Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1891 — Page 5

WHY WOOLS ARE LOWER

WHAT THE SENATORS SAY ON THE SUBJECT. An Grades of Wool Are Lower than a Year Ago— Manufacturer* of Cigars Form a Trust to Take Full Advantage of the McKinley BlU—Failures Since Jan. 1. Why They Have Fallen. High tariffs lower wool prices; low tariffs raise wool prices. So say Senator* Sherman and Allison, Thomas Dolan, the high-tariff woolen manufacturer, and the organ of the Manufacturers’ Club. That high duties on the foreign fine wools needed by our manufacturers to mix with the wools of domestic production lower the prices of our own wools is fully shown by the course of wool prices since the enactment of the McKinley tariff. The truth of this assertion is admitted by such leading men as Senators Allison of lowa and Sherman of Ohio. On March 24, 1870, Senator Allison said, in debating the wool tariff: “I allude to the wool tariff, a law the effect of which has been materially to injure the sheep husbandry of this country. As the law now is, the tariff upon line wools of, a character not produced in this country is 100 per cent, on their cost. Before the tariff of 1867, our manufacturers of fine goods mixed foreign wools with our domestic product, and were thus able to compete successfully with the foreign manufacturers of similar wools. But, being prohibited from importing this class of wcols, these fine goods cannot now bo produced in this country as cheaply as they can be Imported. if they could afford to manufacture these tine goods, they would make a market which we do not now have for our fine wools to be mixed with other fine wools of a different character from abroad. The want of a market, as I understand it, is the reason why our fine wools command so low a price. ” The following from Senator Sherman’s speech in the Senate, Leb. 7, Itßl, on the wool schedule of the tariff of 1883, will show that he agrees with Senator Allison as to the effect of high duties on wool. Senator Sherman said: “in 1867 the price of wool was-51 cents; in 1870, • 46 cents; in 1880, which was an abnormal year, 48 cents; this was the result of the policy of protecting the woolgrower, as it is in all industries, to gradually reduce the price. Under the operation of the existing law (the tariff of 1867) the price of wool has gradually gone down. ” Thomas Dolan, who was associated with Lawrence and Delano, of Ohio, in the preparation of tin wool schedule of the McKinley tariff, wrote a letter to the New York World a short time ago, In which he said: “It is an interesting fact, deserving much emphasis of statement, that the prices of w.ool are lower now than they were one year ago. This result was distinctly promised by the Protectionists during the discussion which accompanied the framing of the tariff bill." In nearly every issue last year the high-tariff Manufacturer advocated increased duties on wool, declaring that the result of such action would lower wool prices. Thus on Jan. 1, 1890, it said: “When duties have gone up, prices have gone down; when duties have declined, prices have advanced. The domestic manufacturer has always had an abundance of superior fiber at low prices under tariffs which imposed light duties upon wool, and he is to day paying more for wool than he would have paid if the defective tariff law of 1883, administered by a free trade administration, had not practically cut down the wool duties.” On Oct. 16, 1890, after the McKinley tariff had gone into efifect, it said: “The prices of wool have always declined when the duties have been advanced, and no doubt exists in the mind of any wellinformed man but they will again decline now that the new tariff law has put the duties up. ” No wonder that McKinley avoids the wool question in his speeches in justification of his tariff bill when his associates in Congress and the journals, while supporting his tariff, declare that high tariffs lower wool prices and low tariffs raise them.

Who Pays the Tariff Tax?

The American Economist, organ of the Protective Tariff League, asserts that binding twine has fallen in price from cents per pound in October, 1890, to 11 cents per pound now. And a Kansas paper, taking up the cue, says, “Will some free-trader kindly tell us why the best binding twine costs only 10 cents per pound now, where one year ago it was sold for from 15 to 17 cents per pound? Does an increase in the tariff always result in reducing the price of a commodity to the consumer?” True, binding twine has fallen In price, but not because, as the Kansas paper thinks, of an increase in the duty. McKinley and h's associates tried hard to keep the duty on binding twine where It was in the tariff of 1883, but the same forces which compelled him to put sugar oh the free list, namely the Representatives of the Northwestern States, also demanded as the price of their votes on his tariff that manila, sisal grass, jute, and sunn, the materials from which binding twine is made, should be put on the free list, and that the duty on binding twine should be lowered. The following were the changes made in these duties: Materials. Old Tariff. New Tariff. Manila $23 per ton Free 6lßal gran *ls per ton Free Bunn ~...*15 per ton Ire© Jute *2O per cat Free Binding twine... .21$ cents per 1b 7-14 ct Protected by a high tariff of 2% cents per pound, the twine trust was able to charge the farmers high prices and force them to pay besides the duty on the raw material. Now, however, since the materials have been put on the free list and the duties on twine reduced the farmers get their twine cheaper. The American Economist and the Kansas organ of high tarifflsra are at perfect liberty to get all the consolation they desire from this. All the farmer wants is the facts in the case, and he can be trusted to draw his own conclusions. In short he has already begun to learn who pays the tariff tax, his first two lessons being on sugar and binding twine.

