The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-06-03
A Little Story About Condemned MIX an
the Tariff,

by DAVID A. WELLS.
The business of preparing condensed mix,
although of comparatively recent origin, is
rapidly becoming great industry-especlally
IN EurOpe-and as the product, enclosed in
alright tin cans will keep sweet and pure for
heightened perioas, it already constitutes an
important staple of the worlds commerce.
The principal seat of the industry IN Europe
at present is Switzerland, which country pro-
duces from eight TO ten million cans OF con-
densed milk annually, each can containing
one pound Italy, Belgium, Norway and Eng
land are also participating in the business,
but 10 q smaller extent
In view of the certain future large increase
IN the demand for this article, and the recog-
nized ability of the United States to supply
agricultural products cheaper than any other
nation, a number of Swiss gentlemen, skilled
in the business, have recently visited this
country for the purpose OF determining the
feasibility of establishing themselves here, and
of manufacturing condensed milk for export
in large quantities to Europe and other coun.
tries. The report of these Investigations
showed that milk of excellent quality could
be furnished in large quantities. IN many To-
calties in New York and other States, at from
a cent to a cent and halt cheaper per quart
than could be obtained in the most favored To-
stances had equally favored, new export
business rrospectively rlvaling in magnitude
that of butter or cheese, and promoting the
prosperity of the country, could be rapidly
developed. But other circumstances dld not
favor. There was a lion, and very large one,
III the way, in the shape of our lllconsldered
Ill-adjusted, monstrous tariff. And IN this
wise:
Condensed milk contains from 80 to 35 per
cent. of its weight of the purcst refined sugar,
which it Is necessary to add to it in the process
of condensation IN order that the product may
be kept sweet and fitted for transportation.
The existing tariff arguments the price OF this
sugar to the extent of from three to four cents
per pound, which increment in turn IS equiva-
lent to tax of from $1.00 to $1,33 on every
hundred one.pound cans OF condensed milk
manufactured in the United States, or from
one to one and third cents per can. To this
must be added further disability by reason
of the tariff on tin plate, nearly all Of which
is imported, and pays duty OF about 20 per
cent nd ydlorem, or one and One.tenthS cents
per pound. Now, as these two taxes more
than offset any advantage arising from the
cheaper supply of milk IN the United States
as compared with Europe, and as the Amer.
can manufacturers would in addition have to
sustain the cost of transportation, the exten.
Sive expectation OF condensed milk from this
country, to meet the demands of foreign mar.
kets, is practically impossible, and the Swiss
projectors have. at least tor the present, given
up the idea of doing it. Whereas on the 9TH
or hand, If sugar were free from all tariff taxa
ton in the United States as 1t is in England
or if a drawback equivalent to the duties paid
were given to the manufacturers, as in the case
of Italy; or If the United States tariff on su.
CARS were as low as the Swiss, Belgian and
Swedish tariff on the imports OF the same ar
ticle, there is no doubt that condensed milk
manufactured in the United States could be
prohtably exported 10 Europe In large guam
titles, and sold at a fair protit-it being esti.
mated that one cent per can would fully
cover all costs of transportation, and that a
profit Of one cent would pay ten per cent. of
the capital invested IN the business. Here,
then, we have another beautiful illustration of
the blessings of the protective policy, which
is claimed to especially benefit and develop
agricultural industry; policy which Agri-
cultural Commissioner Loring in a recent ad-
dress IN Boston declared rs so firmly fixed in
the American Government that controversy
over the general principle has virtually
d."-IOtca State Ledder.