davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26
Our Foreign Commerce.

The complete government report on
our foreign trade for the year ended
June 30 has not yet been issued, but
from preliminary reports interesting
facts may be CLEANED. The total trade,
imports plus exports, amounted to
a,S16, 800, ,996, which has been equalled
only once in our history-in 1892, when
it reached $1,S59, $780, 61O. When we re-
member that many articles of export
brought higher prices in 1892 than in
1897 it can readily be realized that in
volume-that is TO say in the quantity
of the commodities handled-the foreign
trade of 1897 establishes a new record
in the annals of our commercial inter-
course with the world
Growth in exports was the charac-
teristic feature of the year. During the
ten years preceding 1897 our exports
averaged $685., 600 per annum and our
imports $765, 800, 900. a preponderance of
exports over imports amounting to four
per cent. of the average annual total.
But the preponderance of exports over
imports during the fiscal year called
1897 amounted to fifteen per cent, a
point made clear in the following table:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26
SIGNS OF FALL TINE.

Gittin' clost to fall time-know Ii by the
way
The wind comes crost the mountains at
the breakin' o. the day;
An the twitchin' in by j'ints is a most
unfailin' sign
That they're tunin' up the fiddle fer
the boys ter fall in line!
Gittin' clost ter fall time--know 1t by the
way
The smoke is curlin' up'ards in the morn
ms cool an gray;
You kin hear a whip a-crackin' 'crost a
clover field or two.
An you think o. rides by moonlight with
a sweetheart clost TO you!
Gttin' clost ter fall time-let it come
along!
Spring is rich an rosy, an summer 5
sweet with song;
Every seasons good enough-but give me
frost an fall.
An balance ter yer pardners, an kiss
yer sweethearts all!
Atlanta Constitution.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

Total
$3.50 937 1898 1892 500 $S63 200 4S7s1 OO1 300
These figures show that the items OF
gain are in lumber forestry and man.
ufactures almost exclusively, the gain
in the aforementioned item being indeed
remarkable. Comparison with 1892, our
other banner export year, emphasizes
this point. In 1892 exports of agricul-
tural produce amounted to S799, 32S, ,232,
or 1859 per cent. of the total eXporta-
tions; while exports of manufactured
goods amounted to $l5S,51O,937, or 1861
per cent. of the entire export trade. In
1897, on the other hand, agricultural ex-
ports We're valued at $GS3, SIS, $50, or &C 27
per cent of the total; while manufac-
lures were represented by s276, 357, SCI, or
267S per cent. of the whole volume Of
exports.
The distribution of our foreign COM
merce is worth noting The largest
trade was done with Great Britain. the
imports aggregating $167 ,947, ,S2O and the
exports A7S,4SS, ,592 The next in volume
was with Germany, the imports being
SllO,2l0,6l4 and the exports Sl23, 1884 ,453.
France is the third in the list, with i'm
ports amounting to $67,53O, 231 and ex.
ports $jG 2S7,63l. The trade with other
European countries is stated to have
been as follows: Belgium-Imports.
Sl4OS2,4l4; exports, $32, ,6OO,O2i The
observation-disclosures, S12,S24l26; ex-
ports, $780, ZIG. Italy-Imports sl9,-
O67S52; exports, $2l ,377 ,76l. Spain-Im-
ports, $S,631 ,973; exports, slO,Ss9. GIL.
Switzerland-Imports $13,S49 7S2; ex-
ports, SO,32S. Austria Hungary-Im-
ports, Ss,l5S,32S; exports, $3,759, 700. Dem
mark-Imports, $856,S5 exports. SlO,-
lS9,453. The imports from the dominion
of Canada during the year amounted
to $iO,3O9,3S7, and the exports $5S, ,465, ,O4S.
The imports from Mexico amounted to
$lS,5l1,572, and the exports aggregated
$22,726,596. The imports from japan
amounted to $24 OO9, 1856, and the exports
Sl3,23S,9 go The imports from China
reached a total of 500, ,4O3 S62, and the
exports aggregated $l1,9l6SSS. The per-
centage of the trade Of the United
States with foreign countries during
the last year is given in part as fol-
lows:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

