Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1890 — PRICES OF AMERICAN FARM MACHINERY IN EUROPE. [ARTICLE]

PRICES OF AMERICAN FARM MACHINERY IN EUROPE.

Mr. George T. Evans, of Richardson* & Evans, millers, Indianapolis, is a close observer, a gentleman of fine business qualifications, and has recently returned from Europe. Just after h is.returnhe was in ter viewed concern - ing the claim made by the Democrats that American farm maeh inery sold ■ cheaper in Europe than in this coun try. "Much to mr surprise," said Mr. Evans, “I found farming implements from 20 to 40 per cent, dearer than here.” • Did you price some agricultural instruments while you were abroad?" “I stopped ata large agricultural implement store in Belfast, and, looking about, inquired the price' of a mower—not a reaper. “Seventeen pounds five shillings'? was the answer: that is about SBS. It was manufactured by John Wallace & Sons, Glasgow. I found when I came home that on Washington street I cbuld get as good a machine for SSO, and made, too. in the United States. “I also found there American plows. ■You sell them, 1 I asked in surprise, •and they compete with plows of English manufacture?’ ‘Qh, yes, sir,’ was the reply, “these American plows are the best plows we sell: two horses and a man can do as much with one of them as a man with three horses can do with pneof our English plows.’ The price of the American plow was three pounds fifteen shillings, about $lB. 1 got the name of it, and found the same plow is retailed on Washington street at sl2. And this implement that excels the plows of England, I am pleased to say, is a chilled plow manufactured at South Bend. . •‘Another thing I priced was a lawn mower, and it too, proved to be.of American manufacture. The dealer showed me a great lot of printed testimonials from lords and dukes and all that, testifying to its excellence over English made lawn mowers. It had a sixteen inch cut, and sold at five pounds, about $25. The price at retail here in Indianapolis for the same mower is sl2. In paris I was walking along the Rue de la Chelle and saw in a store a base-burning stove. It bore the name “Brilliant American,” but was made in Paris from an American patern. I asked the price and was told 225 francs, equal to $45. On coming home I find l ean get the same sized stove fully equalling it in quality for S2B. The anomalous thing about It all is that while a great number of things artsaid to be made more cheaply than in this country, they apparently sell to the consumer at a much higher price than here.

Shelbyville, Ind., August 29, 1890. To The Editor: I have a number of old account books in my possession. The earliest date I can find, how ever, is August 5, 1814. Under that date and u tew. subsequent dates 1 find the following entries of merchandise charged up as sold. 5% yds Calico, 18% Cts. per yard 1 92 cts. Cr. By 318 2-oz Butter, j cts per lb 1514 “ 2 lb Iron 8% cts per lb.. .. 16% “ slb cortee. 10 cts per lb _ 50 “ 3 yds Jeans 43% ets per yrd. 1 31% “ ti grains Quinine...... 18% ITb Nails .'. 8% “ Ilb Coffee 10 “ l 30% yds Sheeting, II cts per yrd 3 3 % “ i%y-dsJCAUUy Ljneu, 16%cts per-yrd 42 - 15 yds Fine Calico, 2oc per yrd 3 75 “ 3 yds Fine Calico, 21c per ytd 63 “ Silk Handkeachiefs.. ; 112%“ 1 Set of Plates .......... 75 ■ “ 2 Sets Cups and Saurers,set. 2 yds Blue Caiico, 16%c per yrd_ .SJ' a " %lb Imperial Tea 25 •• Ur. By 12 gal. Whisky, 25 cts per gal... 300 “ Cr By 12% bu Timothy Seed per bu..... 1 31’., “ Cr By 2% lb Butter 14 “ 5 ...... ii_. q . barrets Flour .>87% 13 50 “ rßy 2.' bu Corn, at 20c per bu.......... 4 00 “ 16 lb’Baud Iron, at 5c per lb 80 “ slb Cotlee. at 10c per lb 50 “ 2% lb C0ffee......... 25 “ 1 lb Butter... 6%“ 6 yds t ounty Linen at 18%c per yrd.. 1 12% “ 1 2 yds Black Muslin la “ liliamberPot 25 "/ 3 yds Calico 60 “ rib Madder.. 50 “ 1% lb Alum 15 “ 1% lb Butter .... 8 “ 2 yds Shirting 31% “ In another acc unt b ok under date, January 5. 1852, 1 find the following entries; Calico 12%e. per yrd; Gingham 35c. per yrd.; Red fianuel per yrd.; pair bhoes 50c.; Muslin 10c per yrd ; Cotton Fianuel 12%e. per yrd.; pair Gum Shoes $1.25. In memory I can go back to 1835 to 1842, when 1 was engaged’inmerchandise. Firs, two years as a clerk, the remainder on my' own account. I remember very well that we sold common dress calico atß7% cents a yard, com mon brown muslin 20 t 025 cents a yard and almost everything else in about tue same proportion. While we in wheat in excuange for goods at 311 cents a bushel. Sent it to Lawrenceburg and got 37% to 50 cents a bushel. Corn received at 10 to 15 cents a bushel. Butler 6 to 8 cents pet pound. Eggs 5 to 6 cents a dozen. Apples 15 to 20 cents a bushel. Peaohes 10 to 12% cents a bushel. I well remember that in 1 836 1 bought from a farmer several bushels of peaches at 0% cents a bushel, and apples would bring from 2% to 3 cents a bushel. In the winter of 1839-40, I bought up a drove of hogs.paid $1.25 to $1.50 gross, drove them to Cincinnati, disposed of tne drove at 2 cents per pound net. You see I was making money rapidly in that operation—“over tue left.’’—That was the first as well as last drove of hogs ever I bad anything to do with. I have in my possession boo.is containing invoice of goods purchased in 1842' to 1854, showing wholesale prices during this, period at Cincinnati, New York, etc. Respectfully yours.

WILLIAM HACKEE.

Here is another free-trade admission. The New r York Times favors international copyright because' it “would relieve American authors from unfair competition.” Precisely; and pray tell us why the same rule should not be applied to those who work with their hands. « - ’■’•v '■