Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-12-15

" "A>blN1 ioN, ~. Y. Dec. b.-l he fTesl-
dents message was read to-day. 1t is as
follows.
To THE SENATE AND HOUSE or REPRE-
sENTATIvEs:
In submitting my annual message to
Congress, | have great satisfaction In be-
ing able to say that the general conditions
affecting the commercial and industrial In
terests Of the United States are in the
highest degree favorable. comparison
Of the existing conditions with those of
the most favorable period In the history OF
the country will. | believe. show that so
high degree of prosperity and so general
diffusion OF the comforts Of life were
never before enjoyed by our people.
The total wealth OF the country In lsG0
was Sl6,l39 Gl6 0Gs In 1890 1t amounted
TO S62 Clio 900 600, an increase of 2s7 per
cent The total mileage OF rsilways in the
United States In lss0 was 80, 62G, in 1880
II was 1914. an increase Of AS per cent.
and IL is estimated that there will be sbou,
10000 miles OF track by the close OF the
year 1892. The official returns of the Ilth
census and those OF the 10Th census for IS
leading cities furnish the basis for the fol
lowing comparisons:
Al iccV lAN tabithl iuNt t>ttu III AC-
turing was 81, ,232 .s39 $40 In 1890 the
capital invested In manufacturing was e.
900 735 ss4. In lssO the number Of en-
ployes was ,30l ,3ss. In 1890 the number
of employees was, 2.23l 1874 In 1850 the
wages earned were SOL ,965. .17s In 1890
the wages earned were 81 22I ,l70,454 In
lsso the value Of the product was s2.7ll,-
519,e99. In 1890 the value of the products
was 81, SCI. .2sG, ,e37.
| am informed by the superintendent of
the census that the omission of certain in
dnstries in 1850. which were included in
1890, accounts IN part for the remarkable
Increase thus shown. But, after making
iull allowance for the differences of meth
od and dednCtlng the returns for all indus
tries not included in the census Of 1850.
there remains in the reports from these
seventy five cities an increase in the cs pi-
tai employed of 81 ,522. .745 s04 In the val
ue of the product of S202, 423 GIG; in the
wages paid OF se7. ,943 ,929, and IN the mum
bel OF wsge earners employed OF $50 .029
The wage earnings not only show an in
creased aggregate but an increased per
capita from S3es in lse0 to S547 in 1890.
or ALI per cent.
The Textile World" for July. 1899
states that during the first six months Of
the present calendar year l35 new factories
We're built, of which 40 are cotton mills,
IS are knitting mills, &c wooden miles, u
silk mills, plush mills and linen mills.
OF the 30 cotton mills 81 have been built
in the southern states.
The report Of Ira Aver. special agent of
the treasury department shows that at the
date of Sept. 80, 1892, there were 32 com
panies manufacturing tin and term plate
in the United States and fourteen com
papies building new works for such manu-
facture.
The President then reviews the reports
of the labor commissioners Of New York,
and Massachusetts, made familiar during
the campaign, showing the increase in the
national prosperity of the people, and dis
cusses the increase in the production Of
pig iron, Bessemer steel, and steel rails,
and also treats of the large increase of the
foreign trade during the last year.
During the fiscal year 1892, the value of
imports free of duty amounted to $751;
999, ,65S. the largest aggregate In the his
tory of our commerce.
In our coastwise trade a most eucourag-
ing development is In progress, there hav-
ing been in the last four years an increase
of l6 per cent. In internal commerce the
prosperity has ever before existed.
Interesting comparisons of the coasting
and carrying trades of this country and
the great maritime cities of Great Britain
are then given. The increase in deposits
in the savings banks, in bank clearances,
and the high wages and purchasing power
Of money are instanced as showing the
prosperity of the country.
IL any are discODtented with their state
here, If any believe that wages or prices
the returns for honest toll, ale Inadequate
they should not fail to remember that there
is no other country In the world where the
conditions that seem to them hard would
not be accepted as highly prosperous.
The English agriculturist would be GLAD
to exchange the returns of his labor fol
those of the American farmer and Man
chester wOrkmen their wages for those OF
their fellows at Fall River. / believe tina,
the protective system, which has for some
thing more than 80 years continuously pre-
vailed in our legislation, has been a mighty
instrument for the development of our ma
tional wealth.
II is not my purpose to renew here the
argument in favor of q protective tariff
The result of the recent election must bt
accepted as having introduced new poll
cy. We must assume that the present
tariff, constructed upon the lines Of pro
lection, is to be repealed, and that there II
to be substituted for it q tariff law con
structed solely with reference to revenue
that no duty Is to be higher because thu
increase will keep open an American mil
or keep up the wages Of An American work
man, but that in every case such rate o.
duty is to be imposed as will bring to thu
treasury of the United States the larges
returns OF revenue.
The contention has not been betweeI
schedules, but between principles. and i
would be offensive to suggest that the pre-
vailing party will not carry into Legislation
the principles advocated by 1t and th'
pledges given to the people. l recon
mend that the whole subject OF tariff re
vision be left to the incoming Congress
1t is Q matter Of regret that this work mus
be delayed for at least three months; To-
the threat of great tariff changes intro
duces SO much uncertainty that an amount
not easily estimated, Of business lnactloi
and of diminished production Will neces
sarily result. 1t is possible also that thl
uncertainty may result in decreased reve
nues from customs duties.
The friends of the protective system
With undiminished confidence in the prin
ciples they have advocated. Will await tn
results Of the new experiment. In
strained and too often disturbed relation
existing between the employees and EN-
ployers In our great manufacturing estao
iishments have not been favorable to
calm consideration by the wage Garner O
the effect upon wages of the protecuv'
system. Tt fact that his wages were tn
highest paid for like calllngs In the worl'
and that . maintenance of this rate O
wages. in the absence of protective dutie
upon the product of his labor, was I'm
possible, was obscured BY the passlol
evoked by these contests. He may nov
be able to review the question In the hgn