The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-03-19
Things to Think or.

The summary statement OF the i'm
ports and exports of the United States for
the year ended December 81, 1888, shows
that the total imports were 1857 ,074, $3.50,
and the total exports of domestic mer-
chandise $777 400 353. The details of this
statement present some interesting partic-
ulars. A fact of mournful significance is
that, of the imports, one hundred and thirty
six million were brought in American YES
sells and five hundred and thirty in foreign
vessels. If it might be expected that inn
ports would come in foreign vessels it
would be equally reasonable to expect
that exports would go out in American
vessels. The statistics show, however,
that the foreigner carried away from our
ports six hundred and ffty-two millions,
and the American only one hundred and
one million of the total exports. The re.
vival of American shipping is certainly
fitsubjsct for the display of craftsmanship.
There were imported during the year
nearly five hundred aud twenty-six mil.
lion pounds of coffee, which was valued at
nearly forty-six and one.half million dol
lars; nearly seventyfive million pounds
of tea, at value of over fifteen million
dollars over one billion pounds of salt;
thirty-fve million dollars worth of silks,
ribbons and similar goods; nearly two
and one-third billion pounds of brown
sugar, at a value of ninety-fve million dol
lars; over seventy-seven million pounds of
wool, at value of nearly twelve million
dollars. In country which raises its own
beef, pork, poultry and similar articles of
food, and exports large amounts, it would
be supposed that eggs enough, at least for
home use, would be produced. The fig
ures show, however, that the biddies have
left deficit of fifteen million dozen, val
ued at two and one-half million dollars,
to be supplied by the pauper hens of
Europe. Here, too, is field for the tariff
reformers. Eggs are on the free list, while
wool is the pet of the protectionists. Can
it be that congressman are induced by
mercenary Partially for egg-nog to dis
criminate thus unfairly against "the
white old hen with yellow legs" whose
virtues were celebrated in the school
primers of a by-gone generation To
a nonexpert it is an anomaly in tariff mat
ters that this article is on the free list,
while beef, pork, aud poultry, vegetables,
wheat, corn, cotton, ETC., productions
which it would seem should be able to de-
fend themselves, are protected" The
difference between the crops of 1882 and
1888 in one respect is shown by the fact
that in the former year there were i'm
ported more than seven and one-fourth
million bushels of potatoes, in the latter
year one and three-fourths million, saving
the country round three million dollars.
Nearly one hundred and seventy five
Thousand cattle, thirty-nine thousand
hogs, three Thousand horses and three
hundred and eighty-seven thousand sheep,
at an aggregate value of eighteen and
| oho'hoii AhhiiOu uOiintoj hhNo uoou GA
ported-a gain of twelve million over the
exports of live stock for 1882. The ex-
port of corn was sixty-one and one-fourth
million bushels, four-fold greater than in
1882, valued at thirty-nine and one-half mil
lion dollars; corn meal, nearly two hun
bred and forty thousand barrels, valued at
about one million dollars; wheat, seventy
one million bushels, valued at seventy-nine
million dollars, decline of forty million
bushels, and forty-six million dollars in
value; flour, nine and one-fourth million
barrels, valued at fifty-three and one-fourth
million dollars, gain of one and three
fourth million barrels, and seven million
dollars in value. The aggregate value of
breadstuffs exported was over one hun
dred and seventy-eight and one-half mil
lion dollars, a falling off of nearly eight
millions. Cotton is still king among the
single items of exports of raw material
the figures being nearly two and one-sixth
billion pounds, valued at two hundred
and twenty-three million dollars. To
bacco is the little corporal of southern
} crop exports, ranking at two hundred and
} forty million pounds, and having value
: of twenty million dollars. More thar