497 



The building of railroads was seriously interrupted during the war, but 

 from 1865 to 1870 a tiesli impetus was, given to all railroad enterprises. 

 In 1870 there were 0,145 miles constructed — more than in the whole de- 

 cade ended Mdth 1850. In 1850 the net merchandise tonnage of all the 

 railroads was estimated at 4,500,000 tons ; in 18G0 it was 18,500,000 

 tons ; and in 1870 it was 72,500,000, exclusive of coals, ore^, and similar 

 freights, and 95,000,000 tons including these items. In 1850 the ton- 

 nage was 400 pounds i^er head of total population ; in 18G0 it was 1,200 

 pounds per head, and in 1870 it reached 3,810 pounds to each inhab- 

 itant. The value of the tonnage per head in 1850 was $29 ; in 1860, $84 ; 

 and in 1870, $285. From 1850 to 1860 the increase in tonnage was If 

 tons for each added head of population ; from 1860 to 1870, the increase 

 was more than four times as large, or nearly 8 tons. In 1850 the aver- 

 age earnings per mile were $4,000, or $1 55 per head of population ; in 

 1860 they were $4,000 per mile, or $4 90 per head ; and in 1870, $9,000 

 per mile, or $11 75 per head. 



DiTERSiFiED INDUSTRY IN LOUISIANA. — Richard H. Day, president 

 of the Louisiana State Agricultural Society, in a recent letter to this 

 Department, says : 



You are doubtless aware of the great wants of the South at the jireseut time — labor, 

 capital, and a diversified industry. The latter will eventually bring the two former. 

 Heretofore the culture of cane and cotton lias monoiiolized the entire attention of our 

 people. It is only within the last year or two that the folly of this course has begun 

 to be appreciated, and that other crops have been cultivated. The failure of the cot- 

 ton crop this year will strengthen and confirm this appreciation, and give stability to 

 the culture of other crops. It has been demonstrated by actual trial that even in this 

 latitude apples, pears, peaches, and, indeed, almost every fruit, can be raised as suc- 

 cessfully as in the North; and, when proper cultivation is given, as large crops of 

 corn. I have been raising corn on a few acres consecutively every year since 1867 

 and every year increasing the yield without any commercial fertilizers. This year the 

 yield was over 100 bushels to the acre. 



Chinese sugar-cane. — S. F. Taft, corresponding secretary of New 

 Mexico Horticultural Society, in a letter to this Department, says : 



The Chinese sugar-cane seed is decidedly a good acquisition. Crystals like rock- 

 candy formed in the sirup made from it ; (I suppose this would be termed grape sugar.) 

 No effort was made by any one to granulate it. Where grown upon the same ground 

 with the common Chinese, white, black, and red imphee, the sirup was lighter-colored, 

 and of decidedly superior flavor. It was tested by four persons upon four different 

 soils, holding its superiority upon all ; that upon the white-oak soil being superior in 

 quality, that upon the bottoms yielding the greatest quantity. It stood up well this 

 di'y season ; don't know how it will do in a wet one. 



ISToRTH Carolina truckers. — A correspondent writing from Golds- 

 borough, iSTorth Carolina, says that the country around that place affords 

 great facilities for market-gardening and fruit- culture. The soil and 

 climate are favorable, and the access to northern markets convenient 

 and quick. The trucker can ship his vegetables and fruit from this 

 point at 10.^ a. m. and have them in Washington, in the market, at 6 

 a. m. the next day. The afternoon picking, shipped at 9 p. m., will be in 

 New York at 5 p. m. the next day. Crops are claimed to be fifteen to 

 twenty days earlier tban in the vicinity of Norfolk, and only five to eight 

 days later than Charleston, South Carolina, while shipping facilities are 

 quicker. 



Fruit in the Walla Walla Valley. — Mr. Thomas K. McCoy, of 

 Walla Walla, Washington Territory, writes that he has apples, ])eaches, 

 pears, plums, and various berries, in bearing, and has taken out from the 

 States during the past year forty varieties of peaches and six of apricots. 

 He claims to have planted the first peach-pit in that valley, and has had 



