Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-02-13

is gaining organized form in England. We are
glad TO see these designs unlnasksd, as they
csn hardly fail to awaken proper measures of
resistance on our side of the Atlantic. Fore
warned is forearrned, aDd our iron masters
know how to prepare for concerted efforts Of
British manufacturers TO usurp our own mar
kets. Let them only look to it that plotting
be met by contemplating:
American and British Iron.
The Wolverhampton (Eng) correspondent
of the London Mining Journal writes rs fol-
lows concerning the condition aud prospects of
the Iron business in the principal mining dis
tricts OF Great Britain. Woiverhanpton is
twelve miles from Birmingham, and is the seat
of an immense iron manufacture. We invite
the attention of all persons interested in the
Iron trade, or in the tariff, to the remarkable
statements of this letter; and we commend it
especially 20 the consideration of members OF
Congress:
WoLvERHAMPToN, Nov. 21.-No change for
the better can be reported IN the Iron trade.
The close of the Baltic ports has cut Off, for
the present, one of the chief sources whence
orders have for some time come, a2d, in conse.
quence, the supply of orders is very small, and
the works are in many cases only in partial
operation. The prospect for the ensuing win
ter is, that the men will be only partially en-
ployed, and that good deal OF distress will,
in consequence, be experienced, as there Is no
probability of an improved demand before
spring. The causes which have led TO this de-
preston it is not difficult to indicate. In the
year 1853, and the early part Of 1854, an i'm
mense demand came from America, which
was concurrent with a very astonishing III
crease in the import into that country Of all
kinds Of produce. that the exports from this
country rose from ZIG, 567, 737 in 1852 to 923,,
COS, 427 in 1868.
Such a sudden increase could hardly fail to
be followed by a reaction; and the deficient
crop of 1854 rendered that reaction COM
meTcisl crisis, which was most severely felt IN
America, and which was hardly less severely
felt in this district The splendid crops in
1856 and this year, with greatly diminished
consumption of our iron, and reduction OF
stocks TO the lowest point, in the United States
and Canada, were expected TO have brought
extensive orders during the present year; but
this anticipation has been disappointed. This
district has been largely supplied with orders
for war purposes as long as the war lasted, and
since that time for the Continent, including the
countries both in the Baltic and the Medlter
raneau; considerable orders having, also, been
received from Indian railways. From America
the orders have been scanty; and the exports
from the port of LiverpOol-trom which all
the produce of this district for North America
is shipped-show that in 1854 the export of
all kinds of iron, pig and manufactured, from
that port for the United States and Canada,
amounted to 243, l4S tons; in 1855, it fell TO
1875, 069 tons; and to the end of October in the
present year, it was only l43, 800 tons; which,
adding the full proportion for the remaining
two winter months, During which the exports
are likely to be less,) shows scarcely any in
crease this year from the very reduced exports
of 1856
Daring the present year the prices of iron
in America have been steadily declining; best
brands having fallen about So, and inferior
qualities from ST. to $40 during the year, Ia
the last three years the make OF iron in Amer
! lea has very largely increased; from 1858 to
| 1855, the annual production is believed to
have been doubled or to have increased from
| 100000 tons to 1000 900 tons, and that it is
since increasing at fully 600 tons per an
| mum. This increase is ascrbed TO the high
| prices prevailing in this country since 1858,
| which have admitted of the Americans, with
| their heavy duties, competing with our iron
| in their own markets. In fact, 50 far is this
competition said to have gone, that native
made iron, which has hitherto been confined
to the region west of the Alleghanies, is now
making its way into the eastern States, and
even the Atlantic ports.
These facts have led some interested in the
trade to the conclusion that it would be sound
policy for the StaffOrdshire iron masters to re-
! duce prices next quarter day 81 per ton, with
a view to regain the command OF the Ameri
can market, and to get rid of the competitors
who are supplanting English iron in the United
States. Doubtless, if the price of iron could
| be reduced to that extent for some Considera-
| bic period, it would ruin many of the Ameris
can manufacturers, and would for a time open
! the way TO a large demsnd for English iron.
The policy, not to speak of the fairness, of such
a course, however, appears open to grave ques-
| ton.
| There appears little doubt that a reduction
of 81 per ton must be declared next quarter
! day, and as little that proportionate reduc
| ton must be effected in the wOrkmen's wages.
/ Should further reduction take place, still
greater reduction in wages would be necessa-
ry; and this is extremely undesirable, especial.
| ly with the probability OF provisions remain
! ing at high prices; and it is hardly likely that
it could be effected, as the general trade of
the country, and the prevalent high wages IN
most branches, would probrbly prevent the
success of any attempt TO reduce wages 10 the
| extent such fall of prices 'uld render
necessary. Again, while the exports to the
| west of the Atlantic from Liverpool have beeu
so small, it by no means follows that this aps
| plies to the Scotch, the Welcb, and the North
of England ports; aud if the price of best quail
ity OF StatFordshire iron were reduced, the re-
suit would be to give the producers OF iron il
those districts and the makers OF infe5or iron
/ FL e hot f,~.,y . Ia 1.aF
| class makers could not supply the increased
! demand which such reduction would proba.
bly, lead to. The result would be, ii wages
were so reduced, that the hrst-class makers
| could make iron at these rates at profit, and
those who produced au Inferior article, which
they would be able TO sell at the same, or
nearly the same rates, would realize still lar
| ger profits, and q great increase m the mean,
| Of production would be the consequence, rev
works would spring up, new firms start, aud
thus the way would be paved for another
crash when this artificial stimulus ceased 10
operate. The approximation OF the prices Of
! inferior to those received for first class iron in
times Of great demand, is fact amply proved
! by past experience, and not a mere coujec-
ture.
But there is another point TO be looked st.
Such an attempt to destroy the American man
! afActuTer would create much heart-burning ID
| the States, and might leal To loud demand
! for an increase OF the preseat very heavy iin>
port duties which, it il did not prevail, would,
/, at any rate, operate poweriu.lylo prevent the
/ reduction of the present excessive duties on
J iron imported into that country. The true
/ policy appears to be TO fix prices at such
/ point rs will secure steady demand, aud not
4 attempt by artificial combinations to crush RI
I walls; tor there are laws which govern trad.
and which will Immediately cause such al
! tenpts to recoh upon their Authors
| Fram sane Corresponaont. Nov % b.