Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-01-02
AGRICULTURAL.
AMERICAN SILK.

Can the cultivation Of silk be protiably
.,rr;od on in the United States Z? Such is the
Question ,ha, is almost daily aske d by those
who see that in engaging therein Ihe people
Of this country, ii which wages are higher
than in any other part OF the world, must
compcte with those of India, in which wa
ccs are lower than in any other part; and
as !, is matter offs some importance TO come
70 n ripht conclusion, VIC deem ii not amIss
80 our headers 10 offer few remarks tor
their consideration. -,
Tbc re,son why the money pr'e of Ia
bor is high in the United ates 's' int II Is
aided to so great an extent by capital sN'I''
and intelligence, and therefore produces d
large quantity of,he commodities for which
other na,ions are willing 20 give gold and
silver: and the reason why is PRICE 's low
i, InGi, and France is, that there is an ab:
scncc of capital, skill and intelligence, and
the laborer produces 4 very small qaa't'tS
O. commodities 10 be exchanged win o'ner
na,ions Tor the precious metals. We do not
nav = mechanic or laborer high wages be-
cons. he chooses to demand them, but be-
"a, $, we know that wc can exchange with
oilers for the price that We have pa'd' ano
with a profit us compensation '0F our
trouble.
!, those countries in which the money
nr;cc Of labor is high. the capitalist is enabled
t. I've we'll and rapidly 10 increase Dis
means, as in England and IN the on"eo
States. In those in which It IS low, '"'
cani,alis, cannot live 50 we'll, nor Is there
so raoiI an increase ofcapi:al. Such IS Inc
c,sa r. India and in Fr,nrc. To the capl,
,,lst therefore, The labor Of the United
States and England is cheap, 1t 'ough ne
novs q high price for it, becaus" IT ye'ds
ioraelv while that Of France in India Is
dear, although low priced, because 1t yields
so little.
n confirmation of this view we will now
call attention TO the fact, that IN The m''iu-
f,c,ure ofco,,on and in the sailing OF shlps
we Gre nothing for the compcui ion OF IN.
d;. or of the nations on the Baltic, where
i,hor IS low.orice,! and unproductlve, but
we DO caro- TO. lhe competition OF Eng'ahd
v,osc Labor IS Almost as !ngt-prIced as our
own: and Eoo and looks with more anX'e'y
10 our competition in every department Oh
industry than to that of any other nation OF
the world, although our labor is so mucn
higher priced than her own. -.
Our Competitors in the production OF
| Co ton are the people OF India and Egsp',
,ho ,wo countries ia which labor is lowest
nrjced We, there is in fact hardly any com.
nrt;;jon The whaling trade is open to all
the world, ye that of The United States has
s,eadilv risen Will. that Of all other nations
has as steadily declined. The low.prleed
labor ofFrance, or that Of the north OF hu'
rome, cannot compete with that OF New
EpnlaoL. in which tits highest The capl'
,alist who + ays these high w'ges lives on the
profit Of his ships, while the owner OF tie
dull ships OF the north Of Europe finds IT
exceedingly difficult 10 improve his condl'
ton. The labor for which the latter pays
is low. priced, but it is unproduclive and dear
and allows linn but a small return tor h.:
capital. .
Our readers will now, we think, be salts
fled that high rate Of wages presents NJ
obstacle to prosecuting successfully he cu'
turo of silk, in which We may reason 'o'.
suppose that capital, skill and intelligence
will produc. the same effects that have oee'
exhibited in every other department OF pro
ductiou in which the people Of the Unite
States have engaged,!when' not driven there
to by Legisla i've restrictions. 80 1a'
indeed. are low wages Of other countrle
= from presenting an obstacle 10 its cuI'va
lion in this, ha it pW be due to the Jact mt
y ue compete with such motions on(y' Maf
It rW for long nme be highly produet'rse.-
4 4 When we undertake to compete with Ems
c land in any department of production: al Al
g Improvement that is made is lmmedla'e
y adopted by our rivals, who are thus enaD's s
u 10 produce as cheaply as ourselves az =
uice rersa whereas years are required II
its Introduction in France, Germany al
Italy, bccasse in those countries mere
- little capital, and want Of that lntelligcn'
which is required for the adoption OF II
e. provements. If England were the gre
o. cultivator of silk, we nigh, be sure that s.
would always GolloS closely upon our hee
and that her product would keep pace WI
,,,;fI, Franz