Philadelphia Statistics. The following Statistical facts are taken from a pamphlet, entitled "Facts in relation to the progressive increase, present condition, and future prospects of Philadelphia." "In 1825, there were brought down the Schuylkill 6,500 tons of coal, which, by the last report of the Schuylkill Navigation Company, has so much increased, that last year (1837) no less than 506,475 tons reached this city, which at an average price of $53 per ton, would amount to $2,785,612, being greater than the value of all the imports from Great Britain, in any one year [with two or three exceptions] of the first 100 years from the landing of William Penn, and equal to more than two-thirds of the value of the exports from the state to all parts of the world in the year ending September, 1836. The whole amount of tonnage on this Canal, in 1837, was 726,730 tons. In 13 years, viz: from 1825 to 1837, the amount of tolls alone have increased from $15,775 74 to 604,189,57, a sum exceeding twice the value of all the exports to Great Britain from the colony in any one of the first 100 years after its settlement. "Of the coal which reached the city by the Schuylkill in 1837, 328,304 tons were shipped from that river in 3,070 vessels, which shows a considerable increase since 1834, in which year only 1,654 vessels were employed for that purpose, viz. 72 brigs, 1,122 schooners, 420 sloops. On the 4th June, 1832, 117 vessels passed through Gray's Ferry Bridge, 40 of which were brigs and large schooners, and a few days before 104 vessels exclusive of boats passed; formerly only 3 or 4 passed per week. It is but a few years since only a wood shallop was to be occasionally seen on this river, which now transports millions on its waters. 247 Susquehanna. By the report of the Union Canal Company it appears, during the year ending November, 1837, there were transported 246,472,833 lbs. or 110,032 tons, and that tolls to the amount of $107,590 37 were received, and that 6,204 boats passed through that canal. In "We have now in connection with state canals and rail roads, a regular communication with Pittsburg, forming together a length of 401 miles, and thus opening in every direction a trade with the great West to an almost unlimited extent, "passing through the heart of our own state," where but a few years since the savage roamed, and murdered the almost defenceless settlers. 1753, in Pittsburg itself, now called the "Gate of the West," there was not a single white man residing. In 1770 there were but about 20 houses, inhabited by Indian traders. In 1793 the arrival of a keel boat was considered one of the greatest enterprises ever performed. In 1804 it was a village-in 1805 the first stage crossed the mountains, requiring seven days of hard labour to reach that city. In 1833 there were four daily stages, in 1834 the journey was performed in 57 hours. It now probably contains 40,000 inhabitants. In 1834 there were 120 steam engines in operation, and 1,634 steamboats arrived and departed, and the city business is estimated at 15 to 20 millions of dollars per annum. "It communicates with upwards of 50,000 miles of steam navigation, of the vast and fertile valley of the Mississippi, extending over a surface near 1,500 miles square." Let us now examine the business upon these rail roads and canals, the main line of which to Pittsburg cost for its construction $12,358,000. By the Canal Commissioners' Report, it appears that, in 1837, $885,199 99 were received in tolls, and for motive power on this part of the state works, being about 3 "The whole amount of tonnage employed per cent. on its cost. That the arrivals and in transporting coal on the Schuylkill in departures of boats and cars were equal to 1835, was 24,733 tons, and in 1836, 24,479 || 50,248 westwardly, and 51,092 eastwardly. boats passed the Fairmount locks with coal or other products; and in the same year, 12,200 boats ascended the river; and in 1837, 13,870 boats ascended, of which 5,102 were loaded with merchandise; and 13,912 boats descended, of which 8,960 were loaded with coal, and 4,952 with produce, limestone, and other articles, making the total number of boats which passed the Fairmount locks in 1837, 27,782; besides all which, there is a considerable portion of the trade of the Schuylkill at intermediate points, which does not reach the city, as for instance, 575 boats with 28,775 tons of coal, last year discharged their cargoes short of the city. “Let us turn towards the business of the "What the value of property transported was, cannot be ascertained, but when it is considered that most of the supplies for the whole extent of the Mississippi valley, and even beyond it, pass by this route, it must indeed be immense. Some few facts will, however, tend to throw light on this point. In 1835, before the canal was opened in the spring at Pittsburg, it is stated by an "old merchant" of that place, that 200 to 250 wagons arrived there weekly with goods from the East, and when the canal opened although ten daily lines of boats, instead of four or five, the usual number, were employed, they were insufficient to carry off the goods as fast as they arrived. From the 248 Rice-Indigo-Cotton-Tobacco. VOL. I 16th of March to 22d of June, 1835, 30,234,-|| duction, the regal government having now 065 pounds were received from the East, and superseded the proprietary, the quantity 16,653,429 pounds sent to the East, and 873 raised in one season had reached 71,484 barboats departed for the East, and 849 arrived rels. Such was the beginning of the culfrom the East. The same merchant estimates ture and corresponding trade now so immense. the value of goods arriving by wagons and Six years from the date last named, Indigo the Pennsylvania canals at from 50 to 70 was introduced. It had been naturalized in millions of dollars. From November 1834, the West Indies, (from Hindustan) and Goto November 1835, 14,172 cars departed vernor Lucas, of Antigua, incidentally sent from Philadelphia to the West, and the num- a sample of the seed to his daughter in Carober of miles traveled by passengers on the lina, she being fond of plants. She sowed route was 2,875,6493; and in 1837, 104,793 it, again and again. It was cut off by frost passengers were conveyed on the Columbia and worms. She still persevered, and finally and Philadelphia rail road, and 37,555 cars succeeded. The governor now sent over a passed the Schuylkill inclined plane. There professed indigo maker, one Cromwell. Vats are now employed on this road 40 locomotive were made on the plantation, and the first engines, some of them capable of drawing a indigo in Carolina produced; and the result train of 30 cars. The expense of transporta- was, that when this enterprising young girl tion does not probably exceed one half of that was married, she received, as a rich dowry, of wagons. There were the past season in from her father, the whole of the indigo raised operation 11 transportation companies, five that year on the plantation. Every body from Schuylkill and six from Broad street, then took it up. The next season, 200,000 capable of conveying 550 tons of goods daily, pounds came to England. The new system equal to nearly 200 wagon loads. flourished to a miracle; and before the war "With all these facilities of intercourse, of 1775, the amount of its exportation was and with such an extent of country to be more than one million one hundred thousand supplied through their instrumentality, who || pounds! After the war, the English were can pretend to limit the extent of business, supplied principally from India. Now came which must ultimately be concentrated in on the dynasty of Cotton. The land suited this western quarter of the city! These this plant, and the whole agricultural system works and this trade are all comparatively in of the state may be said to have been changed their infancy. Who can foretell what other in a single season. This article, like indigo channels and sources of business may be de- and rice, had been raised as early as 1680, veloped in the course of their progress, which but it was not considered as an export till are now unthought of! 1747, in which year it appears, from an old pamphlet lately discovered, that seven bags of cotton wool, worth about 78 dollars, had been sent out of the province. During the war cotton was raised, from necessity, for coarse cloths. In 1794 it looked up a little. That year Whitney introduced his famous gin, which made cotton at once a staple, and gave all the southern states an importance in every way, which they never otherwise could have attained. In the season just named, the exports were 8,340 bales. In forty years from that time they were 1,284,328 bales, to which amount some hundred thousands must now be added, we suppose, for the last two years. We think we have seen an account of 18,000 bales sold this season at Liverpool alone, in one morning-much more than three times the whole American exportation forty-four years ago! It is stated that the importation of that city is equal to 2000 bales a day. All the celebrated sea-island cotton of both South Carolina and Georgia has, it appears, sprung from a handful of seed sent over to a planter in the former province from his father, the Surveyor-General of the Bahamas. Such is the history of a single article of agriculture, the value of which has advanced from 32,000 dollars, in forty-four years, to the enormous Rice, Indigo, Cotton, Tobacco. In a late number of the Southern Agriculturist, is a valuable article on the agriculture of South Carolina. It contains a good deal of curious historical and interesting information concerning those well-known staples of South Carolina, with which our own country has had, and still has so much to do. We have therefore, made out the following summary of a portion of the article:-In 1693 a Mr. Smith, who had seen Rice in Madagascar, was governor of the colony. He had a piece of low land which he thought would do for the culture, could the seed be procured. At this juncture a vessel from that island, in distress, luckily put into the harbor, and the cook happened to have a small bag of the very article in demand! It was sown, flourished, and was distributed in all quarters. The swamps being found to be its proper soil, it became at once the