Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 July 1889 — SOME FACTS AND FIGURES. [ARTICLE]

SOME FACTS AND FIGURES.

Indianapolis Journal. The Sentinel, replying to some remarks of the Journal’s says: "“From 1850 to 1860 this country hud the lowest tariff that has been in force since 1816. During this decade the number of manufacturing establishments increased from 123,025 to 140,135; the capital invested from $533,245,257 to 51,000,855,715, or ab most double; the average number of hands employed from 957,059 to 1,311,246; the total amount paid in wages from $236,755,464 to $378,878,866, the value of materials used from $555,123,822 to sl,. 031,505,092, or almost double; the value of product from $1,019,106616 to $1,885.861.676” In the State of Indiana the number of manufacturing institutions increased from 4,392 to 5,323; the capital invested from $7,750,402 to $18,451,121, or about 250 per cent; the average number of hands employed from 14,440 to 21,295; the total amount paid in

wages from $,728,844 to $6,318,335, or almost, double; tho value of materials consumed from $lO, - 369,700 to $27,142,597, or nearly Treble; the value of product from $18,725,423 to $42,803,469, or about two and one-third times.” These figures are cited by the Sentinel to prove the benefits of free trade as illustrated by the growth of manufacturing. It is not true that from 1850 to 1860 the country had the lowest tariff that had been in force since 1816. The tariff acts in force between 1850 and 1860 were the acts of July 30, 1846. which continued eleven years, and the act of March 3, 1857, which lasted till, 1861 Both of these acts were democratic measures, and were intended to pave the way for free trade, but they furnished more protection than their framers intended. It is true, as the Sentinel says, that during the ten years from 1850 to 1860 the number of manufacturing establishments increased from 123,025 to 140,133; but from 1860 to 1870, under decided protection, they increased from 140,133 to 252,148. The increase during the first decade was 17,108; and during the next decade 111,715. It is true that the manufacturing capital increased between 1850 and 1850 from $533,235,357 to 1,009,855,715; but from 1860 to 1870, under protection, it increased from 81 009,855,715>ri2,m f 769: The average number of hands employed increased 354,187 between 1850 aud 1860, and 742,750, between 1860 and 1870. The total amount paid in wages in 1870 was $775,584,343 against $378,878,966 in 1860. The value of manufactured products increased $866,755,060 between 1850 and 1860, and from 1860 to 1870 it increased $2,346,463,766.

In the state of Indiana the number of manufacturing establishments did increase between 1850 and 1860, 4,392 to 5,323, but from 1860 to 1870 they increased from C,3.23 to 11,847. The invested capital, which increased $10,701,719 between 1850 and 1860, increased $33,601,304 between 1860 and 1870. The average number of hands employed in the mauufacturing establishments of Indiana increased 6,855 between 1850 and 1860, and 37,567 between 1860 and 1870. The total amount paid in wages was $18,366,780 in 1870 against $6,318,335 in 1860. and $3,728,844 in 1850. The value of manufactured products in the state in 1850 was 18,725,423; in 1860, $42,803,469, and in 1870, $108,617,2871 I* ■ Attempting to prove that protection has not developed and promoted the manufacturing industry of this country is about like trying to prove that free schools do not encourage education and lessen illiteracy. The facts are all one way.