The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-07

sefnar ingots was 3s1s.5Ai tons, an lhcrcao'
of ls9 40 gross tons over the previousl,
unprecedented yearly production OF S,ooo,
al gross tons IN 1890. The production o.
nessetner steel rails for the first sD
months OF 1892 was 712.45G gross tons, IA
| acalnst ZOE 0S0 gross tons during the lae'
six months Of the year 1891. :.
The total value OF our foreign TRACE
(cxports and imports OF merchandise our
ing the last fiscal year was N,S9f, ooO'ciV
an increase of Si2S. 2S3, Goa over the previous
fiscal year. The average annual value oil
our imports and exports OF merchandise
| for the ten fiscal years prior 10 1891 was
e. 1,7 2o7 oiq II will he observed that our
foreign trade for 1892 exceeded this an
nuaI average value by SiOO.S5S59l. an IN
crease of 2747 per cent The significance
| and value of this increase are shown by
the fact that the excess In the trade or
1892 over 1891 was wholly in the value or
exports for there was a decrease in the
value Of imports Of $l7.5l3.7j1.
The value of our exports during the
fiscal year 1892 reached the highest figure
| In the history Of the Government, amount
ing to $. 03O, 27S1iS. exceeding by Hi5.7M .SS
the exports Of 1891. and exceeding the
value of the imports by 500. $50. \
compa rison OF the value OF our exports
for 1892 with the annual average for the
ten years prior to 1891 shows an excess
of 2G514265l, or OF 3465 per cent The
value OF our imports Of merchandise for
1892. which was $3.50, 402, 462. also exceed
the annual average value of the ten years
prior 10 1891 by $13j. 215,9iO. During the
fiscal year 1892 the value Of imports free
of duty amounted to 1857 ,999, 65s the largest
aggregate In the history Of our commerce.
The value Of the imports OF merchan-
disc entered free Of duty in 1892 was 63.35
-ffx .,.4e
compared with 1876 per cent. in 1891, and
1886 per cent. in 1890.
In our coastwise trade q most encourage
ing development is in progress. there hav-
ing been In the last four years an increase
Of 16 per cent. In internal commerce the
statistics show that no such period Of
prosperity has ever before existed. The
freight carried i'm the coastwse trade OF
the Great Lakes In 1890 aggregated 2S,295.-
9j9 tons. on the Mississippi, Missouri and
Ohio rivers and tributaries in the same
year the traffic aggregated % lOj,0i6 tons,
and the total vessel tonnage passing
through the Detroit river during that year
was 2l6S4. 900 tons. The vessel tonnage
entered and cleared in the foreign trade
Of London during 1890 amounted to 1885,
767 tons. and Of Liverpool 1854 800 tons.
a total for these two great shipping ports
OF "a 56S tons. only slightly in excess
Of the vessel tonnage passing through the
Detroit river.
And it should be said that the season
for the Detroit river was but 32S days.
while of course. in London and Liverpool
the season was for the entire wear. The
vessel tonnage passing through he st.
Mary's canal for the fiscal year 1892
amounted to 9S2S.s27 tons, and the freight
tonnage of the Detroit river is estimated
for = the
tons in 1891. The aggregate traffic on our
railroads for the year 1891 amounted to
1Oi,3986 500 tons Of freight, compared with
69l ,3H, 49, tons in 1890, an increase of
13054.172 tons.
Another indication Of the general pros
perity of the country is found in the fact /
that the number Of depositors i'm savings /
banks increased from $685. $40, in 1860 TO |
ass. 1913 in 1890, an increase of 513 per cent,
and the amount of deposits from $149- !
277 504 in 1860, to 81. SOC in 1890. an |
increase Of 921 per cent. In 1891 the amount |
Of deposits in savings banks was 81 .623.-
O79 749. 1t is estimated that 90 per cent.
Of these deposits represent the savings
Of wage-earDers. The bank clearances for
nine months ending September 30, 1891
amounted to 81. 049, 800 sos. For the same
months in 1892 they amounted TO S45, lS9,-
col .947 an excess for the nine months Of
s. h0,N1lS9. There never has been a time
In our history when work was so abund-
ant, or when wages were al high whether
by the currency in which they
are paid or by their power to supply the
1ecessares and comforts of life. It is
true that the market prices Of cotton and
wheat have been low.
Condition of the Agriculturalists.
1t is one Of the unfavorable incidents
q crric Quilt hot he Gov
produce upon orders. He must SOW and
cap In ignorance Of the aggregate produc-
ion Of the year. and is peculiarly subject
o the depreciation which follows over
production. But while the fact ! have
stated is true as to the crops mentioned
he general average Of prices has been
such as TO give to agriculture a fair par
icipation in the general prosperity. The
'alue Of our total farm products has in
reased from 81 1863, 646, S66 i'm 1860 TO $780,
1900 In 1891 as estimated by statisticians.
" Increase Of go per cent. The number OF
logs January !. 1891, was 80 $780, and
heir value $2l0 1893, 925. On January l. 1852,
he number was 80 1896, 009 and the value.
24l 03l, 4lj. On January /. 1891, the num-
'er Of cattle was g. SIS, 64S and the value
5i4 l21e0S. On January /, 1882, the num-
'er was 81, 65l. 239 and the value, $50 749, 100
I any are disconnected with their state
lere If any believe that wages or prices,
he returns for honest toll, are Inadequate.
hey should not fail TO remember that
here is no other country in the world
where the conditions that seem to them
ard would lot be accepted as highly pros
erous. The English agriculturist would
re slad 10 exchange the returns of his
abor for those of the American farmer
ma the Manchester wOrkmen their wages
or those Of their fellows at Fall River.
believe that the protective system, which
as now for something more than thirty
ears continuously prevailed in our legis-
alton has been mighty instrument for
he development Of our national wealth.
md a most powerful agency in protecting
he homes of our workingmen from the
INVASION Of want. 1 have felt a most
ohcitious interest 10 preserve to our
working people rates Of wages that would
ot only give daily bread but supply a
comfortable margin for those home at
ractlons and family comforts and en-
oyments without which life is neither
opeful nor sweet. They are American
ittzens, a part of the great people for
HON our Constitution and Government
'ere framed and instituted, and il cannot
e a perversion of that Constitution to so
sglslate as TO preserve in their homes ,
be comfort. independence. loyalty and
ense Of interest in the Government, which ,
re essential to good citizenship in peace.
nd which will bring this stalwart throng
s In 1861 to the defense of the flag when
is assailed.
1t is Not My Purpose.
1t is not my purpose 10 renew here the
rgument in favor of a protective tariff.
he result of the recent election must
3 accepted as having introduced a new ]
olicy. We must assume that the pres