Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1849-05-31

Wealth AND INDUSTRY OF BOSTON.


Week'before last gave comparative statement Of
the zeal and personal property of New York and Boston,
in $40 and 1917. friend has since favored US with
the valuation Of New York fer 1S4S. which we now
compare with Boston for the same year =
Real Personal Total
New York l93,029076 81 .l64.45l 1884, l93. 527
Boston l00403.200 69,374 500 l67, 72o, 900
Increase in Eight Years
Boston s73,l46.4OO
New York I35O373
In population. New York exceeds Boston about two
hundred per cent; il property, only fy-wo per cent.
The taxes assessed in New York, in lS4S, amounted
to 81 1910 Of which $3.50 S30-raher less than
per cent-was for education. The taxes of Boston, for
the same years, 100000 of which S3Q3, 900
about "a per cen-was for public schools. From
these facls is evident that the children of our city are
much better educated than those of New York; and it is
to this very ,udlcous investment of portion IT oul mon
ey that we are disposed to ascrbe large share of
prosperity; for an intelligent, well educated population
will puoper, where slightly educated hafawake peo-
pie will stand still or do But that is point which
we do not intend to discuss. at this time.
In proportion to It's population, Boston is the richest
city IN the Union; and yet it is curious fact. that the
dally labor Of her citizens produces annual income
than produced by the whole of her vested cap
lta large as is The interest Of that capital is about
SlOOOOOCJ; while the labor her 80 600 men, at the
very moderate wages Of dollar and quarter day. ex-
ceeds 81 900, 00eanauaIy.
1t is often renal ked and with TRUTH that the Demo
cratic policy Of "tree rade tends directly to make the
rich richer and the poor poorer The preceding figures
will help US TO show how The vested capital Of Boston
belongs not to the whole ppulaon but to comparative
ly few rich men. system which tends to decrease
the value of labor leaves that of income unouch-
ed It produces still its $4,000 900 annually but
great ponn OF that income is paid by the receivers
OF IT. Tor labor-bulding ships. houses. rail roads, Sc
as further investmen Of wealth. and FIR all The ordinary
purposes and expenditures Of life It is paid 10 that OH
r class, who earn the Sl 100000 and upward by the
labor Of their hands Now if the demand for labor is g
much diminished that this class are Obliged to work fiji
doar day instead Of dollar and quarter they earn
mt SJ0oOOOl; and The ference Of g 25O 900 il 81
much Sared by The RICH al the crpel-Se Of the poor They
have obtained for nine millions the same amIunt Of ablr
i0r winch they would have paid eleven and 4 quarter
millions. and much richer while The workers are
precisely 50 much poorer. And of course with every
reduction IN the price Of labor the difference is still wi
der Inc rich man grows richer with greater rapidty
and the hope OF the poor man. that he shall day be
able to retire from the field Of labor grows fainter with
every passing year. Thus far, we suppose every one
VIII agree with u.s. and we intend make the rest Of ou
proposition equally clear.
II two sheets Of water separated by dyke-if
81 them covers but small space and the other very
large one, and that which the small space is
era tee higher than the other, suppose that if the
dyke is removed, the small and higher pond will rur
down hill and find lis level with the larger and lower
we have not the slightest idea that the large one will rur
up hill and find level in the other.
As compared with all The rest of the world labor, ir
this country, stands about four to one and it stands ST
because Is protectcd-has been and still is somewhat
we should say. This protection is the dyke which sep
araes the higher from the lower pond and which fret
trade proposes to remove with the bold assurance tina
the relative difference will not be altered or altered
that 1t will be improved by the operation. 1t makes
qualification. II is true Water mqy run down hill
there IS nothing 10 prevent it. it is barely possible bu
gd does if the price of labor falls in this country to tn
level ofhe rest ohe world the loss will be amply mad
up by-CHEAP CLOTH and CHEAP IRON These arr
the qud pro quo nothing else House rent will not fai
taxes will not fa-salares will not fall-bead meat
potatoes fruit, will not fa-for are exporters now
every thing eatable;-but the man. who lives by tn
sweat OF his brow and the work of his hands, will
t'cety per cent all the cloth and iron he uses-per
haPS We say perhaps, because do not believe eve
SO much of the theory But granting all that free trad
assumes, the great of the people would make thi
saving cloth and ron-which we leave every one in
terested to estimate the value of-while they would los
hreefaurhs of what they earn and every dollar
that loss would be much gain those who have CAPT
tai enough to live without labor as we haze explane
above The advantages to the prssessors of wealth
snch an operation great and obvious, and yet h
strange and destructive policy is urged for the eapecia
benefit Of the poor.-BOston Atlas.