The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1892-09-15
THE HOOKING n EIr SEPTEMBER IS 92.
HOW THEDUTY ON TIN PLATE
INJURIES THE FARMER.
Millions Lost and Labor Wasted to
Build Up an Infant Industry.

Build Up an Infant Industry.
Congressman Bunting a promin.
ent Gamer, in his recent speech in
congress depicted the burden i'm
posed upon agriculture by the tin
plate duty as follows:
i The canning industry, which con-
sumes over one half of all the tin
plate imported, becomes the princi-
pal victim, because it has no alter
native but to pay the increased tax
or 90 out of the business. This
wonderful industry emanates from
the farm, and its profit is in preser-
wing perishable farm products and
the surplus of glutted markets.
There are 200 canning concerns
in the United States, scattered over
the productive fields of twenty five
different states. Adding to these
the meat. fish and oysters packers,
we have an industry of 1000 con-
Germs affected by this legistion, of
growers, pickers, stockraisers,
ranchmen, oystermen, fishermen,
Gamers, packers, laborers, box and
label manufactures, canmakers and
shippers, which stands for the sup
port and sustenance of 100000 of
our people.
On a basis of tin consumed by can
ners during the season of 1891 there
were 1890, 600, 900 cans used. Com
putting the amount, to be safe, at a
round 1000, 900, 900, and assuming
that two-thirds were 2-pound cans
and one third 3-pound, which is the
usual proportion, we have a duty
cost in the cans used of $685.
900.
At the prices ruling in 1891 this
vast sum represents the cost to con-
sumers of 100000 case of corn.
To pack this amount of corn would
require the product of from 60, 900
to 20, 900 acres of land, and would
pay the farmer and his laborers S2,-
100000. The total labor employed
in growing, picking, canning, pack
ing, canmaklng, labelling and boxing
this amount of canned goods would
not fall short of 10000 people dur
ing the canning season, or half of
that number during the whole year.
Here then is tariff tax which would
pension off 10000 on living wages
now deprived of a chance to earn
their living.
A bushel of tomatoes in New
York will fill on an average fifteen
cans. A ton of tomatoes therefore
fills 500 cans. Five tons of tomatoes
to the acre is good average. The
duty cost in cans per ton therefore
is $3.50, and per acre it is s22,5O.
The price paid the farmer in most
states is six dollars per ton; hence
the farmer has this sublime sum.
mary of protection presented for
his practical consideration. In the
absence of any duty on plates the
Gamer could pay him s52. so instead
of thirty dollars per acre for his
an increas of 70 per cent.
This is loss to the farmer of 135
cents per bushel. We have known
farmers, irrespective of politics, to
enter into justifable combination
and strike for an advance of 81 cents
per. bushel.
The average yield of corn per
acre is three tons, which, at six
dollars per ton, nets the. farmer
eighteen dollars; the duty cost on
the cans to put up an acre of corn is
sl1.6l. In the absence of a tariff
on tin plates the farmer could re-
ceive "a per cent. more for his crop
and the Gamer still be able to sell
his goods at the same price.
With free tin plates business re-
volution among the canneries would
take place; the farmer would get 25
per cent. of this tariff tax added to
the price of his tomatoes and other
products; the labor could get 25
per cent. of this tariff tax added to
MS labor; consumers would get so
per cent. of the tax through re-
1uction in the cost of canned food.
This reduction in prices would in
crease their consumption 25 per
cent, which means a larger home
market and more acreage of pro-
lucts for the farmer.
Again, the senate committees
'eport on their measure says, "The
'armers have not hesitated to erect
,r maintain defensive barriers which
will carry confdenc and comfort in
o American homes" Yet we have
lere the spectacle presented of the
,alue of 10, ZOO carloads of canned
omatoes orr, 200 carloads of canned
'orn thus added by law to the cost ,
# the cans, which would only 60 to
well the dump heap where the ,
foods are served, while men by thou
sands ask in vain for days work,
nd while mothers, tortured by the l