had been a crisis in this business, and the early months of 1876 brought failures of such establishments in all directions. The withdrawal of the duty on exported sugar gave for a time some relief, but toward the end of the year failures seemed almost epidemic from the Baltic to the Black Sea. At the recent convention of persons interested in this business at Kief, it was discovered that but two of all the companies represented had been able to pay a dividend. With most of them it was simply a question of being able to continue their operations. The production of the root is said to very rapidly exhaust the soil, while the destruction of the forests for purposes of fuel for steam is an item that might well be considered, in view of the scarcity of timber in all South Russia. RAILWAYS. The only railway opened within my consular district is a short line running from Feltof to Zuamenka, which places Nicholaif in more direct communication with Kief and Central Europe. This line may have the effect of diverting from Odessa something of her import and distributing trade, in wh ch she has now almost a monopoly. PUBLIC WORKS. Work has proceeded languidly on the harbor of Poti; the channel at Kertch has been considerably improved, as also the passage at the mouth of the Dniester. Great energy has been displayed in the work on the quays and moles at Odessa, which are destined to be among the finest in the world. At the end of the year, when war became almost a certain event of the near future, enormous forces of laborers were put to work fortifying the coast of the Black Sea from Odessa to Poti. Forts sprang up as if by magic and were mounted with guns of gigantic proportions. The harbors were planted with torpedoes and mines, which seriously interfered with commerce. The accompanying statements, from No. 1 to No. 5, I suppose contain such information as will exhibit the trade and commerce of this consular district, so far as it is of interest or importance to do so. LEANDER E. DYER. II. Supplementary report for 1877. ODESSA, November 17, 1877. (Received December 3.) The political events of the early days of the year left no doubt in the minds of people that war and the blockade of the South Russian ports at an early day were inevitable. The demand for grain was very lively and the demand for foreign exchanges equally as great. The exportation of grain was, therefore, very heavy down to the declaration of war in April. Upon the promulgation, a few days later, of the proclamation of the blockade of the Russian ports, by the Sublime Porte, all foreign vessels cleared from Russian ports and all shipments by sea ceased. A number of shipments of wool by railway to the Baltic ports for transshipment have been made, and also a few grain shipments; but the railways have been so heavily taxed by the military authorities that the shipments have been but insignificant. A good many efforts have been made, but the grain has in most cases remained so long en route as to arrive at its railway destination in a ruined condition. LARGE GRAIN CROP AND AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY. The grain crop of South Russia has been the largest harvested during twenty-five years. The harvest was well gathered, and the grain is in a good condition, generally speaking. The drafts made upon the laboring classes for the army obliged the planters to purchase, to a larger extent than usual in recent years, agricultural machinery, by which means they were enabled to gather their crops with comparatively small loss. No new shipments of such machinery being possible, the large supply remaining on hand from 1875 and 1876 may be said to be exhausted. ANTICIPATED HEAVY GRAIN EXPORTS. The paper rouble of the country depreciated from its nominal value of 6.20 roubles to the pound sterling of Great Britain to 10.55 roubles; or, in other words, the pound sterling advanced to that figure and other foreign funds in proportion. Merchants of the Continent and England placed credits to their Odessa correspondents, who have sold exchanges on them and purchased enormous quantities of grain with the proceeds for their principals. This grain was bought at a very low price in the depreciated currency and is stored awaiting the cessation of hostilities for shipment. It will take its place in the markets of the world at so small a cost to the purchasers that it will, no doubt, have a depressing influence upon the price of grain from other countries, a fact that is worthy of note by American exporters of grain. No statistics on this subject are to be obtained. Commerce, public works, &c., are entirely suspended, except in a very small way. In the blockaded cities coal and wood are very scarce and dear, but all other necessaries are cheap and plentiful. In consequence of the enormous harvest and the demand for men for military works and purposes, the laboring classes do not appear to be in a suffering condition. Indeed, at Odessa labor is difficult to obtain and is very well paid. LEANDER E. DYER. Statement showing the commerce at Odessa for the year ending December 31, 1876. *The total amount of duties paid was $4,227,813. The items of duties paid are not obtainable. 3.-Statement showing the navigation at the port of Odessa, &c.—Continued. 4.-Statement showing the value of exports and imports at the ports of the Azof Sea during 5.-Statement of the navigation at the ports of the Azof Sea during 1875 and 1876. NOTE. This statement represents only entries from foreign ports. Of the 11 entries at Poti 597 were small Turkish coasters averaging 20 tons burden. |