Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1890-12-05

proved stpr. IL. il@r, -n received with great
and deserved l"pisar favor The postotfice de
partment and the ,i'.i,altnti. OF Justice at once
entered upon ti"- enforcement of the law with
sympathetic vieor. and already The public mails
have been largely freed from the fraudulent ano
demoralizing Appeals and literature emanating
from the lottery go iipani'.s
The Agricultural Situation,
The report Of the secretary of agriculture de
serves especial attention in view of the fact that
the year has been marked in very unusual de
gree by agitation and organization among the
farmers looking to an increase in the profits of
their business. 1t will be found that the efforts
of the department have been intelligently and
zealousy devoted to the promotion OF the inter
ssts fntrusted to its care
very substantial improvement in the market
prices of the leading farm products during the
year is noticed. The price of wheat advanced
from 81 cents in October. 1884, to 81 0O4 in Octo-
Der, 1890; corn from 81 cents to 50A cents; oats
from 1914 cents to 43 cents, and barley from 6a
cents to 7S cents. Meats showed substantial but
not so large an incRase. The export trade in live
animals and fowls shows a very large increase:
Che total value of sAch exports for the year end.
ing Jane 80 1890 was $685. COO coo, and the increase
over the preceding year was over S1500O,OOo
Nearly 200, 600 more cattle and over 49, 90 more
hogs were exported than in the preceding year.
The export trade in beef and pork products and
in dairy products was very largely increased, the
increase in the article of butter alone being from
15,0U4,9IS POUNDS 10 ~, f4o,u42 pOunQS ana the
total increase in the value of meat and dairy
products exported being 34.000,000. This trade,
SO directly helpfNl to the farmer. it is believed
will be. yet further and very largely increased
when the system of inspection and sanitary super
vision now provided by law is brought fully into
operation.
The efforts of the secretary % establish the
healthfulnesS of our meats against the diSparag-
ing inputations that have been put upon them
abroad have resulted in substantial progress.
Veterinary surgeons sent out by the department
oil rafa
OF the live cattle from this country landed at the
English docks. and during the several months
they have been on duty no case of pleuro-pneu-
monia has been reported. This inspection abroad,
and the domestic inspection of live animals and
pork products provided for by the act of Aug.
30 1890 will afford perfectAl guarantee for the
wholeSonleneSs of our meats offered for foreign
consumption as is anywhere given to any food
product, and its non-acceptance will quite clearly
reveal the real motive of any continued reStric
ton of their Use: and, that having been made
clear the duty of the executive will be very plain
The information given by the secretary of the
progress and prospects of the beet sugar industry
is full of interest 1t has already passed the ex-
detrimental stage and is commercial success
The area over which the sugar beet can be sue
cesSfully cultivated is very large, and another
field crop Of great value is offered to the choice
of the farmer.
The secretary of the treasury coRcurs in the
recommendation of the secretary OF agriculture
that the official supervision provided by the tariff
law for sugar of domestic production shall be
transferred to the department of agriculture.
The law relating to the civil service has SO far
as 'an learn been executed by those having the
power OF appointment in the classified service
with fidelity and mpartiality. and the service has
been increasingly satisfactory. The report of the
commission shows large amount OF good work
done during the year with very limited appro-
priations
The Work of Congress.
l congratulate the congress and the country
upon the passage at the first session of the Fifty
first congress of an unusual number of laws Of
very high Importance. That the results of this
legislation will be the quickening and enlarge
ment OF our manufacturing industries, larger and
better markets for our breadstuffs and provisions
both at home and abroad, more constant en-
ployl1ent and better wages for working peo-
pie. and an increased supply of safe currency
for the transaction of business, do not doubt
Some OF these measures We're enacted at SO late a
period that the beneficial effects upon commerce
which We're IN the contemplation of congress have
as yet but partially manifested themselves
The general trade and Industrial conditions
throughout the country during the year have
shown marked improvement For many years
prior to 1888 the merchandise balances of foreign
trade had been largely in our favor, but during
that year and the year following they turned
against us 1t is very gratifying to know that the
last fiscal year again shows balance in favor
OF over S6S0OO.1O0. The bank clearings, which
furnish a good test of the volume OF business
transacted. for the first ten months OF the year
ls90 show. as compared with the same months Of
1850 an Increase for the whole country of about
81 per CENT wlIle the increase outside of the city
OF New \ orK was over Ii per cent
The increase OF clearings and volume of bust.
ness and decrease of business failures are men
toned. Then comes:
The value of our exports of domestic merchan-
disc during the last year was over $115 900, 900
greater than the preceding year, and was only
exceeded once in our history About S1oo, 200, 900
OF tins excess was in agricultural products. The
production of pig iron--always good gauge of
bulletin 10 have been 153 per cent greater in 1890
than IN 1850, and the production of steel 800 per
cent greater. Mining in coal has had no 1imta-
ton except that resulting from deficient trans
portation The general testimony is that labor
is everywhere fnl y employed, and the reports
for the last year show smaller number of en-
ployes affected by strikes and loekouts than in
any year since 1854 The depression in the prices
of agricultural products has been greatly relieved
and buoyant and hopeful tone was beginning to
be felt by all our people.
TheSt. promising influences have been in some
degree checked by the surprising and very I'm.
favorable monetary events which have recently
taken place in England. 1t is gratifying to know
that these did not grow i'll any degree out OF the
financial relations OF London with people or
out ct any diseredit attached to our securities
held in that market The return of our bonds and
stocks was caused by money stringency in Eng
land not by any loss OF value credit in the Sc.
curities themselves We could not however.
wholly escape the i'll effects of a foreign monetary
agitation accompanied by Sueh extraordinary in
cdentS as characterized this 1t is not believed.
however. that these evil incidents. which have
for the time nnfayOIally affected values in this
country. can long WltnSettnu the SLfOng, SaIe ana
wholesome influences which operating to give
to people profitable returns in all branches of
legitimate trade and industry. The apprehension
that Our tariff may again and at once be subjected
to important general changes would undoubtedly
add Il depressing influence of the most serious
character.
The general tariff act has only partially gone
into operation. SOME of its important provisc =
being limited TO take effect at dates yet in the
future The general provisions of the law have
been in force less than sixty days. Its permanent
effects upon trade and prices stir largely stand in
conjecture 1t is curiolls 10 note that the advance
III the prices of articles wholly unaffected by the
tariff act was by many hastily ascrihed to that
act. Notice not taken of the fact that the
general tendency of the market was upward
from iufiueuces wholly apart from the recent
tariff legislation. The enlargement OF our cur
rency by the silver bill undoubtedly gave an up
ward tendency 10 trade and had marked effect
on prices: bur this natural and desired effect of
the silver Legislation by many enormously at
tribul"d to the tariff act
There IL neither wis ion' nor justice in the s,ig
st.sx ion thai the subject tariff revision shall be
ayajn tnn,.l before This law has had a fair trial