In May, 1810. the McKinley bill was advocated by its author on the express ground that it wou d check the business hereof foreign merchants and diminish the importation of competing foreign goods. Then its advocates did not want to conceal the fact that this was its chief purpose; they wanted their countrymen to know it In October, 1891, they not only seek to conceal this purpose, Dut try to make people believe that the real object of the bill was to increase the importation of foreign goods. McKinley himse f, who a year and a half ago “viewed with alarm” the figures giving the value of our imports, and promised that his bill would check such importations, now “points with pride” to the fact that imports have really increased, and applauds Senator Sherman while the latter boas T s that the law comes nearer the ideal of free trade than any previous tariff ‘act Evidently the lesson of the elections of 1890 was not lost even upon McKinley.—N. Y. Evening Post A correspondent asks the Cleveland Leader where the money required for the payment of the sugar bounty -» obtained, “from the duty on imports, or,

directly or indirectly, from the people of the United States. ” This inquiring person appears to have been taught that the “duty on imports" is not paid by the people of this country, but is contributed to the National Treasury by for eign manufacturers. The Leader makes this reply; “Most of the money paid as bounty to the producers of sugar comes from the duty on imports, but it is a direct outlay by the people of the United States.” How can it be a direct outlay by the people of this country if the duties are paid, not by them, but by foreigners?—New York Times.

A TRUST IN CIGARS FORMED.

How the Manufacturers Will Take Full Advantage of the McKinley Tariff. This time it is the cigar manufacturers. McKinley added several boards to the already high fence around the cigar industry. The duty on ordinary cigars is now from 150 t 3 200 per cent. Of course, only expensive cigars are imported, on which the duty, being mostly specific, is much less. Domestic prices have been advanced several points, but they are still often below the level of the top of the new tariff feuce. The situation is tempting to manufacturer who consider it a disgra e to their calling to let such an opportunity go to waste. Large cigar manufacturers of New York, Poughkeepsie and Binghamton held a meeting early in October. The objects of these meetings, as reported in the papers, were to form a cigar trust, with a capital of $25,009,000, to crush the life out of small manufacturers and iabor unions, and to raise prices. Mr. Theodore H. Allen, of 18 Broadway, in whose office the meetings were held, is the reputed father of this immense trust He admits that meetings were held, “but ” he says, “they were to discuss business prospects and possibly to devise some means of reducing prices. ” Millions of smokers will await with | anxiety the outcome of this attempt to I “devise some means of reducing prices. ” | They know how extremly difficult and risky it is for a single manufacturer to lower prices when profits become so high as to impinge upon his sensitive conscience. The people are becoming accustomed to these meetings held for their benefit. They expect philanthropic manufacturers to go to much trouble and expense to lower prices. Consumers might at first resist reductions if they thought that only a few firms were concerned. There are 15,000 t0'20,000 cigar manufacturers in the United States, but less than 200 control the majority of the capital. Whether or not the.-e 200 can so unite as to kill out, or buy out, the majority of the smaller manufacturers, and suppress cigarmakers’ unions, it is certain that the McKinley tariff bill has greatly favored large and discouraged small manufacturers One of the ways in which it did this was by increasing the duty on tobacco to be used as wrappers from 75 cents to $2.75 per pound As Sumatra tobacco (about the only kind heretofore used as wraDpers) costs only from 40 to 60 cents per pound in Amsterdam, the rate of duty is nearly 500 per certt. Small manufacturers, with little credit and less capital, were unable to buy more than a few bales of Sumatra tobacco before the duty was advanced. These were exhausted in a few months and now these unfortunate manufacturers, unable to pay $3.50 per pound for wrappers that cost their competitors $3, hav.e been trying to convince the trade that domestic are just as good as imported wrappers. The trade is only convinced against its will and is inclining more and more towards the wealthy manufacturers who still have on hand from one to two years’ supply of Sumatra tobacco, and who take pleasure in supplying goods in familiar wrappers. The small manufacturers are now weakened from heavy loses of McKinleyism and can offer but feeble resistance to the attacks of their more fortunate and aggressive brethren.

TARIFF SHOT.

