Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-07-02
PROTECTION AND PRICES.

PROTECTION AND PRICES.
The following memoranda, which We find in tho
National lntelligencer as items connected with the
recent National Fair furnish some striking illustra
tons of the general working of the protective
| system.
The fall IN price Of every article the inanufhc-
ture of which has become established in this cot,r,
try under the operation Of the Tariff, is not more
signal than the improvement in the quality Of the
article. We not only get goods at cheaper rates
now than formerly, but we also get better goods at
the reduced prices.
domestic competition, let the system of protcc-
ton go as high as it will, must always keep prices
at moderate rates. Our policy does not contem-
plate the forcing of any species Of manufacture
where the elements and materials Of it are not
aoundantly at hand; and hence it follows that in
no branch OF our protected industry can there be
any monopoly.
L ne subolned items might no doubt find cores
ponding facts in every well established branch Of
our domestic manufactures:
Incidents at the late National En;r
1t Is not little curious to note among the mr.,
sentiments at the late Fair some items which ire
sistibly force upon our minds comparison of the
past with the present. copy the subjoined memo
Ianda from few out of this class Of items that
have fallen under my observation.
No. was piece of very common cotton, which.
b rare good fortune has escaped the shears OF fate
while whole generation Of men has passed away
The letter was attached to the piece. Nos and
are specimens from much more ancient DAYS:
they Were small samples which have been retained
1T IS believed, by their owners No. sufficiently
explains itself, while it shows that an article much
used, and now selling for 20 to 80 cents yard,
brought, only eight years ago. 65 cents per yard.1
III.
No. l.
BosToN, May 6, 1916.
DEAR SIR - erewith hand you few yards
OF British cotton ut from piece which has been
III my possession since the fall Of 1913, when it
was purchased at prize sale of English goods,
ana cost eghty-flve cents per yard, cash, Boston
money, which was equal to specie, as the Boston
banks dld not suspend payments during our last
war with England.
AS one of the objects of the National Fair about
TO be held in Washington is to 'show to Congress
and the country the progress which has been made
IN American Art, industry, and ingenuity, under the
fostering care of protective tariff have thought
mat this specimen may be useful, as fixing the va
lue or plain cottons in this country before any pro-
tecuon had been given to their manufacture by
Congress, and thereby establish starting point
from which to trace the progress of the business to
the present time.
Very respectfully yours
ROBERT ROBERTSON.
D BAToHELDoR, Esq, Cambridge, Mass
:, This 'cas piece Of cotton that ,co,ld not at
The present time bring oucr seuen cents IL is no,o
placed IN one Of the committee rooms Of the House
OF Representatives. for the inspection Of such as
haze a curiosity on the subject to be gratifed1
No. g
Specimen of curtain calico, printed in Phadel-
and cbaco hx,
tngham, Maryland, about the year I767-
Cost nine shillings and f6urpence halfpenny per
yard, or ST ,25
pould not sell for 7 cents no,c.]
No. 3.
specimen Of gunah or cotton cloth from Cal
cutta, sold plain for 25 cents per yard, 36 inches
wide, and was printed in Milk street, Boston, and
sold for 80 cents per yard about 1905.
Wo,th not be acorth 6 cents no,v
No. H.
This piece of Kentucky jeans was one OF a case
OF precisely similar quality bought by Jannev.
Hopkins & Hull, of Harker, Lea s. CO., Philadel
Phia, October IL, 1888, at 65 cents, eight months
credit, as the annexed original invoice will prove
1t was returned by customer for imperfections
(belng the only imperfect piece of the lot and for
that reason has not been resold since It is fair
sample OF the best quality of Kentucky leans of
that time. We are positive of its being of the
IDENTICAL case In question, as we always number our
invoices, and the ticket Of the piece corresponds
exactly in number with that endorsed ON the in
voice when put on file.
Witness our hand, dated in Baltimore. MAY I6,
1916. HOPKINS g. HULL,
Successors to Janney, Hopkins s. Hull.
PHILADELPHIA, 10 MO. l2, 1888.
Janney, Hopkins s. Hull,
Bought Of Harker, Lea s. Co., 80 Chestnut St.
bale super Kentucky jeans, $685. yards,
at Is cents, 1923 70
Drayage, 81
1929 On
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