Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1890-07-10
WONDERFUL GROWTH.
FACTS CONCERNING OUR NATIONAL
ADVANCEMENT AND PROSPERITY.

our national prosperity under existing
economic conditions is taken from Sena-
tor Hiscock's speech on the silver ques-
ton, in the senate, June 8. Senator
Plumb asks: Why change tariff legis-
lation as such prosperity exists? 1t may
be answered that the efficacy of tariff
legislation having been demonstrated by
results, it is now time to make that legis-
lation more complete, to fortify it where
it has been proved to be weak, and ex-
tend it to industries and localities which
have not hitherto enjoyed its advan-
tages.
Let me invite your attention for
moment to our own industries, the man.
ufacture of cottons, woolen goods, chem
icals, paper, agricultural implements.
lumber. -four, glass, iron and steel and
shipbuilding, the leading industries of
our country.
''These industries are so organized that
their reports practically give US their
condition now as compared with ten
years ago. The estimated capital en-
ployed in 1890 is 81, ,7S4, ,740, ,OS2 as against
81, 165, ,015,74S for 1880; the hands en-
ployed in 1890 is estimated at 1,274, 1888
as against S44, 776 in 1880; there was paid
in wages in 1890 $3.50, 795, 1927, and it is
estimated that $3.50, ,6S9, sos will be paid
in 1890; the value of material used in
1880 was 81 1877 ,204, ,561, and the estimate
for 1890 is 81, ,576, ,302, ,97S; the value of
the product in 1880, 81, ,774, 1877 ,423, and
the estimate for 1890 is s., 293, 779, ,22S.
I'm the last eight years the metallic
products of the United States have in
creased $50,000,000 worth, and in what
are known as non-metallic products the
increase has been nearly 500, 100000.
80 far as one is able to estimate from
the statistics that have been furnished
by the leading industries, the reports of
the agricultural department and those of
the geological survey, the wealth per
capita in this country has increased in
the last decade to $1,000. From 1870 to
1880 the increase was from $3.50 to $S70.
"In the six cereal products (wheat,
corn, rye, oats, barley, buckwheat), as
reported by the statistician of the de-
partment of agriculture, there was an
increase of 44.3 per cent. in the average
annual production and of 80 per cent.
in the average farm value of crops for
the past nine years over that for the pre-
ceding ten years.
1.-The two decades preceding 1880, in
respect to material prosperity of our
country, are without parallel in the his
tory of the nations of the world. The
expenditures by the general government
and by the states amounted to at least
50, 9,000, ,000, 900, not paid in exchange for
property for the people or the develop
ment of the country. but to support
armies in the field and prosecute a great
civil war. Property of the value of ST.
200, 900, 900 was destroyed in the seeding
states, and for four years their produc-
ton, in those pursuits which create ma
tional and individual wealth, was sus-
pended. Nearly three millions of work
ers and producers were for three years
called from our industries; nearly half a
million of men were killed in the con-
dict, and million more were disabled
in various degrees. The funded national
debtreached nearly 5000, ZOO, 900. Ithas
been reduced to less than $500, ,000,0 900.
'The valuation of the property of the
people in 1860 amounted to about S16,
900, 900, 900, including the value of the
slaves; in 1870 to $50, 900, ,0OO. 900, and
the slaves had been enfranchised; in 1880
to over $43, 900, ,O00, 900, and as Indicated
from the returns from the largest indus
tries of the country and the reports l
have referred to, the last decade will
show an increase in property and pros
perity largely in excess of either of the
two preceding it.
''It was asserted here the other day
that our country was filled with idle
men and unemployed labor. 1 denyit
Idleness is not enforced, and there is
labor for all at remunerative rates. An
nually for ten years over 100000 immi-
grants have sought our country for en-
ployment, and with these yearly addi-
tions from abroad to our labor force
there has not been any decrease in the
rate Of wages during that period. The
immigrants find employment and con-
tinue to come
81 have already given the increase in
the number of those employed in our
industries. The number en-
gagged in agriculture is not so available.
Their wages, however, are not fixed by
in that industry formed to
regulate prices, but depend upon the
law of supply and demand. The sub
ject has been investigated by the agri-
cultural department, through its regular
correspondents and agents, and from
which report 1 quote the following re-
suits:
'The average daily wages Of the or
dinary farm laborer in the state of New
York in 1879 was 90 cents without
board and 6S cents with board; in 1880, |
s1.21 without board and 80 cents with
board, and for 1890 $1.23 without board
and 80 cents with board.
''In the state of Illinois in 1879 the |
same laborers received $1.01 without |
board and 73 cents with board, and in |
1890 S1.13 without board and Sc cents |
with board.
SIN Iowa in 1879 the same laborers re-
celved 1.12 without board and 80 cents |
with board, and in 1890 $1.23 without |
board and 95 cents with board. There
1as been no material change during the
past ten years in the daily wages paid in
hat the greatest and the most important
If all our industries, where, as 1 have
itated, the demand absolutely fixes the
,rice without the Intervention of organi-
.ations. In this connection permit me
% add that the labor supply in the me-
,hanical industries is recruited from i'm
migration and farm laborers, with the
esult that relative wages for years have
'een established between the two, and
here has been no decline in value of
arm labor notwithstanding the price
If the products of agriculture their
'arm value-is somewhat lower at the
present time than in the preceding years.
Especial mention, however. should be
made of agriculture; and it must be borne
n mind that the severity of competition,
rom the increase in the quantity pro-
luced, by the increased facilities for and
he reduction in charges for transporta-
ion extending the area of supply and
productive power of the world, now, as
hey always have, will affect prices.
Within ten wears the Agricultural acreage