MANUFACTURES OF DAYTON, OHIO.

Dayton has a population of about 15,000, and is located in the heart of one of the richest agricultural sections of the west. A Dayton correspondent of the Ohio Statesman gives the following exhibit of the manufactures of Dayton:—

There are five oil mills that purchase from the farmers about 160,000 bushels of flax seed annually, at a cost of $160,000, producing 340,000 gallons of oil, and 400,000 lbs. of oil cake, and employing in the business from forty to fifty hands, besides twenty coopers to furnish them with barrels. The five iron foundries give permanent employment to 100 hands, and cast annually nearly 900 tons of pig iron. The four flouring mills grind annually from 150,000 to 170,000 bushels of wheat. A last and peg factory turn out some $20,000 worth of stock yearly, which gives constant profitable employment to twenty-five hands, and produce every variety of goods in that line, possessing a very superior finish. Woolen machinery, such as carding machines, power looms, spring jacks, &c., are manufactured after the most approved eastern patterns. Carpets and coverlets of a great variety of patterns, and style of finish, are made, and the proprietor of this establishment has some difficulty to supply the orders that are given for his goods, t..ey being in such great demand. A large capital has lately been invested in establishing a linen factory, which is destined, under proper management, to become a great auxiliary to the agriculture of Montgomery county, as it will supply a cash market for the fiber of the flax plant, which up to this time, has been thrown away as useless. The cotton and woolen factories give employment to a great number of hands, mostly girls and boys, and both branches are in a flourishing condition. Three paper mills give employment to between 40 and 50 hands, manufacturing nearly 500 tons of paper, which net the establishments about $80,000 per

annum.

THE MINING PROSPECTS OF ENGLAND.

The London Mining Journal, in speaking of the subject of which it is the special weekly organ, says, that to whatever part of the mining horizon of England it looks, there business is characterized by great steadiness and regularity in all its departments; that it is able to testify to the firmness of prices and the vivacity of the markets generally; and that there are prospects for a good winter trade. The same journal, in noticing a rise of 10s. per ton on the price of lead, and the spirited demand at the periodical sale at Holywell, November, 1849, when a large quantity of ore was brought forward and sold, observes:-" As this improvement in trade is mainly attributed to the large demand that has arisen for export this year to the United States of America, it may be serviceable to those of our readers who are interested in this metal to learn that we have been informed by an intelligent correspondent on the other side, that the production of the mines in the United States has so materially fallen off, while the amount of consumption has so greatly increased, that they will require an importation during the next year of at least 15,000 tons to meet the wants of the country. Such an export in the present state of the stocks here, must have the effect of producing a considerable advance in the price of lead."

THE CLIFF COPPER MINE OF LAKE SUPERIOR.

It appears from a statement of Col. McKnight, that the yield of the Cliff Copper Mine, last year, (1849,) amounted to one thousand tons. This copper is shipped in large masses, some weighing as high as three tons. It goes to Pittsburg, (Penn.,) where it is melted into ingots, and from thence to the Atlantic cities, where it meets a ready and constant market. The yield of this thousand tons will be some 75 per cent, making the product of ingot copper 750 tons, which is worth $380 per ton, and which, shows the product of the mine for the year 1849 to be as follows:

750 tons of copper at $380 per ton..

Deduct expenses, $7,000 per month..

Leaves nett profit.....

$285,000

84,000

$201,000

The stock of this company, (the Boston and Pittsburg Mining,) is divided into 4,000 shares, which cost originally $18 50 per share, and on which a dividend of $20 per share will be declared this year, leaving in the treasury money enough to nearly pay the expenses for another year. The stockholders of the Boston and Pittsburg Company, as we learn from the Detroit Tribune, expended the sum of $110,000, before they obtained any results.

MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS FROM ZINC.

We learn from the Newark (N. J.) Daily Advertiser, that the Sussex Zinc Company, of Newark, have been for some time past experimenting in the manufacture of this article, with such satisfactory results, that the zinc paint, which is the white oxide of zinc, will be one of the chief articles of manufacture at the large works which they are about to erect on the banks of the Passaic. The ore of the Sussex mines is said to be of such a nature, that the white oxide can be made from it without the necessity of first reducing it to the metallic state, which is necessary in France, and it can therefore be made at less cost.

