Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-03
RICHMOND ENQUIRER.
TUEsD.y MORNING. JUNE 3, 1851.
,Jcrr IRON WORKS.

We were mncb pratjfcd Yesterday by visit TO this exten
se mandatory and edge TOOLS oil BEST charcoahof
and cast steel lust established by Messrs r. Archer d Co.
immediately above and adjoining the Armory The ma
chinerv and seem very complete and ada
bv conducted BY the manager Of large skill and experience
Mr. George REYNOLDS late OF Norwich, Connecticut as
sisted by his three Wo cordially wish success
this new Virginia enterprise Even Mr. Clay in late let
ter acknowledges that this branch Of manufacture carree
on with such need protection as the ne"
York Post says there has been competition between ''
American and the foreign axc-naaers since the controversy
concerning freedom of commerce began IN the oh'eo
The reason of the success of which Mr. Clay speaks--e
success which dees rivalry and desPlses protecuon Simply
the superior skill of the American azan There was nc
country in the world in which many axes were ~ahleu Us
in Amerca-thc country of woods and woodcutters-no
country in which good were in such demand "eh'
10 work and made them for ourselves made them with more
md v more ingenious methods than they could be made
abroad and this rendered competition from abroad hopeless
Wa marvel that Mr. Clay did that this success oil the
axe.makers without the aid of protection, and In spite u
foreign compettion affords strong argument in favor o
free trade 1t shows American ingenuity and skill unoe
the stimulus Of necessity overcome, when applied 10
manufacturers the ingenuity and skill Of other countries at
least far the market here is concerned MI Clay pro-
ceeds upon the ground that other countries Britain of IN
stance hive the advantage skill and that without The help
fish ingenuity under all the disadvantage Of being obliged
to send its products on voyage three thousand miles 10
our shores must triumph This very patriotic con-
cusion and it is very bad political economy Mr. Clay pro-
badly had forgotten when he w!oc his letter. the case OF the
silk manufacture in Great Britain. As long as it was pro-
tected by heavy duties, il was scky and angushng; US
these duties removed and tie manufacturers
put upon their ingenuity their best resource the silk
trade revived and becain oushing The manufacture OF
shawls in this country Mr. Clay probably is not aware
its Introduction not 10 protective duty, but 10 turtu
exerton OF inventive skill. We hit upon cheaper
mode Of making than Scotch possessed Of and
have further fear of Scottish rivalry in the market The
best method of encouraging manufacturers is to repeal all
protective duties and compel the sagacy and skill OF
citizens wrese unaied with the sagacity and skill
other nations We then succeed in all the
in which it is desirable introduce manufactures into
country and shall them up healthy and hardy
longer likely be affected by fluctuations of
caprces of legislation.
But 10 return MesSrs. K. Archer IL Co.'s Richmond
made and tools is curious watch the various
operations from the iron in It's rough state submitted TO the
ponderous blows of the giant thamner INSTANTLY put
in and out of gear by small levcr beat into shape
capped with STEEL its roughness removed by application
series Of huge grindsones then tempered FURNISHED la
bellcd furnished with handles and finally boxed up for sale
packed for the distant market of ST. Louis The handles
Of hickory make BY machinery in Massachusetts, In imc
is expected forests and machinery will furnish all
that may be waned With the exception ohc handles and the
anthracite COAL all the materials empoyeda Of Virginia pro-
ducton The themselves handsome any that
have from England the Nor,hand their temper
and strength very superior The establishment is
yet fully under weigh. al present from $50 10 200
manufactured every taywhen the full complement Of force
shall be made up three or four times that number will be
daily turned out. Again, wish full this
evidence Of Virginia enterprise industry and energy Messs
r. Archer A. D. Towne and r. $. Archer the prope-
Of the establishment.