be mulcted. This opinion Is especially
rife in the Populstlc western states,
but even in the east there are an
abundance of men who seem to regard
the railroads, not as agencies of pub
lie benefit but as fair subjects for
spollation.
These reflections are inspired by CO..
tain remarks made by Robert p. Per-
ter in the letter to which we yesterday
called brief attention. "The number Of
our railway investors is too often ig-
nored," says Mr.. Porter. According
to Commissioner George II. Blanchard
the eastern trunk lines report that their
shareholders number 99S26. one east
ern line reports that fifty per cent,
and the Pennsylvania Railroad COM
pany that forty per cent of its share
holders are women. At the same ratio
of shareholders to mileage, the total
number of stockholders in the railways
Of the union would be over 95O,OOO, not
including bondholders. Calling the
total 1,25O,000 of bond and share hold
ers at home and abroad, they, with 1885,
persons dependent upon or interested
in our railways, exclusive of those in
terested in the manufacture or produc-
ton of railroad materials
This being true, and in view also of
the incalculable obligation which the
American people are under to the man
ayers of our railroads for the part
which they have played in developing
the resources and diffusinE the wealth
of the country, it would seem to be
well-nigh time for the adoption by our
Populistc fellow-c citizens of a new at
titude on this subject. Where would
their dollar wheat be if 1t vas not for
the railways that enable them to get It
to market and to get goods of necessity
and luxury in return?
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26
THE BROADER VIEW.
From the illustrated American.

From the illustrated American.
Though American and English journal
lists may scold at one another across the
severing ocean, the Indiana goes to Hall
fax for repairs The situation supplies
a suggestive commentary on the vapor-
ing journalism Of which too much is
heard on both sides of the water.
o.
Because an American secretary is gruff
over the seal question. London newspa-
pers say this country needs little blood
letting; and because a British colony
enfOrceS its customs and mining regu-
lations upon American immigrants, New
York newspapers talk of seizing the col
ony and doing up" Great Britain. Mean
while, the two peoples are bound to-
gether as no other two nations of the
world have ever been. One in language,
blood religion; ineXtricably mingled in
business matters; interviewer by mar
riage and by friendship; confronted by
many like problems and living under
kindred institutions, their differences are
family differences, and by no means sig
Nifty the same as do such disputes be-
tween strangers. The Englishman be-
comes an American, the American be-
comes an Englishman, by a process of
transition so swift and easy as to be all
but imperceptible. When brothers call
each other bad names it does not neces-
sarily mean that they will come to blows.
They understand each other, at bottom.
But between strangers something would
be apt to happen. There would have to
be retraction or fight.
o.
According to our newspapers our new
navy is especially designed as a weapon
of defense or offense against Great Brit
ain. In the same view the great dock
and impregnable fortihcations at Halifax
and Bermuda are a sword held to our
throat by England. In spite of this,
when our warships want repairing and
find our own docks inadequate, they ap-
ply with frank confidence to Great Brit
ain. In the same spirit Great Britain
not only puts her appliances at our
disposal but makes extensive alterations
in her Halifax dock to enable It to meet
the peculiar needs of the Indiana and
of our other battleships which are to
follow her. In a similar spirit captain
of the United States navy writes book
teaching this nation why and how she
must become a great naval power; and
England heaps every honor upon him
for the admirable way in which he does
his work. Captain Mahan Is more dis
tinguished in Great Britain than in his
own country. In like spirit the Ameri-
can and the British naval officers and
men-of-warsmen fraternize In every part
OF the world, cheering one another's flags
and standing together against those they
hold to be aliens.
When comes the great war Of races.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

reached stage where 1t must bid for
new markets and enter into active COM
petition with the older and slower pro-
ducers of Europe. That this will be
done successfully is assured, and not
many years of the Twentieth century
will have passed ere the supremacy
of the United States in the worlds In.
dustry and finance will be made plain
to the students of current events.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26
Live and Let Live.

