Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-12-31
Tho National Treasury.


The general interest in the operations OF
the treasury department has been much
augmented during the last year by reason
Of the conflicting predictions. which &C.
companied and followed the tariff and
other legislation of the last congress at
fecting the revenues. as to the results of
this legislation upon the treasury ana upon
tho country.
1t is not my purpose to enter at any
length into discussion OF the effects Of
the legislation to which have referred;
but: brief examination OF the statistics
OF the treasury and general glance at the
state of business throughout the country
will, 1 think, satisfy any impartial inquiry,
that its results have disappointed the evil
prophecies Of its opponents. and in large
measure realized tho hopeful predictions
Of its friends: Rarely, If ever before in
the history OF the country. has there been
time when the proceeds OF one days
labor or the product Of one farlned crop
that could purchase such large amount
of things that enter into the living Of the
masses of the people. believe
the fact that tho tariff act Of the Fifty-firss
congress il very favorable in its average
effect upon the prices OF articles as epter-
ing into common use.
During the twelve months from October
/. 1880, to September 30. 1891, the total
and exports combined) was $l,747. 800, 400.
which was the largest Of any year In the his
tory of the United States. The largest in any
previous year Was in 1890. when our CON-
herce amounted to 81 ,647. $780, 03, and the
last year exceeds this enormous aggregate
by over $lO0. 1000, 900. 1t is interesting and
TO some will bs surprising to know that
during the year ending September 30, 1891,
our imports Of merchandise amounted to
1924. us, go, which was an increase OF more
than Sll 900 over the value OF the i'm
ports Of the corresponding months Of the
chandise were unusually large in snticipa-
| ton Of the tariK legislation then pending.
| The average annual value of the imports
Of merchandise for the ten years from 1881
to 1890 was s693, lS6, 532, and during tho
year ending September 80: 1891. this annual
average was exceeded by Sl32. 52S, 469.
| The value OF free imports during tho
twelve months ending September 80, 1891,
was tl1S, 092, 3S7 more than the value Of
FREQ imports during the corresponding
twelve months Of the preceding year, and
there was, during the Same period, de-
crease of $lO6. $40, sos in the value of i'm
ports of dutiable merchandise.
Ii We turn to exports OF merchandise, the
statistics are full OF qualification. The
whole Of such exports Of merchandise for
the twelve months ending September 30.
1881. was e82S0ol, lag. while for tho cor.
responding previous twelve months, it wal
$3.50, 177,ll5. en- increase Of $6o. OBI,
which is nearly three times the
average annual increase of export.
Of merchandise during any year in
the history 81 the government. The in
crease In the value Of exports Of agricul
tural products during the year referred t.
over the corresponding twelve months OF
the prior year was Is. SAG, 1877. while the
increase in the value OF exports of manu-.
featured products was Sl6 .24O
The report o. the secretary OF the treas
ury shows that tho total receipts of thu
government from all sources for the fisca
year ending June 80. 1891, were SASS, 544,
2SS. OS. while the expenditures FOR the sam,
period were Ss2l, 3O4, 40. ii, leaving a sur
plus Of eS7, 230. 782.57.
The receipts of tho fiscal year endinl
Juue 80. isv2, actual and estimated ar w
eASS,T00. 900, and tae expenditures e4OO. 600,
600. For tho nscsl year ending June sc
1888. the estimated receipts are sass, SSG, SsC
Under the Law Of July II. 1890. the secre
tary OF the treasury has purchased sine
August 10, during the fiscal year. 4s,S93
lis ounces Of silver bullion. at a
average cost of el.o45 per ounce
! the year was q. 2O25 and the lowest 90 .0ess
i, In exchange for this silver bullion ther
I have bsen issued $50. SO, 49S Of the treasur
notes authorized by tae act. The lowe,
price OF silver reached during the tisc,
year was 81. $685.. on April g. 1891; but o
. November l tho market price was oul
I o0.06 which would give to the silver doll,
bullion value OF TAN cents.