18 



EXPORTS OF WHEAT FLOUR. 



Does this show that the Protective policy is detrimental to the 

 prosperity of Western farmers? If the 39,713,318 barrels of flour 

 exported in the Protective period had been sent abroad at the same 

 average price received for the 36,745,003 barrels exported in the 

 period of partial Free Trade, then the total export value would 

 have amounted to only $241,196,454, instead of $291,470,987 

 the sum actually realized making a difference, which would have 

 been a loss, of $50,274,533. Is that value of more than fifty 

 million dollars, which represents a positive gain, to be regarded as 

 part of the baneful effects produced upon our agriculture by the 

 series of tariffs since 1861 ? Are better prices and larger sales 

 usually looked upon as very serious evils, and as oppressive to the 

 grain-grower? We put these questions to the common sense of the 

 reader. 



The case will appear in a light still stronger and clearer if we 

 subtract the exports of flour from the Pacific ports, at gold prices, 

 from the exports from the Atlantic and Gulf ports, at currency 

 prices, and thus obtain an accurate statement of the latter. The 

 following table gives a detailed exhibit of such exports. 



These are the quantities, values, and prices in which Western 

 farmers are directly interested. The proof is that the average ex- 

 port price under the policy of Protection has been $1.35.733 more 

 per barrel than under the policy of partial Free Trade. How ter- 

 ribly our farmers have suffered from our present tariff system ! 

 An increase of 22^ per cent, in the average export price of flour 



* Not separately stated in the Commerce and Navigation Report for that year. 



