The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-11-15
SIorceatcr:
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER Is, 1926.
WOOLLEN M.4NUF.4CTURES.

~ COLLE1JN VUUftN OFS1CIUHES,
In our remarks on the subject of woollen
manufactures, it has net been our object 10
shew that it was for the interest OF the manu-
faNturers, merely, that they should he protect
ed for that needs no argument, but that, il
they should no. De sustained, other Interests,
particularly the agricultural, would suffer FROM
their prostration, even more than the manu-
facturers themselves.
lis well ascer,aincd chat so millions Of dol
lars ale already nyestca in the manufacturing
Of wool in New-England. It cannot be an ex-
travagant estimate 10 suppose that every $50
000 so invested, gives dircc; employment TO
at least twenty familie7, as agents, ovcrscers,
carpenters, machine builders, toamstcrs, aud
laboreTs in the various branches OF the manu-
iaclurc. This would give for New-Eusland
10000 families, or 10000 persons, allowing
! 10 family,who derive lh,ir support drstily
from this business, and who have their provis.
ions to bay OF the farmers. On aa averaee II
may be estimated, that ere third art OF tbo
produce of our farms is a surplus over and A.
bove what is necessary for the supply Of the
owners and the labofers on the farm. Allow.
ing this to be correct, then one family of man
uacturers will require the surplus products of
two farms, and 10000 persons engaged in
manufacturing make market for the surplus
produce Of 240, 600 persons engaged in agricul-
ture. The amount of wool manufactured by
these establishments cannot he estimated at
less than one half the value of the other 5.eri-
cultural products which they consume, being
equal to the surplus product of 10, 900 more
inhabitants, which, added to the $40, 900, will
make 100000 Inhabitants, or one-third Of the
agricultural population of New England, who
derive their support from the market made by
these establishments. Allowing this estimate
to be over-rated one-third, (Which we cannot
believe is true,) and still we find that the
woollen business makes market for produce
equal to near one-quarter of the surplus Of
New-Englard.
Let the manufactures be stopped, and those
who are now consumers become al once grow
era of produce, the market which they made is
lost, and whatever surplus they can produce.
together with the amount they formerly con-
sumed, is forced into market which now re.
qures for its supply but three-fourths as much
as it has done heretofore. The consequences
are obvious. A stagnation of business must fol-
low, depression must take place, aud prices
will no longer be governed by the cost of pro-
duction, but by the inclination Of those 10
give who are willing TO buy on speculation
depreciation of the value Of real estate must
be the inevitable result of depression in the
prices of produce, the amount Of which would
probably far exceed the whole value of all our
wooen manufactures.
Such are some Of the evils which must flow
from continuance Of the present depressed
state of this business. But Others will follow
in their train. II is in vain that our fields
yield an abundant increase, in vain that on,
barns and graneries are well stored, if wo
have no market, or only such an one as will
not pay the cost Of production. Then our
agriculture must languish, check will be put
on the increase Of our population, the young
$3.50 P''''"5 WIN oS.u iiNch W secA mat
abroad which they cannot find
here, and the tide of emigration will again
roll westward as in former years. We had
patriotic hope that the growth of
would, by giving employment
10 the increase of our population, retain it at
home, and that we should not again have TO
witness the array Of wagons, in long and
succession, bearing their sad oc-
'upants forever away from the land of their
fathers, and from the scenes with which are
associated all the fondest recollections of
youth, to find the means of subsistence and of
competence among strangers in the western
"ilds' II our manufactures arc protected,