business men of this place would island of Great Britain. It probably has not immediately bring a vast trade to their as much lead as Wisconsin, but much of it has houses directly, and a greater indirectly, by two or three times the value of Wisconsin creating a cash market in the country for its lead, ou account of the silver it contains. As agricultural products, which would find its to iron, there is no state that has it in greater way to this market-profiting thereby this quantity, or of better quality. Its manganese trade. You will please pardon this digres would supply the wants of the world, as to sion, and I will devote a few lines to another, that article, if there were none any where the "Ballah mine." The Ballah mine is in else. In zinc, it will excel any other state, township seven, (7) range thirty-two (32) unless we except New-Jersey. It has more west, in Sevier county, Arkansas, on the Rolgypsum than all the other states together, so ling Fork of Little River, seven miles north far as is known; and salt is no less abundant of east from Ultima Thule, on the state line. than gypsum-it is connected with it. In For a description of this mine, and its history. marble, it does not fall behind any other you are referred to the communication of state; and it contains several very valuable Locum Tenens, published in the Herald of kinds of building materials not found any the 7th of February last. I will conclude where else in the Valley of the Mississippi. this hasty sketch, by presenting the subjoined note from Geo. G. Shumard, M. D., of this place-in whose judgment I place great confidence. ALFRED PADON. "But it is not always that valuable minerals or building materials can be rendered at once available, especially in a new country. This is a matter which requires to be studied, "Fort Smith, March 20. 1851. as well as the character of the minerals them- "Dear Sir-I thankfully acknowledge the selves. Some things can be worked to ad- receipt of a number of fine specimens of mevantage only after a country has acquired tallic ores from your mines. Having inspected such a degree of development as to create a them separately, I am induced to think that demand for their use. Such is the case, for the veins from which they have been obtained, the most part, with building materials, gyp-will, if properly worked, prove profitable. sum, etc." ARKANSAS-MINERALS.-The Hazard Mines are in the Choctaw Nation, about six miles west of the state line, opposite the centre of the west boundary line of Polk county in this state, on a little river-a tributary of the Mountain Fork of Little River," called Buffalo. The vein rock is composed of green stone, porphyry, an inferior article of granite, quartz, felspar, calcareous spar, shale, and argelite; and evidently owes its present contorted state to igneous action. Its width is about forty vards, and from six to seven miles in length. On each side of this range slate is the prevailing mineral; subdivided into clay, mica, shale, and argelite, and after a depth of 20 feet, the interstices are filled with calcareous spar. Nearly every variety of silver and lead ores have been found in this mine; a trace of copper, and in large quantities, the crystalized sulphuret of iron. I have not as yet discovered any specimens of pure galena, or lead ore; nevertheless, I think we have it amalgamated with the ores of silver, and should be designated as "argen tiferous galena," or "silver bearing lead ore." One of the greatest disadvantages to the prosperity of this mine, is its remote distance from navigation, which subjects it to an enormous and injurious expense of one hundred miles land carriage, at twenty dollars per ton. The great distance of these mines from navigation, produces another hindrance of magnitude-the procurement of necessary You are, doubtless, well aware of the dif ficulty always experienced in determining the character of metalliferous veins, from the the surface; but from your description of the mere inspection of specimens collected near associated rock, the character of the matrix, veins themselves, I am strongly of the opinion as well the dip and general appearance of the that you have, in their purchase, made a very safe investment." ARKANSAS-COAL MINES.-Perhaps it is not generally known that there is coal in Arkan sas; and when this is the case, it may not be known whether it exists in such a quantity. or possesses such a quality, as to render it an object worthy of attention. Though the exact limits of the coal field of Arkansas, and consequently its extent, have not been very definitely made out, nor all its varieties brought to light; yet enough is already known, both as to its quantity and quality, to give full assurance to a hundred times more mining enterprise than the wants of the country will soon require. The coal field of Arkansas commences about forty miles above Little Rock, on the Arkansas River, and extends up the river, on both sides, far beyond the limits of the state. I certainly know of its being from twenty to thirty miles broad, and frequently hear of coal being found to a considerable distance outside of those limits. Its length is more than a hundred miles within the state, extending, I know not how far, into the Indian territory. No coal field could lie more ad vantageously than it does for mining purposes, as the river running lengthwise through its whole extent, must occasion very numerous placers, where it can be mined above the water level. This is a great advantage, as it diminishes the expenses of mining, and