The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-05-22

on The business, SO as to be able to answer the
demand for cards: our monied institutions have
afforded but little support to domestic manufac-
lures.
The wire is the only article necessary to the ma.
nufacturc of cards, bat what our own country pro-
duces 4 that might be manufactured here as good
& nearly as cheap az in England We have 50 far
satisfied ourselves (by experiment. that nothing
but want of capital has prevented us from setting
up that business. The iron made on lake Cham.
plain, is found to be as good for wire if not SUI
perior to any ever imported. The wire to sup
ply our factory one year, will, in England, cost
about fifteen thousand dollars, and the expence
OF importing about ten per cent. tit being free
of duty y perhaps about the same quantity is u
sed annually in the other card m anufactories in
the United States. There is no doubt in my mind
from the observations made since have been in
the manufacturing business, that had the same
support been afforded manufacturers generally,
that has been to trade and commerce, our ma.
nhfactories at thi, time would have been carried
on much more extensively, aud would have re-
morally afforded profit to those concerned.
Since the distractions to our foreign trade, the
manufactures of our country have increased as.
tonishingly the demand for wool and cotton
cards, the present season. has been twice as
great as it has been any year preceding. Since the
receipt ofyour letter my time has been so con
stantly occupied with the concerns OF the manu-.
factory, that have not been able to make out any
statement of it befcre-I have endeavored to give
q general description of cur mandatory; time
would not permit me to to be more particular"
(Copy) u}
WoRcHEsrER, Nov. 20, 1909.
Hon. Henry Deaybon, Esquire.
SIR-Having invented cheap and simple
method of manufacturing wood screws from j.
ron wire, obtained patent for the same from
the 5. in July last, and finding it extremely
difficult by any means within my power to obtain
wire of suitable sizes, was Induced to atternrt
the manufacturing of it !, and as necessary APP
Pendage, TO connect this business with that OF
screw making, the process being so easy & sir.,-
pie that two men OF common capacity can man.
utacture from rods, about tbs size Of common
nail rods, three hundred weight of assorted
screw wire per day; in the same time man
with two boys can make from the wire twenty
grooe OF screws of a quality very much superior
10 those usually imported. The expencs ofcon
structing screw machines upon the principle of
my patent is small, and the capital now employ
ed, 1.-THE business being in its infancy) but in one
year, with the capital can command, it would
De IN my power to erect many machines as
| would enable me to supply the United States
with that article, and of quality much superior
TO any ever imported, and at AS low a rate AS are
now paid for those imported of an inferior quail.
ty
The manufacture of iron and brass wire has
with success, and can be carried on TO a very
great extent (; but all the under;akers, in conse.
quence OF foreign wire being imported free of
uuly, nave without exception abandoned the bu-
siness; Ii depended on foreign wire for the
manufacturing of screws should not be an adyo-
cate Tor duty on 1t; but as l make my own
wire, its free Importation does not affect me, as
relates to the quantity appropriated to that par
ttcular use; But 1t very seriously affects me in
much more enlarged and extensive point of
! view; but If duty of Is or 90 per cent. ad vo-
ierem was laid on the importation of foreign
WIRE, the capital within the control of the COM
1 pany now interested with me in this business
would enable me Immediately To extend my ma.
chlneiy to a magnitude sufficiently extensive to
| meet the consumption OF coarse wire within this
! state The manufacture of card wire also, of
which there IS great consumption within the
United States. could be made TO equal advantage
and would follow in course on account of the
demand tor it, provided manufactures were al
ded by the above mentioned duty on foreign
wire; but If they should extend their works, an
| ticIpatng that encouragement from government
and 1t should not be given, they would suffer
| great loss and disappointment
The maiieabiiity of the American iron renders
the United States perfectly independent of all
other countries for that fr st of all raw materials
spd 1T Is only by the patronage of Congress that
industry and the arts can be so extensively cul-
tIyated as TO take the greatest advantage, not
only OF this article but of other raw materials
! winch the great resources of our country fur
nish. The prevailing spirit of enterprise at the
present time, IN the exertion and extension of
| manufacturing establishments, is much owing TO
4 The measures heretofore adopted by government
and feel confident ihs; few articles can be made
IN TINS county 20 SO great advantage iron wire,
/ ana tiat no sufficient reason can be adduced why
thiS artc Should be exempt from duty more than
many others, TO the particular and very great in
jury OF our own citizens. / am, however, much
encouraged to hope that the measures governs
inent now appear to bs taking viii be efficient
M patronIzing the very valuable exertions OF it
cit'Zehs IN the production of articles indispensa
Die to our necessities. and especially those that
ere produced from the raw materials of our own
country.
And the only patronage required in this BUSH
ness IS that the article of iron wire should be
subjected to the same duty that other articles of
iron manufactures are subjected to when mpor.
ted from Great Britain.
am, most respectfully,
Sir, your most obedient and
Very humble servant,