Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-12-31
TO THE EDITOR.
From the New York Tribune.


At meeting OF Iron Manufacturers and others in
teresed in the iron trade, held the City Hotel, in
the City OF New York, the 23i Of December
1871, To take into consideration the present and
prospective condition Of the iron trade in the Unit
ted States, under the operation Of the Compromise
Act:
JAMES BOORMAN, Of the house Of Boormnn.
Johnson < Co., was called TO the Chair, and ~
Clswell appointed Secretary. The Secretary in
behalf OF Committee OF five appointed at a pre-
vious meeting, presented the following Resolutions,
which, after mature deIberaon and free discussion
were adopted, and ordered, with tie Memorial 10
be published, under the signatures Of the Chairman
nhd Secretary:
To fhe Senate and House Of RspT,ssniafrss orhls u s.
The memorial OF the Undersigned, engaged I'm the
manufacture and snIe OF iron 10 the City of New
York and rs vicinity, respectfully shOweth that
your msmorIalIsts have directed their attention TO
the condition OF the Foreign and Do nestle iron trade
of the United Stn'es, and the present and prospec.
tive operation Of the revenue laws upon this impor.
tnnt branch of commerce, and they have arrived at
the conclusion that the rate of duties ough, no, 10
be below those collected "a 1899.
Your mCmoralis's have expressed in the accom-
panyIng resolutions their deliberate opinions as 10
the course which should be pursued by Cong,e.s
in their action upon the tariff, and they especially
ask Or the early consideration Of the subject and the
enactment OF such laws IS will give effect to those
opinions, # we'll founded. Your memoriaIlsis be-
leave TO add some further suggestions that are not
lu'Iy ITese.fIfu Uy Tue ftHDluIlDNfs
First. Those sections Of the Union by which the
burhcn, faoy, arising out Of the existing rate Of the
duties on IRON, must be principally borne, are ger.
orally m favor Of theic continuance. The annual
consumption Of wrought and unwrought IRON, IN the
United States IL no; less than 100 600 tons Of which
the States engaged in making and manufacturing of
irOr, much larger proportions this in pirt arises
from The pro ecutOn Of CmpOymcrts IN which large
quantities require and in part from the climate
IN oonsequ-ncc Of which the people Of the North re.
quire, m their entire domestic arrangements the an
picauOn Of iron TO purposes and objects not pre-.
ssn'ed IN Sou'hern Attitudes.
Second. The more extended examination md
working 0t the American IRON ores, tho recent dis
covcres IN the use Of The American Goals, the adj.
analogous combination Of coal, iron and huxes in
the same region, will, as is believed, under proper
protection and management, create a comretition
and enlargement IN this department Of ttndr. sde
quate to the supply Of the whole country with iron
Of the best description, at prices as low ns il can he
obtained from other quarters of the world; Lu, time
and capital are REQUIRED 10 produce the result Much
money must necessarily be lost IN the early eIperi-
4 mcnts and ndcqulte induccmcnt and protection
must be secured TO those who are ready 10 under.
/ take a new cnterprlzo. II Is from cIrerenee in
each particular location that the necessary inlorma-
ton - obtained whereby u prosecute the bushes,
| with economy and success. A prosperous mine
| IN CornwalI, might be ruined in Staapfdshire
/ from the different modes necessary 10 conduct the
operation, yet m neither are the natural advantage
greater than are 10 DO found IN many parts Of this
/ Union.
] Third. II IS believed th,t our true interests re-
quro that tho iron product should be- equal or near
| " 80, 10 the demand Of the whole country. II /.
m article intimately connected WITH and required for
national defence, add universally needed in ali
the occupations Of ie and 10 rely for our supplies
| upon any other country than our own seems 10 bt
wanting IN wisdom and prudence.
! Fourth. The manufacturing ~ IRON above any
other employment Is calculated 10 rear a hardy, vi
gorous and intelligent body Of artisans.
Flith. The extensive lines Of Railroad which
have been constructed during The last lew years, 40,
now constitute the leading channels Of intercours
and internal commerce should. We think warn IN
country OF the necessity Of bringing into full aetivi
" a branch OF business, without which, in tmos q
difficulty, these means Of Communication may b
interrupted or broken up.
| SIKH. We believe that adequate protection vii
secure competition, and competition will secure cd
equste supplies and reasonable prices; that Amer
can product has already tended TO keep down n
price ofHon IN our own market, and will continu
70 do 90 more and more
Seventh. In connection with this subject, You
memOralists cannot overlook the important eonsid
GRAFTON Of the currency; in the arrangement OF which
the fair relation between debtor and creditor is dis