barrels, particularly when shipped to warm climates, was so great as to render profitable returns extremely improbable, and that if the export business was to thrive, an entirely different package must be found, which should not only be more secure, but also be of small cost. Tin Cans were tried, but did not afford the necessary protection against leakage, until an ingenious mechanic invented the "Patent Can," of which Messrs. Raynolds, Devoe & Pratt, became proprietors, and which, with various improvements, is the package now in use by the Company. We refer to this more at length below, merely remarking here that it combined very great strength and durability with economy of cost, and that from its introduction into use appears to date the growth of the business of exporting Petroleum in tin, which, under the auspices of Messrs. DEVOE & PRATT, promises to assume such mammoth proportions.

In dissolving their connection with the original house, both the Messrs. DEVOE and Mr. PRATT appear to have been impressed with a sense of the great value of the "Patent Can," and of the vast importance which the business of exporting Refined Petroleum and other liquids in it was destined to assume, and to have directed their efforts mainly toward developing that business. Two ends seem to have specially occupied the attention of both houses: First, to supply an Oil and establish its reputation under their own brands, which should possess the best illuminating qualities, and at the same time be absolutely safe and non-explosive. The numerous, serious, and often fatal accidents which had occurred from using impure or imperfectly Refined Petroleum and Kerosene Oils, rendering it certain that an article of this class, which should once become known as safe and reliable, would command an immense sale; and Second, to reduce the cost of Oil in Patent Cans and cases to the lowest possible point compared with its value in barrels, with a view to extending the business to its utmost possible limits. Their goods were pushed forward into every market of the world, and it soon became evident that although the first cost per gallon in Cans and cases was somewhat more than in barrels, it was generally found to be much less in the end; and here we may mention some of the distinguishing features of the "Patent Can" which has obtained such a celebrity as to be absolutely indispensable to the trade of nearly every considerable market of the world.

The "PATENT CANS" are formed of tin plates joined together by seams ingeniously contrived, which, with other peculiarities of construction, besides giving them great strength, enables them to be made entirely by machinery, at an important saving in cost as compared with the ordinary Can. They are of a square form, capable of holding five American (or four Imperial) gallons each, and are usually packed two in a case, the whole measuring exactly two cubic feet, and forming a perfectly secure, clean, compact, well-shaped, and easily handled package,

costing little more than barrels, and possessing incalculable advantages over them; they guard effectually against leakage, whether from rough and frequent handling, exposure, lapse of time, or other cause, while a large percentage of Petroleum shipped in barrels is usually found to escape, either on the voyage or before it is finally used at its place of destination; being small, regular, and compact, they can be closely stowed in a vessel's hold or a warehouse, without injury to other articles near them, and at an important saving in freight, storage charges, and insurance; they are found to be perfectly adapted to inland transportation in the countries to which they are shipped, and to be most convenient for consumers' use; they contain also a perfectly accurate quantity (verified by weight), while the contents of barrels are notoriously too often considerably less than is indicated by the gauge.

With these points in their favor, it is not surprising that the Patent Cans became universally popular among shippers and their correspondents, and at the same time that the brands of Oil sent out in them, being carefully and honestly prepared, became equally well known and popular. The result has been that where these goods have been used once, they have been invariably called for a second time. Consumers have multiplied, until DEVOE's Oil and PRATT's Oil have come to be "household words" in millions of families in every part of the world, and until nearly all the Oil required for the vast markets of Australia, Asia, the Mediterranean, South America, California, and elsewhere, has come to be called for in Devoe's or Pratt's Patent Cans, and of their well-known brands.

In the early part of the present year (1868) the two houses united in forming THE DEVOE AND PRATT MANUFACTURING COMPANY, which is the subject of this sketch. By this union they expect to avoid in future a most injurious competition in obtaining supplies, which formerly operated to their mutual detriment, and that of their customers. The present Company also secures a combination of capital, experience, energy, and prestige, which, in connection with the possession of various important patent rights, would seem to give it practically the control of their large field of enterprise. The monopoly of an article almost an absolute necessity to myriads of households, would commonly be regarded as an evil, and justly so; but the liberal policy of THE DEVOE & PRATT MANUFACAURING COMPANY will, it is believed, benefit buyers and consumers not less than themselves. We understand that the Company's aim will continue to be to keep prices at the lowest practicable point, by which course they expect, at no distant day, that their patent packages will be brought to take the place of barrels entirely in shipping Refined Petroleum.

