Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-12-15

' io42 and the effect of that will generally not ee-
ceea quarter of million Of dollars and is again 1, be t
not TIL 1887 Another difference arises sometimes fton,
larger collections of old debts for customs Is whenin
ic,o out not antcpaedin 1896 nearly one quarter OF
million has been collected single claim. orginatrr
aS ong as ten years ago, independent of many smaller
corrections on siii older claims The only remaining
dierence ofmuch importance in receipts from Gus,
toms The ensuing year. compared with the last one will
probably result from the biennial reduction in du-
es OF nearly million ofdollas, which the existing laws
provide shall take place after the close of the present
month This reduction of duties MIGHT under some
be chiefly obvlaed by an increased impor
tauon and consumption OF foreign merchandise. But
IL has been already stated, that the whole mpora.
tons were OF late unusually arge with other
hereafter explnined not only forbid any reasonable
expectation OF their increase in 1885, but to render re-
duction probable and it is further believed, careful
inquiry will show, that the consumption of all kinds of
foreign merchandise in the u has generally en-
larged IN smaller ratio than supposed BY many and
especially that the use OF such as NAYS dui;es ych i;
the cardinal tests of receipts from customs i'll rather
lessen than increase in 1896 and be not mater ally
Iarged I'LL after 1912 BY the table before referred to- C
winch IS the most accurate the records of Treasury
enable me to prepare IT will be what our consump-
ton OF foreign merchandise Of all kinds has been d-
ring each OF the last forty five years BY conoarn not
single years with others but series of three years.
as, tor instance, 1892, 93, and 81 with other similar Sc
RES amer intervals of ten and paying less regard
e hrst ana thrd series, the former estimates
made now and not on valuations the time and the lat
ter being in period of war; is irregular for guide
appears that the average increase of consumption Of
all foreign merchandise has been three per cent nm
nnaly IN the last thirty years and has been not equal 10
the increase of population during the sa perod bv
over ono and halt per cent While the increase of the
latter has also been very uniforms varying between every
census and for the whole time very steadily between four
ana nan and hve per cent that ofthe former has huc-
tuatcd largely, rising under the great impulse given to
credit industry, and enterprise by the adoption of our
Constitution; TO near per ceutum YEARLY dur
ing most oil the first ten years, and then falling only
about one per centum the next twenty wears After
tnl ny one OF those customary tides in trade, which
almost periodically after checks to over
trading, an exhaustion of old stocks of goods and en-
iarged means to purchase, from abundant crops their
high prices any other cause the rate of increase in
o mn frsn
goods and especially the unpro cedened imports OF sne
Gle in 1888 and 1884, amounted on an average dnrin
me last ten years. to four per cent annually. Deduct
however that of specie alone and the increase
would not much exceed three per the consump-
ton OF all kinds of foreign merchandise; while on that
OF such merchandise pays duties there has as before
detailed, been great decrease; there is nc lkeIi
hood of much permanent increase, till the whole impor-
tatons shall be greatly augmented, the tariff be again
extended to larger list OF articles BY the customary
rehux oil that tide from opposite causes, and the greater
substitution o some Kinds OF domestic products, il is be-
leved that the above of increase as to all oregn
articles, VIII again soon decline, and probably remain
much below that of population until new legislation:
or the essential alterations now going on in the tarF
shall materially enlarge the amount OF goods paving
low duty AS the capacity the country to purchase
foreign goods will, all other things remaining equal he
then enlarged in The ratio of what it does not pay for
duties such alterations when their influence shall be
and 1888 have already DONE doubtless again TO aug
ment somewhat the whole importaons and consump-
uon oil Foreign arucies Another comparative view,
perhaps more striking OF this consumption, is that
accorded to the value of the articles as estimated az the
cnstomhouse, ITS average amount in 1890 and 81 was
ap0ul seven dollars per head 10 population; in 1900
and lSOI over ten dollars per head in 1910 and IL
about seven; but in 1920 and 81 only about six; and in
1880 and 81 only about Eve, half of what il was
thirty years before This great difference has probably
arsen not only from the increased domestic production
of certain manufactures such as cottons woolens salt
and iron, and OF some articles immediately con-
nected with agriculture such sugar and noIasscs but
from fall III the price OF many articles making the va
iue less OF n similar quantity consumed, and from the
greater extension of our population into the West where
the ndepende habits OF the people, and the compare.
lively enhanced cost of foreign articles would tend to
cause smaller consumption OF them than the
board where their price is lower and il is customary 10
depend more on foreign supplies.
1t will be noticed that all the above have
been made of the value, and the quantities of the
articles consumed The latter would be difficult 10
exhibit in great detail and fitness But if they cond
be, the result would, in view connected with political
economy, be more satisfactory showing clearly
the comparative habits of population different PEI
RODS; because prices especially of some manufactures
have fallen during the last forty years. probably on an
average, over fifty per cent and whole consump-
ton OF foreign articles has without doubt diminished
more in value than in quantity
But the difficulties before mentioned have prevented
any further exhibit, coupled with the circumstance that
in respect TO the amount Of dutes the inquiry
pertinent and material the result in the present state of
the arif, would be much less important than might
at hrst Imagine, as would be wholly unaltered in all
cases Of specific of duty whether the values or the
quantities be detailed in the statements and equally un-
altered in half of all the foreign goods now nport.
ed they being present free the rate of increase in
their consumption by additions to population or
other couses, having influence Whatever the
Hence, in looking 10 the future it is esse initial to no.
tce that, II the increase in consumption of all foreign
goods should continue TO be average till 1912
large as during the last thirty years, it would only add
yearly about one and onequaricr millions TO the imports
of goods which dutiabe, and which the ave-
rage would not probably exceed two hundred
and fifty thousand dollars per annum But it pre-
sumed that the increasing substitution in imporla
tons for consumption Of free for dutabe goods when
the former will answer The desired purposes of the
muniy, Will account Of their comparative cheap
ness make the free rather than the dutable goods us
ally increase, and be frequently ratio quite large
enough to counlcract neuiTazc the effects Of any
tendency to augment the by increased con.
sumption of ali kinds Of foreign goods.
The commercial returns for 1886 not received so
to be used in any of the above computations but so
far asccrlaned and estimated they are given in
the table and furnish another illustration Of Their ucua-
ting character Of foreign trade and the uncertainty
Of any statements founded it, which do extend to
comparisons Of various and distant periods of time
The exports Of domestic produce the ensuing year
will, as before remarked exert influence the
amount OF mporniions, and hence tie revenue from
customs But the effect Of those exports impor-
ations for immediate consumption including all but spc-
cic and other articles TO he again exported will in rca
IS always be less than is sometimes supposcd provided
the domestic supplies OF similar articles should as of late
years continue rapidly to increase and should prove to
be equal in quality and not higher in price, than similar
imported from foreign nations D That event. tho
the ability OF The people to buy foreign goods will ortu-
naley be greater where the exports large vet the
permanent from abroad VIII generally be in
money be expended nj hone and less in goods TO be
consumed But She diversity Of opinion which exists,
concerning of these considerations, bas led me to
submit lle document annexed, ID
From tbis appears that onf whole exports Of every
kind, Che last Eve years, ncGding the estimates for
1850, have not exceeded those during similar term,