Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-09-04


July for the two years, as follows
| 1888. 1882.
| Exports OF produce and
| merchandise. j2g3 2S9 S52247 81
| Exports of specie and bull
Ion -............... $500. 6.O79 2s2 7,9O3,6S5
Total exports in July s5l 1902 ST. 500 Isl O06
Imports Of merchandis e.. $50 $50 615 s70,77s6O
Imports of specie and bull
lon... .......--...... 1,43,739 2595.M
|
Total imports for July. $50 S24,3s4 1854 4S3
Balance oftrade.. ....S9 52l Sl3 S13. 223 All
To which is appended the following
comments.
These figures are subject to slight correc-
lions when the books are finally closed. 1t
will be seen that in the merchandise account
| for July off this year, the imports exceed the
| exports SlS,53l, 235 in the specie and bullion
| account the exports exceed the imports $780,
1853, leaving the total imports sl3 2234 All in ex-
cess of the total exports. AS compared with
the same month of last year, the exports have
| Increased s7.0 .0S2 in merchandise and lS24,.
353 in specie and bullion, making total gain
In exports Of s. SiS 435 over July, 1888. The i'm.
ports have increased 81 397, 96l In merchandise
and 81, 49, 1888 in specie, making total increase
of sl2.5 .O99 over the previous July"
Then follows the table of our foreign
commerce for the seven months, from JAN
uary 1st to July 31st of the years, 1888 and
1899.
Exports merchandise. 1856, 266 SIG si3 93l 22s
Exports specie. 35.l06,lO2 1885, Ias
Total exports,7 months. 1891 S72 9lS s4S3 359
Imports merchandise. .si8l. 472 s463.
Imports specie. -. 12.6i3237 1855, 7O6
Total imports7 months. .s444. 7Og $4,000 800
Balance of trade. SIS, 1863, 79I s4,6S9,O
The review is closed by the following
remarks which deserve attentive considera-
ton.
This is very interesting comparison. For
the first seven months of 1888 the imports ex-
ceeded the exports fifty-three million dollars
For the first seven months of the current year
, the exports are in excess four million dollars
This difference between the two years is partly
due to the increased shipments of produce, but
chiefly comes from the increased but flow of
specie and bullion, which amounts to sixty
nine million dollars for the last seven months
against thirty five millions for the correspond
ing period of the previous year. The precious
metals are part of our produce as much as
grain or petroleum, and there is no special fear
that the country will be drained of its coin.
But 1t is desirable that we have an increased
fol eign demand for the product of our mills
and factories. and this, the most important
problem now before the country, the protec-
EJ ct an 1ot I,aI e.,
vance toward its solution can be made except
by reducing the cost of production, and this
can be effected only by cheaper raw materials
or cheaper labor. Both these horns of the
dilemma are sharp and dangerous for a pro.
tectionist TO handle. The tariff reformer would
ask at once for free pig iron, free copper, free
wool, and all raw materials free Then even
the price of labor may be nominally lower,
leaving the laborer the same actual remunera-
ton. as 1t would cheaper the cost of his living.
With such help we might make dash for q
foreign market that would do for American
manufacturers more than all the protective
tariffs which could be passed. backed by the
most ambitious End arbitrary decisions Or
revenue officials. could possibly effect But
these suggestions are vain possibilities. We
are welded in this country as present to the
other theory. and must fight on that line lit
tie longer no matter ct what cost to our
Selves
WEATHER AND CROP REPORTS.
The last weather and crop bulletin issued
by the government signal Office at WASH
ington from which the following extracts
are taken, is dated August 9th, and is for
the week then ended
1.-THE temnare tura hos ham oooI g.. A.
lake regions southwark to the Gulf and south
Atlantic coasts. The daily temperature in the
Ohio Valley, Tennessee and the south Atlantic
States was from to 10 degrees lower than u.s.
ual. Over the greater portion OF the cotton
region the average temperature was about 2
degrees below the normal. In New England
and the middle Atlantic States the average
temperature prevailed, while 1t was warmer
than usual from Texas north ward to MINES.
ota and Dakota. There has been less rain than
usual during the week in all sections. except
in Texas and eastern Minnesota, where slight
excuses are reported. The rains in Texas
were timely and must have proved OF great
beaef1t to the cotton crop. Only light showers
are reported in all other portions, except In
Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois southern Missouri
and Arkansas, over which region no rain oc-
Cured during the week. The seasonal rain
| idtl CoutluutS III EXCESS on Inc Atlantic coast
from New England to Florida and from the
Mississippi Valley southwark to the west Gulf
coast. Over the principal corn producing
States and over the central portion of the COT
ton region the seasonal rainfall generally ex-
ceeds so per cent. of the normal; but from GEN.
trail Tennessee northward to lower Michigan
the seasonal rainfall ranges from 90 to 10 per
cent. OF the normal.
On the north Pacific coast recent rains were
favorable for grasses and an excellent fruit
crop. while an average yield of wheat has been
secured"
The crops and the condition of agricul-
tural affairs in the Western States, that
have such direct influences upon wheat
and hay production in our own section of
country, as we 60 upon the market with
our surplus of those staples, make accur-
ate reports from the seven winter wheat
states of continuing interest. The fullest
and most reliable reports which come under
our observation, compiled in brief space