As an illustration of the remarkable growth of this business, let us

compare operations of a few years since with those of to-day. In 1861, Messrs. Raynolds, Devoe & Pratt carried on their entire packing business in a shed on Greenwich street, putting up on an average some 1,000 gallons per week, and filling their cans by hand, Mr. George W. Devoe having the special supervision of this work. They now occupy both sides of Newtown Creek (an estuary of East River) in Brooklyn. On these extensive premises are two large factories for the manufacture of their patent cans, capable of turning out 20,000 per day, and numerous other buildings for receiving, storing, packing, etc. They have storage accommodations for 10,000 to 15,000 barrels of oil, tankage for about 500,000 gallons more, long wharves to accommodate vessels in loading and unloading, steam engines for pumping oil, driving machinery, etc., a steamboat and fleet of eleven lighters (which they are increasing), etc. Among their lately acquired facilities is a large lighter, the whole interior of which is fitted with iron tanks, capable of holding 25,000 gallons, with which and other similar boats, they propose to transport their future supplies of oil, instead of receiving the same in barrels, which hitherto they have had to sell when empty at a serious disadvantage. Another noticeable feature of their establishment is the "Patent Filling and Measuring Machine," by means of which any desired quantity is measured off with perfect accuracy and allowed to run into cans. One man can attend to a large number of these machines, which keep industriously at work measuring off and emptying the oil with wonderful rapidity. The various labor-saving apparatus employed in this business, mostly the invention of Mr. George W. Devoe, and patented by him, together with the immense scale on which it is conducted, really enable this Company to offer their goods profitably at a price which, under other circumstances would not cover cost, and explains to a considerable extent, no doubt, the success of their enterprise.

We learn that THE DEVOE & PRATT MANUFACTURING COMPANY have in contemplation the speedy establishment of branch works at Philadelphia and other important points, and presume their future success to be entirely beyond doubt. The New York office is at 117 Fulton street, where further information respecting the business will no doubt be cheerfully furnished to all interested.

The above firm are successors to James Brewster & Sons.

The business was established by Mr. James Brewster of New Haven, in the year 1809, and in connection with his factory he opened a Repository in Broad Street, New York, in the year 1828. In the year 1838, he admitted into his business his eldest son, James B. Brewster, who is now the senior partner in the firm of Brewster & Baldwin, and the only living representative and successor of the original house which was initiated sixty years ago. During this entire period they have confined themselves so exclusively to the manufacture and sale of firstclass work only, and their carriages have become so favorably known, not only in the United States, but in Mexico and South America, that their business has grown into great proportions -the present firm, whose factory is in Twenty-fifth Street, near Third Avenue, covering fourteen lots of ground, and employing over two hundred men in the construction of every variety of carriages.

L. MARCOTTE & CO.,

Importers and Manufacturers of

FURNITURE AND

UPHOLSTERY,

French Carpets, Paper Hangings,

AND CURTAIN MATERIALS.

French Gas-Fixtures, Decoration.

Warehouse-Union Square, north side, one door from Broadway. Factory-158 West Thirty-second Street, New York. 15 Avenue de Villars, Paris.

THIS house was established in Paris, France, in the year 1775, by Mr. P. RINGUET, at No. 36 Rue Neuve des Petits Champs, and in the year 1836, was transferred to No. 9 Rue Caumartin and 32 Rue Richer, under the firm name of RINGUET-LEPRINCE. It ranked King Louis Philippe, and other members of the royal family and nobility of France, among its patrons; also, the Duchess of Sutherland, Lord Clarendon, the Marquis of Lansdown, and many others of the English nobility.

In November, 1848, Mr. L. MARCOTTE founded a Branch House in New York, under the firm name of RINGUET-LEPRINCE & L. MARCOTTE, which, after eighteen years of complete success, became "the HOUSE," and the Paris house "the BRANCH," under the firm name of L. MARCOTTE & Co., Mr. ADRIEN HERZOG being admitted as partner.

In the spring of 1868, L. MARCOTTE & Co., requiring larger and better accommodations, left their old warerooms in Fourth Street, for those in UNION SQUARE, and also erected a new and extensive factory at No. 158 West Thirty-second Street, with the most modern and improved machinery.