1t is an opinion in localities yet preva-
lent that the railways of the United
States are owned in the main by very
rich men, and that therefore any ad-
vantage which the public can exact or
eXtort from the carrier corporations by
means Of discriminatory legislation or
otherwise will throw it's burden prin-
cipally on those who can well afford to
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

which must come some day unless all
history lies, our sailors and those OF
England will be found fighting side by
side. 1t Is manifest destiny, and petty
squabbles are insignificant in the face of
It, Washington and Westminster under
stand this, dimly; and the spectacle of
the Indiana in the Halifax dry dock
Is an evidence
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

A decision of the Supreme court says
that every person who crosses a rail-
road at grade must stop, look and
listen" and that 'if the track is envel-
oped in smoke must wait until it clears
away. ."-Wilkes-B Barre Record.
The Supreme court is doubtless to be
thanked for not requiring plain citizens
to go around the railway track.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

1t would be interesting to know upon
what ground the Pope "disapproves Of
the Cuban insurrection."
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

The "antis" at Harrisburg today are
small in numerical strength but evil
IDENTIFY large in expectations.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

The plain lesson of these various
figures is that the Industrial develop
ment Of the United States has at last
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

Resolved, That the platform adopted
at the National convention CT Democ-
racy in 1896 be endorsed fully and with
out reserve. Plank Second in the
Platform of the Lackawanna Democ-
racy, adopted Aug "a, 1897.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26
MEAT VS. VEGETABLES.
From the Illustrated American.

From the Illustrated American,
Perhaps the most superior persons in
the Wcrld are the Vegetarians: and in the
warm weather their superiority becomes
peculiarly aggressive, because at that
time they feel that the unconverted are
leaning toward their views WEcn a man
mas learned to live on purely vegetable
diet he believes himself to occupy n lof.
tier plane than his fiesh-eating fellows;
ana the assumption Is apt to become so
irritating that the partial measure of wis
dom underlying his doctrines fails to win
recognition. Most vegetarians, whether
men or women, are people engaged in
occupations which do not make O. severe
and protracted drain upon their nervous
energy. Statistics abundantly prove the
superior force and vitality Of the meat
eating classes. Physiology, moreover
shows that our bodies are built to con-
sumo mixture of animal and vegetable
food.
Tie experience of hosts OF gentle souls
to whom the shambles are an unspeak-
abe horror and who would give much to
eliminate all flesh food from their diet
has proved that the average human con-
stitution cannot do it's most effective
work on the vegetarian bill of fare. Shel-
ley and Tennyson both tried Il earnestly,
and with lamentable results as far as
stated without fear of contradiction that
none of the highest achievement, intel
lectual or material, that humanity has
to show, has been gained on a diet of
which meat did not form a part.
Nevertheless it is probable that we in
America eat more meat than is good for
us. A little is necessary but much is in
furious, cloggng the system, over-stimu-
lating the nerves and bunting the spirit
ual perceptions. At all times. and in hot
weather especially, we should do well to
remember the dietary rules of our proba-
bly, arboreal ancestors, and make fruit,
rather than either bread or meat, the
main prop of our physical existence
Most people, If they test the matter care
fully, will find that an excess of starchy
food is more damaging to their nerves
and their digestion than an over-free in
dulgence Ia meat.
But, of course, if one believes that his
grandmother may be reincarnate in the
beast which furnishes the juicy steak or
the seasonable marrowbone, then his po-
sition as a vegetarian becomes impregna-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

Indications multiply that Tommie At
kins Will soon have both hands full in
India.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

But, of course, if one believes that his
grandmother may be reincarnate in the
beast which furnishes the juicy steak or
the seasonable marrowbone, then his po-
sition as a vegetarian becomes impregna-
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-08-26

Of our domestic exports last year this
classification is made, with compari-
sons with three other years:
Products.
1894 1895, 1896 1897
Agriculture.
$G2S 1863 O3S $553 O26 $500 SO 297 S6S3 SIS 800
Mining
$ 20, ,4i959S 1S509S1i 200i565t o1 Gas 100
Forestry
$ 20, ,4i9j9S 2S,57G G235 3371S2 40 $50 321
Fisheries
5 4,2Gl 920 5,23S S07 6S50 800 G121 Oh
ManufaCtures--
$SS,72SSOS 1S3,595,74S 22S,571,17S 27G a57, SCI
Miscellaneous
4,4OO9ii 417l,974 4135,762 $780,, ,9S5
The herald., 1897-08-22

