Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1886-10-27
fOr the Years named:


,soo''''' ~
ZOO ~
loho ....'.''..... 81
AtO
icl1''..s.'.. W
io.i .........'' ..''s'.ss.......' luU
- ltO
lolJ.' 20
w
tel1 lsO
l0iO......... 10
loli.... ''s''.....'''s' I'D
l1l0........ ................. %
........'....... VI
1850. ........ 50
luu
'oo-'''''''' ''''''''': 90
Total, /, 7S5 per cent in 20 years. or
an average OF so per cent. annually.
The output % thls mine for 1882 was
valued at $910.S8j The aggregate out
out of aeven other Lake Superior iron
ninee for the same year was $l2 S74 800,
or an average OF 81 $50 91S each.
DIVIDENDS PAID by a COPPER MINE.
One Of the Lake superior copper
mnes mot the Calumet q iIecla) from
tue years 1868 TO 1882, q period Of 30
years, upon capital of 5000 000, paid
dividends agcregatinR so, 500 000-1,795
per cent. in 20 years, or S9a per cent. an
nually.
PROFITS or MANUFACTURE.
Daduclug the cost OF labor and ma
terial from the aggregate product OF
manufacture and margin Of nearly 81
per cent. upon his capital IS left TO the
manufacturer This is stil subject TO
g tker deductions for insurance. taxes,
etc.
TIE FARMERS PROFITS.
The grops agricultural product
amounts 20 but lS per cent upon the
capital employed therein. But from this
must be deducted The cost of labor. The
wages OF 8 $40 403 persons ~ even 50
ents per day would absorb 81, 27S 073,-
$50, or 81 per cent Of the entire product.
rhe cost of seed and the cost OF fertil-
zere must also be deducted. For the
year 1879 the cost OF Fertilizers alone
vas $23 $50, 391.
There must be Still further deduc-
ions for insurance and for taxes upon
capital four and one half times as great
ts that employed in manufacture.
The average rate Of taxation for state
)urposes alone 10 30 cents upon each
800 Of valuation, and ut this rate the
tate taxes alone would reach $50 Co.,
300
UNFAIR AND UNJUST DISTRIBUTION.
These figures show that the profits Of
industry are unjustly and unfairly dis
ributed, that in some manner this class
II producers are beisg Disseminated
lg0inBt.
A "bushel of wheat" has ceased to be
he measure or regulator of values. lis
market value 70 the market value Of
very other ,ushel OF wheat the world
over. It's value in the hands Of the pro
iucgr is determined by the will OF an
xacdng carrier. q merciless corporation,
which has, by virtue Of an exclusive
privilege, obtained pateut on the
81 Ass.- -. -
land pirates who stand between pro-
luccr and consumer, controlling abso
utely the transportation facilities Of the
lation.
The bushel of wheat has ceased
20 be measure or regulator OF
values because its relative vslue
Is not determined by natural laws
'ftrsdo, but by a policy which embar-
,Oeg commerce which limits It's purchas-
ing power by prohibiting it from pur-
chasing ia the same market TO which it
must 60 for sale by loading that which
Il might purchase OF an advantage, with
tax or toll exacted at the home port.
The vslues Of coal, lumber, iron. copper,
az well as manufactured products, are
inflated by limiting the competition in
those articles, and exposing labor and
agriculture 10 the widest competition.
WOOL.
In 1885 we produced 232 coo 0G0 pounds
# wool or nine pounds to each person
engaged in It's production. Suppose
that you get 10 cents per pound extra by
-esson OF the tariff (and you do not), you
got just 1928 200 600, or 80 cents per
capita, but the people of the United
states ia duties upon the article Of
sugar alone pay over $5t 900 900, or
thoni Al nor 70 aita and npunnrDpd
about 1876 coo tons Of domestic sugar,
lnou which we paid Ia enhanced value
~ 5Sj, 900
The duties collected in 1885 amounted
70 SIT, $40 $50 and IL the farmers (19
per cent. OF the population paid but 30
per cent, they paid nearly $50 AGA, 900 OF
the whole amount
If the tariff has advanced the cost OF
manufactured goods but one per cent,
he advance aggregates sos $40, 600, or
over one dollar per capita.
If the farmer buys cotton goods,
WOODEN goods, lumber, iron manufac-
lures. salt, or any other product upou
which an import duty IL imposed or
The value Of which is inflated by ex-
Guiding competition in that article, no
must pay the duties or the inflated
vElue.
Prohibiting competition renders COM
binations, pools, syndicates possible
sos mining companies may and do COM
Dine to fix the price Of iron ore-53 min
ng companies may and do combine 10
fix the price Of copper-a few producers
OF coal land companies control the pro-
iuctioD) may and do combine to fix the
price OF coal-a few lumber barons may
and do combine 10 regulate the price of
atumpsge-a few Minneapolis millers
4 IL q
price of -four, but TO determ ne the price
that they snail pay for wheat. but 0O0.-
600 farmers all engaged in the produc-
ton of the same articles cannot effec-
lively combine.
They are at the mercy OF competition