Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1846-08-28
THE IRON INTER EST

The Taritfiles have INDUCED in The most
gloomy speculalions upon The ruin which The
new Tariff is destined to inhct upon the iron.
makers. But are their protested fears well.
founded2 We will, however, for the sake Of in
formation, first extract the substance of table
in the Pennsylvania, showing the difference be-
tween the duties 10 the two Tariffs OF 10 and
'46, on the various kinds OF iron-the reduction
on some qualities and the increase on others On
pig iron, the old duty was ST. per cent, and the
new duty on all sorts Of iron being 80 per cent,
the decrease OF duty is 81 7 per cent. On Stat
fer.Ish;ro object iiou the decrease of iuty l. 90 -
per cent, On sheet iron, the decrease is II SO per
cent On rolled iron, The decrease s3446 per cent
On hes, plain hammered wheel bars, The increase
of duty is 16.l5 per cen.-and, on hammered
wheel bars the increase OF duty is 1919 sc per cent
As 10 The probable consumption Of iron in
England, the London Commercial Record pre-
sents some interesting facts. They will show
that the iron makers in this country can With
stand ruin for many years al least. But, 10 judge
from their papers, they insist upon being ruined
a; all events. The last accounts from Europe
inform US that iron had r,sen, on account OF The
passage of our Tariff bill. Upon this eircum-
stance, the Tarfftes begin anew 10 denounce The
Tariff, as the cause Of ruin-as il the rise OF the
article in Europe were not really an additional
"pfotection" 10 our own manufacturers. II will be
observed, however, from the facts stated by the
"Record, that The rise may be mainly attributed
10 other causes operating al home. There IS eve
nv probability Of 1000 miles OF railway in Eng
land receiving the Royal ascent; and, 10 meet this
large demand between four and fire Mullins ~ ton
will be required. From the impossibili'y OF sup
plying this enormous demand in few years, The
Record says that so vast number OF miles Of
railway will have 10 be distributed over period
Of sercn or ten years. "The money may be found
the iron cannot be supplied"
For the consolation of The responding irou-ina-
lsers, we extract portion Of the "Records" arli'
cle II will be seen, according 10 this authority
that they will not be "ruined," for al least sever
or ten years. In the mean Tine the American
iron interest may deveope its skill and power, and
in the words of the Pennsylvania, "become
wholly independent Of legislation and will take
its position accordinsly:"
"At The close oil the present session, the railway
companies incorporated by Act OF Parliament will
have virtually bespo!sen quantity OF iron equal
70 The total make Of England. Wales and Scot
land. for the next four yeafs-eaving none for
ordinary uses at home, the requirements Tor
which are steadily increasing, and will be further
stimulated by the liberal commercial policy re.
Gently adopted by our government; and leaving
none for the supply OF foreign countries, whose
wants already exceed their own capabilities, aud
who will, ere long, follow The example OF Great
Britain. and abolish those restrictions which have
hitherto prevented them from purchasing in the
best and cheapest market
"Where, then, is the iron 10 come fromi Our
make of iron is not, at present, on the Increase
A few new furnaces have been huilt-a few
more are in progress; but most oil the old worKs
have reached their maximum, and several are
On The decline. Whatever ingenious theorists
NAV surmise, respecting The formation OF iron
ore. and The growth OF coal. the practical IRON
master is every day reminded OF The disappear
ance Of those minerals He knows too, that as
WAGES advance, his stock OF minerals is apt 10
diminish: and that the quantity oil iron manu-
featured does not depend much upon The de
mand. as upon the readiness or reluctance OF ,hc
miners 10 keep TO their work, which is so laoo-
rous. that they would rather do less and earn me
same wages than do The same Work ana ear u
more. These circumstances WIZ, lot IonS
time operate to prevent any addition to he guam
tity Of iron now manufactured; meanwhile 'Ne
excess of the demand beyond the supply must
Great. exorbi.ant prices, and many a railway
will present The strange anomaly OF being IN
complete a because cannot be provided with he
article which gives i, both its name and its u'il-
~ II NAV be asked, 1phy has the price Of iron
ry,.,a,d rather than advanced, during the hisf
,voy7 Because Of the uncertainty and The gloom
yb have hung over our commerce, our n,, 60.
vernmen,, and our foreign relations. ia irse
clouds have all passed Overland, win ire
trade, strong administration, and peace s WIN
all The world, nothing can prevent Inc na.a,a
tendency of an article 10 continue 10 liss ~ pa,s
SO long as the manufactures IS unaole ~ "''''
,ha mania ne The consumer"