set with precious stones found in 1858 by
some Spanish peasants near Toledo. One
Of the crowns has the Gothic name of
Suinthila, who reigned from 621 to 63l.
Who buried them? We shall never
know. The brooch of Tara. Irish work
of the seventh century, was picked up by
child on the seashore in 1850. viking
robber may have dropped it. The bull
lion of English kings was found in lS4O
at Cuerdale. where it had been laid IN
91O! The ring of Ethelwulf of Wessex
turned up at Laverstock on the Test. AS
to drawings, a friend of mine found one
by an intimate friend OF Michael Angelo
in a dirty little print shop for half
crown.
At Merton my friend Mr.. Esson found
treasure trove of old mezzotints, beau
ties, in the attic over his college rooms.
The letters of Warwick the king maker
were discovered in a loft over coach
house by Mr. Maxwell Lyte. The magic
crystal of King Lothaire, in the British
museum, was sold by a curiosity dealer,
inscription and all, for 10 francs. The
museum paid G267 But why "magic"'
The ball is engraved with Susanna and
the Elders.-Andrew Lang in Longman's
Magazine.
The herald., 1897-08-22
RUM IN COLONIAL TIMES
There Were Sixty-three Distilleries
in Massachusetts in 175O

The power of rum as commercial fac
tor in the colonies was at it's height
about 1850. That year the royal treas
ury report gave sixty-three distilleries
in Massachusetts, turning molasses into
rum. This formed the store for about
900 vessels engaged in various branches
of trade-400 in cod fishing, 200 mackerel
fishing, 100 whalers, etc. Newport kept
pace relatively with Boston. Refuse cod
fish paid for much of the mola sses.
Connecticut attempted. to prohibit dis
tilling, because it made molasses scarce:
but the prohibition was very hastily
stopped when the citizens found that
business went where rum could be OBJ
tanned. Rum proved the best New Eng
land commodity i'm all trading opera
tions. Rum was the Indians choice, in
fact his only acceptance, as payment for
his peltries; it was chosen with equal
eagerness by the Virginian or Carolin-
ian in exchange for his tobacco. The
Newfoundland fishermen wished it in
return for Goldfish; and, most important
Of all, on the Guinea coast New England
rum entirely vanquished French brandy
as a medium for acquiring slaves The
commerce in rum and slaves afforded
ali lHC iCdQy liOlRCy tHdl Pdiu AOl any
merchandise in England. 1t was the
driving power of all commercial machir-
cry The circuit was powerful at every
step. The Yankee vessel laden with
| homemade rum sailed to the African
coast The rum was bartered to great
| advantage for negroes The negroes
were carried to and sold. at large profit
at the West Indies and the distllation
in Newport and Boston started afresh
the round of New England money maxi
ing. Sometimes trade was so brisk that
the market was stripped of rum.
! In the year 1852 Isaac Freeman wanted
a cargo of rum for the African trade.
He sent to Newport, where there were
then thirty great rum distilleries in full
blast His correspondent wrote that he
| could not have it for three months.
"There are so many vessels loading for
Guinea we can't get our hogsheads of
rum for cash. We have been lately TO
New London and AN along the seaport
towns in order to purchase molasses.
but we can't get cne hogshead."
The shipmasters were not above wa
tering the rum to make it 60 as far 40
possible. Old Merchant Potter instruct
ed his captains to trade with the blacks.
worter ye rum as much as possible, and
sell as much short measure as you car" :"
-Brockton, Mass, Times.
The herald., 1897-08-22

The history of modern gold fevers, OF
which Klondyke affords us the latest
example, began on that wild autumn day
in 1S47. when Captain Souter, prospect
ing on the banks of the Sacramento
| river, struck it rich" and inaugurateu
the mad race to the west which culml-
mated in 1S49-50. True, there had, o!
course, been trifling outbreaks long an
terror to the above date. In 1880, for
instance, Peter the Great reopened the
ancient gold mines in the Ural noun
tains, and quite number of miners
flocked thither from various parts of
Europe. In 1870 there was a miniature
rush to Peru, on account of nugget OF
gold weighing sixty pounds, troy, being
unearthed there near the town of La Paz.
The discoveries of the precious metal
In Malacca in 1871, in New Andalusia in
the summer of 1855, and in Ceylon in 1900,
also caused considerable local excite
ment; while exactly 100 years ago the
news that large washings of gold dust
had been obtained from the Wicklow
mountains caused d flutter in the Irish
dovecotes.
But these, in addition to being ancient
his tory, were mere local and transient
affairs, when compared with the CALI
fornia rush of 1S49. Between the spring
cf that year and the autumn of 1850 1t
is estimated that about one million OF
peope-men, women ana chldren-left
the eastern states bound for the new
Ell Dorado. But of this vast army thou
sands died Of hunger and thirst amid
the burning alkali deserts of New MeXi-
co and Arizona; thousands more lost
their way and perished miserably amid
the gloomy canyons and intricate fast
ness,ss of the Rocky mountains multi
tudes fell victims to the tomahaWk and
the scalping knife of the Apaches, the
ravagss of the Sioux, while others were
butchered by order of the Mormon elders,
who strongly resented the intrusion of
the gold seekers, and who sought, by the
deliberate preparation of series Of the
most frightful massacres, to dam back
the living torrent, ard force 1t to return
from whence 1t came. In one of Nlese
The herald., 1897-08-22
!: ONE HUNDRED ;
: ALASKAN FACTS ]
44AAAAAAAA&AA&AA4A&&AA&AAS

