Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-09-10
From Our Regular Correspondent
London Letter.
LONDON. August %. 1879.


In an official report to DR.. E. Thornton,
Mr.. Victor Drummond stated that during
the year ending June SOth, 1878, the
value of cotton and breadstuffs exported
to the United Kingdom exceeded the value
of the total imports of merchandise from
the United Kingdom into the United
States. In later report, dated Washing
ton. April sth, 1879, just published by the
foreign Office, Mr.. Drummond says this
short paragraph sums up the present
commercial relations of the two countries.
As some slight consolation to the land
owners and farmers who are suffering
from the competition, he remarks that
American landowners and farmers in the
eastern and northeastern states also COM
plain of the competition of the western
and Northwestern states in farming prod
=" This condition of things arises
from the low rates, both by rail and
water, from the western and north western
states to the Atlantic ports, and from the
development of the agricultural interests
in those states, due to the practically il
limtahle capacity for agricultural produc.
ton, to the fact that the cost of production
is much less than in the more easterly
states, and to the fact that the railroad
system of the country has been widely
extended throughout these states. thereby
securing cheap, rapid and regular trans
portation. During the year 1866 the
average rate for the carriage of wheat
from Chicago to New York by Lake
and Erie canal was little over twenty
seven cents per bushel, but during the
year 1873, by the same route, the average
rate was seven and one-fourth cents, and
by rail twelve cents. During the present
year the average cost for transporting
wheat from the region of the Red River Of
the north, in the northern part of the
state of Minnesota, to the city Of New
York has been only twenty-six cents per
bushel. This is a marvel of cheap freight"
During the last twenty-eight years the
exports of breadstuffs from the United
States have increased enormously. In
1860 they were valued at $24,420,000 in
1873 the bread and breadstuffs exported
were valued at SlSl, III 900. In 1877 the
total production of wheat was 1854, 900
bushels, produced on an area of 26,277,000
acres-an average yield per acre of 1879
bushels. This was the highest average
yield during ten years, the annual average
yield of the years 1857 being 1912
bushels per acre. The average value per
bushei in 1877 was 1852 cents. In 1868
the average value per bushel was 1924
cents, but this seems to have been an ex-
ceptional year. The diminished value
per bushel of the other cereals in the
United States is shown still more forcibly
than in the wheat crops. Corn. for in
stance-the total production of which in
1877 amounted to the prodigious quantity
of 1,342,55S,0 600 bushels, grown on an area
of 50,369,113 acres-fell in average value
per bushel from 1874 cents in 1868 to 35.S
cents in 1877; the annual average being
49.l cents. Rye in like manner fell in val
lie from 1914 cents per bushel in 1868 to
59.2 cents in 1877, the annual average in
the decennial period being 1871 cents.
Oats, which were valued at 90 cents per
bushel in 1868, fell to 1912 cents in 1877,
with an annual average in the ten years of
40.1 cents. Barley was valued at l30.2
cents per bushel in 1868, and at only 63.9
in 1877, with an annual average in the
like period of 500 cents.
" From statistics it appears that the ex-
ports of bacon and hams were fifteen times
as great in 1873 as in 1870; beef three and
a half times as great; cheese twice as
great; lard nearly ten times rs great and
preserved meats more than sixteen times
as great. The average export price Of
bacon and hams in the United States fell
from 1871 cents in 1870 to 81 in 1878; of
lard from 1916 cents in 1870 to 9.S cents
in 1878; and Of pork from 1872 cents in
1870 to 6.9 cents in 1878; while, on the
other hand, the price of salted beef in
creased from 7.3 cents per pound in 1870
to &c cents per pound in 1878. The rapid
extension of corn culture has increased
the pork supply very much beyond the re-
quirements for home consumption, thus
leaving yearly increased surplus for ex.
portation to foreign countries. The falling
price of corn seems to have correspondent
nearly with that of pork and pork prod
ucts, the export price of the former hay
ing fallen from % cents per bushel in 1870
to 56.2 cents in 1873. 1t is estimated that
the total product of bntter in the United
States during the year 1877, amounted to
$50, 100000 pounds. 1t would appear
therefore, that the exports of butter during
the year 1878, amounting to 2l,S37 III
pounds, constituted about 90 per cent Of
the total production in the country. The
total production of cheese in tho United
States during 1877 is estimated at 3lO,-
100000 pounds, of which 123,7S3,73t
pounds, constituting about 40 per cent o.
the entire product, was exported"
The value of exports of live animals
from the United States during the last
fiscal year was eight times the value o.
such exports during the year ending
June 30th, 1868. About IS per cent Of
the entire exports of live animals was to
Great Britain and Ireland, about 10 pei
cent to Cuba, and about ~ per cent to
British possessions in North America.
The new double postal cards will not BIZ
due until October.
The Florida republicans have begun ,
canvass of the state and inland IN oSto n