Earthenware and China 1,000 ------- Total Exports 184,500 It will be noticed that the Stourbridge bricks were already in request for the pot-ovens, and that the total weight of ware exported out of the district amounted to 72,500 tons, of which nearly three-quarters went abroad. Through the courtesy of Mr Philips, Manager of the N. S. Ry. Co., I am able to give some corresponding figures for later dates, as follows: By Canal, By Railway Total Ware Exported ’000 tons ’000 tons from District Year 44 ? ? 1862 66 ? ? 1872 64 ? ? 1882 52 81 132 1884 58 80 137 1886 67 82 149 1888 57 93 150 1890 56 98 154 1892 50 97 147 1894 56 109 165 1896 42 118 160 1898 45 119 164 1900 42 120 162 1901 36 123 160 1902 44 129 173 1903 47 127 174 1904 42 129 172 1905 48 135 184 1906 This shows an export trade from the North Staffordshire Potteries of 184,000 tons of ware in 1906 against 72,500 tons exported in 1836, but it must be remembered that ware is now much finer and lighter than it was seventy years ago, so that the real increase in value is more marked than the increase in weight seems to indicate. As trade and population increased within the narrow limits of the Potteries the conditions of life became harder and poverty more severe. Already in 1792 we read of troops being sent, to Wolverhampton of all places, to keep order during a strike in the Potteries of Staffordshire.[178] While in 1813 a Chamber of Commerce was formed and attempted to fix a uniform increased price for earthenware. A price list was in fact drawn up for the commoner sorts of ware, and remained in force for twenty years or more, though it was regularly evaded by special rebates and discounts.[179]