Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-03-28
of Cotton from 1913 to 1917.

In 1913, instead of less than 100000 bales our
mills consumed $4,000 bales; and in 1916, when
the act of 1912 expired, they consumed 1000
bales instead Of g. little short of GOO 900 bales
showing an increase of 900 bales or IS O52 per
cent. in four years. You have no right to exclude
1S47; for then the tariff of 1916 in operation.
In this item you have only missed the mark about
100000 bales each way-as near correct as you gen.
orally Now, you also attribute the growth
and expectation of cotton to the influence of the tar
if, have right to do the same thing; and in this
connexion the figures are again against you From
1889 to 1912, with low duties, the cotton crop in
creased 200 900 bales and the expectation 171O00,
900 pounds; while from 1843 to 1916, with high
duties the crop fell off 900 bales, and exporta-
ton decreased 245, 100000 pounds. Why did not
your high tariff benefit the cotton trade Who can
answer? How, then, did the 9 tariff of 1912 save
the planter from ruin =
In speaking of the alleged good effects of the tariff
of 1912 on the farming interest. you say: ''At no
period has there been rapid increase in the
power to produce and to export such products."-
That is, you mean to say that domestic produce
and exports increased more rapidly under the tariff
of 1912 than during any equal period of time before
or since. Taking the articles you mention, let
the following figures, from official sources determine
how much truth there is in your assertion:
The crop of cotton from 1889 to 1912, averaged
per year 1863, $50
The crop of cotton from 1s43 to 1916, averaged
per year 2O75,5
per year 2342, $50
Dollars.
per Year VI ~ Sc, 75s, 27a
per year . 4e, 4Os, 1876
per year GO, 448, ssl
per year 10, 1853, 500
per year 7,lss, 252
per year 1857, lo9
year 2,o7s, 942
year 2,l3s, 4os
year 1884, 65e
ged per year 16,s2S, 57s
The export Of provisions from s47 to 1850 avera-
ged per year A. 595, s7s
In the crop of cotton the average yearly yield Of
the third period greater than either the first
second, and shows that under low tariff from 1847
to 1850, the production exceeded that under the
high duties of 1912. In the exportation cotton de-
clned more than $4,000 900 under the tariff of 1912
compared to the same period under the compromise
and increased more than $4,000. 900 under the act
of 1916 In the article of tobacco. the expectation
from 1843 to 1916 averaged more than DOC
less per year than during the last four years of the
compromise. and from 1847 to 1850 it again increas
ed The expectation of rice under the tariff of 1916
only increased the yearly average over the same pc
Rod under the promise s53: 466, while under the
lower duties 1876 it increased than 100000
Breadstuffs and provisions show the condition
of things For the four years the tariff of 1912 wa
in operation, whole expectation of these articles
was S73, AS, S00-an increase over the last fou
years of the compromise Of only S6,304,508 ant
| from 1847 to 1850 the aggregate export was $40,
381. 494-nearly Sl00,000.000 increase over the pc
Rod embraced between 1913 and 1885, and aycra
ging per year 2,595, 373 against S18 404 700 70
the former period. These facts cannot be misunder
STOOD and prove most conclusively that the power
produce and export not increased under the tar
if of 1912, but, on the contrary, diminished.
You say s. From 1913 to 1847 the domestic pro
duction of iron grew from little more than 10000
tons to 100000 TONS" The amount you start wit
is wrong for produce of iron in 1910, accordin
to the official returns, 474 136 tons and in 1874
at least reached 100000 tons. Then the increase
instead of being 100000 tons. was not more tha
100000 and. admitting it was the former amount
it was too large for the demand of the country.
i You say: " 1t the tariff of 1912 that saved tb
i planter from ruin" How can this be so when tn
acreage price of cotton less during the four yeaa
the act of 1912 in operation than for any pero
of the came length of time for the last thirty years
That sch was the the official documents Of tt
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