Since 1816 we have had three periods of high tariffs, one period of a moderate tariff with incidental protection, and three periods of low tariffs. How the price of wheat has been affected by the tariffs during these periods is as follows: 1. Period of moderate tariff, with Incidental protection, 1816 to 1824, wheat, $1.26 per busheL 2. Period of high and prohibitive triffs, 1825 to 1832, wheat, sLlo}s per 3. Period of the low compromise tariff, 1833 to 1842, wheat, $1.35 per bushel. 4. Period of high tariff, 1843 to 1846, wheat, $1.02 per bushel.. 5. Period of low revenue tariff, 1847 to 1857, wheat, per bushel. 6. Period of lower revenue tariff, 1858 to 1860, wheat, $1.42 per busheL 7. Period of high and prohibitive tariff, culminating In the McKinley tariff, 1861 to 1890, wheat, $1.22 1-6 per bushel. High tariffs depressed the price of wheat; low tariffs raised wheat prices.

Two Pictures Contrasted.

During the last fifteen or twenty years farm values all over the East have declined from 25 to 100 per cent. Many have been abandoned and others are mortgaged for ail or more than they are worth. Several Eastern States already have abandoned-farm commissioners, to devise means for resettling these farms. Many Eastern farmers think this agricultural depression is caused by the opening of Immense farming tracts in the West, where cattle and grain can be raised so much cheaper than in the East But during this same period the West has suffered in the same way, and mortgages have been even more numerous here. There must be some cause that operates alike in both East and West. It is barely possible that we have had too much “home market” during this time for the benefit of our farmers. If the “home market” theory be true it would naturally be supposed that farmers nearest to protected manufacturing centers would be most prosperous, Mohawk valley is filled With highly protected mills. Three-fcurths of the knitting mills of ths United States are at Cohoes, Amsterdam, Little Falls, and at other points in the valley. These mills are protected by duties ot from 50 to 100 per cent Some of the biggest carpet factories are in the valley. The duty on carpets will average 80 to 100 per cent Remington guns and typewriters are made at Ilion Edison’s electric works at Schenectady emp oy J ,OOO or 4 000. Linseed oil is manufactured in large quantities at Amsterdam. These are but a few of the highly protected industries that flourish in this valley. Now what of the farms along this valley? Have they fared better than those in other parts of the East? The greatest decline in farm values in New York has occurred in this valley. Many farms have been abandoned, and the average decline In values probably exceeds 60 per cent. In Scbobarfe County it will average nearer 80 per cent. The population of this county has declined considerably since 1880. The case of the Mohawk Valley is no

exception to the rule. Wherever protected manufacturers congregate, there farm values decline most rapidly. This phenomenon can probably be explained by the class who have up to date made the farmers believe that they should tax themselves on all the manufactured articles used to purchase these invaluable “home markets. * Manufacturers understand the beauties of these home markets. Do the farmers understand them as well? .

NEW LIES REFUTED.

All Grades of Wool Are Loner than a Year Ago. .Tust as early in tho year when wool prices were falling the McKinley organs denied it, so now they are trying to prove that only a few grades of wool are lower now than when the McKinley tariff was enacted, and that other kinds of wool are higher in price. They are, however, . very careful not to quote prices The truth is that not a single variety of wool grown in the United States from Maine to Texas is higher in price than a year ago. On the contrary, every variety is lower now, as shown in the table of comparison of prices for the weeks ending Oct 9, 1890 and Oct. 8, 1891: Price Price Ct». Oot. 9,-90. Oct. 8,-91. I’w’r Kinds of Wool. Cts. per lb. Cts. per lb. ’9l. Ohio and Pennsylvania XX and above...., 34@35 323311$ 3« Ohio X and above 33d)54 29330 4 Michigan X 29@30 27 25$ Ohio delaine 86(<*37 84 335 2 Michigan delaine 84@35 32333 2 Kentucky,Ma:ne and Maryland X bid 27@29 27329 -Missouri and lUinois % b1d27323 23327 1 Texas fall medium 225 24 21922 15$ East Oregon choice. 19 <i 21 18920 1Valley Oregon, No. 1...... 24@ 6's 22@24 154 Kansas medium 20322 20 1 Colorado fine 14@16 14(915 5$ This covers all the chief grades of wool grown indhe United States. .The prices in every case are lower now than a year ago On the other hand foreign wools command higher prices in the chief markets of the United States than last year. On Oct 9,1890, the Wool Reporter said: “The tone of the wool market has continued strong and active. There is no weakness perceptible on any line of wool, prices being fully as strong as they were a week ago. ” On Oct 8, 1891, the same authority said: “The tone of the market continues quiet. ” But this is just what, according to Mr. Dolan, the high tariff woolen manufacturer, was distinctly promised by protectionists,

Failures Since Jan. 1. 1891.

