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July 1, 51, to July 1, '52.

Imports direct from Rio,...... bags 325,957

66

coastwise of Rio,..... 66

34,821

July 1, '52,
to July 1, '53.

354,515
26,370

July 1, 53, to July 1, '54.

241,778 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

1851-52......

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383,340 381,513 283,235

bags 90,105 1852-3 98,278

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Sales Rio Coffee for the year ending July 1st, 1852...... 371,278

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1st, 1853...... 322,146 1st, 1854...... 323,930

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Increase of sales for consumption in 1858 -4................

29,056

323,930

322,146

1,784

Sales and Average Prices of Coffee for Past Year.

1853, July......15,597.... 8.75 | 1854, Feb......38,148....10.70

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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 New York..... ... 203,613

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To Charleston............ 11,451

Decrease ef exports from Rio to U. S. this year compared

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with 1852-3....

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Total export from Rio to all parts of the world, from

111,792
4,229

66

66

66

66

'52-3,1,066,311 '51-2, 907,424

278,268

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May 1, 1853, to May 1, 1854......

May 1, 1852, to May 1, 1853..

1,599,928

1,968,625

1,825,779

May 1, 1851, to May 1, 1852......

Estimated stock of Coffee on hand in Rio, May 1, 1854... 60,000

Stock of Coffee on hand at all the importing ports of the

United States is estimated at this day...
Same period last year.......

... 143,000

230,000

Decrease of stock this year in United States..........

87,000

Sales for consumption in the U. S. in 1851-2.

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Increase
Quuantity of Coffee imported into the United States
from all Countries for five years ending June
30th 1853. Compiled from the Registers Re-
port:

For the year ending June 30th, 1849.......

Hb165,334,700

1853-4........ 875,043

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... 90,957 1851-2 30,043

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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," "High 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.

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THE EXISTING COMMERCIAL DEPRESSION. Though we have so often referred to the discouraging aspect 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

prises-when we produced not within our borders one pound of any thing that we consumed. The difference of period and of condition of country, enters not into the calculation of persons abroad. Time was, when almost any conceivable species of merchandise shipped hither brought remunerative returns. That time has passed away. We have become a producing people, and want little from abroad. Yet those who have formerly and advantageously supplied us, tell us they know all about our market, and in illustration of this knowledge heap upon us new cargoes of merchandise which cannot be sold at first cost-and this in the face of our earnest protestation that we want no more. The question suggests itself, can this state of things last always? Will eastern shippers never tire of continued loss? Must there ever be new batches of candidates for ruin rising up to supply the places of those who have sunk under the losses incurred by their over-trading with us? It would seem indeed that the infatuation which has ruined so many, is not likely to have a speedy termination. Ships continue to fill up," and to arrive-and their cargoes continue to find their way to storehouses, and thence, after a few months' expensive slumber, to the auction rooms. And accounts of sales go home, showing a meagre fraction of original cost, or no fraction at all! And yet our eastern friends affect to know all about our market. They tell us so, and show that they are in earnest by their acts. They regard the low prices that have so long ruled as temporary, and look forward to a revival-and worse, often instruct to hold for paying rates. Would it avail, we could tell them once for all, that for the goods they have sent us, such prices can

never come.

We are cognisant of large invoices of goods, which but for such instructions, might have been sold at a comparative trifling loss months ago, but which now, with accumulated expenses on them, and in the face of constantly receding prices, can never bring back to the shipper a sum within fifty per cent. of the original outlay. Merchants here regard the matter in its true light, and as far as compatable with instructions, are closing out consignments. In this way only can they in many instances, make the goods pay the expenses attendant on their importation and safe keeping, and this state of affairs will probably, for months to come, keep our market quotations at a low ebb.

If these quotations should produce a most desirable effect in the right quarter-if they should induce the conviction that out of California, little or nothing is correctly known of the peculiarities of California trade-then the result cannot fail of being beneficial to commercial pursuits, both here and abroad. Persons who desire to supply this market with merchandise should know more about us and our wants-our resources, and our capacity to conUntil they so acquaint themselves, and regulate their shipments accordingly, they must continue to be losers by the traffic.

sume.

HIGH RENTS.

We offered some remarks yesterday on the subject of the present depressed condition of trade in this city, and set forth what we deemed some of the leading causes. We assumed the position. that there were too many persons among us engaged in mercantile pursuits, and too many goods pressing on the market, to admit of a lucrative trade. There are still other causes in existence, however, which conspire with those named to render the calling of the merchant unprofitable, and among these the fictitious value of real estate, and its attendant high rents, are potent of evil.

The intrinsic value of real estate, it seems to us, can only be measured correctly by the business prosperity of its locality. Business men, not themselves the owners of real estate, may for a time struggle under an enormous weight of taxation in the way of rents, but when they find that their business is no longer sufficiently productive to warrant the taxation, they have but one recourse, and that is, to vacate the premises occupied, and direct their attention to other and less onerous pursuits. And we think the time has about arrived when a large portion of our mercantile community will take this view of the matter. Very many have labored assiduously for the last year, but labored in vain, to save something over and above their expenses, and are becoming thoroughly disgusted with the task of working for their landlords and finding themselves.

Property owners tell us that the percentage on investments, in the way of rents, high though they be, is much less than would be the returns for money loaned on real estate security.

After taxes &c., are paid, they say they can scarcely realize more than two per cent. per month, while on loans the rate of interest if from three to five per cent. This may be all true, but it does not render the condition of the tenant a morsel the better. If the business of the latter is not sufficiently productive, he must relinquish it, and the building which he occupied must lie idle. So far as the landlord is concerned, it matters not at what interest he could have loaned his money. The investment is already made, and he must either receive a lessened rate of interest, or none at all Beside, the enhanced value of money in the way of loans is mainly dependant on commercial embarrassment. Let one half the number of mercantile firms now engaged in business retire, and this embarrassment will decrease in the same ratio, and as a consequence, the rates of interest on loans must decline. Would it not be more wise therefore in the real estate owner to so far reduce his rents as to bring them within the paying reach of tenants? Building improvements for the last year, have been to a greater extent than the trade of the city required, and houses must either be occupied at moderate rents, or left unoccupied.

A stroll through the principal business streets of the city would be convincive of this, for already has the work of vacation com

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