The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-15
INTERESTING.
Informing, Too, is this Dry
Looking Document.
Just Issued by the Depart
ment of the Treasury.
Facts and Figures That are Of Great
Value 10 the Farmer.
Especial Correspondence of The News)

Washington, May 15-An exceedingly
dry-looking document, filled with hgur,s
from beginning to end, has just been
issued by the treasury department.. Dry
as it looks, it contains some very terest-
ing and suggestive figures, and some that
are especially so at the present moment.
Here are some of the things which IL
shows: The March importations OF wool
in 1897 were 5S, 0S5 339 pounds against
IL, 5Sl, 547 pounds in March, 1896, and
against only 3, 4SS, 4l5 pounds in the last
March under the Mckinley law. This Is
the contrast between Republican protec-
tion and Democratic free trade.
The importation of rags, noils, etc,
in March, 1897, amounted to o 466. I6l
pounds, against 1904 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
81, $50. In March, 1894, under the Nc.
kinley law, the number imported was
3ll Contrast Democratic and Republi-
can tariff laws.
The number of pounds of hides i'm
ported 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 Nc
kinley law, amounting to nearly So 000,
900 in value.
The hay imported in March 1885,, 1896
and 1897 under the Wilson law was over
20, 600 tons, averaging about three times
as much as was imported in last March
of the McKin law.
1t shows that the world Is being raked
over 10 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,
Bfazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Nepezuela,
China, British East Indies. Asiatic Rus
sia Turkey in Asia, British Australia,
British Africa, Egypt. If there is 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 IL seems to be "a little uncertain
whether sheep thrive in that reg ion.
1t shows that even the bond warehouses
are being ransacked TO get the last rem
nants of foreign goods into the markets
of the country before the new tariff law
shall go into effect, the goods remaining
in bonded warehouses at tho end of the
value in tho same warehouses mt 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 especially so. An elab-
orate 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 expor-
tation, while the imported articles repre-
sent their value in foreign markets
This should be especially borne in mind
In examining 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 adued 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. 1S96,
Is set down at 7O.7 cents per bushel, and
in March. 1897, at Sl.2. The average value
of wheat flour in April, 1896. was So 60 per
barrel, and in March, 1897. "a IL. The
average value of hops in April, 1895, is
put down at 10 cents per pound, and in
March, 1897, at 1913 cents. The average
value of pickled pork exported in April
1896 b.3 cents per pound, and in March,
1897, 64 cents per pound. Average value
OF cheese exported In APRIL 1915, 9.2 cents
per pound and in March. 1897, To- 8 cents
per pound The average value of leaf
tobacco exported in April, 1897 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 rs tea, coffee sugar, dress
goods, etc. The average price of coffee in
foreign markets in April, 1896 was IA 3
cents. per pound and in March, 1897, ll2
cents per pound. The average value of
cotton cloth in foreign markets in April,
1896 was o. l cents Per yard, and i'm March,
1897, SO. Picked herring in April 1896,
were 8. Q cents per pound, and in March,
1897 .. cents. Mnckorel, in April, 1885,
were 72 cents per pound, and in March,
1897, cents per pound. Beet sugar
in foreign markets. In April, 1896, was
? cents per pound, and in March, 1897,
IL cents per pound. In dress goods the
average price in April, 1896 was 50. cents
per pound. and i'm March, 1897. 40 cents
per pound. With the selling price of
practically everything which the farmer
mas TO buy put upon the market increas-
ing during the year and the buying price
Of everything whicn he consumes decroas-
ing he will iin1 no occasion TO renew tho
complaint which was made in his behalf
in the last campaign with reference To the