renders the mine entirely safe from those disastrous explosions from carbureted hydrogen gas, which often occur in those which lie below the water level. As yet, very little mining has been done, more than to supply a few blacksmiths in the neighborhood, and to furnish a few boat loads for Little Rock. It is not yet known how many beds there are in the series ; nor is it of so much practical importance to know, as one good one is sufficient. The thickness of the veins, so far as it is known, is about the same that it is in the coal fields on the Ohio. There are three distinct species of coal known, viz., anthracite, bituminous, and cannel coal; but there is an almost infinite number of varieties, occupying every possible shade of difference between the most perfectly formed anthracite, on the one hand, and of cannel on the other. They run into each other by such slight variations, that it is almost impossible to which species certain varieties most properly belong; indeed, they do not belong to the one species more than to the other, but partly to both. Nevertheless, they are none the worse for that. and could find no market; because they did not, with the same kind of grate and manage. ment, succeed equally well with the Pittsburg coal. But afterwards, when their true character came to be known, they have taken their place in the market according to their real merit. The greater part of the coals in Arkansas is, like that of all other coal fields, bituminous; indeed, this is far the most common kind all over the world. But several varieties of bituminous coal have already come to light, and, doubtless, many more will, as its development progresses. I know not that any true cannel coal has yet been found, but some of the bituminous approaches a little towards it; and there is little doubt that it will be found, as it exists in all our other coal fields. But anthracite, well-marked anthracite, has been found, though not as yet of sufficient thickness to admit of being worked. Yet there is strong ground for believing that it does exist in quantity, and that a proper search would bring it to light. There are two reasons for this belief; one is, that a small quantity, as already stated, has been found; another is, that a portion of the coal field has been disturbed-and the rocks, together with the coal, are highly inclined. Anthracite coal is never found in rocks lying horizontally, though it does not follow that This is one of the ways by which Provi- all coals found in highly inclined rocks are dence has shown, as in all His works, the anthracite. That portion of the great Pennbenevolence of His character, by furnishing sylvania coal field only in which the rocks us with as great a variety in this most im- have been very much disturbed, and conseportant fuel, as there is in the uses to which quently are highly inclined, produces anthrait is to be applied. There is no one kind of cite. This leads to the conclusion, that the coal that will answer for all purposes; nor is same cause which produced the disturbance, there any kind that is useless, or unsuited to produced also the anthracite; or, in other some purpose. It is for the want of know-words, couverted bituminous coal into anledge of these facts, that people pronounce certain kinds of coal as poor, or even worthless, because they do not deport themselves in the same manner in the fire, that other coals do with which they are acquainted. Every variety of coal is suited to the production of some specific effect, and requires a corresponding variety in the treatment of its combustion. It is not pretended that all kinds of coal are of equal value, any more than that all kinds of wood are; yet many varieties of coal are very much undervalued, for want of a proper knowledge to the uses to which they are best suited, or to the best manner of using them. Thirty years ago, anthracite coal was thought to be utterly useless, because it would not burn in the kind of grates then in use; and it was remarked that it never would be burned until the last great couflagration. But a small change in the form of the grate soon showed it to be the most valuable fuel ever known. Several varieties of the Ohio river coals have been pronounced of little or no value, thracite, by driving off its bitumen. A variety of coal, having very little bitumen, or in other words, almost anthracite, has been found under circumstances which lead to the belief that it exists in inexhaustible quantities. From what has been said, it would seem that there is no deficiency in the quantity or quality of Arkansas coals. There is little or no doubt that every variety of coal which the multiplied wants of man may hereafter require, will in due time be found to have been laid up there in store for him by the Great Provider, thousands of years before these wants existed, in anticipation of them. And there is no little doubt that this is the best source, and that it will ultimately be the principal source from which the lower por tion of the Mississippi Valley will be supplied. B. LAWRENCE, Geologist. ARKANSAS-RIVER LANDS-INFORMATION USEFUL TO EMIGRANTS AND OTHERSThe lands donated to the State of Arkansas by the general government, and known as the "Swamp Land Donation," are just now | best and most durable cotton and corn lands attracting the attention of the public. When in the South. we take into consideration the facts, that they are now being rapidly and permanently reclaimed by a general system of leveeing; that a large proportion of them need no reclamation; that they