Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1888-06-21

1896 was $50, l4o, l9I, yielding
revenue of more than five times
greater than the amount($1 ,219, ,O00)
named by Mr.. Llewellyn. The
imports of other dutiable agricul-
tural products, wool, rice, tobacco,
fruits, sugar, ,molasses, etc. amount
ed to $117 PA, ,03S, making the to-
tai imports of agricultural pro-
ducts paying duty s143, 800, ,235. In
1887 the importations amounted to
over $50, ,000, 600, and in addition
to those there was imported over
$46, 100000 worth of non dutiable
agricultural products. The average
farmer, although he may be 'stoo
stupid to go in when it rains," can
see without the aid of Mr.. Llew-
ellyn's powerful microscope" that
agriculture does receive some pro-
lection and that it needs more pro-
lection and not less, AS the tariff re-
formers would have us believe. As
to the causes which have brought
about the low prices of cattle, SEN
ator Vest may be good enough au-
thority for Gus Democrats" IF,
however, local politicians voice the
Senator's opinion on that subject,
he certainly is not good enough
for us farmers, who suffer by these
low prices. The stump orators tell
us there has been no over produc-
tion of cattle and that the depres-
sion in the cattle trade is due to
the combination of cattle buyers in
Chicago and not to the excessive
supply.
The first assumption is false as
to fact. The second that half dozen
or dozen buyers in Chicago can
permanently control the price of
the cattle produced by 5000, 600
farmers and consumed by &C, 900, 900
people is too absurd to need a refu-
tation. The report of the Secretary
of the Treasury before referred to
shows that in 1884 there were in
the United States 40, ,547 ,307 milch
COWS, oxen and other cattle, and
that in 1887 there were 4S, ,033, 1888
cattle. This gives an average an
nual increase for three years of
/ 1928, ,S41 cattle, now assuming that
the same rates ofincrease continued
through 1887 and there are in 1888
1915, 1854 more cattle than there
were in 1884. 1t may be said that
the annual increase Of 1925, ,841
cattle has been going on for years
and why did it not affect the cattle
market to the same extent prior to
1884 or before the cattle trust was
formed? In reply to this supposi-
ton we say that the annual increase
for the past four years has been
very much greater than for the ten
years prior to 1884. As the report
shows the average annual increase
from 1874 to 1884 was / ,60S, ,059 cat
tie, or 220, 1872 less than for the four
years since 1884. Thus we account
for surplus of SS3, 1873 cattle in
1888. To this surplus must be
added the number that has been
thrown back on our home market
by reason of a decline in exports
which has averaged over 45, 900 per
year for four years. This amounts
to 1S1, ,416 head, which with the
S83, ,18S head, makes an excessive
supply of 1 ,o64, ,514 cattle over and
above what there would have been,
if there had been ne decline in ex-
ports and no greater average an
! ua,.i increase since 1884 than there
was for the ten years prior to 1884.
Having clearly shown the increased
supply of cattle we must now see
if there has been corresponding
increased demand; if not, we have
over production. We have already
shown that there has been an actu-
al falling off in the demand for ex-
port; then if there is any increased
demand it must be for home con-
sumption caused by increased pop
ulation. We admit that we have a
larger population in 1888 than We
| had in 1880. But the cattle have
increased in a greater ratio than
the population, or in other words
ssthe calves have gotten away with
the babies"
| In 1880 our population was 5O,.
,l155, ,7s3, and the number of cattle
was 80, ,25s 900 or 663 cattle to each
/ 900 inhabitants. tits somewhai
difficult to get at the exact popula
ton in 1888. The Hon. s. S. Cox
| chairman of the committee in Con
Igress, to arrange for taking tht
census in 1890, estimates that tn,
population of the United States il
4 1890 will be $4,000 600. If thiI
4 estimate is correct the presen
population is about 81 200, 600
IAs before shown, th ere are 40
lS62, ,671 cattle; or S14 cattle to eaci
III 600 inhabitants in 1888, agains
less cattle to each 1000 in 1880