The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1892-12-03
SECRETARY RUsKs REPORT.

SECRETARY RUSh . hEfOh1.
The proof Of the pudding lies in the
eating. Secretary Rusk's report is
valuable in that it takes the question
of tha tariff in relation to farm
products out of the domain of specula-
ton and places it in that of accom-
plished fact.
1t has been said by the Democratic
press that the increase of duties on
agricultural products could have no
effect upon the prosperity of American
farmers, and, says an eastern exchange,
judging from the largeness of ths vote
for Weaver in some of the farming
states, it would seem that the false
statement has gained considerable
measure of credence. But the secre-
tary o. the department of agriculture
gives cold figures that show decrease
of importatlons of articles that com
pete with American produce from a
ratio of 81 per cent. in 1880 to A per
cent. in 1891. Certainly this is
fine showing for the first years opera
tion of the new tariff.
Moreover, by the reciprocity clause
of the Mckinley bill, and by the
establishment yf vigorous inspection
agencies under the control of the de-
partment of agriculture, all the foreign
countries that prohibited or restricted
the Importation of American pork
have reopened their markets to this
important farm product. More than
100000 pounds Of American pork
have found foreign market by opera
tion of one clause of that bill which
the Democratic press denounced as re-
strictive of the foreign trade OF
America. One effect of this increased
foreign trade has been an increase OF
so cents per 100 pounds on the value
of American pork. Another effect
has been an increase of 81 per cent.
in the quantities of pork shipped to
foreign countries, and an increase OF
66 per cent. in the value of it, taking
the months of May, June, July and
August. 1892, into comparison with
those of last year.
But the secretary hints at the need
of increased diversl6cation of farm in
dustries. He finds that the enormous
sum of $1S9,0OO, ,0o00 yearly is sent
out of the United States to pay for
things that should be grown and made
on farms and by rural communities of
this republic. The items stand thus:
Animal products. ts............. $40, OOO, 0OO
tIbers ............. oGVVO,OOO
Hides. ............. ILOOO'O0O
Raw silk. Observation-Disclosures. 25,OOO,OOO
Total. ........sls9, 600, 900
There is not one of these which the
soil and climate of the United States
is not capable of producing.
In view of the excessive production
Of cotton and wheat ON American
farms, with an inevitable shrinkage in
price, and the further depreciation of
cotton by large importations from
Egypt and Peru, the secretary recon-
mends lessening the wheat and cotton
areas, and acclimatizatlon of the
Egyptian and Peruvian cotton plants,
the fibers of which have qualities not
found in our native growths. The
beet sugar crop has been found to
give large profits to the gro wer and to
the manufacturer, whenever the con-
dition insisted upon by the depart
ment have been observed. The tariff
on barley has lesssned importations of
that grain by 100000 bushels, and,
Of course, has added that many to the
home production.
American wines, American fruits,
American sugars, American fax and
hemp fibers may pro6tably engage the
attention of farmers and planters who
hitherto have relied almost exclusively
upon cotton and wheat as the sources
Of profit.