Alaska is two and one-half times as
large as Texas.
1t is eight times as large as all New
England.
1t is as large as the south, excluding
Texas.
1t is as large as all of the states east of
the Mississippi and north of the Ohio
including Virginia and West Virginia.
1t makes San Francisco east of our
center.
Its coast line is $4,000 miles.
1t has the highest mountain in North
America.
1t has the only forest covered glacier
in the world.
The Treadwell is one of its greatest
gold mines
1t has the best yellow cedar in the
world.
1t has the greatest seal fisheries
1t has the greatest salmon fisheries.
1t has cod banks that beat Newfound-
land.
1t has the largest river in the world.
A man standing on the bank of the
Yukon $50 miles from its mouth cannot
see the other bank
The Yukon is twenty miles wide 700
miles from its mouth.
With its tributaries, it is navigable'
2500 miles.
II is larger than the Danube.
1t is larger than La Plata.
1t is larger than the Orinoco.
1t discharges one-third more water
than the Mississippi.
The water is fresh fifteen miles from
its mouth.
1t has more gold in its basin than any
other river.
Its color is beautifully blue to its juno
ton with the White river, HOO miles
above its mouth.
Alaska runs 1900 miles west of Hawaii
Yukon basin gold is estimated at s5,-
900, 900 GOO.
The necessary eruptive force for the
formation of great fissure veins is every
where evident in Alaska.
Silk should be worn next the body,
! then wooden and then furs.
Citric acid should be taken TO prevent
scurvey.
The food there produces rectal dis
eases. Take medicine
The herald., 1897-08-22
RE EXODUS 70 THE nONDIE
SHIPS ON THEIR WAY TO THE FROZEN NORTH
LOADED TO THE DANGER LIMIT
WITH GOLD SEEKERS

organized and off1cered by men who
knew the country to which they were go
ing and to whom placer mining in the
roughest surroundings was not a matter
of hearsay.
All sorts and conditions of men is the
only correct way to describe the vast
company that is aboard the fleet of ves-
sells referred to. Among them was the
mayor of an Illinois town who had capt.
ulated to the, blare of the trumpets of
the returned miners, thrown aside all the
honor and emolumert which office
brought him and Joined the Klondyke
ranks. In the same company were four
bell boys of the Palace hotel IN San Fran
cisco. On another vessel went the
nephew of Russell Sage of New York.
On still another was the son of that old
TIME and famous grain specula tor whom
the world knows as "Old Hutch"
One must not forget the women
Wherever they could crowd in they went.
Not man in any of the parties faced
the possibilities of starvation and death
with a stouter heart than some of these
female seekers for gold. The example
of Mrs. Berry and the other women
and riches has simply set on fire the
ambitions of the poor and energetic
feminine of this part of the country, and
the result is seen in the passenger lists
of the outgoing vessels.
After September 18th it will be payin 9
court to death to attempt to reach the
Klondyke. Yet there are thousands ot
men in this city today perfectly ready
to face all this II they carr get transporta-
ton to the Yukon. Men who have look
ed on the gold fever in various parts o.
the world for half century say there
was never anything that approached
the fever that has seized so many vic
tins and of all classes. "On to the Klou
! dyke!" IS heard on every side, and for
| tunate indeed is the man considere;
who finds a way to achieve his ambition
-