investigation in the Department of Agriculture has made the increase 

 of value of cattle, by improvements in breeding upon the original stock, 

 the sum of $287,000,000. The cattle exported from New York in 

 1881 averaged $93. 65 and those from Boston $99.68, being mostly high- 

 grade shorthorns, while the unimproved Spanish cattle exported from 

 Florida averaged but $14.09 and those from Texas but $16.84. The 

 cattle exported in 1860 averaged only $38.26 per head, while the ex- 

 portation of 1881 averaged $77.93 per head. 



The price also indicates the great improvement in quality, as well as 

 the stimulus of increased home consumption supplemented by the en- 

 larged foreign demand. The Chicago prices of beeves in 1860 ranged 

 from $1.90 to $3.75 per hundred; in 1882 extra beeves reached $6.85 

 per hundred. 



The exports of animals in their products was in 1860 but $20,402,812. 

 In 1881 it was $175,584,760. And now, sir, I propose to make a com- 

 parison of values and prices. In comparing the values of products of 

 1860 with those of 1880 the influence of railway extension and indus- 

 trial prosperity are shown in their effect on prices. It is seen that 

 prices of many products were high in 1860 on the seaboard and low in 

 the interior. In December of 1860 oats in New York were 37 cents per 

 bushel; in Chicago 17 cents. Corn was 68 cents in New York; in Chi- 

 cago 27 cents. Wheat was $1.35 in New York; in Chicago 75 cents. 



In 1880 the aggregate value of the products of agriculture was more 

 than double the aggregate for 1860. The comparative values of some of 

 the principal products are as follows: 



I invite the attention of the gentleman from Texas [Mr. MILLS] to 

 these figures. I doubt if he will be content to let his statements stand; 

 and I say to the gentleman he has but to investigate the census returns, 

 examine them, to verify my statement give to the investigation some 

 labor and that honesty of purpose that distinguishes him, and he will 

 verify my figures. And this is a matter over which there should be no 

 dispute and in which there should certainly be no dishonesty. I am 

 sure none is intended. And now, sir, I want to call attention to farm 

 prices in 1860, 1880, and 1882. I think, sir, I have heard it said we 

 could not obtain them; and now bear in mind it is not the seaboard 



Srice which is to control it includes transportation from the farm 

 ut the price at the market point to the producer must be taken. I 

 have worked this out at the cost of considerable labor, and I challenge 

 its examination. If any one will take the prices current, at the nearest 

 market in the various producing sections, of the various products, he 

 will reach the same results; and while my average is lower than at some 

 favored points he will find the prices for the different years will at the 

 same points bear usually the same comparative relations to each other, 



