The Placer herald., 1867-02-23

and expense Of collection.
In respect to the tariff, it is shown that
the average of duties is now 4S-58 per cent,
and 43 10 per cent on everything imported.
not excepting gold; very high average Of
rates, but so distributed in many cases rs 10
tex our industry oppressively for its raw
materials, while admitting the products ct
competing foreign industry on terms favor
able to the foreigners and ruinous to our
selves. The increase Of imports for 1866
above all previous years, is irigltful: S43..-
G38,066, against an average Of about $780,
600, 900 for the seven preceding years, and
an increase Of over 5000 900, 600 from 1865.
Al the same time table Of exports is pre-
senled, showing the falling off in most Of The
leading branches specified. to be fro,n fifty
to seventy'fve ami even eigh,y-five per cent.
In the shipping business, the same disastrous
picture presents itself.
The foreign commerce Of the United States is
being. as it were, swept from the ocean. No voy-
| age with an American vessel can he planned at
the present time from the United States to amy
foreign port with Il reasonable expectation OF
profit.
| The amount Of American registered tonnage
| engaged in foreign trade in lS6j-G6, WAS but one
million and hall tons (l,492 .924l. as compared
with TWO and Il half millions OF tons (25i6.237)
in $50. which allowing for The difference be-
| tween The old and new me.su, cm"nt. Indicates 4
decrease in five years ol over fifty per cent. In
1853 the tonnage Of the United States was about
fifteen per cent in excess OF that OF Great Britain
while at the present time, ii is estimated at thir
| iy-thlee per cent less.
Out OF lyl American vessels engaged in South
American trade, in lSGl-G2. bat thirty are re-
manning; while The number OF foreign vessels cn-
gagged IN the same trade has dining The same time
increased nearly threclold. The immediate cause
OF this change was undoubtedly the ravagcs Of he
Alabama ami other Confederate privaiccrs. but
| the desti ucion of property due to this cause
would ere this have been repaired had the Ordn
AIRY conditions of trade existed and the cost OF
constructing g vessels continued uncnhanced. In
stead, however, Of building ships as formerly for
all nations. this branch OF business has to great
extent, been transferred from the Atlantic coast
OF the United States to the British Provinces; and
on he hole \ Atla,t.c coast there have not be,
probably, rs many ships constructed daring the
past season in the Two British Provinces ol
New Brunswick and Nova Scolil.
The class oi ships which cost at the present
time, in the city OF New York. about SlUO per
ton Currency to build and equip ready ior sea,
do not cost much over $40 (gold) per tun to build
and equip in the British Provinces,
Contraction of the currency is forciby
advocated. The circulating medium does
not advance in the same ratio with the ex
changes which it serves to carry on. In the
State of New York, in the ten wears from
1850 to 1860. the capital Of banks increased
lOl per cent, loans aud discounts Is per
cent, deposits 3 per cent, aud specie l4l
per cenl; while The cir ualion increased
only 5 per cent. Before the war, The ere
alton Of currency IN most Of The States was
free from any serious restraint. Speaking
generally, therefore, the people Of the Uni
ted States, had all the circulating medium
which they required or would receive.
And how much was it? Undur this free
system The utmost ever called fr (anh that
in The fevered summer soslIce Of 1850 was
less than two huLdred aud fifteen mi,lions.
Now The existing circulation exceeds seven
hundred millions The retaining Of the pre-
sent amount of curren y in circul Iion tends
to increase no business except what is spec-
uIa,ive, and to check the very development
which is expected 10 prove remedial Of the
excess. But we must refer the reader to the
repor, itself for the full argument and the
answers to ali objections.
We reluctantly forego repullishing Mr..
Wells mastery argument with the produc-
ers Of Grade commolilIes, that their interest.
with that of all classes, demands The encour
noement OF manufacturing industries around
them. The report must be left TO speak for
itself. II is unauswerabIe and exhaustive.
We close with a few items OF home interest,
which every one of either sex will read.
ADVANCE IN PRICES.
A somewhat extended investigation respecting
the advance in the prices OF the leading art iclcs
OF consumption aud OF rents, Indicates IN increase
oil nearly ninety per cent. in the year 1866, us
compared with the mean OF prices during the four
years from 1859 to 1862. The advance in
brelsiufis is estlm tied at about ~ per cent; coal
(anthracle) from 90 TO 20 per cent; salt fish, from
~ to IS; provisions (pork and bee). from 10 to
l2O; butter over 100 per cent; rice, 100; SALT from
no TO l20; soap. from 50 TO 80; brown sugars,
from 10 to so; coffee, from ~ 10 40; and teas,
IRON lao to $50 per cert.
| Asreg rus textile fabrics, the currency prices
| Of Domestic COttOns in October 1866, show !,
nominal advance over the gold prices of such
fabrics in July, 1860, Of enc hundred and seventy
Two (l72) per cent. The cost OF minuacturin
cotton goods in the year $685. over The average Of
the years from 1851 to 1861. was 1851 per cent.
on manufactures Of woolens suited Tor ordinary
domestic use The advance is estimated at So per
cent. The advance in the price Of read dy made
clothing has been SO per cent.
| Ou SlIA pOo'lS u. SeHciHI. tHc IuVutCc Is cSii'
mated Il; an average OF Il little over one hundred
per cent
AS general thing, the price of labor has not
advanced in an equal ratio with the price of com.
modlies, although numerous exceptional cases
mi ghl w quoted which Seems to Indicate the con.
traiy. ,..
ADVANCE IN WAGES FROM 1850 TO 1866
BRANCHES OF MANUFACTURE. PER CENT
Agricultural implements. ............. So 10 10
Agricultural laburer, in the Northern Mid
die and Western States, averLse.... so
Bookbnding. 37t 10 SO
Boots and ehoes-Mcn's s. .............. SO
Women's and chill ren's. s.......... 25 TO 81
First-class custom work. nearly. ..... 100
Car building Skilled mechanics 10 10 Is
| per cent; average. .................. 60
Laborers and unskilled, So per cent;
average. w
China decorating. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 6O
Clothing Ready made. e................. 5O
Custom work IS