Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1859-07-28
North German Prosperity.

An interesting illustration Of the SUCCESS OF
the industrial policy of the North German
States appeared in the Berlin core indence
ola Ntw York pal o.. Very soon after the dew
estation of the wars Of 1912, Prussia, which
hal suffered as much or more than any other
part OF Europe, entered upon vigorous
course of encouragement to dnmef:ic industry.
History has not yet clearly told us to whom
the honor Of initiating this system is due. and
tho writer above referred to credits the Prus-
sian minister Stein first, and after him his
Successor. Harlcnhurg. We would lie glad
to kn rw accurately who it was, and to heap
one stone on the pile reared in his homer. The
leadership was taken by Prussia, however,
and for NJ ary ten years from 1915 that State
stood alone in maintenance OF a protective
policy. In 1926 eleven Saxon and other durh-
les formed tariff union, called Der Mite
KersiR; and IN 1927 and 1928 Bavaria and
Wurtemhcrs joined this union. Prussia then
invited all these small States to Join in its
own system, which was more highly protec-
tive than their own association, but jealousy
Of Prussian Influence prevented the consum-
nation of the plln until March. 1855. ut
which time the ZoV- Tyein or general union
of customs was formed. Nearly all the re-
naming small States joined before lS45, and
now Bremen, Hamburg, Lubcc and Mcck'cn-
burg are the only exceptions III tie north 81
Germany. The revenues are divided in Ger
tain defined proportions among the several
States, Prussia receiving over fifty per cent
of the whole.
But our great interest is in the result ofthis
system in recent years. 1t is now. more than
ever astouislingly prolific in benefits to all
public and private interests. The increase of
revenues is the eliminating point Of interest
and for the edificatuu ut those who think an
Increase of protective duties the sure way to
exhaust the country and reduce the revenues
we give the statistics for the Xollycrein during
the last five years.
REVENUES, IN TuALEEs, FROM
Imports Exports. Trans. toll, n Suc.
1855, 25.iG3.5lO 2l2.sll 7l70i0 300 ,93l
1856, 25.5I9,f99 1926 eGG $685. 4GSj 235
1857, % OI4Sl9 1909 49, $50 1859 9lG
1853, 2s 0O2,s49 22iJiG 379,l97 74iG,,37
The total revenues, reduced to dollars, were
as follows:
1886, 500, G93.72S
1856, ..................... 23.l3O,5l3
1851, Observation-Disclosures. "a $40 27a
1858. 270lI,4GO
Thus the revcnuSc of the German Union
rapidly increasd ut the very moment ours
disappeared, and this because our system
hung upon external prosperity. In rrsery-
ing their industry they secured the prrIna-
hence OF their revenues as certainly rs We
scattered our revenues III drspising home in
dustry. The writer from whom wc get these
figures, puts the argument in decisive
language, which VIC need not repeat, upon
every branch of the statistical returns for this
tariff union. Iron gains rs rapidly as any
other article. and production in Prussia rose
from ., 1893 $50 tons III 1854, tn 3.3sl 100
tons IN 1851. The increase ii lmpnitcd iron
was even greater in the same period. In q, M
uEacturcs of iron the writer cities locomotives
at Berlin, rs having reached the number "i
one thousand 1t u single establishment, VII !.
in lS49 Philadelphia locomotives were impor-
ted for the earlier railways.
At Berlin the external evidences of pros
pcrity are abundant House Luilding, on an
extensive scale. WAS aippr"s'csa wien thcrX-
istng political trnulfs bc.an-irnn works,
blocks Of buildings Tor laburinG families aud
II great new canal basin named after Hum
buldt, were amo 2 the works. In Brr,au,
now a city Of 1870, 900 Inhabitants, whole
streets of great German houses up; on every
hand one sees the mason and the carpenter
at work So in Maglehurg so in other cities. "
Such is North Germany under a protective
tariff union, ard this ut the very time that our
revenues of State, and the rewards of our la
Dor are ut their minimum under practical free
trade. Such also is France and all the States
of Eur pc, which advocate and sustain this
sensible policy, exhibit its results eq ually i'll
the public revenues, and in the external cv-
licences of property in the towns and the
country The lesson lisa most impressive one
to Americans abroad, and not only do oui
citizens travelling there express themselves
strongly ON this subject hut we understand
that our Minister at Berlin expresses freely
and iurcihy lis convictions in rGGar to build
Ing up domestic industry. The density OF
Ignorance in high places here is too great to
hope that these ideas can penetrate their pre-,
ent occupants. We live in hopetlat change,
mry come.