New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-06
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
HOME AND, FOREIGN MARKETS.
SOME SUGGESTIVE coMpARIso,

C-"H MAhhElS.
SOME SUGGESTIVE COMPARISONS.
TO tho Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir The constant refrain OF the opponents OF the
Protection system Is the loss 10 Of tho foreign
markets. The Protectonst desires to protect and save
the home market' We arc constantly being told
that we are losing tho trade Of the whole world BY
people who never stop TO consider that the United
States Is whole world unto itself "what
prohfeth the man who gaineth the whole world and
loseth his own sou'' What would the United States
pfoht oy gaining the trade Of the whole world and
losing us own marketi Instead Of lndulgins In fine
spun theories such are woven In the imaginative
brains OF the philosophc but impracticabe fcerade
college, professor, who builds his system upon the
beau'iinl platform Of the brotherhood of man-that
each nation should deal with the other in rsernal
sentimental spirit, open and unbarriered-if those
who disseminate these theories would sit down and
take the statistics Of commerce. and draw their own
conclusions thercfrom there would be fewer disciples
OF the free-trade hallucination. For instance the
freight carried by the railroads In the United states
during the year 1889 no less than 61o,137 ,o37
tons' deductng from this % per cent for duplca
ton viii leave net tonnage of 46s, 1885,, o2e tons Of
merchandise; calculating the same at average Of
S3o per ton, the value Of the freight carried will
aggregate the marvellous Of thirteen billions nine
hundred and thirty Millions five hundred and eighty
seven thousand, eight hundred and forty dollars In
cold figures $13930587 a4O. This merchandise Is con-
sumed In the home market, almost entirely and Is
such as Is carried by railroad only add to this the
value OF the freight carried by the other methods of
transportation. and the industrial products of the
country and at least slight estimate Of the value Of
the home market" can be formed. DESIRE however,
In the comparison which am about to draw, only to
use the value Of the railroad freight tonnage.
Supposing we should open our home market up
to the world, and we might gain the markets Of the
entire world, an absurdty to contemplate but permit
me to use it for the sake of argument what would we
gain' The aggregate amount of imports for the year
1888 of Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia
Austria Hungary. spaln Belgium, Portugal Italy,
Turkey, Switzerland, Denmark, Greece Norway and
SWEDEN and the Netherlands 1911 5,643; add
to this the combined imports of Mexico Bolivia
Brazil, Chill, China, Japan, Ecuador Paraguay
Uruguay, Venezuela, Peru, Guatemala C0rea, Hayti
Hawaii Morocco and Nicaragua, which aggregate the
sum OF 1888, 42 1885, making total of 49, 10 4GS 400
from the latter sum We permitted to deduct the
amount OF our exports to the abovenamed countries
which aggregate close to $500 900 900. leaving
the imports Of practically The markets Of the entire
world at the OF S0.05O, 46S 4O9 q sum equal to
about 45 per cent Of the value Of the freight carried
by the railroads OF the United States for the same
period. Or, to be more emphatic still, might say
that If we would have sold all the goods purchased by
the abovenamed countries In the year 1888, the value
Of this sale would be about SO 900 900 less than
the value Of the freight carried by the railroads of this
country In the same year. The $6,O50, 4G9 400 i'm
ports, representing the purchases of the above-named
countries comprehend such important articles as Coffee
teas, sugar and numerous other products which are
not produced here, some of which in quantities in
sufficient for export These products form incon-
siderable portion Of the above sum- possibly much
as so per cent of the Now to gain the markets
of the world should permit foreign countries to
step In and grasp the richest market earth7
Another Illustration The Pennsylvania Railroad,
only one OF our great trunk lines. during The year
$780, moved on its system west of Philadelphia a.
595,2G7 tons OF freight. At the rate of $50 per
ton we have a value OF g.. 537, 1853 600 a sum equal
to than double the OF exports Of England
during the same period and equal in value to nearly
five times the amount OF imports OF Mexico. Brazil,
Ecuador Venzuela, Peru. Guatemala, Corea, Haytl,
Hawaii, Morocco and Nicaragua the value OF the
combined imports OF these countries being but $685.,
After 400 years Of conquest in the interest OF her
trade and commerce. England; with her possessions
export trade in value to more than so per cent
yania Railroad upon lis system west of Philadelphia.
For during the year 1850 the exports Of freetrade
tho merchandise shipped TO her possessions aggre
gated s4ol .o5oOG1, the goods exported to this coun-
OF exports to all other foreign countries aggregatng
sG33O0ess6. Thus we see that in value the exports
OF 1tee-tfdue EngIdnu foreign countries reached
but s790,7 5,O13, while the value OF the exports Of
This country 10 foreign countries for the same year
was $3.50. 262, 000-not so bad for young republic.
II IL were possible TO show the value OF the mer-
chandise shipped from this port by steamships to
san Francisco, to Galveston, to Charleston New
Orleans Norfolk, Boston and other points, the true
valne OF our home MARKET would present dazzling
exhibit. Is It likely. then. with great part of the
carrying trade In British hands, with her colonies
scattered all over the world and her facilities for
reaching every port with her products unrivalled.
and after her long industrial career and after having
reached export trade OF but 81 300 O8O that
cond exceed this amount appreciably, granting that
we cond reach IT Should we assume any risks In
own market Should trfe with IT. Nearly
Sl4,00O0oOO0O In freight carried by the railroads in
year means sum equal to twelve times ule
annual exports OF England twice the amount Of the
combined imports OF nearly all the countries of the
civilized world. Let not act like the dog in the
fable. WILLIAM A. CANS
New-York, Oct 81, $780,