are the finest and cheapest lands in the Southwest; and are gradually but surely coming into market by the new settlements forming here and there on their borders-it is not to be wondered at, that they should begin to draw a very large share of the public notice. Four hundred thousand acres of these lands lie in Crittendon county alone, just opposite the county of Shelby. On one side of this immense tract is the Mississippi, on the other the St. Francis River, both navigable at all seasons. Through the centre runs (or will soon run) a plauk-road, already partly constructed, and the whole line under contract. And, judging from the indications not only in that state, but here in this city, we may now expect that it will be but a few years before a rail-road will be running alongside the plank-road. all the way to Little Rock. One half of these 400,000 acres never did overflow, and the levees now being constructed will secure all the rest from the highest floods of the Father of Waters. Mississippi county, just above Crittenden on the river, also contains a very large amount of the lands of this donation-estimated at 450,000 acres. These, we are informed, are mostly choice lands, are as yet wholly unap propriated, and above any overflow without a levee. Green, Poinsett, St. Francis, Jackson, Monroe, Phillips, De Sha, Chicot, Arkansas, Jefferson, Ashley. Drew, and a portion of many others of the best counties in the state, are subject to the Swamp Land Donation. In all, the grant is believed to comprise about ten millions of acres, all of which will be exempt from tax ten years in any event; but if not reclaimed within ten years, with out tax until reclaimed. Greater inducements were never before offered to settlers, nor to those who wish to make investments in scrip. There is little doubt that these lands can be purchased from the Levee Contractors (who are paid in scrip) much lower than land can be obtained even in Texas. They seem determined to make the levee, and of course, will sell large amounts of scrip to carry on their contracts to successful completion. In Crittenden county alone, there are now 600 hands at work, and in thirty days the principal outlets. through which the overflows have penetrated, will be stopped, thus saving the lands in that county from inundation during the coming spring, and from that time forth. It should, however be distinctly borne in mind, that there are vast bodies and ridges of these lands which are of the class commonly called second bottom, and known to be the BREADSTUFFS-FOREIGN AND AMERICAN CORN TRADE.-We shall briefly consider the history of British policy in relation to the subject under discussion, furnish statistics of the foreign corn trade, and exhibit the past and the present condition, as well as the future prospects of our own country, in the same connection. The first corn system adopted in Great Britain was that of non-exportation. This prevailed for three hundred years prior to the reign of Henry VI. It was not seen here, that to prevent the exportation of a commodity, was to prevent its production above the lowest wants of a country, and increase the danger of famine. In 1436, exportation was tolerated, but only with severe restrictions; and importation, which had hitherto been free, began now to be saddled with conditions. In 1562, exportation was placed on a footing more disadvantageous to it, by requiring the price to be four shillings per quarter higher at home, before it was allow ed. In 1571, a duty on grain exports was adopted. This proved so unpopular in time to the agriculturists themselves, that in 1672 it was taken off, and substituted by one more favorable to exportation. A new system was now introduced utterly at war with those of a previous date. By the statute 1 William and Mary, a bounty was actually held out to exporters of five shillings on every quarter of wheat, while the price continued at or below forty-eight shillings: so singular has been the fluctuation. For a number of years, under the operation of this system, there were large exports of grain, which, in ten years, drew upon the bounty fund to the amount of £1,515,000. Even this, however, did not have the effect desired. The severe and almost prohibitory restrictions on imports, adopted in an act of 1670, and the great augmentation of popula tion, reduced largely the excess of exportation, and occasioned another important change in the policy of the country. A statute of 1773, admitted foreign wheat free of duty, whenever the price was above forty-eight shillings per quarter. The prices in 1772-3-4, were fifty, fifty-one, and fifty-two shillings. The liberal toleration of grain imports by the statute of 1773, gave great dissatisfac tion to the landed interests, who had weight enough soon to procure its modification, by raising the scale when imports would be allowed, with a nominal duty, from forty-eight to fifty-four shillings. The bounty upon exports was still continued. Thirteen years after (1804), the agriculturists cried out again, and raised the scale of imposts still higher, viz: to 66 shillings, when every kind of soil was at once taken into cultivation, even the poorest. Under this exclusive system, corn rose in 1814 to an unpredented height, and millions of bushels poured into the kingdom, which occasioned new alarm to the landholders. A monstrous bill was prepared, which, had it been adopted in Parliament, would have proved absolutely ruinous to the interests of the poorer classes. Its only object could have been to keep up the prices reached