The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1852-06-10
Tbe 11)eehly Gazette,
CITY OF LANCASTER:
"Wednesday Evening, JuncO, 1882

The TARIFF-IrOn IntsreSt-fioHle Man
hfactures. The great iron works at Boon
ton, New Jersey, were advertised for sale by
the sheriff, on the first Of this month. These
works have been in operation some twenty
two years, and have paid out for labor an
average of about $25O,OO0 annually. The
stockholders, we learn, have received but
ten per cent. on all on their investment, for
in good times the money made was devoted
to improving and extending the works, and
in bad times they had none to divide. The
establishment closes with all debts paid ex-
,cept what is owing to some ofits own stock
holders for advances.
"We know" says the Tribune, "what Free
Traders say of such an occurrence as this;
The failure proves that these works ought
never to have been constructed. Let them
sink; if they fall, it is because we can get
iron cheaper elsewhere But no,gentlemen!
cheaper in dollars, (Which are mere signs)
we may; cheaper in products or actualvalues,
we shall not For much ofthe labor where
by these works produced iron, will not be SO
pro6tably employed elsewhere; much of the
capital embarked in that production is des-
troyed by this disaster; many of the products
for which these iron works made a market
can never be SO we'll sold elsewhere. The
farmer who sold his hay there for twelve dol
lars per ton may now get as much for it in
New York, but it will cost him half of it to
bring it here and sell it; and so of many
things besides. What compensation for the
loss of his home market to a seller of char
coal or cordwood at the iron works on Lake
Superior would be market, at even double
price, in Baltimore, when treble the value of
his product would not pay the expense of
Transporting it hther!"
And the Baltimore American adds that
"the efforts which have been so Industrious
ly and so perseveringly made by the adver-
saries of the protective policy, to induce the
belief that an antagonism of interests ex-
listed between manufacturing and agricultu-
raj industry, have worked so large an a.
mount of mischief, that we must believe the
time for a wholesome reaction is at hand
The accidental occurrence of great scar
city in Europe, arising from failure of crops
soon after the passage of the tariff act Of
1916, gave occasion to the advocates of that
measure to take much glorfcation to them
selves, and they pointed exultingly to the
large foreign demand for our grain, bread
stuffs, and provisions, as illustrative OF the
beneficial effects OF the new tariff. The
case presents different aspect now-an
aspect which must continue to grow worse
and worse for the farmer unless the act Of
1916, among its other results, can be made
to create another famine across the water"
"We have produce to sell, says the Poly
nesian, "but there 10 no one to buy. Could
the coffee, sugar, syrup, molasses, potatoes
and other vegetables, poultry, stock and
fruits, now on hand, find a market at fair
rates, the depression now existing would
instantly vanish, and the consumption of
merchandise increase fifty-fold."
When the people of Polynesia shall come
to learn that it is to their interest to bring
the consumers to take their places by the
side of producers, they will cease to COM
plain that they have produce to sell and no.
body to buy it, and after the tariff Of 1916
shall have done its worst, if not before, men
will be sent to the American Congress, who
instead Demonstrating presidential platforms
and making presidential candidates, will
manifest some interest for American manu-
factures and afford some protection to Amer
can labor and American products Facts
will overturn all the fine spun theories of
free-trade apologists and the advocates Of
cheap labor.