Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-21
FARMERS AND FOREIGN MARKETS.
Some Facts Stated In Secretary Rusk's An
nual Report.

nuoi REPORT.
The annual report Of the Secretary Of Agri-
culture makes q comparison Of the export trade
Of the past fiscal year with that Of former years
and emphasizes the fact that Of the more than
one billion dollars representing the exports Of
our domestic products for the past year nearly
80 per cent consisted Of agricultural products
thus not only making the United States the
creditor Of the world for q sum exceeding
goo, 000, 000-the excess Of our exports over
imports-but relieving our home markets from
surplus product which would otherwise have
reduced prices to point below cost of produc-
ton. For large share in bringing about the
conditions which have made these gratifying
results possible the Secretary claims credit fer
his department
In regard to imports he finds encouragement
for the farmers in the fact that. in spite of an
aggregate increase, there Is a reduction in the
proportion OF imports consisting Of products
which compete with our American agriculture,
for while in the fiscal year ending in 1889, 81
per cent OF the imports were competing, only
a per cent OF our imports for the past fiscal
year did so compete. He, nevertheless, regards
the imports, competing with theproducts Of our
own soil, rs still far too great. He instances
Gao, 000, 600 worth Of animal products &67 00o, :
600 worth Of fbers. s27. 0O0, 900 worth Of hides,
$50 C00, 900 worth of fruits and wines as articles
Of this kind, and cites the imports Of raw silk,
amounting to cas-, 000, 900 yearly, as an instance
Of products imported which could with proper
announcement be produced in our own coun-
try. He declares these figures to indicate the
main ultimate object Of the work Of the depart
ment, which he defines in brief as "the closest
study OF all markets abroad which may be
reached by our own agricultural products, ac-
companied by persistent and intelligent efforts
to extend them, and the substitution in our own
markets of homegrown for foreign grown prod
ucts.
Since his last report prohibitions against
American pork products have been withdrawn
In all countries where they existed, and
40 COG, 900 pounds of inspected pork, which
without inspection could not have found mar
ket abroad, have been exported. Comparing
the export trade for May, June. July and Au-
fects OF inspection can be clearly noted with
the same period last year he notes an increase
in quantity shipped this year of So per cent at
at an advance in price which increased values
for the same period by G61a per cent. He COM
pares prices for September, 1892, with those of
September, 1890, the year before pork inspec-
ton was adopted. and shows an increase of 80
cents per hundred pounds in favor of this year,
an average of 50 per head on every hog sold,
an increase in price highly gratifying in view OF
the large increase in the number of hogs mar
keted.
Referring to his proclamation of September
26, declaring the country free from pleuro-
Pneumonia, he emphasizes the precautions
taken before that proclamation was issued and
the thoroughly satisfactory grounds existing
for this declaration Of our immunity from that
disease.