The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-08-19
From the Boston advertiser.

FRANKLIN.
From the Boston advertiser.
N. ENGLAND CoTToN FAcroRIEs.-No. 3.
1t has been denied that we now furnish
coarse cotton cloths cheaper than England
could furnish them without a tariff But
those who hazard the denial have not we'll
considered a few facts, which are within
the reach of all who choose to inquire.
! speak not of all our factories. 1t is I'M
doubtedly true of some, that by injudicious
location, ignorance in management, and
extravaganza in expenditure, the whole in
vestment has been lost. But this is true of
a smaller portion of the manufacturers, than
of those who have met a similar fate in mer-
camille adventures. And although many,
or most of the remainder, when knowledge
and experience were limited, and hope of
gain almost unbounded, made many invest
ments, which they have cause severely to
regret, they have applied their gains to
balance their losses from such causes-ard
although thereby their dividends have been
diminished, it has resulted in placing them
at present in sound and healthy state, and
giving experience and discipline enough to
save them from similar disasters hereafter.
We will suppose the English make their
cloths for nothing-and that is not far from
the rate some have. assumed. 1t costs at
| least as much to transport cotton from the
place where it is grown to Old, as to New
England-and the cost of transport of the
bales of cotton from the sea shore to the
factory, and the cloth back, with the incl
dental charges, is about the same in both
countries. When in the market the COM
missions and charges of sale will not be
- -i---c 1~-aostic than Of fnrai<y-
goods of the same quality.
Then if there were no tariff, the foreign
would have no advantage over domestic
goods, but in the saving of costs of manu-
| facture. For | believe no one now contends
that domestic are inferior in quality to for
eign goods of the same denomination ex-
/ cepting perhaps printing only, which is rap
idly rising here to an equality with foreign
| skill.
! Those DESTROYS of the information may
easily fearn how little it costs per yard to
fabrcate the cloths in our factories-and
all that expense will be found to be balanced
by the superior charges on English manu-
| factories.
Besides the freight, insurance, charges,
and interest for the time of a voyage from
Liverpool here, which are something, their
great excess of charge consists in the pow
err by which their machinery operates. AL
most the whole of the millions of spindles
and looms in their factories are moved by
steam. Their engines are said to cost $50
sterling per horse power. A steam engine
of Is horse power is required to move 1000
and the attendant machinery, as they are
arranged in our best factories. This is
equal, without adding any thing for ex-
4 change, to about $4,000 for 1000 spindles
or $4 per spindle.
This is above the cost of our water power
wheels and dams in the outset. But this is
only the commencement of the difference
A dam and wheel, when we'll made, will
last near an age, with little expense fol
g repairs-while the steam engine will soor
wear out and new one will be required
and while i. lasts it wants almost daily re
pairs. 1t demands great and perpetua
supply of fuel-and although coal is cheaI
in England, the transport Of heavy quant
ties is chargeable. And multitude of en-
gineers, machinists and firemen, with abun
dance of expensive tools and materials
must be in constant attendance at the large
establishments. These bring daily charge
far above that resulting from the first cos
of the engines. Besides, the dangerous
character of the engines, in respect of fires
,, and bursting boilers, requires the additional
expense of separate houses for the engines
at convenient and safe distances from the
factories, and costly geering and shafting
to transmit the power to the operating ma
chinery. These charges are an overbal
ance for all the advantages which the
English manufactures can in every way pos
sess over the American in cheapness o
manufacture.
No. A.
If domestic industry and skill could ban
) ish foreign competition without the aid of I
tariff, how does it happen that cotton cloths
are constantly declining in market price
1t has been fashionable of late to ascribt
this to overproduction. 1t is said that too
many factories have been built to supply
t domestic demand and we have no expor
tation. And many prominent facts seem t
, favor this position for, since the decline
) and abandonment of foreign importation
: domestic fabrics have once, again, ant
/ again fallen in price, till now they are soil
so low as to defy foreign competition unde
. any circumstances, and even to leave tn,
manufacturer without an adequate profit.
f fit can be proved that more are consum