The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-07-07

~
chants understand. that on the repeal Of
the Orders in Council the Intercourse
Act ceases and upon that, without far
ther authority. they would ship for Amert-
ca.
w. Whitehouse, nail-monger, of West
Bromwich, about six miles from Birming-
ham, stated, that the depression in trade
commenced about August, 1910, and that
1t had been growing continually worse since |
that date. The nail mandatory in his
district, when in a hourishing state, en- |
ployed from IS 20 $4,000 persons. The re-
duction of the wages since August 1910, |
has been from seven and a half to ten per |
cent. Since February, 1911, the witness
had exported only lot of goods to Ameri- |
ca. In the mandatory with which the |
witness was connected, the hands had been |
reduced from 1900 to 500 pair. There are
considerable orders in the country tobe exc
Cuted Immediately on the intercourse with
America being opened. The witness consi-
dered the exports to South america an in
creasing trade. About one-fourth of the
nails manufactured, he supposes, are ex-
ported to North, America. During last
scarcity, nail trade was not in so bad a
state as,now. Does not add to stock, as
that has ruinednnany. Thinks poor's rate
from 10 to Is per cent. higher than they
were in August 1910. The desirable
d
them 1.-THE young men), and gong for sol
diers. In 1908 there was a pressing ma
chine at New-York that manufactured so
tons of nails per week. The decrease of
the trade was owing to the stoppase of in
,tercourse. If we exported nails to any a
mount to America, we could fully supply
the demand for the immense number of
wooden houses built in that country. One
would be surprised where they got the nails.
None exported, he believes, since June
1910. There might at that time have been
some rc-cxported to the Spanish colonies
and West Indies. Does not know that
cheapness Of American nails ha: counter
,manded orders, some complain of their
presses injuring their nails. a respectable
importer at Boston has left considerable
order here, withstanding the manufac-
tory there. When there is free intercourse
we must have the trade, for a iabourer gets
dollar day there, and cannot turn ma
nufacturer. The present price of nails in
America would afford a very great profit
for our nails, if we could get them there.
I. Bolts, a merchant, residing at Birming
ham being examined, stated, that he had
been in business 10 or Is years.--Had some
knowledge of the nail trade in Birmingham.
The wages in this business are so low, that
q man can scarcely exist. A rise had ia
ken place, in the expectation of opening
the trade with America, but that expecta-
tion had been disappointed. Men in the
button and plated line, who would formerly
earn from 40 to SOS: a week, do not now
get half those wages. In Birmingham there
were from 30 to $4,000 laboring men out of
employ. The Americans were once consi-
dered bad payers, but they have improved
progressively every year. Witness had
done no business with America since 1911.
The attempt to smuggle goods to the Uni
ted States had been attended with painful
results. Goods at Quebec, from Manches-
ter and Birmingham, were cheaper than at
the manufacturing towns. The value of the
export from Birmingham, previous to the
distresses, was about million ; did not
know whether it fell off in 1909. Men had
emigrated from Birmingham to America.
J. Shaw, chairman of the Chamber of
Foreign Commerce of Birmingham, stated,
that the Hardware export trade to Europe,
Turkey and South America, had decreased
since 1907. The witness spoke Of disap-
pointments in the trade to Buenos Ayres I;
$4,000 persons were employed at Birming
ham in the American Trade. The, trade
TO the Con ,inent had decreased since the
Order in Council and was now almost at an
end. He sent little to South America,
when every one was mad to send goods to
Buenos Ayres, after the letter of Sir H.
Popham - but such reason to repent of it,
that he will export no more to that quarter.
His own exports to the Continent are redu
ced to two thirds, though as active as his
neighbors in endeavoring to do business
Exports little to the Brazil, but returns
are too long in coming round. Tallow and
hides from Buenos Ayres hang on hahd.--
Disappointment there ensued from too
great influx of manufactures, and the goods
not being suitable. Does not think the En-
glish merchant will be able to do much
there. Knows of no business between the
East Indies anu Cape of Good Hope with
Birningham. Believes the distress at Bir-
minghain owing more to want of employ
Tnent than DEAFNESS of bread. Has not stu
died the qaestion of the operation of the or
ders. Trade fell off after the Berlin and
Milan DEGREES, from difficulty of getting
payments. Thinks IT probable if the Or
ders were repealed, British goods wouldget
on the Continent by means of neutrals. In
general the workmen suffer with great pa
thence, only crying out for work.
J. Ryland, platter of coach harness,
&c. stated that his business had greatly
declined by the American markets being
closed.
r. Spooner, banker, of Birmingham, COR
roborated the preceding statements respec-
ting the falling off of the trade. and the
distresses of the workmcn. The increase
on the poor-rates in years amounted to
5000.
w. Blakeway, lamp maker, employed
so men at Birmingham. He stated, that
the trade of his article had fallen off ard