Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-01-24

Rr;t,in and Ireland at between two thousand one
hundred and two thousand two hundred millions
/ If we add, for articles omitted by MIN, between
three and four hundred millions, we shall have
total of two thousand five hundred millions. The
| British exports and imports amount annually to
about five hundred and twenty millions exclusive OF
gold and silver, and of foreign commodities import
| ed and re-exported. If their foreign trade were
| brought down to our scale upon this estimate, it
would be reduced to about one hundred and eighty
three millions. If ours were raised to their scale,
! il would reach about six hundred and twenty-four
/ millions.
| Estimating the population Of Great Britain and
ireland at thirty millions. and our population at
twenty one millions, their foreign trade averages
sl7.s3 for each individuals; ours $l0.42. If their
foreign trade greater than ours, IN proper
ton to population it would be reduced from five
| hundred and twenty to three hundred and twelve
millions. If our foreign trade were as great lii pro-
portion to population as is theirs, it would be
swelled in amount from two hundred and nineteen
to three hundred and sixty-four millions.
A leading cause Of the existing difference is to
| be found in the fact that Great Britain exports
chiefly what she has first brought to the form in
which IL is ready for ultimate umptiOn it is at
the stage of its highest value, and her market is al
most co extensive with the civilized world.
s, All history shows that where are the workshops
of the world, there must be the marts of the world,
and the heart Of wealth, commerce, and power. 1t
is as vain to hope to make these maIts by provid-
, ing warehouses, as it would be to make crop by
| building barn.
". Whether we can have workshops to work up
at least our own materials, must depend upon the
question, whether we have or can obtain sufficient
advantages to justify the pursuit Of this kind of in
| dustry.
The circumstances favorable to production in
this country may be stated to be; 1st Facility in
! procuring raw materials. I'd. Abundance CT fuel
and other articles necessary for the sustenanCe and
housing OF the laborcr. 3d. The superior ctiicien-
Cy OF the laborers in comparison with those ofoh-
| er countries.
Tao circumstances supno ed IN In unfarorahJa
| to production may be thus classed;
| LIST. Want OF capital.
| I'd. DEAFNESS Of our labor as compared with that
| OF other countries. $3.50.
viole mt and siye fluctuations of price in for
eign markets. ana to undue foreign competition.
| LIST. Capital, which is but the accumulated saw
inEs of labor, is believed 10 be abundant among our
selves for any purpose TO which it can be protaby
| applied. 1t is more divided than in some other
countries, and associations OF capital thereto
| more common among us than elsewhere. 1t will
be increased by the labor of every Successive year.
and for investments reasonably secure, ii win aow
in whenever required (as it has always heretofore
done) from other countries, where it may exist in
greater abundance. The amount of capital required
| for large production is not enormous. The
whole capital, tor instance, employed in the esab
| lishment and support ofircn-worLs in England and
Wales in 1S47, has been estimated at less than one
hundred millions of dollars the annual production
| then being about one million two hundred thousand
| tons.
| I'd. The difference between the price of labor
here and in great Britain is certainly great, and,
is to be hoped and expected will never be dimin-
ished by reduction Of wages here The difference
| has been estimated at average of thrty-thrce
per cent. Probably the average difference is much
| more than that In some branches, such the
manufacture OF iron, it is certainly much greater.
This difference is in part compensated by the dis
advantages under which the foreign manufacturer
is placed by the necessity in branches fpgo-
/ curing his raw material from a great distance.
transporting heavy article Of production (such
irorl to distant market In addition, he is press
| et 10y heavy burden oftaxstinn. The greater eh-
cheney Of our labor is to some extent an additional
compensatory element. This Includes the greater
/ capacity for acquiring skill, the superior general
intelligence, the higher inyei tive faculty the great
| er moral and physical energy, beth OF action and
! endurance, which our people possess in COMPARE
son with the foreign lsborer. Better fed, clothed,
housed, and educated conscious Of the ability to
| 10y up some capital annually from his savings; en-
Outraged to invest that capital In the enterprise in
which his labor is engaged; enjoying practically
greater civil and political liberty; looking forward
to an indefinite fuure, in which, through his own
good conduct and example. he may expect each sue
cessi,e generation of his descendants TO be better
circumstances than its predecessors, it cannot be
| doubted tina. these advantages add greatly to the
| efficiency of the American lahoIer. The precise
extent to which they go towards conronsatipg the
din. renee in the price of labor il Istihcult de-
| fne. The efficiency of our labor may he expected
e. Increase Win the increase of reward to the la
England factories
| iabofers are encouraged TO invest their surplus
earnings in the stock Of the company BY which they
are employed, and thus stimulated By direct
personal interest to The greatest exertion 1t NAV
be expected that this stem viii be introduced into
other branches in which il may be found practical
Ole, tending, as 1t does. powerfully to ele yate
the ,aborer increase production, and practically in
struct all men in the great truth of the essential
harmony of capital and labor.
81. Capital flows freely at home and abroad in
every productive channel in which it can flow safe
ly, and will even incur great hazards, if they be
such as its owner NAV hope to meet by the care
and circumsreCtion Of himself or others to whom
he has confaed its Management. But il he knows
that Skill, industry and economy cannot avail him,
and that in addition to aIl the contingencies of
rivalry and markets, he IS to be further exposed to
dangers arising from causes quite beyond his con-
troll or coun.eracton, he win hold back. The
raciiialons which have occurred in our policy |
have no doubt deferred large amount of capital
from Investment in industrial pursuits. The en- |
enlargement offered one day, and on the faith of
which fixed investments have been made, which |
are opposed to loss by the Withdrawal of that en-
u!agemcnt the next is in fact substantial dis
coufagement; and the insecurity resulting from |
the repetition OF such acts has been seriously det-
rlmental.
4'h. The fluctuations in the foreign market have |
FOR many years been such as seem to denote an I'M
healthy and feverish state of business. They are
not III the natural course of wholesome trade
They seem to beto,en change in existing arrapge-
ments, and the apprehension CT such change is also
e'ihced Ia the Efforts now making in England to
sustain the British manufactures, by putting at
hazard other important bran, hes of industry. The
competition Of new establishments with very large
ones already in existence abroad. and in which the
price OF labor is lower is evidently not an equal
ccnpetition. The capital fixed in machinery. fur
m, -, sc. cannot be changed, and the work ofpro-
duct;on vii, not ease uutil the price shall have
been reduced to p2ins very little above the cost
of materials, labor and rei.sirs. vi course "nefc
the lower price is paid for labos the WIZ De a
larger margin for reduction by the sacr,tce G. Ia''
OF the profit; and where great accumulation is in
hand OF The ayais Of the business Of forer years,
the owner may find it his interest for while to
sell his commodity at less than the actual cost, if
by that means he can drive out his rival, looking,
OF course. to subsequent reimbursement, lat stu
when he shall again have contro, OF the market
This known necessity oc the position of foreign
ofcourse tends to discourage new as
well as to defeat the successful operation of ex-
listing investments Of capital here in similar enter
priscs.
To counteract the influence of these unfavorable
so long as they continue must
greatly retard our advaH cement, limit foreign
commerce, and prevent the due progress of indus
Try, propose that the duties the staple commod-
ties, {whether raw material manufactured arti-
rles) IN which foreign nations compete with our
own productions, be raised to point at which they
viii afford substantial and sufficient announcement
20 our domestic industry, provide for the necessa-
y increase and due security of the revenue, and en-
sure the permanenee and stability Of the system. |
Experience has, think, shown this to be wise, |