The number of failures increased 17 per cent.; liabilities Increased nearly 50 per cent, over same period last year. The McKinley tariff has been geting in its work since January last Says Bradst.reet’s: “The total number of mercantile failures in the United States for nine months of 1891 (South Dakota excluded, owing to a law there practically prohibiting the collection of the information) was 8,866 as compared with 7,538 in a like portion of 1890, a gain of 1,328, or 17 per cent. The 1891 total is the heaviest on record. ” The amount of liabilities was $92,541,950 in 1890, and $138,811,510 in 1891, or an increase of over 49 per cent It must be remembered that the greater part of these failures have all occurred since the immense harvests here and poor harvests abroad were practically assured. Nothing but this good fortune has been able to prevent a panic and depression far more intense than any which have ever occurred in our history. What, in view of this heavy Increase in failures, becomes of the wild and sweeping statements so often asserted in the speeches now being made in the State campaigns and in the high tariff organs that the McKinley tariff has brought the United States another period of great prosperity?

Supersensitiveness.

A person who has not done anything to distinguish himself is generally not allowed queer habits. Eccentricity is not for common people. But for Washington Alston, one of America’s most noted_ painters, a’l things were right. His excessive sensitiveness was shown in many ways. When Indig. rubber overshoes began to be worn he was induced to purchase a pair for his health’s sake, but he could never put them on or remove them except with a pair of tongs. But that same delicate sensitiveness showed itself in another way. His scrupulous consJience was Illustrated by an incident occurr.ng in 1816, when he was in urgent need of money. He had just found a purchaser for one of his pictures, but thinking the matter over alone in the evening he concluded that the subject of the painting was such that at some time it might have an immoral effect on some perverted imagination. He Immediately went to his pat-on’s house, paid back the money, took the picture home and burnt it This was sensitiveness worth having. There is no more hurtful plan for any young man than to buy a thing on the installment plan, especially things of which he has no pressing need, such as watches and jewelry. When you have the money to spend and are not in a mood to invest it so that it will increase your wordly possessions, we can certainly not object to your spending it as you like. But to run into debt for things you can easily get along without is simply suicidal. The Arkansas girl who was without shoes and stockings, and comfortable clothing for the winter, felt that she could get along without those presumed necessities of life, but feelingly remarked she “was suffering for a bosom pin.” Too many young men seem to be suffering for gold watches. Buy what you can pay for and defer some luxuries till you can afford to pay for them.

The Empress of Austria is said “to smoke Turkish cigarettes,"sometimes destroying as many as forty a day. This article of cigarette is by no means the vile component bought by boys for five cents a fistful, and is no argument in favor of cigarette smoking. The brand of the article used by the Empress might not shorten life more than twenty years, while those used by the pallid young idiots on our streets shorten life by onehalf. Let the process of removal go on. I would rather dwell in the dim fog of superstition than in an air rarefied to nothing by the air-pump of unbelief, in which the panting breast expires, vainly and convulsively gasping for breath.—Richter. The birth of her child brought presents of a dozen cradles to the Duchess of Fyfe, a pointed encouragement of an “infant industry.” Thebe is nothing which this age, from whatever standpoint we survey it, needs more physically, intelectually, and morally than thorough ventilation.— Ruskin- ___ Almond meal sprinkled in the bath makes the skin soft and white.

FASHION--FRIVOLITY.

THEY ARE NOT AT ALL ANALOGOUS. Women Who Dread Fa*hlonable Life—An Existence Filled with Task*. Cares, and Responsibilities—How the Fashionable World Enjoys Its Country Seat. For Women to Read.

A A O.ST people have An an idea that bcM” A cause fashion and .frivolity both begin gN. with the same let- , ter they arc very >1 much one and tho same thing, but, as I ls generally tho <aso, this popular bolJ idea is very wide S§jrf of the truth. While a guest at the country scat of a leading lady of fashion last week, writes . <nr New 'p'rt York lady eorre- ' \\ spondent, she said i \\ to me. with a sigh: l U “I dread to think \ » of a return to \ t\ town. Fashionable 1 us. life has so many \ t ares, so many re- * SOT'S liabilities, so f.w&'vy 4 ’’ many tasks. It is not merely a question of clothes, as

