New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-15
A BLOW TO FREE TRADERS.
REPORTS FOR JANUARY SHOW LARGE
INCREASE IN EXPORTS.
PROSPERITY UNDER THE DINGLBY TARIFF -
WAGES OF SKILLED woRKMEN HIGHER
FIGURES WHICH SHOW THE CHANGES.
[hY rELEGRArH 40 rHs rRpuNEl

WAGES OF SKILLED wORKMEN HIGHER
FIGURES WHICH SHOW THE CHANGES.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNEl
washington March 1.-THE January report Of the
Treasury Bureau OF Statistics presents further graf
flying evidence OF the increase. as whole. OF the
export trade Of the United States and also OF tho
gradual but steady increase OF the number and d.
verslty Of the Items which compose the grand total
That y also deals staggering blow 10 the free
trade theorists and enthusiasts. many Of whom con-
tended and yet contend. in the face Of unatersb bic
facts that the Dingley law would and did shut the
doors OF foreign markets to American producers and
manufacturers. Is a matter Of less importance and
consequence than It few years ago. when the
free-trade theories OF the President and both
branches Of Congress were crystallized In legisla
tion.
January Of this year marked by a substan-
tial increase Of the wages Of mechanics and other
skilled operatives az well Of unskiled labor. In
many OF the manufacturing and other productive
Industries an increase which has since become
more general Since the first Of the year. too
prices of many commodities have advanced. But
the value Of exports has not declined on the con-
trsry. II has increased
The total domestic exports for January amounted
to Hl3S0O0O an increase Of more than s. 10000
over the total for January 1895 and the total for
the first seven months OF the fiscal year ending
June 30 1899 amounted to S731.c0000 In round fig
ures as compared with S7065l50OO for the corre-
spending period Of last year. The proportion Of
manufactures also increased In January, 1898
they amounted so s9s CO., 255 per cent OF the
total exports; in January. 1899. they amounted 10
IS sse Oco or 2266 per cent for the seven months
ended January 81 1899 they amounted 70 1883 042 co.,
225s per cent. and for the corresponding period
OF 1899 $50 38s 900 2474 per cent These totals
did not include. however. a large amount OF manu-
featured products Of the forest. These exports
amounted I'm January. 1895. TO about & S0.00o. or
2 ~ per cent OF the total in January. 1899 10 more
than SO OapO or ISL per cent Of the total; in the
seven months ended January n. 1888 to nearly
s21 O0Oo or rs per Of the total and in the
corresponding period OF 1899 TO nearly SzS,00oo, or
sle per cent OF the total
The total exports OF products OF agriculture In
creased II the proportion did not. showing that
the exports OF manufactured goods and manu-
featured forest products had not been at the ex-
mems. Of the farmer but actually TO his advantage
by furnishing a hvelier home demand for what ma
had to sell The total exports OF products OF agri-
culture in January 1888 amounted 70 S9,c0OOo, or
74O per cent in round figures in January, 1889. to
ts21SOOO0 or 72ls per cent; In the seven months
ended January g. 1895 1907 $50 900, OF nSs per
cent and in the corresponding period OF 1899 TO
sos $40. co. OF 60 % per cent.
classes Of manufa ctured articles In the seven
months ended January 81, 1895 and 1899. respectively
was a follows: