The Oskaloosa herald., 1902-08-28
BUGABOO BURSTED.
American Goods Are Not Sold
Cheaper Abroad.

NhCopCA AUlOhQs
I'VE hear much these days." says
the Montezuma Republican, "about
goods manufactured IN this country
being sold cheaper in foreign lands
than they are to the people here. Har-
vesters and sewing machines are two
OF the commodities that are generally
singled out and taken as an object les
son. Usually the parties making the
statements know nothing as to the
facts and in a reckless manner fix al
most any figure as the selling price to
the foreigner, of course taking care to
place the amount considerably below
what the same articles sell for in this
country. The object of these reckless
statements is to make point against
the tariff. Democrats and others claim
that protected articles should be re-
lieved of duty when this condition OBJ
tains. Some have gone so far as to
claim that the tariff enables the manu-
facturer to compete with the cheap
labor in the old countries because he
gets a large enough bonus on the
goods sold in this country to enable
him to meet this competition The
recklessness of the statements made
and the discrepancy as TO the prices
quoted prompted us to investigate
matters especially as to harvesters
and sewing machines. Consequently
we wrote letter to Mr.. r. M. Wilson,
resident of Sidney, Australia, asking
that he give prices at which American
made goods were selling in that mar
ket. His reply is given below:
Sidney, Australia, July 9Th, 1902.
]. w. Jarnagin, Esq, Montezuma,
Iowa, U. S. A.
Dear Sir: Kindly excuse my appar-
ent neglect in not replying to your let
ter before, but owing to a difficulty
had in obtaining what you require, l
was unable to write sooner. think
the enclosed price-list is what you re-
quire as to sewing machines, also as
to Mccormick reapers and binders.
The Deering reaper and binder sells,
cash price 932-10. Latest pattern
337-10. trust the enclosed list will
suit you for the present. If possible
/ will obtain prices on other lines
which | will forward to you.
Iours faithfully,
R. M. Wilson.
Reducing the prices given in Mr..
Wilson's letter to United States money
it will be seen that the Deering binder,
without latest improvements, sells for
S158.24, and with the latest improve
ments the price is $YS2.59.
S. E. Albin, the agent here in Mon
tezuma for these machines, sell them
for $110 to S125. Quite difference
in favor Of the American farmer.
AS to the price of the Mccormick
binder, Mr.. Wilson encloses the fol-
lowing letter from one of the largest
dealers in that country:
sidney, June 16, 1902.
Mr.. Wilson, 154 Palmer St., City.
Dear Sir: AS requested by tele-
phone, we take pleasure in handing
you under separate cover full particu-
lars of Mccormick, latest pattern, 1902
reaper and binder.
Prices are as follows: G35 for cash
on starting machine on crop; S37-10,
payable by g5 cash on starting and
pro- note s35-10 due 4th March, 1908,
or s40, payable a55 cash on starting,
balance by two pro. notes for s17-10,
due respectfully on the 4th March,
1908, and 4th March, 1904. Trusting
to hear from you in reference to this
inquiry, we are Yours truly,
Mclean Bros. & Rigg, Ltd.
Converting English money into that
Of this country it will be noticed that
the price of the Mccormick is all the
way from $165.45 to $194.S0.
T. ]. Hutchinson, the agent here
for the Mccormick sells them for S120.
A very marked difference is apparent.
The prica-list of sewing machines
referred to in Mr.. Wilson's letter is
as follows:
Davis-Hand machine on iron base
Davis-Hand machine
on iron base. .....S 5 5s 5 25 So
Hand, on wood base
es, with cover. ..... &c 80 &c
Family machine, with
cover ...... ...... 10 40 70
3-drawer family ma
chine with cover. 10 10 81 10
New Home-Oscilla-
tor for tailoring
with back ana end
leaf -. -. ....11 10 SIS 81
Singer hand ma
chine with COW
CT o ~ IL 90
3-drawer Oscillator :. IL 10 60 81
5-drawer Oscilator :. 13 10 60 II
Wheeler C Wilson
Hand machine,
with cover ........ 10 36 40
No. 9 Family, with
out cover ......... 1O AZ SO
No. 8, with draw
ers and cover. $50. IL 10 So 81
No. 9, with 4 draw
erS ........ IL % OU
L. A. Shearer, the agent here for the
New Home, says that he sold G. F.
Underwood, the tailor, the identical
machine listed above for s35 and made
a fair profit. Here is difference OF
about S21 on a single machine in ia
vor of the American patron. Mr.
Shearer handled the Singer Tor nine
years and he says that he sold them
at from 500 to $50 cheaper than the
same grades are quoted N the Aus
tralian market. No doubt what is true
of the New Home and Singer Is equally
applicable to the Davis and Wheeler
& Wilson.