Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-09

In his speech at Boston recently DIR.
Loring, Commissioner of Agriculture.
made the following remarks showing the
growth of our products and industries I'M
der protective tariff.
This Republic has increased in population
ut the rate Of a million a year during the
last decade, rivaling now every country in
the world except Russia. 1t is not necessary
to 90 back half century. or even twenty
five years, to obtain the most gratifying evil
dence of our progress in the work of tilling
the soil. But starting in 1870. at which
time we had reached an enormous produc-
ton in proportion to our population, let us
make our comparisons with the returns of
1880 In 1870 the amount of cotton pro-
duced was 4,352.3 l7 bales; in 1850 more
than 5000, 900 bales. In 1870 the amount
of Indian corn raised was 60.9t0, 594
bushels; in 1850 |, 75t ,449. i35 bushels. In
1870 the wheat crop was 2s7, 745, 626 bushels /;
in 1880 it was 49, ,667 .o22 bushels. In 1870
the crop of oats reached 2s2. l07. Isl bushels /;
in 1880. 407 ,s59. 033. In 1870 the tobacco
crop amounted to 262, 1891 pounds; in
1880 it amounted to 4T3, l07 ,573 pounds The
increase of agricultural products was nearly
one hundred per cent. in these ten years,
1879 to 1880. out of this vast increase of our
crops and products, our cattle export rose
from Sl3, 900. 900 to Sl4. 200, 900: corn, from
ga. zoo. 900 to $50. 500. O0Oi wheat. from
el67 sos 900 to $3.50. $780, 900: flour, from
e35 100000 to s&5 ZOO. 900: cotton. from
s209. 1852 0o9 to S2i5, ,39l; beef, from
81 200. 0OW to $4,000, 900; lard, from S2S.-
Oo0,0O to S33, 900, 900: and pork. from So
O0O. 0Co TO SS,000,0o0. Mark also the growth
of American manufactures in half a century.
In 1880 the amount invested in cotton
manufactures was little more than $40. 900, :
900. Fifty years have past away and the
amount Of capital invested in mills and sub
sidiary work is more than 1925 ,0o0. 900. OF
our wooden manufactures the statistics are
more imperfect, but have ascertsined that
in 1910 the value of the product was 500,
COG, 699, and in 1850 the value of woolens,
worsteds, carpets and hosiery produced was
e23+ ,5S7. 6sl. In 1870 the silk productions
Of the United States were valued at ST.. 2lO,-
co.; in 1850. at S3i, 4l0,46 Fifty years
ago the shoe and leather industry had hardly
national reputation. In 1870. however.
there were 4.23. tsnneries in the United
States. employing a capital of S42. 40 sos
annually. and producing leather valued at
$50, l69,SS3. The growth of the iron and
steel industry has been equally remarkable.
In 1910 we produced only 5o.0o0 tons o,
iron, and our largest furnaces could yield
only LOO tons annually. But in 1880 the
product was l65, 900 tons in 1860. 200, OOO
tons; in 1850 the iron and steel works in the
United States produced 1865. 100 tons.
The aggregate annual product of our man.
ufacturing and mechanical industries is now
more than six thousand millions of dollars.
Of this vast product less than two hundred
millions are exported. And of the $780,.
000,o produced by agriculture, less then 10
per cent is exported. On the self-surport
ing power of the American people, and Of
the mutual relations existing between oul
industries. we can dwell as Americans with
the most profound satisfaction.