The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-12-05 00:00:00

A STAPLE TRADE LEAVING US

The following paragraph, which we copy from the
Sheffield Times. discloses to us a rather alarming feature
in the position of the nation :

"WHAT IS TO BECOME OF SHEFFIELD? is a question of
no inconsiderable moment, and ought to be the grand subject
of reflection in the minds of all who really, as they profess.
feel an interest in the welfare of their town. Independently of
the temporary stagnation of commerce, the staple trade is
fast leaving 'Sheffield. There is a sad want of capital in the
town, which arises, in a great measure, from the fact that any
man with a few pounds in his pocket can start as manufac-
turer; and he almost necessarily consumes his capital as fast
as he makes it. No ,efforts are made to restore, increase, or
create new branches of trade; there is a total want of spirit
and enterprise; and no man will venture a shilling unless he
can calculate to a certainty on the return of two. The intro-
duction of a new trade alone will us."

" The staple trade is fast leaving Sheffield !" Where is
it going to ? Its cutlers have no capital,—no enterprise.
They make no efforts to restore the old or create new
branches of trade. How is all this ?

We fancy that we can trace it in part to the very policy
which Sheffield, above all other towns, by the return to
Parliament of her Wards and Parkers, has been most
anxious in promoting. Her merchants a few years ago
were in the enjoyment of a large Canadian trade ; but
free trade has smitten these colonies, and the woodman's
axe is no longer busy in their forests as of old. The West
Indies were their customers; and they are ruined. The
foreigner, moreover, has been treading on their heels in
other markets, and the competition of the hungry artizans
of Birmingham has done the rest. We are sorry for the
fate of this once enterprising town. The reputation of its
cutlery is as old as the Heptarchy, when "a Sheffield

whittle" was the sportsman's companion in our primeval
woods. Although now furnished with railway communi-
cations to every market its decay has commenced, and a
few years may see it the centre of a mass of pauperism.
The Sheffield Times informs us that "a new trade alone
can save it ;" but where, he must tell us, is anew trade to
be found ?

THE WEATHER.—The week ending last night, was on
the whole very boisterous, with frequent heavy rains; but
some fine intervals were experienced. The wind has pre-
vailed almost exclusively from the N.W., with an occa-
sional breeze from the S. and S.W. The air, for the

most part, has been very humid, and at times very cold,
but there has been no freezing. We have nothing new to
notice in reference to the crops.
__

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
ing will be held to-morrow.

—The usual monthly meet-
The Finance Committee

recommend the purchase of one or two more steam-boats
for Birkenhead Ferry. The Dock Committee proceedings
comprise the agreement for the purchase from Lord Derby
of the land at the North Shore,
Dock Chairman. The Town H

and the election of the

ings comprise arrangements in consequence of the resig-
nation of Mr. Solomon. The committee on local rates
will make r, report. The Mayor's communications com-
prise—Resolution of the justices of the borough relative
to the new gaol and house of correction for the borough.
Memorial from the operative porters of Liverpool, praying
the Council to tare steps to repeal so much of the 9th and
10th Victoria, cap. 109, as relates to the present system of
master porterage. The following motions will be sub-
mitted--By Mr. Councillor Thomson—That the Corpora-
tion offer the Birkenhead Ferry to be let by auction to the
highest bidder, he giving satisfactory security to keep the
ferry worked by steam-boats. That, if no bidder comes
forward, the Corporation cease to work the ferry; that
the steamer " Fanny" be sold by auction to the highest
bidder ; that the ferry be thrown open to all steam or other
boats,—the Corporation to maintain the right of ferry by
employing one row boat to go over once a day. By Mr.
Councillor Harbord—That it be an instruction to the
Watch Committee to furnish a return of all cases of nui-
sances, and other matters connected with the Sanitary
Act, reported by the police to the borough engineer,
medical officer, building surveyor, and inspector of nui-
sances, from the first January last to the present time.
By Mr. Councillor Harbord—To rescind so much of the
resolution of the Council of the 16th of August last as
directs the Water Committee to take immediate measures
for proceeding with the construction of the new works,
authorized by the act called " The Liverpool Corporation
Water Works Act, 1847," and to move that it be an in-
struction to the Water Committee to stay all proceedings
with reference to such new works until a report on the
special matters of income and expenditure, now referred
to and under the consideration of the Financial sub-Com-
mit

tee of the Water Committee, and also a report on the
charges contained in the Liverpool Mercury, and now
under investigation, shall be received by the Council. By
Mr. Councillor Woodruff—That it be an instruction to the
chairman of every committee to report to each monthly
meeting of the Council, the names of members of the
committee of which he is chairman who have been absent
at any meeting of the committee, or any sub-committee
thereof, during the preceding month ; and also to report
to the Council at the first meeting in October, in each
year, a summary of the attendance of members during the
preceding twelve months. By Mr. Councillor Parker—
That it be an instruction to the Finance Committee to
give the regular notice to the tenant of St. George's Baths,
with a view to obtaining possession thereof as soon as
practicable, in order that the same may be placed under
the management of the Health Committee, and be appro-
priated far the benefit of all classes of the community.