Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-12-07

in the value of the exports of tallow, oil
cake, vegetable oils, seeds, clocks and
watches, hops, wool, and Q few other com.
mUdities. During the last fiscal year
breadstuffs constituted IS per cent. of the
value of our exports of domestic merchan-
disc, cotton ~ per cent, and provisions 10
per cent.
The imports Of merchandise for the past
year exceeded such imports during any
previous year in the history of the country.
The leading articles, showing marked in
crease in quantity or value imported, are
coffee, hides and skins, raw silk and tea,
all of which are free of duty, and copper,
manufactures of cotton, silk, and wool,
fruits. glass, iron, steel. lead, leather and
precious stones, leaf tobacco, wool and
zinc. The imports of unmanufactured
wool increased from $4,000, 900 pounds in
1879 to over 128, ,OOO, 900 pounds in 1880.
The value of the imports of railroad-bars
of iron and steel increased from $40, OIL in
1879 to "a, ,952, ,286 in 1880.
During each year from 1862 to 1879, in
elusive, the exports of specie exceeded the
imports thereof. The largest excess of
such exports over imports.was reached dur
ing the year 1864, when it amounted to
$92, ,28O,019. But during the year ended
June 30, 1880, the imports of coin and
bullion exceeded the exports thereof by
$75, ,S9l 1891. During July, August, Sep
tember and October of the current fiscal
year the imports of specie were $47, ,94O, ,SO5
and the exports were 81, 72l 1928, making
an excess of imports over exports of
$43,218,977.
The large and continued excess of the
value of the exports of merchandise over
the imports of merchandise appears to
render it probable that we shall see con-
tinuation of, and, perhaps, a large in
crease in, the flow of specie into this
country.
ExportatiOn and Importation of Cattle.
In letter of February 10, 1880, from
this department to the speaker of the
House of Representatives, the attention of
Congress was called to the prevalence of
the disease known as pleurO- pneumonia,
or lung plague, in neat cattle, and some
recommendations were made as to the
proper legislation on the subject.
1t may be assumed that this disease
has never existed in this country west of
the Allegheny mountains; and that it has
in this country near the line of Canada.
u0 CApOA UoSlOu VI HvC uOluCu N0StlO
from the United States is very large, and
is rapidly increasing, the cattle going
mostly to Great Britain. For the eight
months ended August 81, 1880, the value
of such animals exported was $12, ,462, S37,
which is nearly double the value of the
expectation for the same period in 1879.
BY an order of the Privy Council of
Great Britain, all American cattle must
be slaughtered at the port of arrival within
ten days. The effect of this order is to
prevent the shipment of any but fat cattle;
and it entails great loss as to that class of
animals, by compelling the immediate
slaug ghter of such as are injured, or become
sick upon the voyage, and therefore of
little value for food. 1t also prevents the
owners from driving the cattle from the
port of importation TO better market, or
from keeping them until the market i'm
proves. Furthermore, there is a large de-
mand in England for store or stock-cattle,
10 be fed and fattcned in that country for
its own markets, a demand which this
country could supply to an unlimited ex-
tent. 1t is believed that this trade, if un-
restricted, might far exceed the trade in
fat cattle. The losses and embarrassments
by reasons of the order for immediate
slaughter are, commercially considered,
very great. The British government, how
ever, is ready to rescind it when it may be
done without danger of Spreading pleuro.
pneumonia in their country through i'm.
portations from the United States.
The question of the rescission of the or.
der has been the subject Of official discus
sion between this Government and the
Government of Great Britain, as we'll as in
Parliament. 1t is believed that whenever
Congress makes provision for the extinc.
tion or prevention of the disease, or foI
such security of the great routes of travel
from the West to the scaboard rs will
make it reasonably certain that the cattle
| shipped from our ports, or any of them,
will not carry infection with them,
the order of Council requiring immediate
slaughter will be rescinded-
The recommendation that commission
be created, whose duty it shall be to in.
vestigatc reports of the existence of the
disease, and TO collect information respect
ing it, reporting the results to some De.
partment for official publication, is re.
newed. 1t is further recommended that
such commission be authorized 10 CO.
operate with State and municipal authori.
ties, and corporations and persons en-.
gagged in the transportation of neat-cattle,
and establish regulations for the safe con.
vcyancc of such cattle from the interior
to the seaboard, and the shipment of them,
so that they may not be exposed to the
disease; and that such commission, also,
may establish such quarantine stations and
regulations as may be deemed necessary to
prevent the spread of the disease by i'm,
portations from abroad. It is believed
that the legislation thus indicated,
properly executed, will induce the Gov.
ernment of Great Britain TO rescind its
order for immediate slaughter, and thus
promote a very large increase in the ex.
portatiou of neat. cattle from this country
Whether Congress should 60 further, and
undertake the extirpation of the disease in
the States where it now exists, is a ques
tion of more difficulty, and it is deemeed
best to leave that part of the subject fol
| independent consideration.
Commerce and Navigation.
The records of the Register of the Treas
ury show that the total tonnage of vessel.
of the United States, at the close of the
fiscal year ended June 80, 1880, was "A ,O6S,
O34 tons. OF this amount !, ,352, $40 ton!
we're comprised in 2,376 vessels registered
for the foreign trade, and 2,715, ,2A tons
T! in %, ,:3s24 vessels enrolled and licensed fol
the coasting trade and fisheries. There
has been a decrease of 1876, ,723 tons in YES
sells employed in the foreign trade, and {
decrease of 81, ,157 tons in such as were en-
gagged in the domestic trade.
| x =
JOHN SHERMAN.
To Hon. s. J. RANDALL, Speaker of the
| House of Representatives..
This concludes the most important ant
| ronara1Jv intareStinr nortiO,, Of the renOrt