staple; the Parliamentary Council so voted it; and the production amounted to 18,000 barrels in twenty years; in the next ten to 264,488; and to double that quantity in the ten which followed. In forty-three years from its intro- | 249 4 parts of the finest cala. mine, or ore of zinc, ar.l 34 parts of copper amount of about sixty-one and a half millions|| drawing into wire, must instead of using the of dollars. A late American paper states zinc in a pure state, be composed of. that 330,000 bales of the new crop were received in New Orleans, from October 1, 1837, to the following February 16th. Of Tobacco, not much need be said. It was early known, but the profit of cotton, and the bulkiness of the other article, soon settled the matter as a question of both agriculture and commerce. The history of the latter, in the more northern states, might indeed be curious. Poor King James, little bethought| him when he published his Counter-Blast, that at this period more than sixteen millions worth of the manufactured luxury would be annually chewed, puffed, and sneezed away by the people of the United States alone. This alloy is so very fusible, that it will melt and remain in a state of fusion, if put upon a sheet of paper, and held over the flame of a candle or lamp. No. 3.-3 parts of lead, Old brass, which has been frequently exposed to the action of fire, when mixed with the copper and calamine, renders the brass far more ductile, and fitter for the making of fine wire, than it would be without it; but the German brass, particularly that of Nuremberg, is, when drawn into wire, said to be far preferable to any made in England, for the strings of musical instruments. Pinchbeck, No. 1.-5 parts pure copper, & 1 part of zinc. The zinc must not be added till the copper is in a state of fusion. Some use only half this quantity of zinc, in which proportion the alloy is more easily worked, especially in the making of jewelry. No. 2.-1 part of brass, 2 parts of copper, Fused together, under a covering of charcoal dust. Prince's Metal, No. 1.-3 parts of copper, and I part of zinc, Or, 8 parts of brass, and 1 part of zinc. No. 2.-4 parts of copper, and 2 parts of zinc. In this last, the copper must be fused before the zinc is added. When they have combined, a useful and beautiful alloy is formed, called Prince Rupert's Metal. Bell Metal, No. 1.-6 parts of copper, and 2 parts of tin. In for bells throughout Europe and China. These proportions are the most approved the union of the two metals, the combination the alloy is greater than that of the two nois so complete, that the specific gravity of tals, in their uncombined state. 2 parts of tin, and 5 parts of bismuth, Will form an alloy fusible at 197 degrees Fahrenheit, particularly applicable to casting, or the taking of impressions from gems, seals, &c. In making casts with this and similar alloys, it is necessary to use the metal, at as Jow a temperature as possible; otherwise the moisture adhering to the things from which the casts are to be taken, forms vapor, and produces bubbles. The fused metal should be poured into a tea-cup, and allowed to cool till just ready to set at the edges, when it must be poured into the mould. In taking It may, in general, be observed, that a ess impressions from gems, seals, &c., the fused proportion of tin is used to make church bells, alloy should be placed on paper or pasteboard, than clock bells; and that a little zinc is and stirred about till it has, by cooling, at-added for the bells of repeating watches, and tained the consistence of paste, at which mo- other small bells. ment the die, gem, or seal, should be stamped on it, and a very sharp impression will then be obtained. Bath metal is a mixture of 43 parts of zinc, with 16 parts of brass. Brass is composed of 3 parts of copper, and 1 part of zinc. But brass that is to be cast into plates, for the purpose of making sheet brass, and of No. 2.-10 parts of copper, and 2 parts of tin. Tutania, or Britannia Metal. No. 1.-4 parts of sheet brass, and add 4 parts of bismuth, and 4 parts of regulus of antimony. This is the composition or hardening, that is to be added at discretion, to melted tin, until it has required the requisite degree of color and hardness. 2 parts regulus of antimony. 2 parts of a mixture of copper and arsenic, either by cementation or melting. This composition is to be added, at discretion, to melted tin. No. 3.-1 part of copper, VOL. I. Red Tombac.-11 parts of copper, and 1 part of zinc. The copper must be fused in the crucible before the zinc is added. This alloy is of a reddish color, and possesses more lustre, and is of greater durability, than copper. White Tombac.-Copper, and Arsenic, Put together in a crucible, and melted, covering the surface with muriate of soda, 1 part of tin, and 2 parts reg-form a white brittle alloy.-Nicholson, (common salt,) to prevent oxidation, will ulus of antimony, with or without a little bismuth. No. 4.-1 part of sheet brass, 4 parts regulus of antimony, & German Tutania.- a part of copper, 2 parts regulus of antimony and 24 parts of tin. Architecture.-No. 4. CORINTHIAN ORDER. Fig. 71. This order is said to have been introduced No. 14. Architecture. 