Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1898-05-04
OUR FOREIGN TRADE.
GAIN IN EXPORTS UNDER uN.
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS.
Large Increase Shown in Food Stuffs
and in Eany Articles of Domestic
Manufacture, Together with Heavy
Decreases in Imports.

some very interesting facts. There
seems to be a disposition among those
VINO are continually searching for
something upon which to base an unfa-
vorable criticism of the operations of
the protective tariff, to comment upon
the TACT that exports of American man
ufactures show only small percent
age OF gain when compared with the
largeiV increased percentage of agri-
culturai exports. 1t is claimed that this
result is due to the levying OF duties
upon free raw materials and thereby
increasing domestic prices.
The protective tariff had nothing
hateyer to do with the comparatively
small gain in exports of American man
fractures during February. The food
requirements of Europe have been
enormous since the harvest returns
demonstrated the fact that Europe's
food supplies would have to be largely
| obtained FRI "a the United States until
this season crops became available.
These food requirements have taxed
the purchasing power of foreign coun-
products have been maintained, and,
therefore, severe economy has had to
be exercised by the people.
very naturally, under these condi-
tons, articles that could be were dis
pensed with, and quite naturally pref
erence was largely given to goods of
home production and manufacture.
This of itself will, to great extent, ac-
count for the lessened inquiry for goods
of American make.
The political tension in Europe,
caused by the far eastern situation,
since the beginning Of the year, and the
reflection abroad of the tension in this
country ca used by the disaster to the
Maine, were doubtless l. yortant fac
tors contributing to influence the Euro
pean demand for American manufac-
lures. And presumably the unsettled
condition of affairs in China and Japan
resulted in a diminution of American
trade with those countries. Not only
were these political factors directly
potent, but they must have had an in
direct depressing influence upon bust
ness in Europe, thus lessening the
home demand for all goods, whether of
domestic or American manufacture.
Under these circumstances 1t may be
regarded as surprising that there was
any gain whatever in exports of Ameri-
can goods during February, and we
may not unreasonably look for a loss
for March for thnn oil ha 60 -
which we have referred were intensely
operative.
1t Will be interesting to note the most
important features of the classified re-
turns of foreign trade In American man
ufactures for eight months of the cur
rent fiscal year ending with February.
Agricultural implements show gains in
mowers, reapers and cultivators;
wheat flour exports increased nearly
$5,500000, railway cars, $45O,000 bicy-
Giles $2S0000, pig iron $1,0OO,OO0 steel
rails $540,000, iron and steel plates $685.
700, locomotive engines $3OO,O 900, print
Ing presses 100000, typewriting ma
chimes 100000, all manufactures of
iron and steel 81, 100000, cotton seed oil
$1,200,000. linseed oil 100000, printing
paper 81 100000, writing paper, $52, 900,
hog products $9,000,000 cheese $780,
600, all provisions $16,00O0OO, manu-
features of silk, $4,000, confectionery
$4,000, carpets $4,000, all manufac-
lures of wool $4,000
The imports of manufactured goods
show decreases in art works of $1,000
600, books, etc 100000, manufactures
of brass $4,000, opium $1,OOO,OOO,
watches $4,000, cotton cloth $113,0OO
cotton clothing $4,000, knit goods
100000, all manufactures of cotton ST.
100000, decorated china 1,200,O 900, bur-
laps $1,100,000, manufactures of flax
100000, tin plate 100000, manufac-
lures of silk 100000, cane sugar &c.
100000, toys $500,000 clothing wool 49,
100000, combing wool 100000, ready
made clothing 100000 dress goods So
wastes $1,200,000.
The returns showing imports of tex
tiles for February compared with the
same month last year are likewise of
interest as illustrating the effects of the
Dingley tariff upon raw material and
fabrics protected thereby. The value
of imported cotton cloth fell off $4,000,
while that of prints increased $4,000,
cotton clothing decreased $4,000, knit
goods 1874 1000 laces increased $4,000,
and yarns $4,000; flax fibers (free)
show decrease of 1927, 900, while the
dutiable increased $105,0OO; raw silk
increased $1,035,0 900, and silk goods
$1SOOOO; raw wool decreased 81, 1885,
600 and wool manufactures decreased
81, 39S,000.
Critics of the protective tariff should
be generous enough to give the existing
enactment a fair trial They should re-
member that, through the pernicious
Wilson free trade tariff, every possible
obstacle was thrown in the way of the |
Dingley tariff at the outset. The new |
law had scarcely begun to demonstrate |
its efficiency as revenue producer and |
as a promoter of American manufac- |
lures when the political tension had |
deterrent influence upon all enterprises. |
Under normal conditions, which must |
ere long be resumed, the protective tar |
If will prove TO be one of the most |
beneficial revenue laws ever enacted. |
Give it a fair tral.-American Econ |
omist.
Tariff and Labor.
The statistics compiled by the New |
York Commissioner of Labor afford
unmistakable proof of prosperity |
among workingmen in this State, and
presumably prosperous conditions like
wise prevail among the laboring class
es in other States in the Union, with |
perhaps a few exceptions in the Eastern
States. The statistics refer to the year |
1897. In the first quarter there We're
9S,925 men at work, earning an aver
age of $155.06 each person for the |
three months. In the next quarter 124,
9O2 were employed. earning S159.12; in
the third quarter the number was 145,-
626, and the average earnings were
S174.40. In the last quarter the num-
Der increased to 1886, and the earn
ings averaged S174.47. The average
earnings of each man for the year were
S663.05.
The trade organizations, from the re-
ports of which these statistics are
compiled, are composed of more or less
-iflad x-orEmpn aS iS evident from