The process of making the paint is interesting. The ore is pulverized and mixed with a small proportion of anthracite or charcoal, as a flux; and about forty pounds is used as a charge for a cylindrical retort made of clay, three and a half feet in length, and is eight inches in diameter. The retort is placed in a reverberatory furnace horizontally, one end being exposed by an opening in the furnace wall: a sheet-iron receiver is attached to the mouth of the retort, having an opening at the neck to admit atmospheric air. The receiver is elongated by flexible tubes that serve as additional receivers, and also to carry off the carbonic oxide. When the proper heat is applied, the zinc is set free from the ore, and conveyed into the receiver as a vapor of zinc, where, meeting the current of atmospheric air, from which it takes up the oxygen, it falls at once as a beautiful powder of pearly whiteness.

The small furnace now works four retorts. The metallic zinc is made in the same manner, with the exception that in the latter case the air necessary to form the oxide is entirely excluded. The furnace to be erected on the river is to work one hundred and eight retorts. The white paint, which has been tried, is said to be more durable than that made from white lead, and less liable to turu dark. It is a somewhat different shade of white from the paint made of white lead.

MERCANTILE MISCELLANIES.

BANKRUPTCY IN BATAVIA, ISLAND OF JAVA.

We are indebted to an esteemed correspondent, a highly respectable merchant of Boston, for several extracts from the manuscript of a private letter, dated Batavia, (Island of Java,) September 22d, 1849. It was received just as the last sheet of the Merchants' Magazine was going to press, or we should publish the extracts entire. As it is, we can only find room for a few passages, touching the condition of a bankrupt in that island, as follows:

To be bankrupt here, is a somewhat different affair from what it is in the United States. Immediately on becoming bankrupt, the names of the parties are placarded about town, and in the Exchange, as if prima facie infamous. The books are then examined by the public officer for that purpose. If the estate does not pay 60 per cent, and the bankrupt can be proved to have done business after he knew that fact, he is put into prison, as a criminal, for a number of years, and declared "aloost," which signifies infamous, or without character. After this, the "aloost" person is indeed excommunicated. His word is not to be taken; he is not allowed to be a witness, even on oath, and if a man trusts him, he does it at his own risk; he has no legal remedy against him. On the other hand, if a man takes his books to the public officer, and declares that he has given up all he has, and it does not appear that he has been doing business, knowing he was a bankrupt, and after a strict investigation there are no suspicious circumstances, his creditors must sign his papers. Thus, the creditor is protected without oppressing the debtor; the rogue is distinguished from the honest; and a person is obliged, by a terrible penalty, to know the state of his affairs, and when once embarrassed, to refrain from speculating to retrieve himself.

This law came into operation May, 1848, and it was not long before it caught something in the shape of an English concern, who pay about one-quarter of 1 per cent, and whose partners are now expiating their offence in prison.

I suspect you could not get such a law at home. The 60 per cent would be rather

VOL. XXII.—NO. I.

8

objectionable, in some places, and, besides, what would be the use of doing business, if a man could not cheat his creditors? It would be taking away one of the largest profits of commerce.

There is a story told of a man here, who was once in prison for debt, under the old law. When he had an opportunity, he said to his detaining creditor, who was paying sixty guilders per month for his support-"Now what is the use of your keeping me here at such an expense? Just give me thirty guilders a month, and let me find myself, and let the other thirty go toward writing off the debt."

The writer of this letter, who, it sects, arrived at Batavia on the 14th of September 1849, gives an interesting table of distances on the route from New York to that place, with the time occupied in performing the voyage, as taken from the ship's log-books, etc. This we shall publish in the February number of the Merchants' Magazine.

IN A GOOD BUSINESS.

Many seem to think that success in life depends wholly upon the start they take, and that if they can but have their bark rightly trimmed and squared with the current, they may rest upon their oars and still be sure of their wished-for haven. If a man once "get into a good business," they regard his fortune as made, without reference to his own exertions, and think that there can be no fear of the result. But the contrary of this is quite as frequently true; and it is no uncommon thing to see the finally prosperous man, encounter the buffetings of adverse storms at the beginning of his career, and those who at first sailed smoothly along an unruffled sea, make shipwreck at last. Indeed, we may see the reason of this in the fact that the discipline of early difficulties prepares the harassed mariner for final triumph, while the favoring gales which have marked the course of others, have lulled them into a fatal security. Perpetual mutability is characteristic of human affairs, and a season of calm should blind none to the chances of a coming storm. We do not allude to this to dishearten any who are sailing with us on life's troubled sea, or to excite coward fears. A storm is not a shipwreck-the leaping waves dash harmlessly against the bow of the welltrimmed bark-aud a furious gale may but bear the skilful mariner more rapidly to his destined port. We would have none shrink from an effort on the sea, because the voyage is dangerous, but simply warn those whom a deceitful calmness may have led into a careless indifference to the future.

