Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-05-08
The great diversity Of uses to which IRON Is
\ pplied In the IIuited States and esnecially the

working of railroads make the means OF obtaining
il one ofthe most important questions that coul'
engage the attention Of the political economist
At present very lerge proportion Of what w
use is imported. although this country possesse
a supply ofthe ore equal perhaps to the res, o
the world. We find in a Railway journal es
innate Of the production Of crude iron throughout
the world from which il appears that Great Brit
ain produces about 3,o00059 tons, while Franco
and the United States together produce only II
900 tons.n something like equal por-
tons. The bu siness and wealth of Great Britain
is TO a large extent based upon her iron products
and this country with its inealouable supplies If
the raw material. of quality in many places
perior to the British lie her heaviest customer
Heretofore England has enjoyed advantages ari.
sing from cheap labor and large capital that have
rendered competition between this country and
that unequal but the journal to which we have
referred thinks that the relative conditions Of tho
country in these respects are changing and re-
marks that: for several years circumstances have
been operating to place the manufacturing inter
ests of both countries apon a more equal footing
and il requires but proper direction OF the en-
terprise Of our people, and a concentration Of
portion Of our capital upon this important branch
ofindusry, with the protective that should
he thrown around it,and may reasonably he cspec-
ted from the general Government, TO place this in
terest in position that will render the United
States formidable competitor of the greatest iron
producing country of the world. We possess
all the natural advantages that be desired
much superior to those possessed by any other
country, aud there Is no reason why should not
be able, at least, To produce sufficient to supply
our own wants.
The idea that we should turn our attention ex-
olusvely 10 agricultural products, aud depend
upon Europe for manufactures, has long since
exploded; but the do-noihing policy that was
practced under the influence Of such erroneous
views, has not been entirely replaced by that on
ergy. activity and sound national policy. upon
which We must rely for the firm establishment
and the rapid growth of our iron interests.
simultaneously with the explosion of tho false
idea referred to above, it was discovered that our
reliance upon European markets for a sufficient
amount of our surplus products, to oounterbalanoe
our foreign imports, was only occasionally safe;
and experience has shown that had this policy
been fully carried out the people would have been
impoverished, and the nation would hnve become
bankrupt This error, however, we still occasion
ally fall into.
The commercial disasters Of the last year led
to contraction Of foreign imports. bat the latter
under the isiuence of returning prosperity, and
the heavy demand that has been experienced from
abroad for our produce, are again rapidly increa.
Sing. This increase. under the partial delusion
that we can prosper by carrying on fully the SIN
gle branch of agricultural industry. promises to
continue. and unless il is checked by the drec.
ton Of portion Of the fruits of our prosperity
to the development of the iron interests of the
United Siates,and the promotion of other branch.
es Of manufactures, it will most certainly lead to
disastrous results. The tendency of the prices of
produce. with the exception Of cot,on.is to lower
rates, aud the indications are that the moye-
Inent will continue downwards, unit, the business
reproducing shall be rendered not very profitable,
ifnot an Improbable pursuit. In this event should
our imports be increased, the country will bo
drained of precious metals. We may have an
abundance of produce, but it will command low
prices, and can only be turned to profitable nc.
count by putting it into manufactures, and this
mp manufacturing interests. and thus securing u
population who may be variously employed. and
which will DO sufficient to consume on our own soil
the surplus produce which is now very often sent
at a loss to feed the hundreds of thousand opera-
tiyeson foreign shores who are mainly employed
by the demands from this country for the pro.
ducts of their workshops, while only one loaf of
bread in one hundred that they consume is made
of American cereals.
The main hope, therefore for the permanen,
prosperity and the continued rapid growth of this
Nation is in the enlargement and progress of
our manufactures.
AT the outset we stated that circumstances have
been tending to improve our position, as compar-
ed with Great Britain. In the latter labor has
within the last five years materially advanced. in
consequence Of the withdrawal of laborers, by
war and emigration There is no probability
that manufacturers will soon again be able to re
duce the wages of operatives. In this country,
the wages of mechanics and laborers, is much
lower than it was year or two ago, and the sup
ply of these Glasses in the United States is larger
now than at any previous time, and it is still on
the increase. The ample supply and prospective
low prices of produce. will tend to prevent an ad
vance in the price Of labor, because cheap food
and reasonable wages better for operatives
than dear food and what are regarded as high wa
ges. Our position therefore, in this respect is
in great measure the opposite to that of Great
Britain.
In the next place the active capital of the coun-
try is rapidly increasing, aud thus we begin to
pOssoss largely within onr.alyaa Aha ,.o.,. -.
cessary to develop our resources.
Let us then, instead of planning schemes 70,
the heavy importation of iron from abroad en-