New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-05-08
Labor and Machincry-Effect on Wages.

generally. ED. I'rid.
Labor and Machfncry-Efect on Wages.
| To the Editor, Of the " J. Tribune
NoRRIsTowN, Pa, Tuesday April 20, 1852.
In The Tribune of the 9th inst. my at
tention was attracted by an article headed :" La
Dor and Machinery" l hear apprehensions every
day expressed that machinery will absorb all the
labor of country, from the fact that there are
few things to which machinery cannot be applied
with success. heard very ingenious Eastern
man once say that there not anything which
human hands could do that machinery coul not
be made to perform. When heard the allegation
made considered it extravagant. Reflection has
led me to believe it more reasonable.
think can make it clear that all his apprehcnded
Ills of the application Of Machinery to Labor are fan
cied real and that its application has humanizing
as well as an ameioratng influence.
1t is not the application of Machinery to Labor
which ought excite the apprehension and censure of
the American Laborer, but the application of policy
which has ruined the labor of every country in which
has been tried and will ruin American Labor if it is per-
mted much longer to continue, reduce 10 the same
degrading standard of value that of European Labor
Mr. Greeeys remedy very well as far as it goes and
is entitled to great respect and grave consideration, and
deserves TO be carried out wherever be- because
it is means Of elevaing Labor. But conceive it Is
only partial remedy for the progressive and alarming
III, which many of our most enlightened men clearly
perceive, but who want faith in the hardhanded popu
aton to their own injuries that they can be in
duced by appeal to their and understanding to
arrest policy that always has lessened and always will
lessen the demand for Labor, and consequently diminish
Its value and back to that policy which always has
and always will give large demand for Labor and conse
quently increased reward. 1t is alleged that the only
remedy for the diminished demand and value OF Labor
is physical suffering
They have produced the i'll and they have the remedy
and that array of facts and truths will avail anything,
and that the suffering of the Laborer alone effect
think it is libel against the hardhanded work
ingmen to take such ground They want the light and
the knowledge without appeals to their prejudces or
their party elngs and they will up to their true
and best Interest," which is the elevation of American
Labor. They did it in l640 and by the appeals of DEM
agoues cheated in 1874 and lost what they had
before gained and in 1S4S though partially successful
did not recover what they suffered by the change OF
buying instead of producing our own wants. With
proper efforts in 1852 they will restore policy that will
advance and elevate Labor
Sixty years ago, almost whole population were
supplied with raiment spun ingle thread at time, re-
quiring pair OF human hands and as many feet to per-
form the operation. Our weaving was done by the
slow process, and every other manipulation the
same tedious manner Our roads were In such condi
ton i'll the spring season OF the year, that ourhorse
postcoach busy making 20 miles per day. The
distance between our cities was journey OF as many
days as 1t now is Of hours Wehad turnpikes canals
tionary engine was rarely We were without
reepng machines horse-rakes, aydschargers, Tor
machine for unloading hay0 threshing machines, plan
ing machines and in short all kinds OF aoorsaving ma
chimes. ,,.
That, them is the period when human muscles ought
to have commanded the moot demand and the largest
reward Let facts and history answer female worked
Ne help to the farmer at the rate OF from oO 10 20 Genus
per week including board and the time occupied was
IS out of the "a hours and worked out of doors IN hay
time and harvest and also in planting corn potatoes &c
in the spring season. The price OF men was from cay
to 500 per year, working from daylight n DARK ana
mechanics more than double the amountPer annTi,
and working the tame number OF hours per day. Inc
price of linens under these halcyon days ior muscles
were from 50 cents to 81 yer yard and the nsey which
universally attend the country population was maze y
the same slow process, composed OF WOODEN ana hneh
the raw material of which was entirely PrepaTeo y
hand and was sold equally extravagant rates broau
cloths were entirely out OF the question WIN Tue ruia
and mechanical population The labor OF strong man
was reqred for nine days and upward not IoToua
days but Is hours the day. to produce shirt OF tne
cheapest kind This, too, in the palmy days Oh muscles
when there was machinery laoorer can now
produce in single day of 10 hours three shirts OF eul
quality and value we were Whnou' ~ vas NOT
over one.thrd or probably onefourth what IL now Is
With wages in every instance from three 10 Jour .es
increased and mechanical from hve 10 clght l,ies'
amid all the improvement and appncalioh o niloii
ery rament of every staple producuOh mas uiiiiii
ishcd in cost from five to ten tunes. W 70 oe nlU
clear shirt can be purchased 1or thiiy ec!' VI Sq
that wonld cost one hundred and nifty cents VI, in
other words machinery has enabled man 70 produce
three shirts for ten he urs labor that before ue appn
ton of machinery would require nine days iaDor Oh
l35 hours TO produce shirt OF IKE value hroso-
cloths which before the days OF machinery were tne
exclusive wear of the rich, are now withi ne reach Vi
eveyv jaborins man in the countIy ana wheh you go
10 church IL difficult distinguish the m,onare ~
his apparel from the mechanic or common iaooier. II
there Is snv difference to appearances, III a,oi
nj the lsborinr man. at least in the country now La
bor has been injured by the application OF Machhery
| cannot see 1t would be equally easy 10 SNOW tnas
the anncation of machinery has also cheaPeneu ioou
and fuel We arrive at tins evident ooie Ill.
the application of machinery 10 every Possan'ss
syocston has given us greatly increased comforts ana
largely extended enjoyments mentay wen , az ne
calv and rendered great amount OF ihoo ''I :. ~
than beatbful exercise II has done niole. ~ ls
sbortcned the hours of labor OF all mechanics anu os
M the operatiyes Ten hours is the day wor css
several hours for intellectual and social cue .~,
see no good reason why the same i 49, sxcsnt
ought not to be extended to agricultural IS tie
in seed time and harvest The working tme OF ,i 's
Iabo,ine population ought rather TO DC ,
machinery can be applied SO as 10 prouueo ,s h;ar,
yns,;on So deyoutly to be wished and desired, , %
has lesscned the hours of toll increased the ,
labor reduced the price OF raimen' iessened
srt;cles of food and given us fuel al greatly ST
100 7 LII admit that the demand for LABOR Is uaiy
lesseninq and that il s diminishing In vaiue, ou ~
The snnlicstion of machinery Those are ' s~,i,,
ro,,cv that prevents from producing ioi 'o sup"
Of our wants. ,,,h Aid not ticipate
my n,snced II any part Of it should be deemed
~n .iace in YOUR paper, II any OF tne iacs VI
wonany , pc have made can be by You put IN more
.rsc,;xe form so as advance the greS' VI
American Labor my aim viii be acconphsheu-