H duction of work in the weaving establishments has assumed proportions as great, if not greater than in the spinning manufactures. The printed cottons.-The manufacture of prints has been little carried on in 1862. The great quantity of printed tissues on hand, and the impossibility of obtaining remunerative prices, have forced the printers to reduce their work more than one half. For want of outlets, or market, many towards the end of the year stopped work altogether. The flax industry-preparation of flax.-The flax harvest of 1862 has produced an average return; but the commerce of the raw material has been briskly invigorated both by the high price and scarcity of cotton-wool, as well as the work in preparing flax has given to it great advantages. At Deyuze, where the steeping of the flax is undergone in the Lys, this work has been very active. We can equally point to the development which the commerce of tow has assumed in this locality. At Eecloo, the facilities and advantages which the steeping in the new canal of Schipdonck offers, had induced the cultivators to sow flax more considerably than in other years. Thus, the labor on flax had given occupation to a great many hands in this district, and produced the most favorable results. The bluish flax is exported to France; the yellowish, steeped in the canal of Schipdonck, is despatched in great quantities to England. The manufactories of flax and tow.-The year 1862, without being able to be termed brilliant, has been, nevertheless, as a general result, favorable to the fax spinning mills. The first seven months of the year passed off in regular and sustained operations, without variations in the prices. The production and sale were so balanced as to preserve in the warehouses a stock sufficiently well supplied. Towards the month of August, considerable demands for threads were declared. This was, for that year, the event of the year. The increasing dearth of cotton, and the excessive demands of this article, had driven a great many of the traders to seek after a material which could supply the place of cotton. The threads of flax and of tow were naturally regarded as proper substitutes for cotton threads in many cases. The impulse being given, the stocks rapidly shipped off, and at an advance; many of the engagements were, however, contracted under these conditions. This state of things passed off to the period when the flax of the new crop commenced to come into market. The rise did not delay to be communicated to the raw material, which went up about thirty per cent.; upon threads it reached about twenty per cent., which sustains the relation which exists between the two prices. By way of summary, all the flax establishments of this district, the implements of which were estimated at about one hundred and twenty thousand spindles, and the number of artisans about six thousand, have been in full activity during the whole year. One can also note the tendency of this industry to augment its means of production, at the same time the rise continues in the wages which are paid to the artisans. But it is a yet more happy circumstance to be able to declare the prosperity of the linen industry, which, by its activity, has so powerfully contributed to protect from frightful misery a portion of the families affected by the stagnancy forced upon the cotton manufactures. Weaving. The manufacture of linen cloth, and of the tows, was active during the first three quarters of the year 1862. In the month of October, the rise in threads intervene to fetter work; and in the month of November, it proved to be a stagnation sufficiently marked. The cause of this circumstance is to be attributed to this: that the government of the Low Countries, with the view to protect the cloth fabrics of Northern Brabant, has raised the custom duties upon Belgian cloth from one to five per cent., dating from the 6th of November Îast. The Holland market, however, tends to avail the Belgian flax manufacturers; already the exportation of the whitened cloths in the direction of Holland has become almost nothing. The manufacture of fabrics for veils remained stationary in 1862. Laces. This industry has been seriously affected by political events. The outlets for them have steadily failed; the small ordinary laces, principally the description called the Valencian, alone have been found to keep a position. The uneasiness of this industry has produced unhappy consequences to the immense working population which is employed in the districts for making laces. The woollen industry-spinning manufactories.-The scarcity of the cotton threads has actively during the entire year 1862 invigorated the demand for woollen threads, both combed and carded. The consumption, which abandoned the cotton cloths, has produced high prices for these, embracing woollen tissues, partly pure, partly mixed. Besides, the woollen spinning mills at Eecloo and Ghent have been in full activity during the whole year, and they have readily found money for their products. The manufacturers of Eecloo during the year 1862 again augmented their means of production. Weaving. The manufacture of the tissues of pure wool has been active during the whole year; it has been the same with the manufacture of the mixed tissues, the principal branch of the industry at Eecloo. Tissues of silk.