The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-05-20

ence committee.
WASHINGTON, May II, 1897. An ex
ceedingly ry-looking document, filled
with figures from beginning to end, has
just been issued by the Treasury Depart
ment. Dry. as it looks, it contains some
very interesting and suggestive figures
and some that are especially so at the
present moment.
Here are some OF the things which it
shows: The March importations of wool
in 1897 were S.0S5. 800 pounds, against
II, ISL. 547 pounds in March, 1896, and
against only 3, 4sS, Ais pounds in the last
March under .he Mckinley law. This is
the contrast between Republican protec-
ton and Democratic free trade.
The importation of rags, noils, ETC., in
March, 1897, amounted to 5, 1866, 461
pounds, against 1,504 in the last year of
the Mckinley law This is the contrast
between Republican and Democratic leg
islation, rags, noils, shoddy, ETC., being
on the free list under the present tariff
law.
The number of cattle imported in March,
1897, under the Wilson law was So, 500
In March, 1891, under the Mckinley law,
the number imported was 311. Contrast
Democratic and Republican tariff laws.
The number of pounds of hides import
ed in March, 1897, in view of the prospect
of a duty being placed on raw hides was
two and half times as much as in March
of the last year OF the Mckinley law
amounting to nearly three million dollars
in value
The hay imported in March, 1895, 1896
and 1891 under the Wilson law was over
20, 600 tons, averaging about three times
as much as was Imported in the last March
of the Mckinley law.
1t shows that the world is being raked
over to find wool which can be brought
into this country free of duty before the
Dingley law puts tariff on that article
of farm production. The importations
Of wool during March, 1897, came from
Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Denmark.
France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Rou-
mania, Baltic Russia. Spain England,
Scotland, Ireland, Nova Scotia. the Black
Sea ports, Dutch West Indies. Argentine.
Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela,
China, British East Indies, Asiatic Rus
STA, Turkey in Asia, British Australia,
British Africa, Egypt, If there is a spot
on the face of the globe where wool has
not been gathered for expectation to this
country, it seems to be at the North Pole.
and it seems to be a little uncertain
whether sheep thrive in that region
1t shows that even the bonded ware
houses are being ransacked to get the last
kets Of the country before the new tariff
law shall 90 into effect. the goods re-
naming in bonded warehouses at the end
of the month of March being less than
half in value in the same warehouses at
the close of March of the preceding year.
While many of the facts developed by
this apparently dry statistical statement
are of interest to the farmers, one which
relates to prices is specially SO. An elab-
crate table is given showing the monthly
average prices of the principal articles of
merchandise imported and exported dur
ing the past year. The exports represent
their market value at the time of exporta-
ton, While the imported articles represent
their value in foreign markets. This
should be specially borne in mind in ex-
amining the figures which follow, as the
prices of imported articles appear to be
low. except in view of the fact that the
figures named relate to the value in foreign
markets. and do not include the amounts
added for freight, tariff, and profits of
dealers who handle them before they
reach the consumers in this country. The
average value Of wheat in April, 1896. is
set down at 20. cents per bushel, and in
March, 1897, at ST.. The average value
of wheat flour in April, 1896, was 50, go
per barrel, and in March, 1897, Alp
The average value of hops in April, 1896,
is put down at - cents per pound, and in
March, 1897, at los cents. The average
value of picked pork exported in April.
1896, 5.3 cents per pound, and in March,
1897, "a cents per pound. Average value
of cheese exported in April, 1896. o.
cents per pound, and in March, 1897,
1916 cents per pound. The average value
of leaf tobacco exported in April, 1896,
was "A cents per pound, and in March,
1897, 10 cents per pound. Now see the
relative prices of the articles which the
farmer must buy, such as tea, coffee,
sugar, dress goods, etc. The average
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