the world imagines it. to be; it is the labor which your prominent position entails upon you. The clothes are tho mere outward sign of your ability and fitness to pose as grand lady, as society leader, as committee woman, as patroness. But the season grows later and later every year. ” The autumn fetes at tho country scats are taking on a particular effulgence this autumn, and I must say that I don’t blame a refined and elegant lady for looking forward with such delight to these few weeks as mistress of tho manse. Here In large rooms and wide halls she may display her most graceful toilets, here she is queen, everyone bends to her. compliments her, consults her, obeys her. It is not like the narrow field of triumph in the town drawing room, where she must share her scepter with a score of others, No, no; here she is the lady of the castle. Her comings and goings and sayings are noted and studied, for this great roomy home is her kingdom and these broad lands are her domain. For initial illustration the artist has pictured a charming indoor costume of veiling and embroidery, full of style and distinction, and not a costly gown withal. The color of the material should be cream, while the embroidery should be in bise brown, and if you so desiro you may embroider directly upon ths stuff itself. It will bo noticed that the embroidered collarette slopes very gradually to a point at the waist, and Is set off by a lace or crepe de chine jabot* Great care must be taken to have the basques lie perfectly flat and smooth

INDOOR GOWN IN BROCADED CLOTH.

over the hips, and the deep cu"s should be considerably wider than the sleeve. A visit to one of these country scats In the fall is something to remember. 1 was delighted with everything I saw, from the brown linen tablecloths of the breakfast table, embroidered in red. or blue, «*r yellow, and bordered with old guipure, to the dainty deshabilles of the breakfast hour and the stylish afternoon toilets and rich evening dresses Oh, these negliges are exquisite, made up in soft and clinging stuff, perfect billows of crepes and soft silks, set off with fichus and jabots and cascades of lace, all in delicate tones, all harmonious and restful for wearer and spectator. Yes, restful, for I claim that a woman may be comfortable iu her manners, restful In her gowns and consoling in her conversation. To compare our sex to songs, I would say that some women have the effect upon us of dirges others of war songs, others of glees, and others stPl of lullabies. The same remark apl lies to men fo.ks, only some men have th •. effect upon their households not only o. a war song but a war dance

You will find an altogether delightful gown pictured in my second illustration —a brocaded woolen stuff. The skirt corres over the corsage, which is closed in front with hooks and eyes. The trout is fuller than the lining and gathered. The braces are of velvet and start at the shoulders from bows. Much skill is called for in making tip the corselet, which must be ol st-ong lining, boned, and the stuff draped upon it: and it must be made to hook at the back. The sleeves are draped and a \el vet bow set

RECEPTION DRESS WITH PASSEMENTERIE VEST.

to bold the gathered portion. Tbeskrt is made over a silk foundation, and has a headed flounce at the bottom, and the front bieadth has two bands of the velvet ribbon with bows The skirt is plain in front but full gathered at the back.

My third illustration will give you a very correct idea of a delightful creation In the line of reception toilets. It is made up in a light-blue amazon cloth. Tho skirt is fully pleated at the back, ar.d the corsage is set otf with a passementerie vest made with a sailor collar. The dress front is tight-iittlng, ornamented with a straight collar, plastron, and jabot of crepe ue chine; and there is a ceinture of black velvet closing under the vest Tho plas ro:i is sewed on one side and hooked on the other. The rather full sleeves have passementerie cuffs with crepe de chine rutiles. I am glad to note an inclination to vary the plainness of the long jackets by an outer or sort of Figaro jacket maae over it In my fourth illustration you will find represented a very charming costume of this new and stylish cut It is made up in faille francaise, the skirt being plain in front and the fan pleats at the back being close folded. Tho bottom i 9 turned up and forms a hem a hand wide. The silk foundation has a rutile at tho bottom and a draw-string half-way up tho back breadth. The pleats beyond the opening are caughton a narrow band of the stuff and hooked to the waist. In front, the dress is mado in three parts, the under one, in ottoman faille, is tight-fitting, closes iu tho middle and is covored with pleated guipure, forming a jabot at the throat Then comes the long basque-like front, cut full enough to hang well, and over this there is a Figaro-like jacket These borders are garnitured with Pompadour passementerie, which must be so laid on tho stuff as to give the look of being em-

COSTUME IN FAILLE WITH TRIPLE CORSAGE.

