Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1892-12-06
HARRISON'S VALEDICTORY
HE STILL HOPES FOR AN
ELECTION LAW.

bic For all Our GOOD, hut Con
cedes That Under the "New Pol
tcies" the Country NAV be Pros
perOus-L.ync Touched On.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-Following is
the Presidents message in part:
The Secate and House Of Representa-
tiveS:
In submitting my annual message to
Congress have great satisfaction in be-
ing able to say that the general condi-
tions affecting the commercial and i'll
dustiial interest of the the United States
are in the most agreeable state. be-
lieve that so high degree of prosperity
and so general diffusion of the com
forts of life were never before enjo, ID by
our people. The total wealth of the
country in 1860 was $16,159,616,06s;
in 1890 it amounted to $6261O, ,O0O, 900,
an increase of 2s7 per cent. The total
mileage of railways in the United States
in 1860 was 30,626; in 1890 it was
67.141, anincrcase of AS per cent, and
it is estimated that there will be about
1900 miles of track added by the close
of the year 1892. The official returns of
the eleventh census and those of the
tenth census for rs leading cities furnish
basis for the following comparison:
In 1880 the capital invested in manu-
featuring was 81 .S39 ,67O; in 1890
the capital invested in manufacturing
was So, 900. 734 .SS4. In 1880 the nun
Der of employees was ,301, 1888; in 1890
the number of employees was 2,251, 1874.
In 1880 the wages earned were S5Ol,.
965, ,77S; in 1890 the wages earned were
1921, ITO, ,454. In 1880 the value OF
the product was 2,771.579, 500. In
1890 the value of the product was $4,-
$50, ,2S6,S37.
New Industries
Il am informed by the superintendent
vi the census that the omission of certain
industries in 1880, which were included
in 1890, accounts in part for the remark
able increase thus shown, but after
making full allowance for the different
methods and deducting the returns for
all industries not included in the census
in 1880 there remains in reports from
these seventy-fve cities an increase OF
capital employed Of $152. .745,644. in
value of product of $2,024 ,236, 166,
in wages earned of $677, ,943,949.
The new industrial plants estab-
lished since October 6, 1890, and up
to October %, 1892. as partially re-
ported in the American Economist, and
the extension of existing plants and
the capital invested amount to $40 49,
$50 and the number of additional em-
ployes to 1885.
"The report of the special agent of the
Treasury department shows at the date
September 80, 1892, there were thirty
two companies manufacturing tin and
terne plate in the United States and four.
teen companies building new works for
such work. The estimated investments
i'll building and plants at the close
OF the fiscal year June 80. 1898, if exist
ing conditions were to be confined, was
$5. 900, 900 and the estimate of produc-
ton 200.000,000 pounds per annum.
The actual production for the quarter
ending September 80, 1892, was 49,
925, 725 pounds.
Exports and Imports,
IT he foreign trade for 1899 exceeded
the annual average value by $500 ,35S.-
sol, all increase of 22,47 per cent. The
significance and value of this increase are
shown by the fact that the excess in the
trade of 1892 over 1891 was wholly in
the value of exports, for there was a de-
crease in the value of imports of $17, ,J13,-
754. The value of our exports during
the fiscal year 1892 reached the highest
figure in the history of the government,
amounting to 81 ,030, ,27S, 14S, exceeding
by $145, 1877, 1888 the exports of 1891
and exceeding the imports by $2O2,-
975 $3.50.
"rhcre never has been a time in our
history when work was so abundant or
when wages were as high, whether
measured by the currency in which they
are paid or by the power to supply the
necessaries and comforts of life 1t is
true the market price of cotton and
wheat have been low; it is one of the un.
favorable features of agricultural liIe
that the farmer cannot produce on
orders; he must sow and reap in igno-
rance. aud is peculiarly subject to the
depreciation which follows over produc-
tion. But, while the fact is as | have
stated as to the crops mentioned, the
general average of prices have been such
as to give to agriculture a fair rparticipa-
tion in the general prosperity. The
value of our total farm products has in
creased from 81 1868, GAG, ,S66 in 1860 to
81, $500, 600, 900 in 1892.
Protection.
THE English agriculturist would be
glad to exchange the returns of his labor
for those of the American farmer, and
the Manchester workmen their wages fol
those of their fellows at Fall River.
believe that the protective system which
has now for something more than thirty
years continuously prevailed i'll our legis
lation has been mighty instrument fol
| luC vi Jout
and most powerful agency in protect
ing the homes of our workingmen from
the invasion of want"
g. The result of the recent cleo
tion must be accepted as having intro
duced new policy. We must assum,
that the present tariff constructed upor
the lines of protection is to be repealed
and that there is to be substituted for il
tariff law constructed solely with refer
ence to revenue; that no duty is to b,
higher, because the increase will keep opet
an American mill or keep up the wage.
of an American workman, but that il
either case such a rate of duty is to b.
imposed as will bring to the treasur,
of the United States the largest return
Of revenue. The contention has not bee,
between schedules, but between princi
| -. 4 L N