The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-12-07

9,202, 703 tons in the year 1890, which was the
largest annual production ever attained. For
the same twelve months of 1891-92 the produce
ton of Bessemer ingots was 3S1S,5Sl tons, an
increase of $4,000 gross tons over the previ-
ously unprecedented yearly production of
$685., 81 gross tons in 1890. The production of
Bessemer steel rails for the first six months of
1892 was 438 gross tons as against 10000
gross tons during the last six months of the
year 1891.
Exports and Imports.
The total value of our foreign trade exports
and imports of merchandise during the last
fiscal year was 1857, SS0,6l0, an increase of
SIPS, 2S3,604 over the previous fiscal year. The
average annual value of our imports and ex
ports of merchandise for the ten fiscal years
prior to 1891 was Sl,457, 322.09. 1t will be OBJ
served that our foreign trade for 1892 exceeded
this annual average value by S400,35S,59l, an
increase of H47 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 decrease in the value of imports of
S17 ,5l3,754.
The value Of our exports during the fiscal
year 1892 reached the highest figure IN the his
tory of the government, amounting to $780,
27S, 14S exceeding by Sl45 797, 1913 the exports of
1891 and exceeding the value of the imports by
$202, S75,6S6. A comparison of the value of our
exports for 1892 with the annual average for
the ten years prior to 1891 shows an excess of
$685., AZ, 65l, or of 3i.65 per cent. The value of
our imports of merchandise for 1892, which
was SS29, 402, 1872, also exceeded the annual
average value of the ten years prior to 1891 by
Sl35,2l5,940. During the fiscal year 1892 the
value of imports free of duty amounted TO
S457, 1893, 65S, the largest aggregate in the his
tory of our commerce.
The imports of merchandise entered free of
duty in 1892 was 55.35 per cent. of the total
value of Imports, as compared with 43. % per
cent in 1891, and 1886 per cent. in 1890 In our
coastwise trade a
Most Encouraging Developing
is in progress there having been in the last
four years an increass of l6 per cent. In in
ternational 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 1890 aggregated cS-
295.959 tons on the Mississippi, Missouri and
Ohio rivers and tributaries, in the same year,
the traffic aggregated 29,405,O4G tons, and the
total vessel tonnage passing through the De-
troit river during the year was 81 ,6S4, 900 TONS
Savings Banks Deposits.
Another indication of the general prosperity
of the country is found in the fact that the
number of depositors in savings banks in
creased from 6g3,S70 in 1860 to 4,25S 1893 in 1890
an increase of 513 per cent The amount of
deposits from Sl49,217 ,54 in 1860 to ST. 524,-
B4, 500 in 1880, an increase of 92l per cent; in
1891 the amount of deposits in savings banks
was 81 ,62, N97ig; it is estimated that 30 per
cent. of the deposits represent the savings of
wage-earners. The bank clearances for nine
months ending Sept. 30. 1891, amounted to SAL
049, 1890. S3s.
For the same months in 1892 they amounted
to 49, ,6oi AZ, an excess for the nine months
of 81, l40.2ll ,l39. There never has been n time
in our history 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 COM
forts of life. 1t is true that the market prices
of cotton and wheat have been low. 1t Is one
of the unfavorabe incidents of agriculture
that the farmer cannot produce upon orders.
He must sow and reap in ignora nee of the ag-
gregate production of the year and is pecul-
iarly subject to the Depreciation which follows
over-production.
But while the fact have stated is true, as
to the crops mentioned, the general average
of prices has been such as to give to agricul-
ture fair participation in the general pros
perity. The value of
Our Total Farm Products
has increased from Sl,36), 6i6,S68 in 1860 to
S4,50O,000OO0 in 1891 as estimated by statisti-
clans, an increase of go per cent. The number
of hogs Jan. !, 1891, was 5O,625 l06, and their
value S2l0,l93925; on Jan. l, 1892. the number
was 52,39s,0l9 and the valne S2il,03i,4l5. On
Jan. ], 1891, the number of cattle was 3B,S75-
64S, and the value SSH l27 ,90S; Jan. l, 1892,
the number was 81, 65l ,2}9, and the value $50 :
749,l55 If any are disconnected with their
state here; If any beiieve that wages OF
prices to the returns for honest toll are
inadequate they should not fail to re-
member that there is no other country in the
world where the considerations that seem to
them hard would not be accepted as highly
prosperous. The English agricuturist
would be glad to exchange the returns of his
labor for those of the American farmer, and
the Manchester workmen their wages for
those of their fellows at Fall River. / believe
that the protective system which has now for
something more than thirty years continu-
ously prevailed in our legislation has been ii
mighty instrument for the development of the
national wealth.
Our WOrkmen.
have felt a most solicitous interest to pre-
serve to our working people rates of wages
that would not only give daily bread, but sup
ply comfortable margin for those home at
fractions and family comforts and enjoy