The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-01

meant 20 per cent. off to-day, 10 per cent. to-
morrow, not to get rid of war taxes, but to get
rid of the protection part Of the tariff law 1t
was a step IN the direction of free trade from
which, if it had been TAKEN there could have been
no retreat save by the repeal of the law. And,
instead of its producing less revenue, its tend
ency was to increase it
HOW PROTECTION BENEFITS THE FARMER.
A few facts briefly stated, overturn the charge
made by the free traders that protection is
robbery and theft on the farmer. An old saying
is to the effect that figures won't lie. useful
lesson may be learned by the figures Of our cen
sus table, showing the wealth of the farming
community in 1860 and 1880, for upon both of
these periods the estimated value was upon a
coin basis. The number of improved farms in
1860, was little over 200 900. The number in
1880 was q little over 4, 000, 00O The number of
acres Of improved land in 1860 was little over
1863 600 000 and the number in 1880 was a little
less than 285 000 000 So that it is seen that the
farms have doubled in number and the acreage
of improved lands has almost doubled between
these periods while the ratio Of inhabitants
during the same period has increased at much
less per cent A greater advance has been made
in the product of the farms during those peri.
DDS. Corn advanced from total product OF
1888 600 900 bushels to 100000, 600, or 100 per
cent, while wheat went from 173,000,0 900 of
bushels to 460 600 600 bushels or 165 per cent of
increase. All cereals from L. 39 O0O,0 900 of bush
els TO 1857 600, 600 of bushels, or l18 per cent
Cotton from 4, &c, 600 bales in 1853, to $500,
900 bales in 1882. Fifty years ago so per cent.
of our export trade was cotton now it only
amounts to onethird of our expectation. The
consumption of cotton in American manufactor
les has increased in still greater proportion,
from 422, 100000 pounds in 1860, we now con
sumo over 10000 600 pounds, with very rapid
increase since 1880 Our wool product in 1880
was four times as much as in 1860. We now
produce about 300, 600 600 pounds of wool. and
our manufacturing establishments pay to the
farmers the enormous sum of more than 800,
100000 for that product alone Our wool
product has become so enormous that
we only import about one-ffth Of
the wool required for consumption in
our manufacturing establishments, and al
most all of the imported wool is of the coarser
grades, known as carpet woods, although small
proportion of superhne wool for intermixture
with our products for the finer qualities of cloth
is still imported; but the amount is inconsider-
able.
It is estimated that since 1860 our cattle have
been improved, both by breeding and in number,
so that the value exceeds the total value of 1860
by $2S7, 100000. The cattle exported in 1860 av-
eraged only $36 head, while the exports Of 1881
averaged $78 a head In 1860 our entire export
of animal products only $40, 600, 900. In 1880
it amounted to $l75, 600
Another Encouragement which we labored
under in 1860 has, in part, passed away. Farm
products were often high at the sea-board, but
very low III the interior For instance. in Decem-
Der, 1861 oats in New York were worth 81 cents
per bushel and in Chicago IL cents. Corn in the
same year was worth in New York 68 cents, and
q cents in Chicago Wheat 81. 30 in New York,
70 cents in Chicago Our increased facilities
of transportation have, during the summer
months, largely reduced the price of freights,
and brought the values at these points nearer to-
gether. The total value of all cereals cotton,
hay, potatoes and tobacco, in 1860 was but
$685.. 00O, 900, while in 1880 it amounted to 81,
287 0000 00
[ need not 20 further into quotations of statis
ties to prove the enormous increase in our farm
productions and the advance of prices over the
days of free trade The facts are known to ali
intelligent agrculturists. An appeal to the
farmers of Wayne county, to compare the con
d1tion of things in 1860 with the condition of
things in $780, would furnish the most cogent
proof that the condition of the farm and the
farmer is greatly improved in the latter year
And call attention to the significant fact that
this enormous gain and profit and these long
strides in the advancement and promotion of
farm products have taken place under tariff
laws framed alike for the protection of the cit-
zen and the raising of revenue. If the tariff
laws have produced robbery and theft,
as is so freely charged by the doc
trinaires of free trade why is it that such I'M
paralleled prosperity has been realized through
out the country2 The answer is easy when the
facts are scrutinized. We consume in this
country 80 per cent. of our own farm products
we export but 10 per cent. The home market
is always better one than the foreign market
The expectation of 10 per cent of our farm prod
ucts conclusively shows that we have not yet
arrived at the full tide of manufacturing pros
perity There should be such a division Of
labor as that this country could consume the
entire product of the farm and field This is
apparent to the farmer when he takes into con
sideration the fact that his wheat, when ex-
ported, comes in direct competition with the
wheat of the Baltic and Of India 1t is signi-
ficant to examine the increase of the product Of
l - -. .-CAl g. -
two or three years. These industries have been
stimulated largely in the last few years in
Egypt, Algiers, Australia, the Argentine Re-
public and Chill Add to this the product Of the
STATISTICS and # viii he Init rear - - Two asore
the markets of Europe will be shut in the face
of our farmers In 1873 the export Of wheat
from India amounted to but 5000. 900 bushels,