The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-10-14

oI COTTON goods, imported from Great Britain
alone, over our exports of such goods, both do
mestlc and foreign, to all parts of the world:
Year ending Sept. 80, 1921, $5,30i ,524
1928, 5 5'Oss's8
1924, 1921 1897
1925, s,824,O2
1926, 3.461 ,64I
1927, 5,054, 1893
Il 1928, 5,734,925
This shows an importation, for the last year,
exceeding the export, by more than the aver
age excess during the last eight years
Does this look like over production of do
mestics
1t is notorious, that, in 1920, there were few
cotton factories in New England Excepting
those at Waltham, they were almost wholly
confined to the smaller establishments in Rhode
Island, and the counties of Bristol and Worces-
ter, in Massachusetts. The great increase has
been since the commencement of 1924 They
now amount to about 100000 spindles-a small
er number than are found in a second-rate man
utacturing city in Great Britain. 1t is difficult
TO ascertain the. exact number. Blu! no man
has been found by the writer, who, by his
knowledge of a part, and estimate of the re-
mainder by report, makes the whole number
exceed 100000.
1t is true, that more cotton bales are brought
to the north than would supply that number CT
spindles. But many find their way to the Can
| adas-many are used by families in the coun-
try-and much is applied to other purposes be-
side fabricating cloths.
In the present year there is little or no addi-
ton to the number Of operating spindles while
on the contrary, many entire establishments
are stopped.
If the import over the export has been in
creaslng during the growth of almost the whole
/ n act fno
rily to follow that our factories have not grown
last enough to supply the increasing wants of
the nation.
1t is assumed that the quantity of domestic
fabrics in the country is not so great as il was
year ago. Such is the opinion of those who
have had motives to inquire, and means to as
certain the fact. Less are found in the ware
houses in the cities, and the shops in the stores,
in the seaports and country. If any hold DIFF
ierent opinion, they are invited. to disclose the
I position on which it is founded
| The annual increase of import over export is
an alarming fact, which demands the serious
attention of every advocate for the prosperity
| OF the nation. That fact alone is cause enourh
for the present general embarrassment and dis
| tress.
1t is generally true, that every nation must
| export as much in value, in produce or specie.
as they import. If our imports continue to
/ be large, while our produce is not demanded in
| foreign markets, we must export quantities that
will overload those markets, and reduce prices
to ruinous rates. And that has been done to
such an extent, that merchants lose on expor-
tations to almost all places; and cotton bales
are sold as low at Liverpool as at New Orleans
We must continue this course, or make Up the
balance by exporting specie, and that always
makes specie scarce, limits the operations of
banks, and brings distrust and distress every
where.
If, for the last ten years, our produce has
generally been exported at loss, it only proves
that, to pay for imports, we are compelled TO
export more than our foreign customers want,
and therefore to meet losses that cannot be
| long sustained.
That merchants should become embarrassed
under such state of things, if long continued,
is natural, and unavoidable Such course can
have but one termination, and that is ruin
irretrevable ruin, to all engaged init.
The fact is, we import too much-not more
than we want to consume-but more than we
can pay for, without carrying on commerce,
on terms that will bring sure destruction on the
merchant. That it has not been generally
more swift, and resulted in an earlier catastro-
phe, is not owing to the character of the COM
merce, but to the prosperity of the merchant,
derived from other business, or former opera
tions.
Common prudence demands of every nation
to cherish domestic establishments, when for
eign supplies capnot be had without general
and perpetual loss.
Few will dissent from this in theory But
we are strongly attached to our accustomed
modes of operation-so much so, that many
will prefer ships, even in storms, and on the
shoals or rocks, to property on shore-and busi-
ness notes of bankrupt individuals, to accom-
mediation notes of corporations, worth their
hundreds of thousands.
But with all our attachment to accustomed
modes, we should not close our eyes against
the truth-and, if imports annually increase
while our means TO pay for them diminish, we
should look well to the consequence-and, il
they must be disastrous, we cannot be too carly
in adopting some sure mode by which they
may be averted.
Among the reccllections and memoranda oil
the late DIR. Holyoke Of Salem, he states that
the first Aurora Borealis he ever saw was in
1874; it had the appearance of dark blood
red colored vapor, without any variety o.
shades.
Square toed shoes were going out of fashion
in 1887. Buckles instead of shoe strings be
, gan to be worn about the same time $50 wer,
very broad brmmed hats. His father had
hat whose brim was seven inches wide, which
5 when 1t became Questionable, he (Doct II
used to wear in showers by way Of an umbrella
Funerals were very extravagantly expensive
Gold rings were given to the bearers, th
minister, and physician. This extravaganc
accustomed the enactment of sumptuary laws