Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-03-06

years ago. is sufficient reply to the
sophistry of Congressman Updegraff's
recent speech on the silver question:
SILVER.
Commercial value of silver, 1888 to
1878, inclusive al years. average,
$1.32 per ounce. Lowest yearly aver
age, 1888 and 1884, $1.297 per ounce.
Highest yearly averave, 1860, s1.36O.
Average commercial value of silver,
1878 to 1892, inclusive, 81 069 per
ounce. Highest yearly average, s1.29s
per ounce. Lowest yearly average,
1892, 81 .0s76 per ounce.
The silver bullion produced in the
United States for the years 1878 to
1892, inclusive amounted to III, $780,
GIG ounces, which, at its average CON-
-mercial value for the years 1888 to
1878, was worth $1,000, 100, 1923; but
which, at rates prevailing from 1873
to 1892, amounted to only 1881, 572, 421,
which was loss to the silver produc-
ers of $19s, 1908.
WHEAT.
The average price of wheat from
1855 to 1872 inclusive as years., was
$1.39 per bushel. The lowest average
price, 1859, $O.95. Highest average
price, 1866, $2.195.
Average price, 1872 to 1898, inclc.
sive (22 years., $1OA per bushel.
Lowest, 1898, Sc cents per bushel.
Highest, 1872, $1.47 per busheI.
The total production of wheat in
the United States from 1879 to 1898 (22
years. is given at 0, 179, 5s4, 7e4 bushels,
which, at the price per bushel pre-
vailing in 1872, would amount to 3d.
492,5l9,603; but at rates prevailing
from 1879 to 1898, would amount to
$9,591, 977, 001, or loss to the wheat
producers by the demonstration of
silver OF $4,000, 5l2,6o2.
CORN.
Average value of corn in the Uni
ted States from 1855 to 1871, inclusive
az years., $0.s317 per bushel. Low
est, 1869, So cents per buskel. High
est, 1865, $1.31.
Average price 1872 to 1893, inclusive
(22 years), $O.556O per bushel, Low.
est, 1898, $O.365 per bushel. Highest,
1875, $0.85 per bushel.
The total production of corn in the
United States from 1872 to 1898, inclu-
sive (22 years., amounts to 34,243,2 81,
O78 bushels, which. at the average
price prevailing from 1855 to 1871,
would have sold for $2S, 4S2, 181 ,15e;
but at average rates prevailing from
1879 to 1899 amounted to only $19,04O,
655, 902, or o loss to the corn produc.
ers of the United States of $9,441, $685..
243 by the characterization of silver.
COTTON.
The price of cotton in the Unite d
States in 1879 was $0.193 per pound,
or $S4.92 per bale of 44O pounds net
The average price of cotton in the
United States from 1872 to 1903, inclu.
sive (22 years., has been $O.1O97 pei
pound, or $4s.s63 per bale. Lowest
1898, $0.072 per pound, or $31. 90 pei
bale. Highest, 1872, so 1893 perpound
or $S492 per bale.
The cotton produced in the United
States from 1879 to 1893 inclusive (ss
years., is estimated at 131, 100, 2O2
bales, which, at prices paid in 1872,
would have sold for $11, 1876, 473, 754
but which, at the average rate pre-
vailing since 1879, amounted to oply
$685., 263, 40, or loss to the cotton
producers of $4,s1O.21O, 344 by the de
monetization of silver.
SUMMARY.
Below is a summary of losses caused
by the decentralization of silver-187s
to 1898:
aoss to silver producers, $19s, e17,.
9OS.
Loss to wheat producers, So, 900, $40,
6O2, or 1888 for every $1,000 lost by
silver producers.
Loss to corn producers, $9,441, 525,
243, or $47, 536 for every $1,000 lost by
silver producers.
Loss by cotton producers, $3.50,
2l0,3 44, or $24,2ls to every $1,000 losl
by silver producers.
Or, for every $1,000 to the silver pro
ducers, caused by the decentralization
OF silver, the wheat, corn and cotton
producers lose SOL, 1892, to say nothing
Of the wool and pig-iron producers
and all other labor products Of the
country.
The average population of the Uni
ted States for the period from 1879 to
1893, was fifty million. The loss dur
ing that time Caused by the demone
tization of silver upon the three
great staple products of the country
corn, cotton and wheat amounted
to $1S, 1862, 27S, $50; or a loss per capita
of 1858, 80 that it is safe to assume
that the loss to all industries has been
at least $1,000 per capita.
The foregoing facts and figures
were furnished by j. r. Nichols, OF
Chicago, one of the best posted men
of that city, and were first published
in Coin" We will give Updegraff's
speech in the near future. In the
mean time, read these figures and pre-.
serve them until you can compare
these facts with the holder dash ol
our gold bug congressman.