18 



Thus, delaines at their first introduction in about 1840 cost Irom 30 to 40 

 cents. They soon fell to 20 cents. Lawns, introduced in 1846, cost 27 

 cents. In a few years they fell to 9 and 10 cents. Kerseys, introduced in 

 1851, cost $2. In twelve months afterward they fell to 1.25. The in- 

 troduction of Tastings diminished the price one-third; that of buntings 

 more than one-half. French moquette carpets cost, when first introduced 

 here about fifteen years ago, from $2.50 to $3.50 per yard according to 

 quality. The American manufacture, commenced shortly after, reduced 

 the price to $1.45 per yard, while American machinery, stimulated by 

 our tariffs, introduced abroad, has diminished the price in all manufactur- 

 ing countries of the world. 



Refined bar-iron is used to make wagon-ties, horseshoes, agricultural 

 implements, and many other articles in which the farmer has direct 

 interest. I insert a table showing a lower value for the last five years 

 than for the five years ending with 1860. [See table on page 19.] 



I shall not present comparative tables of the values of all the iron 

 and steel goods for the two periods these metals are largely used in the 

 machines and implements which have been largely reduced in price since 

 1860, the fashions have not changed in iron and steel goods so as to make 

 comparison difficult but I will take for comparison the material of 

 which they are made, and upon which 'the duties are alike imposed. 

 [See table on page 19.] An examination of the prices of No. 1 

 anthracite foundery pig-iron shows that it is lower now than from 1855 

 to 1860 inclusive. [See table on page 20. ] 



It will be sufficient now if I make comparison of prices of a few ar- 

 ticles in such universal use, and unchangeable in character, that will 

 be recognized by every farmer. I invite attention to them. I give the 

 wholesale prices in an Eastern market, to which transportation to suit 

 other points and the retailer's profits must be added. A reduction is the 

 rule, and without an exception. Nails, in 1860, sold at $3.10 to $3.50 

 per hundred pounds, to-day at $2. 40 per hundred pounds ; Yankee axes, 

 in 1860, at $10.75 per dozen, to-day the same- goods sell at $7.25 per 

 dozen, manufacturers' prices at both periods. 



The prices of cable chains in use among farmers (per one hundred 

 pounds) were: 



After an exhaustive examination, I assert that the iron and steel used, 

 by farmers, in whatever form used, into whatever machine, tool, or im- 

 plement fashioned, costs from 10 to 20 per cent, less now than in 1860. 

 For like quality of goods the average reduction is more than 12 per cent. ; 

 in many of the prominent articles it is 20 per cent. 



There is one more article of consumption I must mention, glass. The 

 taxation of the poor man's window-glass that gave him heaven's light 

 has been so often glowingly dwelt upon that it deserves a passing no- 

 tice. I have time to take but one quality or grade, but that illustrates 

 the whole list. 



According to the best data attainable, plate-glass cost the consumers 

 of the United States, prior to the Morrill tariff of 1861, about $1.50 per 



