Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-02-04
A CIRCULAR.
Some Statistics About the Trade In
Agricultural Products.
THE ARBITRATION TREATY.
Petitions Flowing into Washington for It's
Passage Opposition to the Free Homes
Bll-Every South Carolina Congress
slonal Seat to BE Contested.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-The depart
ment of agriculture has issued a cir
cular showing to what extent the peo-
pie of the United States have been ex-
porters and importers of agricultural
products during the past five years.
The lowest percentage of the total inn
ports was 40 per cent. in 1896. The
highest was 81 per cent. in 1894. The
total value of imports for last year was
STT9, T24,67 of which $3.50, 13S, 155 was
agricultural. For the five years not quite
three-fourths of the total export has
been agricultural. The average is ~ per
cent; the highest rs per cent. in 1892
and the lowest GO per cent, The totals
were 81, 015, T32, oil in 1899 and 1868, 200,-
4S7 in 1896, of which S709, 993, 343 was
agricultural in the former and S571,-
SO0,S45 in the latter. OF the agricul-
tural imports each year nearly one
half has been of sugar, coffee and tea
The other principal items have been
animals and their products, except
wool and tibers, such as cotton, silk
andwool. The wool import has grown
from SIS, GSS, los in 1892 to $50, 451 ,242 in
1896. The export of corn in 1899 was
75,451 $40 bushels, which brought S4l,-
500, 400, while in 1896 the total of o.
999, S35 bushels brought only S37, $780,
SO2. Making the subtractions this
means 24,540,9S6 more bushels of corn
sent abroad for So, 1853, sos less money.
This is fall in average price from 50
cents bushel to 80 cents. The show
ing for wheat is 157, $50, SOL bushels ex-
ported in 1892, for which S16l 800, 1872
was paid, against 1850, $50 bushels in
1896 for $50, 7O0,S6S. The price also was
only about half as high in 1896 as in
1892 The figures are S1.26 per bushel
for wheat in 1892, against 65 cents in
1895. There has been a balance in
favor of this country every year, except
in 1893. The amount was StSs, S99, $40
in 1899, and in 1896 it was $50, Az. 05S.
The balance against the United States
in 1898 was only $50, ,157. The bal
ance in favor of farm products has
fallen from S372, 72G, ri in 1872 to $780,
761, 500 in 1896.
The Arbitration Treaty.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-From remarks
made by Ser atjr Hill on the floor of
the senate about the arbitration treaty,
the impression has gained ground that
he will oppose it when it comes before
the senate for consideration This is
mistake. The New York senator will
not only favor the adoption of the
treaty, but he will urge the propricty
of having the debate upon it in open
session. The sentiment of the country,
he says, is overwhelmingly in favor of
peaceful understanding between the
United States and Great Britain. Petit
tions for the pass lge of the treaty
are flowing into Washington in a steady
stream, and the great sentiment favor
able to the treaty which they indicate
is having its influence with the senate
Opposition to the Free Homes Bill.
WASHINGTON Feb. g. deposition to
the free homes bill has sprung up from
an unlooked-for source. The Associa-
ton of American Agricultural Colleges
and Experiment Stations is using its
influence against it. This week let
ter has gone out from the station at
Amherst, Mass, to all the other sta
tions, in which the directors of col
leges and stations are urged to write
to the congressman of their districts
and solicit their votes against the bill.
The reason put forth is that the bill, if
It becomes law, will remit S35, 900, 600
due the United States for lands sold to
settlers, and the annuity, on which the
agricultural colleges and experiment
.taticls depend, will be lessened that
AMOUNT
Every South Carolina Seat Contested.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.-The seat of
every member of congress-elect from
South Carolina is to be contested. The
chief ground of contest in all these
eases is the unconstitutionality of the
new registration and election laws of
the state. If one member is unseated,
all will be unseated.