Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1832-03-22

oouic particulars. Inc tOldl ConSuIiptioI
of bar iron, in the United States, is sup
posed to be about l46 900 tons, of which,
-, 1866 tons are made within the coun-
try, and the residue imported. The num-
ber of men employed in the manufacture
is estimated at 80 ,254, and the total num-
ber ofpersons subsisted by it, at l4G,2 ,273.
The measure Of protection extended to
adequate until the passage of the act Of
I 1898; and what has been the conse-
quence2 The annual increase Of guam
tity, since that period, has been in Il ra-
ito OF near twenty-five per cent. and the
wholesale price Of bar iron in the North
ern cities, was, in 1928, SlO5 per ton, IN
1899, 500, in 1880, 500, and in 1873 :,
from S85 to S75--consiantIy diminishing,
We import very little English iron, and
that which we do, is very inferior, and
only adapted to few purposes. In in
stituting a comparison between that inie-
rior article and our superior iron, sub
jects, entirely dlflereL., are c0mpared.-
They are made by different processes.
The English cannot make iron of equal
do They have three classes, best-best,
and best, and ordinary 1t is the latter
which is imported. Oithe whole amount
imported, there is only about 4 900 tons
of foreign iron that pays the high duty;
the residue paying only duty of about
thirty per cent, estimated on the prices
of the importation of 1899. Our iron ore
is superior to that Of Great Britain, Yield
ing often from sixty to eighty per cent,
whilst theirs produces only about twenty
| five. This fact is so well known, that
have heard of recent expectations oi iron
ore to England
1t has been alleged, that bar iron, be-
ing a raw material, ought to be admitted
! free, or with low duties, for the sake Of
take this to be the true principle, that, if
our country is producing raw material
of prime necessity, and, with reasonable
protection, can produce it in sufficient
quantity to supply our wants, that raw
material ought to be protected, aithous h
it may be proper to protect the article al
so out of which it is manufactured. The
tailor will ask protection for h.nselt, but
wishes it denied to the grower OF wool
and the manufacturer ofbroadcloth. The
cotton planter enjoys protection for the
raw material, but does not desire 1t to be
extended to the cotton manulacturcr.-
The ship builder will ask protection for
navigation, but does not wish u extend
ed to the essential articles winch enter
into the construction Of his ship. Each,
in his proper vocation, sole It's protection,
but would have it denied to all other in
terests which are supposed to come into
collision with his. Now, the duty OF the
statesman is, to elevate himself above
these petty conflicts; calmly to survey
all the various interests, and deliberately
to proportion the measure of protection to
each, according to its nature and to the
general wants of society. 1t is quite
possible that, in the degree of protection
which has been afforded to the various
workers in iron, there may be some error
committed, although | have lately read
an argument of much ability, proving that
no Injustice has really been done to them.
If there be, it ought to be remcdied.
The next article to which would call
the attention of the Senate, is that oi cot
ton fabrics The success OF our manu-
facture of coarse cottons is generally ad-
mitted. ii is demonstrated by the TACT
that they meet the cotton fabrics OF other
countries, in foreign markets, and mann
tain a successful competition with them.
There has been a gradual increase OF
the export of this article, which is sent
to Mexico and the South American ke-
publics, to the Mediterranean, and even
TO Asia. The remarkable fact was late
" communicated to me, that the same III
dividual who, twenty-five years ago, was
engaged in the importation OF cotton c'oth
from Asia, for American consumption, IS
now engaged iE the expectation OF coarse
American cottons to Asia, ior hsiatic
consumption! And my honorable friend
! from Massachusetts, now IN my eye, Mr.
SlLsBEE) informed me that, on DIS de-
parture from home, among the last orders
which he gave, one was for the exporta-
t;on or coarse cottons to Sumatra, IN the
vicinity of Calcutta! hold in my hand
statement, derived from the most au-
thentic source, showing that the Identical
description of cotton cloth, which sold in
1917, at twenty mine cents per yard, was
sold, in 1919, at twenty-one cents; IN
1921. at nineteen and a half cents; in
1923, at seventeen cents; in l825,at four
teen and half cents; in 1897, at thirteen
cents; in 1929, at nine cents; in 1880, at
nine and half cents. and in 1881, at
from ten and half to eleven. Such Is
the wonderful effect of protection, com
petition, and improvement in skill, com
bincd The year 1929 was one OF some
s,fJer;pg In this branch of industry, prob