The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-12-26
Fer the E.Ouirer.
Mtssrs. Editors

branch of business at this time. There can
be no doubt but tina. the iron manufacture is
as profitable asas any other branch of busi-
ness carried on in this country if appearan-
ces are any criterion to judge by. We hear
Of no furnaces being sold by the Sheriff, or
Of any failures among men engaged in the
iron business. No doubt they would be
glad to make money faster, if they could by
any possibility do SO. But would high
protective tariff enable them to realize their
expectations? Possibly those furnaces that
have large stocks on hand might do little
better for a short time, but ultimately COM
petition among themselves would reduce
them to the same condition they are in now,
and in all probability much worse. To prove
this position we have only to 20 back to the
tariff of l842, and note the effect it had on
the State of Pennsylvania. Between the
passage Of that act and the passage Of the
tariff act of l846 tonly four yeors) there was
large number of furnaces built--the whig
papers have stated precisely-but l have for
gotten the exact number, and preparations
were made for a great many more which
were stopped on account of the reduced
tariff. This fact demonstrates very clearly
that when Government undertakes 10 make
one particular business more profitable than
all others, capital will soon be turned into
that business in sufficient qua ntities TO bring
it down to the common standard.
A tariff of that kind is positively injuri-
Gus as Pennsylvania can we'll testify at this
time by having l49 furnaces stopped and a
large number of them sold by the Sheriff.
The probability is, that large proportion Of
those furnaces were built without much cap
ital, orskill, or practical knowledge of the
business; and possibly number of them
were built in situations where the materials
did not exist in sufficient quantities to JUS
;ify building furnace at all, Yet all de-
pending upon the protection of Govern
ment to sustain them. The probability is
a large number Of them would have failed
even if the tariff had not been reduced, be-
cause had the same stimulating cause re-
NAMED in force, other States much more IA
vorably situated, would have followed their
lead and broke them down anyhow.
Certainly the tariff of 1912 was injurious
to Pennsylvania, because it induced men to
embark their capital and labor in business
for which circumstances were not favorable.
Now, it is evident, if the State of Penn
sylvania cannot compete successfully with
other States in the production ofiron without
assistance from Congress, she had better
abandon The business, because change Of
policy in the Government may at any time
reduce them 10 the same disastrous condi.
tion they are in at present.
Now, the conclusion is iIesistibly forced
upon us, that if the producers of iron IN
this section OF country can, by good man.
agement, possibly sustain themselves and
continue in their business; it would be bad
policy for them to petition Congress for an
increase OF duties on imported iron. Skill
and practice are absolutely necessary to the
successful prosecution of any business, and
when no extraordinary inducements are held
out by Government, capitalists will be very
cautious how they invest their means,
where both skill and practice are wanting to
insure success.
Some sections of country are more favor
ably situated than others for the production
OF iron, as well as for the production Of
anything else; and where iron can be made
without protection as it can in this State, in
Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri, and
possibly, in some other States, there is the
place to make it; and not try to force the
manufacture of it in old sections of coun.
Try where the materials are exhausted or o
too poor quality to compete with more ia.
vored regions, 1t is not in the power ol
Congress TO place SO large country as this
on an equality SO that one part will equal
advantages with another. 1t is for the peo-
pie of each particular section to develop
the resources Of their own places respective
y and produce whatever is best adapted to
heir peculiar soil and climate, and then
there will not be such a waste Of capital and
labor as was the case in Pennsylvania, in
trying 10 build up furnaces undera high pro-
tective tariff.
The people want cheap iron and If PENN
sylvania cannot furnish them with cheap
article, she had better turn her attention to
something else and not be wasting her time
and energies In supplicating Congress to
help her through with a bad business.
Now, the conclusion is, that where the
iacilitles are SO abundant and cheap as they
are here, and situated SO far inland with
such boundless market that foreign iron
cannot come in competition successfully il
is unwise for iron makers to create domes-
tic competition that will destroy their busi-
ness, At least such is the opinion of K
BOB WALKER. 4