broidercd upon It. The loutid edges ol the adjusted waist are garnitured with the passementerie and are lengthened by flaps, whleh extend about five Inches below the waist lino The sleeves tiro set high on the shoulders and have pleated cuffs of tho guipure. The collar to Is slightly in front My last illustration sets fortli a vory stylish and reflnod indoor gown In darkgray vlcunacloth, garnitured with passe mcnterle. The skirt Is slightly draped in front and the front must be made longer for that purpose Tho back 1» gathered and held in place by a buckle covered with the stuff. The lowor edge of the skirt is slit at every live inches and ornamented with passementerie running to a point at the top In order that tho back breadth may be fitto I to the waist, the scams are closed up only within about eight inches of the waist line. A band is sewed to both sides ol this opening and fastened to tho lining. The front of the corsage Is double; t. e lining closing in the middlo Is mado with darts and over it you drape a sort ol plastron In loose wave-1 Ike folds. The sides are lined with silk and have only one dart, there being two pleats in the place of the second dart. A shawl collar of passementerie roaches to the shoulder seams. The sleeves are made plain, then placed upon a form and draped as indicated in tho illustration. They must be made much larger to allow for this effect,. Tho passementorle eelnturo Is sewed all the way around tc the front and hooked on the opposite side.

To te worn wfth autumn costume* 1 notice some charming Venetian short cloaks, fastened in the most picturesque style to the shoulders, from which they seem to be ready to drop. They are ol velvet lined with some bright-colored silk which is visib'e as broad rovers a? the cloak falls open in front The silk

GRAY CLOTH COSTUME, PASSEMENTERIS LINING.

covers the wide turn over collar ant has some metal garniture The cloak is richly embroidered or set off with passementerie around its entire edge With this picturesque garment you mus wear one of those delightfully media vallooking Henry 11. to ues, in velvet ol the same tone as the Venetian cloak. The soft crown is quite smothered undei embroidery, and there is a golden-brown feather aigrette, very ta 1 and set on one side with a very striking and pleas ing dash. Yon’ll see these two bits of o’d fashioned feminine fancies greatly affected this season at theater, concert, and reception. They date back to th time when the great artists of the day designed the (ourt costum s. You see the princess form in many of the new dresses. Sometime* tho gown Is only made prints* at the back, and the overskirt Is fast‘tied to the labile! on each side by a row of old st le buttons. The corsage Is made Louis XIV., with revers. and there fs a long vest ol cld brocade extending w.-ll down ove: the hips and coming to a point In front. Fur will be much affected a little lat r on for collar, cuffs, and garniture at the bottom of the skirt The full flowing sleeve ends at the elbow, and there Is a tight-fitting sleeve of the brocade reaching to the wrist Small bonnets have light-colored strings which pass around the Greek chignon and are tied gracefully under the chin. CrtKUKAQUK Isi.axd, in Casco Bay, Maine, has a populatio > of over 4.000, nearly allot whom are named Hamilton There are 200 peop.e on the Island who never s*w a steam-car. Tits Indians in Alaska eat strawber* ries soaked i» seal oil

MILLIONS OF BANANAS.

k GREAT METROPOLITAN IN DUSTRY OF RECENT GROWTH, How the Fruit Is Brought to New York by Banana Ships—Five Crops of Bananas Yearly—Artificial Ripening. Five hundred million bananas! 'l'hut is about wrhut comes to this country through the port of New York every season. New Orleans probably handles quite as many. It is only of late that Bostou, Philadelphia and Haltimoro have engaged in the banana trade. The bnuaua trade is the growth of the last fifteen years. It is true there were bananas imported previous to this, but the biggest trade then didn’t run more than 2,IKK) bunehos every ten days or so. Now it averages upward of 100,000 bunches a week for this city alone. A heavy importer tells me that the trade increased for several years quite as rapidly as means were devised to satisfy it. The smallest, increase was for tins year, being not ovor 5 per cent, over last year’s product, whereas flint year was at" least 25 per cent, better than the previous one. n.o slight increase this year is due to the drv season that caught the banana farmers and the consequent decreased production. "Ifyou want any idea of the demand,” said Mr. Kerr, a .\lurray street importer, “ I need only say that we took off 10,000 bunches from one of our ships yesterday and haven’t a banana left to-day. There are banana ships unloading somewhere every day, too. There are seven houses here engaged in the business, and all together run some thirty steamers. These steamers carry from IQ,IKK) to 20,000 bunches each trip. Most of them return to tho bununa country in ballast, though wo own our vessels and send them back with breadstuff's and provisions. Wo bundle about a million hunches a year. There are about a million and a half more handled at piers 3 and 6on this side, and across town on the East River, at piers 7, 9 and 10, perhaps two million more. In round numbers, close on to fire million bunches a year come to this port. These bunches weigh from fifteen to seventy pounds and contain from 40 to 135 hummus to the bunch.

