The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-07


to be fabrica ed here with such enormous rates of
Duty as toprevent any but the wealthy from graft
flying their fancy or INDUCING their taste. There
are but two branches of manufactures in Mary
and for which protection can, with any reason,
be asked. Even with the advantage of high |
tarif, however, sufficient and cheap production |
Of either of these articles could not he obtained: |
and for one of them, a discrimination against
Pennsylvania would be much more essential than
discrimination against Europe. While there is !
such an abundant demand for labor in the numer-
Gus branches of manufacturing industry which
are probably prosecuted, it can hardly be deemed
advisable even by the staunchest proectionst, TO
foster trade, at extravagant prices, which can
never be large one, even sufficient 10 supply
the whole home demand; or which does not prom
ise at some future day. to reduce the value of the
articles produced, by home competition, to a mod
crate rate. We find no grounds on which it can,
with any reason, be urged that the interests of
Maryland require high protection for either Of
the two branches referred to, viz glass and iron.
So very largely does manual labor and skillful
and intelligent mani pulation enter into the manu-
facure of the first of these, that it will be i'm
possible to produce it in America for years, any
thing like as cheaply as in France Belgium, Ger
many and Bohemia, where labor can be had at
one-fifth the rate paid here, and sometimes even
less. There is abundance of good material
here. Massachusetts, has beds of sand of the
finest quality. Berkshire sand is exported from
that State to England for the glass factories
there. There is coal, too, in abundance.
But notwithstanding this, and although this
manufacture in its commencement fostered
for years in Massachusetts BY bounty; and, al
though it has since had the benefit of forty years
protection, it has not only failed 10 be self
sustaining, but during this period nearly three
fourihs Of the establishments which were erected
in different parts of the country have been utterly
broken down. There has, indeed with the in.
crease of population and influx of European arti-
sans, been a great improvement in the quality
of the manufacture. The Boston pressed glass is
unequalled, and the Brooklyn cut glass unsur-
passed by any other that is made; but they are
only supported, at least so far the production
| of the finer qualities are concerned, by high dis
| eliminating duties against foreign rivals.
As the fundamental principle of protection is
|
to enable country to develop its resources. that
it may eventually have home-supply at re-
duced rate it is folly to argue that Maryland
should still submit to a high tariff on glass for
| the benefit Of Boston or Brooklyn, or any other
part o: the country, when the experience of years
| has proved that it is impossible to accomplish the
chief end declared TO be had in view. The glass
interest in Maryland is 81 very small one, and
although there advantages possessed here quite
equal, and in some respects superior, to those of
the Northern States, such as the cheapuess and
| quality of fuel, the superior capital and COMPETE
ton of these States has, as in every other branch
of industry, prevented its development here. As
member Of the Northern Confederacy or Of the
Union, a protective tariff can be of little benefit,
then, to this manufacture in this State while, on
the contrary, the interests of Maryland must
be really promoted by moderate revenue tariff,
which would not only supply the trade at 4 re-
duced rate, but at the same time bring a larger
revenue into the common treasury. As a member
of the Southern Contederacy, ii is quite possible
that Maryland, in which are, by far, the largest
glass factories in the slave States, might. for a
time, turn to good account the experience she has
gained, and the capital she has invested. in this
business, in the production of the commoner dual
ity OF the article, known as green glass. But, al
though she has capital sand on the tributaries
leading into the bay and most excellent fuel in the
mountains, advantages which would enable her ia
produce this quality Of glass without greater pro-
lection than that afforded by a moderate revenue
tariff, there are other locations in the Southern
States possessing still greater facilities The State
OF North Carolina can supply abundance of rosin
for fuel at 40 cents barrel-or indeed, much
less, so large IS the quantity produced in the dis
tllation of turD milne. Even at this rate. how.
ever, it does not exceed more than one-lourth tho
cost of coal. t is, besides, the hest and pures
fuel that can be procured, and, being entirely FIRE,
from sulphur, and leaving no residuum in the fur
mace, is less calculated to affect the quality of III,
| glass. In addition to this, abundance of sapf
can be readily procured from the coast OF Forid,
where it is said 10 be found of the very fines
! quality, in pure crystals, requiring no washing
| and containing no foreign substance other than
| small conch shells, which are useful as a Auy
| Maryland, therefore, can derive no benefit for any
length of time, from the protection of high tariff,
Northern competition, might induce the inves,
ment OF large capital in the hopes of SUPPLYING
the demand of the new confederacy. The ultimate
consequence would inevitably be that home COM
petition, in more favorable locations, would be
stimulated by the prospect of large profits,
ana the eventual result would be the loss
OF the capital invested in the undertaking.
"e'cannot see how, in any Contingency. it can
be the interest OF Maryland to protect this branch
of industry. We are satisfied, on the contrary,
that her manufacturing labor can be better en-
ployed, and that it is decidedly to her advantage
that she should be able to purchase at moderate
rates, what she cannot advantageousIv nrodnoo
| herself
We will discuss the iron interest of Maryland in
separate article.