The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1897-10-02
IMPORTS ARE LESS.
Raw Material Rushed I'm Under the
Low Rates al the Wilson
Law During Its
Last Days.


The last report OF the bureau of sta
tistcs of the treasury department
shows that the importers neglected no
opportunity in that closing month 10
either put money in their own pockets
or take away from the Dingley law its
earning capacity during its first few
months. The importation into the
United States in the month of July,
1897, amounted TO $50, 790, 407, OF which
a very large proportion was made up of
articles which come in at lower rates
under the Wilson law than under the
Dingley law, which they knew would
go into operation by the close of that
month.
One special feature OF the Wilson law
was its effort to bring in free Of duty
what is usually termed raw MATERIAL
that is, materials in crude condition
for use in manufacturing. The July,
1897, importation Of this particular class
Of articles was double that OF July, 1896,
while In the seven months ending with
July, 1897, the increase of free raw ma
terial amounted 10 S55 900, 900, or an in
crease OF over so per cent for the entire
seven months OF the calendar year, 1897
1t will be interesting 10 see in what
particular articles the people who were
trying to avoid paying the new duties
under the Dingley law, especially dealt.
Take the matter Of live animals for i'm
stance. The value Of the live animal
imported in the month OF July, 1897,
amounted to 1884 100000. while in July,
1896, they amounted TO only S73,0O0,000.
The cattle imported in July 1897, NUM-
bered 27,740, while in July, 1896 they
numbered only 3,07i. This was the last
chance OF the importers 10 gauge the
farmers by rushing in Mexican cattle
at the low rates of the Wilson law and
by undertaking them, bringing them
in almost free OF duty. The number OF
sheep imported in July, 1897, was 39,9S4,
against 4,07S in July Of the preceding
year. The importations of raw cotton
during July, 1897, amounted 20 $685.
90S pounds. against 1,7G4, 100 in July OF
the preceding year, this being due,
doubtless, TO the expectation that the
duty on cotton which was placed in
the bill by the senate would be retained
by the conference committee. The in
crease i'm cotton cloths was also strongly
marked, though not rs great as i'm raw
cotton, the qualities imported in July,
! 1897, being 2.2sl,000 yards, against
| 1,s44, $50 yards in July, 1896. The in
crease in the duty on vegetable fibres,
such as flax, hemp, etc, stimulated the
dealers in that class Of goods TO unusual
activity, the July imports of this class
amounting TO 81 100000 against S900,00
of the corresponding month OF last year.
The duty placed upon hides of course
stimulated the importation of this ar
ticle during the closing days of July,
! before the new law went into effect.
/ The total imports of hides, other than
\ fur skins during the month of July
amounted to 21,434, t62 pounds against
! 5000, 061 i'm the corresponding month OF
1 1896. The imports OF hides during the
\ entire seven months OF the calendar
/ year amounted TO 15O,55s,450 against
| 7s,302,411 pounds in the corresponding
months Of the preceding year.
/ The last shot that the wool importers
and wool producers of foreign countries
could get al the American farmer under
| the free wool clause OF the Wilson law,
was shown in the imports Of wool dur
ing July, 1897, being over 10000, 600
pounds, as against 5,45s,00O pounds in
/ the corresponding month Of last year.
| For the seven months OF 1897 ending
with July, the imports Of wool amount
ed to 3l6,000,O00 pounds, as against
107,000,000 pounds in the corresponding
months OF the preceding years.
The above statement showing the inn
portation OF few OF the thousands Of
articles brought in during the closing
days and hours OF the operation Of the
Wilson law are given for the purpose OF
indicating the large quantity Of for
eign goods which the Dineley law found
In the country aud which OF themselves,
must reduce the prices received by pro-
ducers. and also by way OF explanation,
IL any explanations necessary. OF the
fact that the customs earnings OF the
Dinglcy law are, and naturally must bc,
light during the first few months Of its
operation. Indeed the wonder Is that
they have been as great as they are dur
ing the two months in which this law
has now been upon the statute books.
Charles D. KinE
ryMr Bryan seems 20 be about the
only man among the silterites Of last
year willing to stand by his flag and
still fight for silver. Chairman Jones
has advised the New York democrats
70 abandon III: German has already
done the same thing in Maryland, and
there Is general drift IN that direction.
But 50 long as Bryan can get $1,000 a
speech for orations In favor or silver
he will never pull down the flag
tyThe Toledo Blade recognizes Bry-
ans only claim 20 distinction ia the
fact that hc Is the biggest disaster this
rotsnfrN ,,c. ,ae,tgI An adIfffanaT