The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-04-03

duce the burdens of the people, not in
crease them; to cheaper living, not to
render it more costly.-New York
World, Nov. IA. 1892.
This is sample of the democratic
promises in 1892. Every paper and
every politician that favored free trade
was, at that time, spreading broadcast
the widest statements as to the won
derful cheapness Of goods that would
follow their success in the national
elections. We have shown, from facts
compiled by Dun's Review, that prices
in cotton goods, woolens, silks, iron
manufactures, boots and shoes were all
higher at the end of 1895 than at the
opening Of that year. But Bradstreets
has examined this subject of cheaper
prices" even more extensively and, in
it's issue of Jan. II, 1896, gave such in
teresting facts that we quote them more
fully because they give the lie direct to
every free-trader's promise Of cheap
ness"
Among food products which are
higher than on April 1, 1895, are wheat,
eggs, butter, milk, molasses, mackerel,
sugar, peas, apples, peanuts and rails
ms; as compared with six months ago
the list is found to be smaller, consist
ing of eggs, butter, cheese, mackerel,
milk, molasses, sugar, peas, raisins and
currants, while as compared with quota
tons for Oct. 1, 1895, higher prices for
food products include those for wheat,
flour, beeves, sheep, mutton, eggs, but
ter, cheese, molasses, mackerel, sugar,
rice, peas, apples, cranberries, peanuts,
raisins and currants, indicating much
more extensive advance in quotations
for staple food commodities during the
past three months than has been pre-
sumed from some market reports.
This list comprises pretty nearly
every commodity that the average fam
lily needs for its daily existence. A
much more extensive advance in quo
tations for staple food commodities" is
not quite the same as the promise Of
cheaper prices" But let us look at
the clothing list:
Quotations for textiles, raw and man
ufactured, whoch are higher than they
were on April 1 last, include cotton,
wool, hemp, silk, flax, print cloths,
eastern sheetings, ginghams and south
ern sheetings, and the list is practically
the same for those higher to-day than
on July 1 last, the exception being
southern sheetings.
Besides the advance in the prices OF
articles of food, there has also been
"much more extensive advance In quo
tations" of wearing appeared and house
hold articles. Now for the products OF
the mines:
Quotations to-day as contrasted with
July 1, 1895, show advances for iron
ore, No. 2 southern pig iron and lead,
and as compared with prices on April 1,
1895, present quotations show advances
for iron ore, eastern anthracite, No.
southern pig, Bessemer pig, steel billets,
rails and beams, copper, lead and quick
silver.
More money has to be paid, too, for
articles made Of iron, lead, steel and
copper. Fire and light, as well, are
more expensive, as the following shows:
Circular prices for bituminous coal,
southern and Connellsville coke are
higher to-day than on Oct. last, and
as compared with July last, when an
advance for anthracite coal must be
added. The like Is true when prices
are compared with quotations on April
1, 1895. Crude and refined petroleum,
castor oil and turpentine are all higher
to-day than they were on Oct 1, but as
compared with July the list for those
which are higher to-day includes re-
fined petroleum, cottonseed oil, castor
oil and turpentine, and as contrasted
with prices on April 1, 1895, higher
prices to-day are those for crude and
refined petroleum, naphtha, castor oil
and rosin.
Even the sick man has to pay more
money for his castor oil. Other drugs,
and chemicals, are dearer, too:
Leading drugs and chemicals have
advanced sharply during 1895, as Is
shown by higher prices for alum, bicar-
Donate soda, borax, carbolic acid, caus-
tic soda, nitric and sulphuric acids,
phosphate rock, alcohol, opium and quiz
nine than on Oct 1, and this Is true
also as contrasted with July 1, with the
exception Of phosphate rock and alco-
hol. A similar statement may be
made with respect to prices nine
months ago, excepting with reference
to those for phosphate rock, alcohol
and opium.
Not much inducement Is offered,
either, for the wage Garner who wants
to build home for his family. With
free lumber he was promised cheap"
house. Lower duties on nails and
glass were to help every man to own
his own castle. Those were the prom
Uses. These are the facts:
Among building materials, brick,
nails, glass, pine. spruce and hemlock
are higher than they we're three months
ago. and the like is true as compared