The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1893-07-28
The Tariff on Hay.

The editor of the Press says in his last
issue that the tariff has no more to do with
the price of hay than with its growth. Te
this statement take radical exception.
The hay crop in Canada last year was
1900, 900 tons-1, 600, 900 tons more than hel
average crop for the past ten years. Previ,
Gus to the passage of the Mckinley bill hel
surplus found its market in American cities,
and Michigan's crop cut no figure. Never
previous to her last crop has there been
demand of any moment for eastern ship.
ment. Values in Michigan the past season
ranged around $500 per ton for hay at the
barn. The tariff on export hay from Canada
is $500 per ton. Now, Mr.. Press editor,
dare you say that with free trade this large
Canadian surplus thrown on our market
would not have depressed the value of every
ton of our hay? You must be aware that
its consumption is limited and confined al
most entirely to our country and Canada
and that its value ceases mainly at one
year old. With free trade believe that
our hay must have sold for about $500 per
ton or be left on the farmers hands today,
as Canada's hay would certainly have been
put on our markets. If you say that the
export trade would have taken the surplus,
/ ask you to show me any export trade Of
moment from Canada. That country tried
to dispose of its crop in that manner. but
with such disastrous results as to abandon
it.
The same article says the two last crops
of England and France were poor and that
thousands of tons were imported from this
country. England and Wales combined
produce an average of 5000, 900 tons of hay,
and their imports for 1892 were the bare
pittance of 81, 900 tons. Again, II exports
are large, tell me why the Boston aud New
York markets have been so heavily over
stocked the past SIX weeks that advices
have been to make no more shipments.
That the hay crop of England and France
this year is short is doubtless true and 1t
may make new market for our surplus
hay at fair prices. Letters from eastern
dealers however tell me mot to bank too
strongly on export markets, as yet we
think reports are over-drawn. Remem-
Der we banked on Russian starvation for
high priced wheat and got badly left"
1t is fact well known that the farmers
in England and France are not in condition
to pay high prices for hay to carry their
stock. Already we are getting reports that
cattle are being slaughtered so largely as to
materially reduce the price beef of and
to cause loss of $40 per head on our late
exported cattle.
If the tariff cuts no figure In the price OF
hay why were we overrun with eastern
buyers the past season? In answer to my
inquiries they said, I'VE haye always gone
to Canada for our hay, but the $500 tariff
imposed by the Mckinley bill shuts us out"
Tariff cuts no figure, does II? When was
paying $3.50 to 1925 for hay last February
and baling 1t at my own expense, friend
was buying it near London, Canada, at 81
10 SO per ton on board the cars, the baling
ard all other expense being paid by the
Canadian farmer. Tdrtf cuts no figure,
does tP
AS have already said, am firmly of the
opinion that but for the tariff. which kept
Canadian hay out our farmers would
either have sold their crop at about S. per
ton or have had most Of 1t on hand today.
T. ID. DEWEY.