Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1840-02-27
For the Herald Of the Times.
Facts for the LabOring M an /:
BY LABoRING MAN.
lcosTINUED FROM OUR LAST.
Effects Of The False system" as display
ed IN Tie Manufacture Of Cotton.

II
Commenced working IN one Of The frs, man
uiaciorys established III New England-bc-
lns in the South part OF the State Of Rhode
Island. lie was al That time about Is years
vi age, und received AZ cents per week or z
cents per day for his work, besides his board
and lodging lie remained in the manuiac-
tory about months, and rave such satIsfac-
tlon to lis omployers-lliLt the agen, uf the
mill offered, as an lnducement for him 10 re-
main, To raise his wages the ensuing yeur to
50 cents per week, or I'D cents per day
which was declined,-not Oh account how
ever of the wages, which were rather high
than otherwise, as wage. then were.-G irls
of the same age worked tor something less,
aud al these prices there were hundreds
seeking employ where one could find it-so
little work Was there in the country at that
time for the poorer classes. ."-Thls particular
nsnuiuctory was engaged IN making yarn for
sale, and also coarse Cotton shrting.-The
yarn sold ior "a cents per pound for No. IL, the
standard number, and raised from 3 10 cents
each number, more and less as it rose above 4.
tell below the standard nunber-being regu-
laIed by a fixed tar.ti.-Ths was called the
"iickcl price," and al that price it became
iur dlum of exchange to great extent ~
New England during the arrangement Of the
Currency-b lore II was regulated by the
United Stales Bank, which rs has been be-
fore stated, was not fully effected until some
years after it was established Cotton
shrling made was Of about equal value with
the courscst printing cloths of the presen,
tnnc.-Flncr and better qualities Of cotton
goods being no,o used for shIrtng, and even
for shecling, by the poorest classes of poo.
nl.. thun tha clnih made that Enclprp
none Of which is now made. Tie cuicula
lions that follow, however, are all based Jn
tbis one article, as 1t was the only one made
at HAT time with which the writer was ac-
quaintrd; and he believes if the same rules
are applied to every description OF cotton
goods, made at the present day, it will not
vary The result, in any great degree us re-
CARDS the comparative advantages different
classes of the community reap from their man
ulaciurc.--This cotton shIrtlng was sold,
both before and after the war, at from 35 to
AZ cents-(much higher during the war y
II the writer's recollection serves, the prlce
of the raw material (col,on) was not over 10
cents per pound-ra,her loss than ovcr.-ln
the then imperfect state OF the manufacture,
one pound of cotton would make about 4
yards, which at 30 cts. per yard, Is lao
From which deduct 10 cotton, at l0c. 10
Leaving for the manuiacturer-to pay
1 expenses and profit, ST 80
4 on each pound OF cotton manufactured.
Notwithstanding the low price Of labor,
this manufac,ory could no, be made to sue.
ceed, and wound up lis affairs with total
loss OF the whole establlshment and u farther
assessment on the individual sioc ckhoGers 10
pay the debts of the concern.
/ In 1916, the first Tariff for the protection
of American Manufactures was passed by
Congress.--lt had lis origin from the South,
and was advocated by John &. Calhoun, who
mas by turns both advocated and opposed
almost every political measure OF importance
since, but who, is now one of Ito most violent
opposers.-New England was not in favor OF
the measure, as can be seen by the votes OF
her representatives, from mistaken idea that
i, would be prejudlclal to foreign Commerce,
in which that section of the country was ex.
tensivey engaged. This tariff was made
onaic 10 the protection of manufactures IN
their inexperienced infancy, which combined
with dsrangcd currency, kept the cotton
business IN n very unsettled state until after
the tariff Of 1924, when it rapidly progressed
and the manufacturers finding ready sale
for their goods, soon become established Oh
u firm foundation, and rapidly extended their
business, while the introduction OF an endless
variety Of labor saving machinery, nearly all
invented by American cltlzens,) added Ia
great economy and increased experience IN
the business, diminished the cost Of goods TO
a mere fraction of their former price-whlIe
they were at the same time enabled To pay
The uborer much higher wages.-To give an
inexperienced person some idea OF the ex-
tent that labor saving machinery has been
carried 10 in the manufacturing OF cotton, 1t
is enough To say that ono man aud boy, on
two cotton spinning mules, spin more yarn
than 700 women formerly did IN the same
time on The domestic spinning wheel.-The
value of the printing cloths before alluded to,
from 1890 to 1859, has fuctuated IN price
from say 10 cents per yard, averaging
about cents, which ~ rather high ave.
rage for the nine years; the average ot cotton
during that time has probably been tull ID
cents. Owing TO the improved mode OF man
ufacturng and strlctcr economy, about u
wards are now made from the pound where
four were formerly.
Say yards at u cents, 36 cents
II pound of cotton at l5 cents, ID
Il Leaving the manufactures to pay -
II wages, wear of machinery,
H Building and preht II cents
instead Of l,30 cts. us formerly being less
than one sixth, while tho wages Of the above
classes nrc now tour loldcd. The writer has
himself puldhundreds olboysand glrls,ot ,ha,
aee, instead OF ~ TO 30 cts. us formerly,
two dollars ana board and IN many instan-
ces girls earn by weaving, from to 4 dollars
over their board.-Wih this data we will
compare the laborcr of the present day with
the labnrcr ef earlier tlmes-as regards his
wages and the manufacturers profits.
\ Formerly tie lad received i!ly cents per
week, and other laborcrs IN proportion, and
paid say 81 cents for the manufactured arli-
ce--lhus receiving about yard and 4l0,hs
! for his weeks wrrk.-Undcr the burdens IN
posed by the "False systsm," he receives ~
per week, and pays q cents Tor the cotton
II sWhio emplo,, ed IN this nanuinctory, the writer not
heinz aware of the oi cotton ~ all respects had
yeuturcd into the inanaitcioN, during working hours,
wearing q new broad cloth coatre, which cost hhuni
~ ent, dollars The cotton Soon covered the Cunteo
,onpI.t,, over with hut. which he Jund very dinrglt
To got en- 1labeN Surda, h. contracted ith fellow
Ishurer thai ia ease he would brush the cost entirely
cI,sn The writer would pas hn four pence hslf penny
or 6t crnts, being Ui rcut less thHn The ptTe ui a
days work In tie process ~ brushing aud iubhing
~ the lint the toth literally worn thrtadblre. aud
IN many places qute through Altho nuo ~ appear
r1ce "A pro, sd 10 have been made of old cloth new "
ground ~ rared u,tr, whi'h was dcs~r"tOn o cloth
much cent tr Ia. knr,san Usrktt that tive Nv ihe
Eug.h " ou'4 hH'f '.gtittd Iesfly Nsats 's.e
tohNs o. 'tstt ne Jose.