The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-12-07

/ a
! 402. 462 also exceeded the annual average
| value of the ten years prior to 1891 by Sl35,
/ 2i6 $40 During the fiscal year 1892 tht
| value of imports free of duty amounted tt
| S457, ,999, 65S, the largest aggregate in the
| history of our commerce. The value ol
the imports of merchandise entered free oi
duty in 1892 was 30. .35 per cent of the tOta
value of imports, as compared with 43 s.
per cent in 1891 and 80 66 per cent in 1890
In our coasJwise trade most encouraging
development is in progress, there having
been III the last four years an Increase OF
10 per cent.
DOMESTIC COMMERCE.
In internal commerce the statistics show
that no such period of prosperity has ever
before existed. The freight carried in the
coastwise trade of the Great Lakes in 1888
aggregated rs 295, ,959 tons. On the Missls-
sippi, Missouri and Ohio rivers and tribu-
taries in the same year the traffic was y,
404, ,406 tons, and the total vessel tonnage
passing through the Detroit river during
that year was 2l6S40 900 tons. The vessel
tonnage entered and cleared In the foreign
trade of London during 1890 amounted TO
13, ,4S0, 767 tons, and of Liverpool 1921, $40
tons, a total for these two great shipping
por,s Of u, AZ, j6S tons. only slightly N eX-
cess of the vessel tonnage passing through
the Detroit river. 1t should be said that the
season for the Detroit river was but rs
days, while, of course, in London and Llv-
erpool the season was for the entire year.
The vessel tonnage passing through the
st. Mary's canal for the fiscal year 1892
amounted TO 9,S2S, S14 tons. and the
freight tonnage OF the Detroit river is esti-
mated for that period at ., ,OOO, ,OOO tons,
against 20, 299, 1863 tons in 1891. The aggre-
gate traffic of our railroads for the year
1891 amounted to 704. 39S, 900 tons OF
freight compared with 69l, 344, 437 tons in
1890, an increase of 13, 054, l12 tons.
BANK DEPOSITS.
Another indication of the general pros
perity Of the country is found in the fact
that the number of depositors in savings
banks increased from &c, 3S7 in 1860 to
425. S93 in $780, an increase of 5i3 per cent,
and the amount of deposits from S194,2U,-
604 in 1860 to 81, ,324 S44, $50 in 1890, au in
crease of 92l per cent. Iu 1891 the amount
of deposits in savings banks was Sl,6l3,-
079, 749. 1t is estimated that 80 per cent Of
these deposits represent the earnings OF
wage earners.
The bank clearances for the nine months
ending Sept. 30, 1891 amounted to S4l, O4J,-
39O, sos. For the same months in lo92 they
amount to S45, 159, Col, ,947, an excess for the
last nine months of 81, 140, 2l1 i39.
WORK AND WAGES.
L
tory when work was so abundant, or when
wages were so high, whether measured by
the currency in which they are paid or by
their power to supply the neceSSarieS and
of life. 1t is true that the mar
ket prices of cotton and wheat have been
low Ii is one of the unfavorable incidents OF
agriculture that the farmer cannot produce
upon orders. He must SOW and reap IN Ig-
norance OF the aggregate production of the
nj l.. a
probation which follows Over-productlon.
But while the tact | have stated is true as
to the crops | have mentioned, the general
average of prices has been such as TO give
to agriculture "A fair participation III the
general prosperity. The value of our
total farm products mas Increased from
81, 1868. .646 S66 in 1860 to 81 500, 600 600 in
1891, as estimated by statlsticians, an in
crease of go per cent. The number OF
hogs on Jan. l. 1891, was 90, 1925, loo, and
their value S21O, 1913, ,925; on Jan. l, 1892
the number was y, 39S ,O9l, and the value
S241 ,931, ,4l5. On Jan. l. 1891, the number
Of cattle was $685. 64S, aud the value
544, III, ,9OS; on Jan. l, 1892, the number
was 81, ,65l, go, and the value 500. AS, 100
Ii any are discontented with their state
bere-if any believe that the wages or
returns for honest toil-are in
adequate, they should not fail to remem-
Der that there is no other country in the
world where the conditions that seem to
them hard would not be accepted as highly
The English agriculturisu
would be glad to exchange the returns Of
his labor for those Of the American farmer,
and the Manchester workmeu their wages
for those of their fellows at Fall River.
BENEFITS OF PROTECTION.
I believe that the protective system,
which now for something like thirty years
has prevailed in our legislation has been q
mighty instrument for the development of
our national wealth and a most powerful
agency in protecting the homes of our
from the invasion of want.
have felt most solicitous interest to pre-
serve TO our working people rates of
wages that would not only give daily
bread, but supply comfortable margin
for those home attractions and family
comforts aud eujOyments without which
life is neither hopeful nor sweet. They
are American citizens-a part of the great
people for whom our constitution ana
government were framed and instituted
and it cannot be a perversion of that con-
stitution to so legislate as to preserve in
their homes the comfort, independence,
loyalty and sense Of interest in the govern
ment which are essential TO good citizen
ship in peace aud which will briug them.
IS in 1861, To the defense of the flag when
t is asSailed.
IL Is not my purpose to renew here the
argument in favor of a protective tariff
The result of the recent election must be
accepted AS having introduced new policy.
We must assume that the present.
Tariff, constructed upon the lines of pro-
lection, is 10 be repealed and that there is
TO be substituted for ii a tariff law con-
struCted solely with reference to revenue;
hat no duty is to be higher because the
increase viii keep open an American mill
keep up the wages Of an American work
that in every case such rate or
luty is to he imposed as will bring the
reasury of the United States the largest
'eturus OF revenue. The contention has
lot been between schedules, but between
and il would be offensive to
suggest that the prevailing party will not
carry into legislation the principles adyo-
Gated by it and the pledges given TO the
people. The tariff bills passed by the
house OF representatives At the last ses-
sion We're, as | supposed, even IN the opIu-
on OF their promoters inadequate, aud
justified only by the fact that the senate
and house of representatives were not in
accord and that general revision could
not therefore be undertaken. |. recon-
mend that the whole subject OF tariff re-
vision be left to the incoming congress. 1t
is a matter Of regret that this work must
he delayed for at least three months; for
the threat OF great tariff changes in
PRODUCES so much uncertainty that an
amount not easily estimated OF business
naction and OF diminished production viii
result It Is possib ole also that
this uncertainty may result in decreased
revenues from custom duties; for our mer
chants will make cautious orders for for
4ign goods in view OF the prospect of
tariff reductions aud the uncertainty as to
when il Will take effect
Those who have advocated protective
tariff can we'll afford TO have their dis
tstroUs forecasts OF n change of policy
disappointed. II "A system of customs
juJies can be framed that viii set the idle
wheels aud looms % Europe in motion and
crowd our warehouses with tOrei gn-made