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Statement exhibiting the quality and value of bar iron, manufactured by rolling and otherwise, pig iron and old and scrap, imported annually from 1843 to 1851 inclusive; and also the average cost per ton and the estimated amount of duties which accrued on each during the same period.

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Commerce of Alton, Ill.

We copy the following Statistics and the accompanying remarks from the "Alton Telegraph."

The facts show well for the business of Alton, and it is gratifying to know that her citizens are beginning to gather the fruits of their industry and enterprise.-Ed.

BUSINESS OF ALTON-1851.

Below we give a statement of the business of our city for the year 1851, carefully compiled from reliable sources. We regret that we are unable to obtain full information in relation to the amount, variety, and value of our imports, and we must consequently content ourselves with giving a few of the leading items of trade.

The number of steamboat arrivals during the year, exclusive of our daily packet to St. Louis, were 2,351, and the amount of wharfage collected since 1st of May, $2,098 30.- The estimated value of merchandise sold is $2,000,000; and the amount received and forwarded to the interior at $1,000,000. The imports of Lumber were as follows: Plank, joists, and scantling, 5,800,000 feet; Shingles,4,470,000; Laths 2,063,000; prime value $94,472. There was also received of Railroad ties, 50,000; and bars of Railroad iron, 15,492. The receipts of Wheat were about 328,187 bushels; Corn, 105,602 bushels; and Flour, 4911 barrels.

The subjoined table gives a view of the variety and aggregate amount of the leading articles of export for the past year:

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Hides, dry...

999 Tallow, bbls....

3485 Tobacco, bxs....

304 Tongues, bbls...

4794 do. hlf.-bbls.

223

51

27

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Lard, tcs.......

do. bbls...

Hides and skins, bdls. ... 1400 Venison, saddles ....

305 Wagons and carriages

969 Wheat, bush......

40

30

3613

do. kgs.

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Lime, bbls.....

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Leather, rolls.

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Malt, bush.

80 Oil barrels...

3595

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The total value of the above, together with a few minor articles, not enumerated, is estimated at $836,366 50. It is proper to state that this does not show the entire amount of our exports; many articles having been shipped directly by the producers, and which we were consequently unable to obtain. These, if included, would doubtless swell the amount to upwards of one million of doii.

Imperfect as this statement necessarily is, it will enable the reader to form an idea of the kind of business done here, and its probable extent. We may add, that, during the year, about 150 dwellings and warehouses were erected; and it is estimated that at least $100,000 were expended on public and private improvements within the city.

SOUTHWESTERN RAILROAD.

The great Southwestern convention which was recently held at New Orleans, adjourned to meet at Jackson, Miss., on the 12th inst. It was well represented, and continued in session three days. The most important proceeding of the convention was the adoption of a resolution in favor of extending the New Orleans and Jackson railroad from Jackson north to the State line through the most central and practicable route, so as to unite with such road and roads as may be projected thence, and designed to connect Nashville, Tennessee, with any great central railroad improvement through Mississippi, connecting Nashville & N. Orleans.

JOURNAL OF PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS.

Ohio and Mississippi Railroad.

The ceremony of breaking ground at Illinoistown, the Western terminus of this great work, took place on the 7th ultimo. Hon. T. Ellis, president of the Eastern division, Col. John O'Fallon, president of the Western division, Professor Mitchell of Cincinnati, consulting engineer, and Seymour, contractor for the construction of the work, were on the ground and performed their respective parts in the ceremony with much propriety.

At the close of the ceremonies, Professor Mitchell delivered an interesting address, touching the progress of the work and the benefits, national and local, which must accrue from its construction.

Ste. Genevieve, Iron Mountain and Pilot Knob Plank Road.

We learn from the "Ste. Genevieve Plain Dealer' that, this road will be very nearly completed during the present year. The Editor says: "The work 'goes bravely on,' and our citizens begin already to understand the advantages of such improvements. The contractors expect to begin to lay their planks about the 1st of April; and we hope to take a ride on the STE. GENEVIEVE, IRON MOUNTAIN AND PILOT KNOB PLANK ROAD about the month of May. This will be a proud day for our city, and will mark out a new era in her advancement to further greatness!"

Mississippi and Atlantic Railroad.

We are pleased to learn that the enterprising president and directors of this company are still resolved to persevere in the prosecution of the work. Nothing daunted by the opposition against which they have been struggling for several years, it seems from the following statement which we extract from the "Wabash Express," that the company have resolved to go to work in earnest. The indomitable courage and patient perseverance evinced by this company must, in the end, surmount all obstacles.-Ed.

Terre-Haute and St. Louis Railroad.-No sooner is the Railroad to Indianapolis finished, than we find active steps at once taken to carry the locomotive across Illinois, from the Wabash at Terre-Haute to the Mississippi at St. Louis. The railroad spirit abroad in the land seems to quail at nothing, for every few days witness some important work completed or commenced, and before very many years, traveling will be just as cheap and comfortable perhaps, as staying at home by a good fire.

A railroad meeting was held at Marshall, Illinois, on the 16th inst., at which William S. Wait, President of the Mississippi and Atlantic Railroad, resigned his place, and John Brough, of the Madison road was elected President in his stead. Wm. S. Wait was then elected Vice President.

A call of 8 per cent. was made on the capital stock of the company, and it was ordered that a corps of engineers be placed in the field, at as early a day as practicable, to resurvey one or more routes and re-examine the line before run, and make estimates of cost of construction; and that said corps be accompanied by one or more persons to take releases of right of way, where the same have not already been granted; and where releases cannot be obtained to take from parties agreements as to the conditions upon which such right of way will be conveyed in case the line so surveyed shall be adopted as the route of the road.

We presume now, we shall soon see the ground broken on the line from this place to St. Louis.

HENDERSON AND NASHVILLE RAILROAD.

The Preliminary Survey of the Henderson and Nashville Railroad was commenced last Thursday, by Mr. Bewley, chief Engineer of the E. and I. Railroad. We understand a large amount of stock has already been taken in this Road, and the prospects are bright that the efforts of its friends to secure the whole amount of stock, will be successful. We look to the building of this road with more than ordinary interest. Its importance is not alone derived from the promised value of a distinct Railroad connecting the Ohio river with the Tennessee river, and traversing a rich and thickly populated section of the country - but from the fact that while it has this value, it at the same time forms a prominent link in the great chain of railroads connecting the Lakes with the Gulf. It is a link indispensable in the chain, and which receives a greater importance from the very fact of its occupying such a position. As a separate railroad, it might never be built, but as a part of the grand chain of railroads alluded to, an interest is felt in its erection that is not alone confined to the cities and region of country it is directly calculated to benefit, but which pervades every section traversed by the railroads with which it will ultimately connect..

The citizens of Evansville certainly feel an interest in this road e ual to that felt by the people of any other place. They have built or are building one link in the chain, and are looking forward to its continuance, aye, and working for it, till it meet the TerreHaute and Indianapolis Railroad, and thus connect us with the Lakes. This consummation is not very far distant. It is even within sight-therefore, we regard with peculiar interest the efforts of our friends at Henderson, to build what will in a short time be about the sole remaining link in the great chain. We shall then share in the benefits of their enterprise, and in the same proportion will they share in the great results of the enterprise and energy and industry of our citizens, while the benefits of both roads will be greatly enhanced by the connection.--Evansville Journal.

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