in 1814. Wheat, when under sixtyfour shillings the quarter at home, was to be charged with a duty of twenty-four shillings; when it exceeded eighty-six shillings, the duty only then was to be one shilling, or nominal. The nation, almost by one accord, rose up in condemnation of so odious a measure, and the ministers had not face enough to press it into operation. The following table exhibits the position of Great Britain in relation to the corn trade, for the hundred years preceding the year 1800 : WHEAT AND FLOUR EXPORTED AND IMPORTED FROM 1697 To 1800-Winchester Measure. But and other grain in proportion. This was intended to raise prices up to eighty shillings, and render them permanent at that. the signal disappointment of these grind ing and greedy interests is exhibited in the preceding table, taken from McCulloch, vol. 1. p. 505. To remedy the new evil of exceedingly fluctuating, and at times low prices, Parliament was again set to work-so strange was the persistence in a course in its nature radically wrong. Importation was, as usual, looked upon as the great evil to be provided against; and the statute 3 George IV., 1822, loaded it with heavy duties, whenever the prices, above seventy shillings at home, appeared likely to stimulate it. But prices, to the regret of agriculturists, remained down provokingly under seventy shillings. In 1825, wheat was allowed to be imported from British America without any regard to the home prices; a step too liberal to be continued for more than one year. In 1826, there was a large deficiency in production, and the sovereign was authorized to admit 500,000 quarters foreign wheat, on favorable terms. And decreasing progressively 1s. duty for each shil ling in price to 73s. when the duty shall be Is., and continue at that whatever the elevation in price. In relation to Canadian wheat, a difference is made, which has, to some extent, stimulated our operations with Canada, and occasioned that province to conduct for us our foreign corn trade. Wheat, if the produce of, and imported from, Canada, is allowed to enter English markets at a duty of one shilling the quarter; and flour, at four and oneeighth pence the cwt. In 1827, a general dissatisfaction was exhibited in every quarter, in relation to the corn system. It was discovered to have only been one continued source of evil to the nation, and a permanent benefit to none. Right views began for once to be taken on the sub-regulate itself, she would never have experiHad England allowed the grain market to ject; and Mr. Canning, the minister, pre-enced those reverses which have grown out pared to act on a new principle. He was of her unwise legislation; corn would not sustained by the Commons; but the Duke of have ranged from 125s. the quarter in 1812, Wellington, in the House of Lords, tacked on a clause to the bill, which defeated it. The following year, Mr. Charles Grant proposed a measure, which soon after became a law. It was based upon the principles of Mr. Canning (liberal for the times), but in its details was far less advantageous, we conceive, to the interests of the nation. We furnish the scale of duties provided for in this bill, on the article of wheat: to 38s. Îd. in 1822, 68s. in 1825, 39s. in but she would have had a constant supply, 1835, and we scarcely know what in 1845; and a scale of prices which would render prosperous both her producers and her con sumers. We may suppose that these deareffect, and that a free grain market will take bought lessons will soon have their proper the place of all restrictions upon either exports or imports. In this way, when there is an expected scarcity, grain will be thrown into her ports from every quarter; and when Providence has abundantly crowned her 238. farmers, they will be able to appear to ad228. vantage in foreign markets, should it ever happen that they can more than supply their Whenever the home price is- Whenever the home price is over- 21s. 18s. own. 66 648. 658. 208. 168. 13s. The increasing population of Great Britain, and the vast amount of it engaged in manu6s. facturing purposes, every year becoming pro28. portionately greater, will, in despite of the improvements in agriculture there, and the supplies which the Irish market may afford, render that country in all future time an immense grain importer. It will be in vain for her to look at home; willingly or not, she must depend to a very great extent upon the world without, for those supplies which are indispensable to her existence. For the fourteen years ending in 1842, her imports were as follows, of foreign and colonial wheat: This tariff of duties continued in operation for many years, and gave way at last to the present sliding scale, as it is termed, which Sir Robert Peel and the British Parliament have been struggling to maintain against the crying wants of the nation. A proposition to modify it was voted down by an immense majority, only last year, and the Premier declared that no essential modification should ever take place. Events, however, in that country, are now giving a new aspect to the question; and there is no power, which, we think, can be strong enough to resist the influence of popular sentiment. We extract from the British tariff, as now existing, (1846) its provisions in relation to the corn trade. Wheat, if imported from Foreign Countries. Whenever the average price at home, made up and published in the manner provided by law, shall be Under 51s. the duty per quarter shall £1 08. Od. be... Over 51s. and under 52s. the duty per quarter shall be. |