Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-02-09
Total receipts for three quarters $50.
S36,TJO,OUU

Let us now examine and see how the the Sec
retary arrives at the above figures. He first as
Sunes that our ratio of annual increase in i'm
poftatIohs Tor the last few years has been ten
per cent, and that they VIII 90 on to increase
In that ratio tor years to come. How 4 gentle
man OF the reputed sagacity and Judgment OF
the Secretary, or how any gentleman possessed
OF ordinary intelligence could have yentured on
tAat assumption, Is quite lncomprehensbie, and
imposes upon me the necessity OF an eXaInina-
ton INTO the position thus taken by him.
think that 1t may be laid down as safe
principle, that no nation can go along uninter-
ruptedIY Tor q great length OF time, Incre;ISng =
her lmpor;ations much more rapidly than it IN
creases IN population aud ability TO pay The
increased abIHty to purchase OF foreign imports
depends Principally upon the increase of popu-
Iatlon and Iaborto produce the necessary aftI-
cIen Tor export m exchange foI'ioreign cotnnlodI-
TIES HE invention of Iabor-sayIng machinery
may have increased the efficiency oI labor 50 as
to render our people more able to purchase large
Iy than formerly though that, when applied To
all the people OF the UBlJed States is question
able. H. then, this principle is correct, let us
see where It's application Will lead US.
The increase OF population for the decade from
lS00 to 1910 was thirty six and forty-tiye one
hund edlhs The per cent, or about three and SIX
tenths per cent. per annum From ISL TO 1920
II was thIrty-three and thirteen one hundreth5
per cent From 1920 to 1880 it was thirty three
and forty-nIne one hundreths per cent. From
1881 TO 1910 1t was thIrty-two and sIxty-seyen
one hundred,hs per cent From 1910 10 1850 1t
was thlrty-fveapd eighty-seven one huudredths
per cent showing remarkable uniformity
In the increase OF our population, which has ay-
eraged about three and one half per cent
per annum. An examination of the table of ir,-
ports from lo20 to 1850 Will disclose the fact
that, on an average, our imports Just about kept
pace with our population. Since 1850, our i'm
portatlons have rapidly increased, by reason OF
the disturbing causes which have before allu-
ded to, and not because of the increasing wants
or ability of the country When We remove that
disturbing cause, Importations, instead Of going
on to increase at the rate OF ten per cent. Der
annum, which Is about three times as fast as our
population increases, viii fall back to hat they
We're before these disturbing causes commenced
To return, then, to the Secretary ; figures lie
says that for the corresponding three quarters
OF last year, the amount of merchandise ifaport-
ed subject TO duty was S2l00OU 900: TO " hich
he adds ten per cent. ratio OF ofIncrease-ss2I 900
UOO-maklng the total amount that would be
imported were there no disturbing cause Sl3I
600 coo.
Now, he says, that the arrangement in busi-
ness will probably cause falling off of twenty :
nve per cent In our imports or in other words
! suppose that he means, that by reason of hard
times, We shall get along with twenty-five per
cent. less of articles of foreign merchandise than
We otherwise should, and makes the accouu,
stand thus:
There would have been imported had there been no re-
Deduct, 10y reason of reyulsion twenty-five
Per cent. 20 uOg