-The work in this branch of industry carried on at Deyuze has been in a languishing condition during the whole of the year. The wages of the workmen have been inadequate, and a great many weavers have abandoned this description of business. Construction of machines-machinery.-The unfavorable situation of the most of the industries has necessarily reacted upon machinery and the construction of machines since the work for the interior has been very limited. Many of the principal constructors, nevertheless, have for many years made strenuous efforts to send off the results of their industry, and they are indebted to the superiority of their workmanship for seeing their efforts crowned with success. They have learned to relieve measurably the local sufferings, and their establishments have been preserved in activity during the entire year. The construction of railroad materials has been very active in such establishments where this species of labor is carried on. The manufacture of cord trimmings has been affected by the stagnation of work in the cotton spinning mills. The refining of sugar.-This industry has suffered from the languor of affairs generally. The production has been nearly the same as in 1861, but the refiners have been forced to realize their products at greatly reduced prices. Breweries and distilleries.-The well marked diminution in the labor of the breweries in 1861 was partially regained in 1862. In the work of the distilleries we remark, on the contrary, a reduction attributable, in the town distilleries, to the influence of the industrial crisis. As to the rural distilleries, the low price of hay has reacted upon their products. The oil industry.-The crop of oleaginous grains has been an ordinary yield, but affected by some unfavorable circumstances and a season too humid. The importations of foreign grains were inferior to those of the year preceding by two millions of kilogrammes. The price of grains has continued almost constantly too high to permit to the manufacturer a sufficient profit to remunerate his labor; thus many of the manufactories have been unable to maintain themselves in activity. Another circumstance has concurred to enhance yet more the position of this industry; this is the extensive importations of American mineral oil. This oil makes for the pure vegetable oils a competition which the latter cannot sustain-the more so, that the mineral oil is entry free. Chemical productions-sulphates, salts and crystals of soda, acids, and chlorines.-The continuation of the American crisis, and the putting in force of the treaty of commerce with England, have exercised a most disastrous influence upon the manufacture of chemical productions. The suspension of work in the glass-houses engaged for exportation and the respite of many establishments for bleaching, dyeing, and dressing, sustained in ordinary times by the tissues of cotton, have rendered disposable immense quantities of products in the greater part of the large manufactories; moreover, an unlimited competition is established, not only among the indigenous products, but especially between them and the English products, which, bonded in bulk before the treaty was put in force, have, from the promulgation of the treaty, overrun the market. At length, the disappearance of the manufacture of bone-glue has taken away a considerable market for the consumption of chloric acid. Azure and ultramarine blues.-The manufacture and sale of these articles have not presented any striking difference compared with the preceding year. White lead.-The manufacture of white lead, on the contrary, has suffered from the general stagnation of affairs. The consumption and exportation were less than in 1861. Glue. The manufacture and sale of this article have been made under circumstances more regular than in the previous year. Its productions have found investments in England, and its excellent qualities have caused there a very great demand. The sale for the interior has been fettered by the importation of French glue imported in Belgium, favored by the new tariff, which is very low, inasmuch as the manufacturers of glue claim for Belgium similar rights of entry with France. Soap, hard and perfumed.-In consequence of the increase of the interior consumption, these industries have had a favorable year. Chicory-The crop of this root was bad, and can be estimated but at twothirds of an ordinary year. The demand for the interior consumption was regular, but at prices always downward and little remuneration. The export to England is rendered impossible by the prohibitory customhouse duties with which chicory is there burdened. As to America, the exportation is made under circumstances little favorable by reason of the war, which paralyzes affairs there. The export to France is always limited. The preparation of rabbit skins and shearing. The marked improvement in this industry in 1861 was sustained during the entire year of 1862. The work underwent even a notable increase. The orders for exports were importaut, and permitted this industry successfully to pass through a crisis in which the greater portion of the other industries had to suffer. The shearing, stationary during the first months of 1862, resumed a certain activity towards the close of the year; and the demands which now exist give assurance of work for this industry for some time. Horticulture. The sale was a little better than in 1861, without, however, being active. This industry, which depends exclusively upon exportation, always sensibly respects the rebound of political events. Stearines.