The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1854-04-22

engaged that busess that region have any dsPospn
to engage the manufacture OF railroad iron NeSefhe
less thnk more general ought TO be taken OF ths
subject than any which confined to any parcula
locality or interest--to one Or more States
There consideration connected win TINS SuJec
which ought % be weighed before determine wisely
upon il, which think has yet been suggested by any
ganleman but which, think, deserves our very serious
consideration.
In the present the treasury the financial question
connected with this measurethe question OF how much
would be subuacted by IL from the present means OF Inc
government ITS prospective revenue IN reference 70 an
immediate future before regard 10 what may DC t
condition Of Europeis not so imporant,in my Judgment
as another question question connected with The
manufacture ofrallroad iron in this country
very intelligent gentleman of my own State, the pres
dent OF one Of hs companies which hnds itself somewhat
embarrassed by the which have already
alluded forwarded 10 time ago memorial asking
Congress 70 suspend the collection of the duty on railroad
iron until limited time after the roads being constructed
should be put into operation. In private communication
to me- he went into the reasoning which the prayer OF
that memorial was founded No one OF the company Of
which he IS the president all Interested IN the iron man
ufacure; but taking larger view of the subject and look
Ing the all sections of the country and the
railroad interest generally his conclusion against the repeal
Of duty railroad iron seemed to be well supported
The prayer OF the memorial suspend the collection oil
duty until three years after the road should go into oPer
alton He of the opinion that suspension would prob
ably be beneficial to the railroad interest than the re
| peal Of the duty.
Sir confess that his reasoning made impression upon
my mind. He contendedand struck tofcibly that
you repeal the duty entirely, you place the whole r
/
road iron, within the control of the English
He persuaded that the repeal of the duty would be fo
lowed by the Immediate suspension OF the works now en-
gagged n the manufacture Of railroad iron IN this country
The English manufacturers, seeing this resntaeeing ina
the suspension of these works. and the withdrawal Of capt
tai them, had suspended these iron manufactures
would in year or advance their prices; that the
full amount deducted from the present price OF railroad iron
in this country by the repeal of the duty would probably
be than balanced by the increased price OF railroad
iron in England.
| Well, sir since receiving that communication, have
taken occasion with gentlemen who are Tar bc
ter informed this uubec. than myself and they concur
in the sentiment that it viii be impossible for the manuiac
of railroad The United States 70 compete sue
cessfuly with the English manufacturers, II me existing
duty repealed The is understood that Inc ex
listing duty be repealed suspended manufacturer
will close their business and look about for some other
poymen Of their capital and abor they will consider hei
investments for the present total oss as he o
ton of their manchnery fit TO be applied to the man
ufacure of any other description of IRON Now, SIR us
understand about eighty thousand tons OF railroad iron are
annually manufactured in the United States Deing
nearly quite one-fourlh the whole consumption Taking
the average of the last few years. this perhaps not quite
one-ourh but certainly eighty thousand tons per annum
very considerable proportion OF the railroad IRON uscu ~
the United States Ii suppose that the consumption OF
this article in this country amounts annually to
in value, then the mportaons OF 1t would amount 70 apou
$40 600 0O0 the manufacture in this country, one
fourth Of the WHOLE would be about 900 IN value
have not looked the statistics the official reports
upon this subject, have informed myself from othcI
sources of the actual of the trade this article as
not that this subject would be taken up TINS
mornngi but the fact believe, s that about oneourth OF
the railroad iron consumed IN the United states is man
uactured in this country IL you repeal the Duty or sus-
pend collection for four five years. these
will their operations, and this would produce
Immediately increased demand to that amount upon Inc
English manufacturers and the inference drawn by my
friend who made this communication to me- accompanying
the memorial from Tennessee which have alluded, was
probably the whole of the duty would be made
up in very short time by the increased price OF railroad
| iron in England el3 n az.a .
Now air. what to be the effect Of the present aspect Of
man TO whom have referred made these calculations
with reference any such crisis as that which no
seems impending in Europe. believe that one o. me
of the large increase in the price Of railroad
ron particunry in England much owing the
great demand from the United States as the demand Tor
the construction Of railroads the continent OF Europe II
there shall general Europe which seems now TO
very probable, may be that will produce cessation
of the Of the railroads projected on
that continents and that the railroad manufacturers IN Eng
land instead of raising their prices viii Ind themselves I'M
der the necessity Of selling iron at rates very much re-
below those which have obtained during the last two
years How that may be am not able to state or 10
make any inference which would be worthy OF consde-
ton.
But SIR there is yet general war in Europe, and
there possibility that there may be no war there IL the
continent generally remains state peace, those WORMS
of internal improvement which now beng constructed
there and which have referred, will probably continue
TO progress they have done within the as four or ve
and il that be So the demand from the continent for
English railroad will continue; aud II IL should con-
nuc in this county, TO an extent diminished by twenty
thirty from what has been WITHIN the last TWO
or three wears it would still be enormous demand Un-
der these the fair inference may be made that
as soon as our manufacturers should be Obliged to stop
their works and abandon the idea of continuing them al
any profit the English manufacturers would Immediately
take advantage of and add twenty or thirty per cent 10
the pree of their rails This consideration which de-
manda serious attention have conversed with other gen.
1emen upon this subject, not manufacturers OF iron, but
with persons who have taken an interest 10 the sub
iec and am inclined very much TO adopt the OPINION OF
III gentlemen with whom have conferred, and who say
,bet the better policy would be reduce the duty instead
OF epeang H. The proposition now presented by The sen
,tor from illinois amounts, IN fact 10 suspension Tor Elk
yeurs.
Mr. BELL understand II to be that no duties shall %
charged upon any imported nee the ls OF Juy is92
and prior TO he LIST Of July, ISL
i Mr. DOUGLAS, From 1853 TO 1857
Nj RFLI To July, 1857; and that no duty shall be
rbargcsbe upon any railroad iron imported IN that year
/ fs51, 10 be used within two years thereafter.
i Mr. DOUGLAS. The duty Is to be suspended % iror
imported between the LIST Of July 1885, and he isot July
! Is5T-sour years. Ia,
| Nj BELL | understand that; but the honorable sen
altar think did not quite understand my proposition,
on,,na that this amounts practically TO suspension io
-, years and will state the II the duty be sus
pended for four years them towards the expiration OF Una
time 4, anticipation of the renewal OF the duty on INC Is
NJ Iuly 1857 capitalists whether connected with airoao
or moi woold con slider Il 20 be profitable speculation
nate largo poraons In anticipation OF the demand
for railroad iron within the next two years There Is n'
question that so that point Of fact this would amour
b a suspension for six years a,,....,
Who have looked largely into the subject, and who hay
considered well Of proper basis OF financial system
~, o,nrv in regard this article. 20 not refer 70 gen
emcn who have heretofore been considered protecons,s