“ A good many erroneous ideas are entertained as to the banana trade. Home people suppose thut bananas, like oranges, appear only within certain seasons and arc preserved by some mysterious process so as to last tho year round. Others that they are reproduced, crop after crop, perennially. Neither of those suppositions is wholly light or wholly wrong. Our Cuba trade lasts only during tho summer months, opening about March and closing about October 1. Whereas the trade of Jamaica and Port Lcmoth, on the South American coast, near Aspinivull, continues unbroken the year round. It takes übout ten months to mature the fruit, and when the fruit, is matured the plant dies) but the banana fanner permits tho growth of a certain number of sprouts at different stages, so thut one plant follows another from the same root at short intervals. For instance, when a pluut is about mature and the fruit is ready to be removed there is a secon 1 growth of say six months and a third growth of say three mouths, and a fourth growth just, starting- all from the same root. Tho climate and other conditions being favorable, the same root will thus produce four orops a year, though the same stalk produces hut a single crop and its usefulness is over. As every oncoming shoot is iu a different stage of progress from its fellows the harvest goes on all the time. Hanami farming Ims provod very profitable, though the exceedingly low prices at which bananas are sold by the importers and jobbers and the Waste in transit would seern to iudicute that the producer gets tho smallest profit, of the whole business. The Now York importer moots the New Orleans importer at the competitive point of Chicago. Very few New York hummus roach Chicago, and the competition is shurp even at Cincinnati. The hunaim is a fluctuating commodity. It must be bundled quickly. Therefore tho jobbers get it into the retailers’ hands as soon as possible. Although the fruit comes hero green and hard it will begin to turn yellow and soft within three summer days, and in five days is dead ripe. In this stage a great deal of waste follows every handling, for it bruises easily, the slightest bruise turns black and rot follows. All of this duinugcd stuff goes into the hands of street venders, who never consider u banana too far gone to sell to somebody. Of course the damaged hunches are disposed of for whatever they will bring.

“Now and then the simultaneous arrival of several shiploads by accident makes a glut in the market,” said the Murray street importer, “and then we have to hustle. It this is i n't lie summer time we must get-rid of our cargo at any price, and right away. In winter we can hold and jobbers can move more leisurely. In fact, in winter the green bananas have to be artificially ripened for tho market. This is done by hanging the bunches in a tight room and employing gas stoves to maintain an even temperature. The summer difficulty of spoiling by over-ripeness is offset by the winter difficulty of spoiling by freezing. The bunches arc packed in hay to obviate both difficulties. While we have lost and are always in danger of losing entire cargoes of tropical fruits, tho danger decreases every year from the fact that we book our orders in advance. For instance, as I said, wo unloaded 10,000 bunches yesterday. All of these went right from the dock, mostly on cars on floats alongside the pier, to fill orders. We have a j cablegram to-day saving another of pur vessels, witli 15,000 bunches, sailed. We notify hor customers that she’ll be here Tuesday. They'll send in for what they thiuk they want. Jobbers used to hang back for a glut, but they often had to pay bigger prices for doing so, and now it is mostly a question of orders. | During the orange season, which is from I September to April, we handle from 2.000 to 3,000 barrels of oranges a week, in conjunction with bananas. It is a great sight to witness the unloading of a banana steamer. The cargo, being perishable, is handled with great celerity. Ail tho longshoremen who cun work conveniently are put at it. As the jobbers also want to handle rapidly, there is an army of trucks nndn paudemonium of sounds and confusion. There are lighters loaded with freight care bearing the signs of all the trunk lines in the country alongside the pier, and into these cars the big bunches of fruit arc hustled and packed on end. The truck, men howl and the longshoremen howl, and the bosses on deck and below howl in unison. Everybody bowls and everybody is on the dead jump; If there were anv hatmna peelings on that banana dock there would be a soore of broken legs every day. But the fruit is green—green ns grass. You couldn’t it without u

butcher knife, and as for eating it. yon might as well out raw potatoes.—[New York World.

FOR USE IN CHURCHES.

