The increase in wines and brandies imported may be seen from the following 

 statement showing the imports of these into New York for the mouth of Jan- 

 uary of each year : 



January, 1864 

 January, 1863 

 January, 1862 

 January, 1861 



Exports of hreadstuffs. 



"Whilst our imports are thus increasing, the exports are rapidly follino," oft, as 

 will be seen from the table below, giving the exports from September 1, 1SG3, 

 to February 5, 1864, of each of the following years: 



Exports of lirovisions. 



The following table has been kindly prepared for the department by Mr* 

 David Ogdeu, of New York, to whom we are much indebted fir this and other 

 favors. 



The rebellion changed the direction of our export trade in provisions. In- 

 stead of going down the Mississippi to New Orleans, it Avent the northern route 

 to New York. In relation to this, Mr. Ogdeu says : " I contend that when the 

 war is over this trade will never go back. AVhen the Erie railroad is finished 

 you can put goods in a car at New York and go direct to St. Louis. Look for 

 a moment at this. A merchant at St. Louis puts his produce in a car, and in 

 two or three days he can sell it for cash in New York, buy his return goods fin- 

 cash, and in a week or ten days he is back at St. Louis. It will cost a little 

 more freight; but see the saving in time, and the selling and buying for cash. 

 The old way was to send the produce to New Orleans, and then buy your 

 return goods at twelve months' credit. That is, the country people were always 

 twelve months behind-hand.'' True. And we add, that the credit system, by 

 inducing extravagance, kept them four times twelve months behind a prosperous 

 condition. 



