New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-14

higher as to range about the same in gold value
but the heavy difference has been in the cost
of transportation. The stateme ITS of crops diff
fer in various official reports, and in fact the
estimates of the department are at times al
tered after fashion which closely resembles
the performances of our own Agricultural De
partment, but they are the latest records pun
lshed Prior to 1891. according TO all official
statements, the crop did not vary materially
from pol cO00O0 bushels year. about the same
acreage having been sown for many years. The
statement of exports. being for the fiscal years
under the Indian Government, does not strictly
correspond as will be observed, with the crops
reported for the different years. But it is easy
to see that there has been no such increase in
the exports from India many imagine nor
anything like the increase which was expected
ten years ago earlier. when the development
Of the railway system in India began to bring
vast additional areas Of wheat-growng land
within economical reach Of European markets.
Since IL al time. instead OF an enormous increase
in production there has been something OF de-
crease and the exports to Great Britain nave
not been as large in any year OF the last SIN
except one as they were in the years ~" ana
THE STATEMENT COMPLETE.
When 1t Is considered that the official tables
show prices at many points on railway systems
and also at many others at a considerable dis
lance from railways. at points widely distant geo
graphically and representing districts which diff
fer very widely in prcductiveness and also IN the
condition Of the crops in various years it will be
understood that the record gives as complete a
statement as can be desired regarding the actual
purchasing power of silver in wheat and other
food grain The variations at different points
sometimes seem almost incredible. but are in a
measure accounted for by partial failure OF the
crop in certain districts. and by the lack or
means Of transportation for moving supplies
from other districts to those lacking Ihere IL
also one important fact to be kept IN mnd-that
wheat has never been the most important article
| of grain food. being consumed comparatively III
tie by the natives. Their consumption OF the TWO
milletS and of rice is always much greater tnah
OF wheat Hence the price of wheat may vary
very widely in the different districts without I'M
| plying famine. unless in the same years the
crOps of other grains were materially anecteu
Respecting the change in other prices IN lndla
some interesting testimony appears. Before the
committee. in February. 1882 Sir James Broad
wood Lyall. who was Lieutenant Governor OF 'he
! Puniab for the five wears 1SSI-lS91 inclusive,
testified that prices when he left the funJap'
were materially higher than five years pe1ore'
although we had I consider on the whole, very
| good harvests We never had any scarcity and
| no real failure yet the average of prices was
steadily higher than the five years preceding.
! The evidence continues with question ana answer
follows:
Q-To what extent do you think the average
An these last five years. as compared with
QEWeI rather taking in the period since the
ruree began 10 depreciate. - ,
A-I have not gone into it particularly; hut
/ should be very much surprised II IL were hot ~
IL made out to be more than that. have had
| great many OF the settlements or lahd reNehu"
anS NAM eetiement ocers make ont that there
has been a rise Of 50 50 or 100 per cent lhat Is
| lorp infG
O.-Over thirty years. suppose
DIN part ! suppose. owing to the development
Am along. ] think, there has been steady
fall Of money compared with produce. in the
Q%Is that with regard to all produce. or with re-
gard 10 exported produce? -
Ave may say as much Lately al produor sefin
this country. well as what is exported
The same day Sir Charles Edward Bernard
! the Secretary Of the Revenue and STATISTICS De
nartment in the India Office. was called ana tes-
titled regarding silver prices of agricultura proc
ucts during the last twenty years; Ihere mas
| been considerable increase in the average I'll
Yer prices all over the country. The gram prou-
nee fetches higher rupee price than formerly
in the interior. If you take a merit IKE hahsoon
or Bombay, the prices there nave lor t"eh'H
years varied exactly according 10 European
The same witness testified that wages had also
gone Nd although much less than products III
the official report agricultural wages appear 10
bave risen only 81 per cent. comparing the last
Ave wears with the five years beginning with
1873 and the wages OF mechanics ABOUT 10 per
The Hon. James L. Mackay testified November
Q 1892 There has been serious Use IN the
retail prices In India. and there mas peeh no cor
responding increase IN ages YET iie "' ~
tilted follows:
81 believe there is very strong feoling that the
! countrv Is getting into state OF great poVer'E;
The poverty is visible connry is one Of
India; the whole aspect OF ne couI.t3 y 60 The
poverty; comparing. | did the other DAY We Ii
Of the country ana bo e DOWN 81 in the
! south Of Italy the wretched appearance OF lno'a
is very marked" . .. than +, waso
Al believe thai is NOR SO thaT roater in India
! ,han il was and | believe a common stanudln
with England would tend 10 increase '"'
perity and wealth OF the country
January II 1893. Mr.. William Sowerby, an en-
| cineer who had been largely employed III inu'a
| for twenty-five years, testheu'
The mass of the population in India are pTact en-
caIiy on the verge OF pauperisrn - ny %. =
ca moor that they are the verge OF the absolute
NJ u, the common necessaries Of life: they have
not mere than what serves the Iioi.i u"' ~ or,,
and sometimes not 50 fHuch a. '""'' ''''' '' '
poor very poor, indeed ,. -. ,ho ,.bori,e nonu-
This is the actual condition OF he 1apG'l,,s
,aiion in India under the silver STANDARD 10 WIZ
Americans are invited In tb pa f1irnsf and most
impartial statement of the SILVER sicf, n,ent a.;
The sver-usng countries are al SniS oii5 amver
on the Rocky Mountains knows more aDout az !,
than men who have lived N inGa toi ons as 70
| years. perhaps. dlso ~ at 10 moro re-
The rupee prices Of wheat IN lndla are re ,h CO.
liable The weekly ocHl !IcVIf Ro g InS S
| eminent Of India v" VI "'''
| THREATENED BOLT or WESTERN foFH.
| Washington Sept. - (Speciap.-Senator Butter
| the chairman Of the Populist branch OF the iopo-
cratic combination, had nothing 10 say TOT pupicd-
| ,,.rdav ahout the threatened bolt OF western
pon,,lsts from the Bryan-Sewal to the Bryan wat
con ticket. and the placing OF Bryan-Watson cleo
| 49, j.; ,be field In States where the bosses OF the
~. .l.irn ion hive made fusion nrranRe-