251 in the fourth century before the Christian | Roman conquest; but this powerful people æra, by Scopas, who employed it in the upper employed it almost exclusively in every part range of columns in the ancient temple of of their extensive empire; and it is accordMinerva at Tega. Vitruvius, however, as- ingly in edifices constructed under their incribes the invention of the Corinthian capital fluence, that the most perfect specimens are to Callimachus, who is said to have been an found. Athenian sculpture cotemporary with Phidias about 540 B. C. In all the examples of Stuart's Athens, this order has an attic base; the upper fillet of the trochilus or scotia projects as far as the upper torus. Of the celebrated modern architects who have treated of this order, Palladio makes the column 94 diameters high, one-fifth of which he gives to the entablature, consisting of a cornice with modillions and dentils, a flat frieze, and an architrave with three faciæ, divided by astrigals; the base is attic. The design of Scammozzi bears a general resemblance to that of Palladio, but his column has ten diameters in its altitude; his entablature is one-fifth of this height; the Vitruvius observes, that the shaft has the same proportions as the Ionic, except the difference which arose from the greater height of the capital, it being a whole diameter, whereas the Ionic is only two-thirds of it. But this column, including the base and capi-cornice has modillions, the architrave contal, has, by the moderns, been increased to ten diameters in height. If the entablature is enriched, the shaft should be fluted. The number of flutes and fillets are generally 24; and frequently the lower one-third of the height has cables or reeds, husks, spirally twisted ribands, or some sort of flowers inserted on them. sists of three faciæ, divided by astragals, and the base is attic. Serlio, following Vitruvius, has given this order an Ionic entablature, with dentils, and the same proportion of the capital; his column is nine diameters high, and has a Corinthian base. Vignola's Corinthian is a grand and beautiful composition, chiefly imitative of the three columns. He makes the column ten diameters and a half in height; the entablature is a fourth of that altitude; the cornice has modillions and dentils, the frieze is plain, the architrave of three faciæ, divided by mouldings, and the base is attic. The great distinguishing feature of this order is its capital, which has for 2000 years been acknowledged the greatest ornament of this school of architecture. The height is one diameter of the column, to which the moderns have added one-sixth more. The body, or nucleus, is in the shape of a bell, Sir William Chambers has observed, that basket, or vase, crowned with a quadrilateral" the Corinthian order is proper for all buildabacus, with concave sides, each diagonal of ings where elegance, gaiety, and magnifiwhich is equal to two diameters of the co- cence are required. The ancients employed lumn. The lower part of the capital con-it in temples dedicated to Venus, Flora, sists of two rows of leaves, eight in each Proserpine, and the nymphs of fountains; row; one of the upper leaves fronting each because the flowers, foliage, and volutes, side of the abacus. The height of each row with which it is adorned, seemed well is one-seventh, and that of the abacus one-adapted to the delicacy and elegance of such eighth of the whole heighth of the capital. deities" The space which remains between the upper leaves and the abacus, is occupied by little stalks, or slender caulicole, which spring from between every two leaves in the upper row, and proceed to the corners, and also to the middle of the abacus, where they are formed into delicate volutes. The sides of the abacus are moulded, and the curves of the sides are continued, until they meet in a sharp horn or point. In the attic capital, the small divisions of the leaves were pointed in imitation of the acanthus. In Italy they most generally resembled the olive. It may be observed generally, in the Greek Corinthian, that the volutes terminate in a point in the natural spiral, without either coiling round a circular eye, or bending backwards in a serpentine form, as in most of the Roman specimens. This order seems never to have been much employed in Greece before the time of the MICROSCOPIC VIEW OF THE FLY.-The eye of the common house-fly is fixed so as to enable its prominent organs of vision to view accurately the objects around in every direction; it is furnished with 8000 hexagonal faces, all calculated to convey perfect images to the optic nerve-all slightly convex-all acting as so many cornea-8000 included within a space no larger than the head of a pin!-all hexagonal-all of the best possible form to prevent a waste of space! This is so wonderful, that it would stagger belief, if not vouched for by being the result of the microscopic researches of such men as Lewenhowel, and others equally eminent. WONDERS.-Men, till a matter be done, wonder that it can be done; and, as soon as it is done, wonder again that it was no sooner done.-Bacon. |