-This manufacture has been actively carried on in the establishments. The sale of its productions has been regularly effected. Nevertheless there has been a very great diminution in the temporary withdrawal of foreign fats and oils from the mart for conversion to wax candles and oleaginous acid. These withdrawals in 1862 amounted to only 116,221 kilogrammes, against 262,000 in 1861. The nail manufactories have exhibited a little more activity than in 1861. More than half of their productions are destined for exportation. The starch manufacturers have had a year sufficiently favorable. At Deyuze this industry inclines to take an expansion. The marble works have been favored by important orders for exportation, principally in the direction of northern Europe. DANISH DOMINIONS. ELSINORE-GEO. P. HANSEN, Consul. AUGUST 15, 1863. The tariff passed by the Danish Rigsdag in May last has been ap proved by the King, and will go into operation on the first day of May, 1864. It contains some changes from the present tariff that may be of considerable importance to the trade of the United States. Among these are the duty on vessels. Vessels, under the present tariff, pay a duty of 10 rix-dollars per commercial last, (about $5 46 per commercial last.) The new tariff is 3 per cent. on the value. Boats, which paid a duty of 20 per cent. on the value, now pay only 3 per cent. It is the opinion of ship-owners here, that when the new tariff has gone into force, American vessels will find a good market in this country. An American vessel has been bought lately by a gentleman now in this city, who assures me that under the new tariff he would have saved upwards of 2,000 rix-dollars. Among the articles that will be free, are guano, potash, cotton, fresh, salted and smoked pork and beef. The duty on salted pork, under the present tariff, is 2.12 skilling per pound; beef, 1.06 skilling on salted, and 2.12 skilling per pound on smoked beef. All kinds of grain and garden produce are free. Flour pays at present 1.27 skilling per pound. Under the new tariff it is free. The duty on cheese has been raised from 4.24 to 5 skillings per pound, whilst the heavy duty on butter, of 2.70 skillings per pound, is taken off altogether, and that article is now free. The duty on tobacco has been raised to, viz: On leaves and stems, from 1.59 to 5 skillings per pound; smoking and chewing tobacco, from 6.01 to 8 skillings. Snuff has been reduced a small trifle, from 8.48 to 8 skillings per pound, and cigars from 33.92 to 32 skillings. Hides, which under the present tariff pay 4.24 skillings per pound, are now free also. In 1861, there were imported 745,633 toendes* grain of various kinds. The statistical report of the trade and commerce of Denmark for the year 1862 has not been published as yet. I hope I shall be able to get the same early enough to enable me to report it before the meeting of Congress, when I shall not fail more fully to compare the present with the new tariff, and the marked value of such articles, as I think will be of interest to the trade of the United States. "A toende is 3.8270 bushels. The crop in this country the present year turns out to be a superior one, both in quality and quantity. SEPTEMBER 23, 1863. The authorities of Elsinore have given the following notice relating to vessels discharging freight in passing this port: 66 The minister of the interior, under date of July 28, has directed that all vessels, steam as well as sailing vessels, which shall, in passing, discharge or load at Elsinore, for the future shall pay ships' dues only of that amount of tonnage that shall be discharged or loaded: Provided, however, That in every case duties shall be paid for at least one commercial last." THE PRICES OF GRAIN. The prices of grain at Copenhagen, September 12, per toende (3.8270 bushels,) I have the honor to transmit herewith to you my report of the trade and commerce of Denmark for the year 1862. No report for the present year has been published as yet. The principal articles of exportation from this country are agricultural productions, and the exportation of these articles has been considerably less than in 1861. The direct trade with the United States amounts to almost nothing for the past as well as for the present year. The trade with the United States is carried on principally through the cities of Bremen and Hamburg. If we take the article of tobacco as an example, we find that of the 8,618,185 pounds imported, only 4,780 pounds came direct from the United States. This is also the case with rice, cotton, kerosene, lard, &c., a considerable quantity of all which articles is imported into this country. The crops here the present year, which in the beginning of the summer had all the appearance of being very large, suffered severely during the harvest by the wet weather. The rye was secured in good order, but all other kinds suffered severely; still the crops as a whole may be considered a fair average. The prices of grain rule at present very low. Table showing the Copenhagen prices current of agricultural products on the last day of October, 1863. |