The present is a time when merchants should be unusually careful, particularly in giving credits. The past season has been a trying one through the country, and our advice given to our readers a few weeks since to examine their ledgers, is daily growing of more importance. The visits of the epidemic throughout the country have altered the standing and prospects of many country merchants, some of whom will come to market to ask for credit. If any of them are unsound at present, this is the very moment for them to stop, and farther credit should be refused. Let no one, in the vain hope that their debtor may improve his position, add to the amount at ri-k by farther sales. It is always better to pocket a loss at once which must be made, than to postpone it with a risk of its increasing. A customer of doubtful credit ought to have no place upon a merchant's books. If the jobber trusts only undoubted customers, he will lose enough in the course of trade, but whenever there is room for doubt, he should give himself the benefit of it, as the jury do a prisoner on trial, and refuse the credit a-ked. This should be an invariable rule, never to be violated. And now with regard to those who have been safe in the past, let there be renewed scrutiny into their responsibility. That a man has been at some former period in a good busisiness, is no safeguard against his present insolvency. The foundations of many have been sorely shaken. Some have had but a light trade, or anxious to keep up their active sales, have entrusted their goods to irresponsible persons who will buy at any season on credit. Such should be carefully watched, and if necessary stricken off the roll of customers. This undertaking, simple as it may seem, requires courage, and that too in a high degree. It is a difficult matter to bring our lips to a decided negative, when an old customer asks credit. Many a man has been ruined because he had not the moral firmness to pronounce the little monosyllable. Its importance should, therefore, be fully understood, and when judgment says "No," the lips should not shrink from echoing its verdict.-Merchants' Gazette.

A GREAT BUSINESS OR A SMALL BUSINESS.

A merchant, a manufacturer, or trader, observes a recent English writer, should keep within his capital. The same applies to his talents. He should never undertake more than he can properly manage; the last error or loss being always on the

other side.

It may therefore be laid down as a maxim, that a small business, well conducted, is more profitable than a great business, ill, or indifferently conducted; for in the one case there is a gain, although it may be small, in the other most probably a positive loss. This may be illustrated by a mistake sometimes fallen into by poor emigrants to the west, who, having plenty of land for nothing, or cheap, are induced to bring under tillage a large surface which they are unable to do justice to, when they would have been much better off with a small surface, well cultivated; the former scarcely producing anything, while the latter would most likely have yielded a good return, or erop. It is true in the general, the terms small and, great business, must be understood with considerable latitude, and with reference to a persons means and capabilities-command of money and labor, as well as means of management. But it is easy to perceive, that while many failures in business take place in default of the former, there are not a few also, in respect of the latter.

Anxions indeed as traders always are to extend business intent upon gain, or too often impatient of the slow returns of industry, it is a thing which not seldom happens, that they undertake more than they can duly manage. More particularly dangerous. indeed, are a number of different avocations or engagements, commonly termed irons in the fire, which confound and distract, and take up time (a thing to be particularly guarded against) in passing from one to another. Hence the remark frequently made, that those who do most business, do most ill.

We do not indeed decry, or wish to discourage enterprise; but are of opinion that in all cases, men should be cautious in quitting a certainty for an uncertainty; where they are well, they should endeavor to keep well. For instance, if a shopkeeper is thriving in a shop of mean appearance, in an obscure part of the town for which he pays little rent, the qui ting of, for an expensive shop, in a more fashionable quarter, becomes a question of serious consideration, as incurring a great hazard; such a measure may, indeed, sometimes be necessary, from the change in the place, either in buildings, or fashion, the one including the other; and, indeed, so much is this a case of circumstance, that the very neglecting of it may be an error, but it ought always to be adopted warily, and after due deliberation-the number ruined by the species of ambition referred to, it being unnecessary to say.

The same must apply with greater force, as being a matter of greater importance to entering into a new business, or changing one business for another; and although we may be a little deviating from our subject, it may not be amiss here to state what occurs to us in similar respect, with regard to a clerk, or, that is when he finds himself comfortably placed, and satisfies his employers, he ought not to be tempted by an in-` crease of emolument, or higher wages, rashly to change a situation which has all the appearance of permanency, for one which may be of no long duration.

ROMAN MARKETS.

Waterton, the naturalist, relates that when in Rome he was more fond of visiting the markets than the repositories of sculpture and paintings. passed, says he, a considerable portion of my time in the extensive bird-market of Rome. I must, however, remark, that the studio of Vallati, the renowned painter of wild boars, had great attractions for me; and I have now at home a wild boar done by him in so masterly a style, and finished so exquisitely, that it obtains unqualified approbation from all who inspect it. The bird-market of Rome is held in the environs of the Rotunda, formerly the Pantheon. Nothing astonished me more than the quantities of birds which were daily exposed for sale during the season; I could often count over four hundred thrushes and blackbirds, and often a hundred robin red-breasts in one-quarter of it; with twice as many larks, and other small birds in vast profusion. In the course of one day, seventeen thousand quails have passed the Roman custom-house; these pretty vernal and autumnal travellers are taken in nets of prodigious extent, on the shores of the Mediterranean. In the spring of the year, and at the close of summer, cartloads of ringdoves arrive at the stalls near the Rotunda. As you enter Rome at the Porto del Popolo, a little on your right, is the great slaughter house, with a fine

stream of water running through it. It is probably inferior to none in Italy, for an extensive plan, and for judicious arrangements. Here some seven or eight hundred pigs are killed on every Friday during the winter season.

Nothing can exceed the dexterity with which they are dispatched. About thirty of these large and fat black pigs are driven into a commodious pen, followed by three or four men, each with a sharp skewer in his hand, bent at one end in order that it may be used with advantage. On entering the pen, these performers, who put you vastly in mind of assassins, make a rush at the hogs, each seizing one by the leg, amid a general yell of horror on the part of the victims. Whilst the hog and the man are struggling on the ground, the latter, with the rapidity of thought, pushes his skewer betwixt the fore leg and the body quite into the heart, and there gives it a turn or two. The pig can rise no more, but screams for a minute or so, and then expires. This process is continued until they are all despatched, the brutes sometimes rolling over the butchers, and sometimes the butchers over the brutes, with a yelling enough to stun one's ears. In the meantime the screams become fainter and fainter, and then all is silence on the death of the last pig. A cart is in attendance; the carcasses are lifted into it, and it proceeds through the streets, leaving one or more dead hogs at the door of the different pork shops. No blood appears outwardly, nor is the internal bemorrhage prejudicial to the meat, for Rome cannot be surpassed in the flavor of her bacon, or in the soundness of her hams.

CHARACTER FOR INTEGRITY.

We have somewhere seen a notice of a Rotterdam thread merchant who had accumulated fifty thousand dollars by his own industry, punctuality and integrity, and it was remarked of him that he never let a yard of bad thread go out of his hands, and would never take more than a reasonable profit. By these means he acquired such entire public confidence, that his customers would as willingly send a blind man or a child to buy for them as go themselves.

We refer to the case not to intimate that we have no such instances among ourselves, but for the purpose of suggesting the great value to any business man of such a character, and the exceeding agreeableness to dealers with him of the confidence he inspires. And we affirm nothing extravagant in saying that the character for strict integrity acquired, is of as much real worth to its possessor 'as the pecuniary savings of his industry. Let such a man lose by any misfortune all his money, he is still a man of capital, of weight of influence, and is the superior, on mere business calculations, of many a man of large monied means.

But the beauty of the thing is this, that any man, however small his business and limited his capital, has just as good an opportunity of winning confidence as the millionaire. Integrity in small things is even more impressive than integrity in great things. And after all that men may say in praise of the enterprise, skill, shrewdness, and tact of particular business men, there is one character towards which all minds instinctively render their reverence-and that is, the man who would rather be honest than wealthy, and who prefers integrity to gain.

THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH IN PRUSSIA.

The electric telegraph bureau returns the government a revenue of about one hundred thalers a day; it ought to be much more, considering the extent of the intercourse between three such cities as Berlin, Hamburgh, and Cologne; but the tariff is fixed too high,-double the charge made on the English lines.-and the regulations are too intricate to be gone through for any but the most important communication. The previous submission of the despatch to the chief of the bureau; the reference to the president of the police in case of doubt; the receiving the necessary order; the writing, stamping, and sealing of all the forms (supposing any doubt to have arisen,) make it better, in ordinary cases, to keep to the post, which is, in some instances that have been reported, actually the quicker. Simplicity and despatch in any matter of business are not yet German qualities. A telegraphic message was recently sent by a banker in London to Leipsic over Madgeburgh; at the same time, a letter was posted to the same address, to make assurance doubly sure, and the precaution was a wise one; the telegraphic communication arrived half an hour after the letter was delivered.