Collection Bass and Boxes, an# Plates of Wood and of Metal. In some churches, years ago, the collection was token in small, close-ineshotl nets with short handles. The latest thing' made for this use, the collection hag, is a modification of the old-fashioned net. It is a cone-shaped plush bag seven inches in diameter and seven inches deep. It is secured to a hoop to which is attached a handle two feet Qr three feet long, as may ho desired. The collection hag sells for $4. It has been in use übout ono year. Collection boxes were at one time used in many churches. The old style is a shallow open box about seven inches long by five wide. It is lined with velvet and has a handle attached. Boxes of this stylo are still used, but collection boxes are now generally mode circular in form. They are seven and a half inches iu diameter and two and a half inches in depth. A plush mat is laid on tho bottom, and tho box is provided with a handle two or three feet long. Hugh a box of oak sells for $3.50. Not many boxes are sold nowadays. Collection- plates have fora long timo been in general use. One of the older styles of plates was of brass, nickel plated. Plates of this kind were sold at from #5 to $7 each. At the present timo collection plates are mado of wood and of various kinds of metals. The wooden plates are the more populitr, and they am commonly used in city and country. Usually they arc of oak or walnut ; oak is now the wood most favored. A plain idate of quartered oak may bo bought for 13. It is Hi inches in diameter. Its fiat rim is If inches wide and the plate is If inches deep. A plush inut is luid-in the centre. A plate of the same size having a text carved upon the rim costa $5. Various texts are used. "(Jod lovoth a cheerful giver” is the most often selected. A receiving basin of wood, into which the collection plates may lie emptied, is 15 inches in diameter and 2 inches deep, and the rim is 2i inch Bitwide. Carved with an appropriate text and with a plush mat, a basin costs sl2. Collection plates of metal are usually mado of brass or bronzo. Brass platen range iu prioo from $5 upward. They are eleven inches in diameter, one a ink three-quarter inches in the rim, and one and three-quarter inches deep. They arc inscribed with texts and are stamped or embossed in a variety of designs. Thometal plates are used either with or without a mat. Bronze plates oust $25 ami upward. Metal receiving basins of brass or bronze cost from $25 upward. Moreexpensive metal plates are made to order. Home are of solid silver. Tho cost of u silver plate depends on Its weight and the work upon it; SSO would be about tho lowest prico,—[New York Hun.

First Use of Building Stone.

The use of stone in the ornamentation of houses and other buildings is of comparatively rooeut date. Cm hundred and fifty years ago people were too poor 1 to build their homes of other material : than brick or wood. As wealth increased i towns grew into cities and thero was a demand for more durable and ornamental 1 material. Prof, tieorge P. Merrill of tho National Museum is well posted on tho subject of building and ornamental j stones, and to him a Star representative applied for information. “ When did stone first, come into use as a building material?” was asked. " In the early part of the eighteenth century, about 1720, the first stone wasquarried in Massachusetts. It was not,, however, until the early part of this contury that granite began to be used in andabout Boston. In tho year 1825 tho granite quarries ut Quincy began toassume importance. As early os 1792 granite quurries wore reported to liavo» been opened at lludduin Neck, In Connecticut. Marble quurrios wore first worked at Marbledalu, Conn.,in the year 1800. -Sandstone quarrying was first,, undertaken in tho vicinity of Port kind,. Conn., opposite Middletown. The quarries were considered common property • and no tax was imposed until 1(135, when the citizens of Middlotown voted that whoever shall dig or raise stone at yo rooks on the east side of the river (now * Portland) for any without the town, the said digger shall be none but un inhabitant of Middletown, and shall be responsible to ye towne 12 pence per tunn for every tunn of stonos that he or they shall digg for any person whoseeverwithout the towne/” "What about slate for roofing papposes?” "That is also an industry of, recent origin, and few of tho slate quarries havebeen in operation uioro tliun twenty or thirty years. The prevalence ,of slate tombstones, hA’wever, in many of our older churchyards would seem tu indicate’ that these stones have been quarried from u much earlier period for other purposes than roofing.”—[Washington Star.

The Hair.

Much is said pro and con as to the effect of salt water on the hair. When properly applied salt water is not only not injurious, hut is nn excellent tonic. If allowed to remain-wt-tr damp mas*, however, it will cause tho hair to fall out. The strands should ho carefully combed after the bath and not put up until perfectly dry. The soup rubbed into the scalp before going in bathing helps to koop bloude hair light. In such cases it is well to dry tho hair In the sun. A three-cor-nered handkerchief of rubber that costs #2.50 is the only means of keeping tho hair dry in diving and bathing. Jt should be tied turban-fashion as tightly us possible. The lmir curled constantly in one place engenders a fever which causes it to fall out. It is wise, therefore, to change from top-knot to Psyche, and thence to Langlrv ns frequently as possible—(New York World.

Breeding Swans.

\\ e have yet to kuow of a farmer or poultry man who has taken up the breeding of swans— fowl c f great value and not so difficult to rear with tho same amount of care and attention that is given to poultry. Most of the large public parks, such as Central Hnrk, New York; Fairmount Park, Philadelphia: Allegheny Park, Allegheny,Pa.; Lincoln Park, Chicago, and many others, keep and rear fresh stock annually. Live breeding pairs cost, from $75 to *IOO. At such prices it looks reasonable to believe them to be profitable. Eggs cannot be obtained but the birds eon from the superintendent of any of the abovementioned parks. Would it not pay to try a few as to their value as farm fowls? —[American Agriculturist,