The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-09-04

The expectation OF cotton in 1877 was re-
markablv light. and does not present fair
view of the amount of that product sent to
England. In 1873 the exports amounted TO
5 l23, 554 900.
The articles enumerated constitute the
most important articles Of export from this
country to the United Kingdom, but they do
not necessarily present the most interesting
data for the study of the growth Of our COM
merce. The value of petroleum exported
(the two years mentioned above are always
there referred toy has grown from ) 3D.
900 to SIS, 500 900; of flour, from 50, 300 900
to ) .503 900: of fresh beef, from nothing
to So, S52 600: of preserved meat, from
S63 700 to $3,S64 900; of refined sugar,
from nOthin" TO 2.5S5, 900; of fish, from
S 1925. 900 to So. 419 900; of barley, from
Sal 900 to 81 ,546. 600; of live animals,
from nothing to 5 ,4GS, OOO.
The following is table of imports from
the United Kingdom corresponding to the
above table Of exports:
1879. 1877.
Iron manufactured and
manufactured ........ 500, $4,000 Sl3,GJ4,OOO
Cotton manufactures. p ,e9,OOO u,SIS,OO
Linen manufactures IS,iUJ,OOO IlsJbz,OOO
Wooden manufactures. 80, 600 o,SD,OOO
Hardware and cutlery. 4,6U3,OOO l,o'O,OVO
All these articles were imported here in
smaller quantities last year than in 1877.
Our C0nsul-General at London attributes
this gloomy state of things Tor England 10
the fact that American manufactures nave
improved bv reason of our protective tariff.
But he gives the true reason for the COM
mercial distress of the mother country when
he saws:
Tnc great decline in manufacturing pros
perity is undoubtedly also attributable to the
fact that the United States have recovered
from the effects of the War Of the Rebellion,
which, threw into British hands, to great eN-
tent, the work which should have been done
10 lnr. moi
that this was temporary circumstance, sup
posed they had got Il start which could never
be made up, built mills and invested largely
in the manufacturing interest, believing them
selves to to have secured, as well as obtained,
the monopoly of the world. When America
revived, and, under the protective system, re-
covered from the effects of the War; when
Americans used their own great resources for
their own benefit, made their own wares in
stead OF purchasing them, this great outlay
became in great degree useless, and the re-
action began. Some of the present depression
Will doubtless be only temporary, but 1t Is
very generally acknowledged by manutactur-
ers themselves, rs well as by careful writers
and thinkers, that foreign competition has en-
tirely changed the aspect of the subject and as
permanently affected the prospect OF British
manufacturers.
In this paragraph he agrees substantially
with Prof. BOnamy Price in his article in
recent number Of the North Anae,fcdR Re-
rieir.
W hat Mr. Evarts calls seeming traue
contradiction" consists in the fact that while
we have been selling the United Kingdom
goods in eXceSs.of what we have bought, we
have at the same time been exporting gold
and silver coin and bullion in much larger
amount than we have imported II. Inc
same is true Of our entire foreign Trade.
The showing Of the report that is greatly to
cur discredit is in respect TO our tonnage.
The freight earnings Of most Of the vast
CARRYING trade between America and England
goes into English pockets. NOtwithstand-
inc that we sell England more than any 9TH
err country, the tonnage OF the United States
stands eighth in the list Of coun-
tries clearing vessels at the ports of Great
Britain. The following table speaks for
itself:
Flag. Total tons
Brltlsn t,i33
Norwegian. .......................- ,532 ,379