The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1845-12-09
l,845 1858 225 1877 12s 1876

Only 6l2S persons or about one twentieth
of the whole number employed in these
branches-instead Of one fourth--our pro-
portion of population. Our share of the cap
ital is still less. The Iron, Salt, Cotton and
Woolen interests employ l25,323 persons
only, but their annual product is in value
we have seen over eighty-four millions of
dollsrs-whilst the 272,679 agriculturalsts
of Ohio, with more than twice The capital,
produce in the richest of soil only half that
value! A striking evidence after making
due allowance for the cost of raw material,
of the predominance of machinery or capital
over labor as an element of manufactures.
Hence if the producers of the West were ac-
cessble to the manufacturers ofthese articles,
the utmost they could sell them would be
twelve millions of produce annually, for that
is as much as l26,323 operatives with thei
families can consume, whilst the actual pro-
lection or bounty extended to those establish
menls, say an average of forty per cent.
would enable them to obtain an ddudnce
on the actual value of what the West would
buy, nearly equal 10 all the West would
receive for her produce.
But it is not as we have said, simply in an
agricultural capacity that Western labor is
oppressed by the Tariff. The great body of
our mechanics who experience no competi-
ton from foreign imports, but many of whom
are exporters themselves, deriving no protec-
ton from the law, are compelled to bear with
out paliation their share of the burthens, and
to meet with this disadvantage in foreign
markets, the labor of other countries. But
there is class that suffers still more--and
that very large class. II is the great body
of shoe-makors, blacksmiths and tailors, per-
haps the three most numerous orders Of
mechanics in our community. Of the ne
cessity of protecting these men we have
heard much from tariff advocates We insist
that instead of being protected, they are
subject not only to their common share of
exaction as consumers but to special injury
as mechanics. For the duties imposed for
the protection of their work are much less
than they are compelled TO pay on their raw
material. The duties on shoes and black
smiths work are about an average of thirty
per cent. But the duty Oh leather and iron
is about seventy per CT. The tailor pays a
duty on woolens and cottons of from 40 to
100 per cent He has protection of SO
per cent. on ready-made clothing. So that
when the raw material of these trades
amounts to half of the manufactured as it
usually does, their business, like the agr-
cultural, is positively discouraged by govern
mept. They are, like the farmers, subject
to continual fine for carrying it on. Labor
and not capital is the predominant element
of their woodwork which did not under the
free trade system as was falsely asserted, ex-
perience material competition from abvoad-
from the fact that our imports of such fabrics
did not amount 10 one tenth of the domestic
supply. In this city which is distinguished
for the extent and success of its mechanic
and manufacturing industry, there was in
lS4l thorough examination made of its
workshops by Charles Cist, very careful
and exact collector of statistics. The result
of his labors was the following table.
MANUFACTURES. HANDS. ru rMoDov ~,
In Wood, principally or
In Iron, entirely or princ-
pally, 1850 l,728,54
Other metals, 46l 658,040
paiiy, ese l,oes,7oo
Hair, brstles, &c, IeS 500, 400