The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-12-03

and dividends tar more than compensate for
all these
Now that winter is al hand, we are re-
minded that the Coal Mining companies
have not been Indifferent to "advancing
prices.' But, if the statement made by
these companies be true, that SO great have
been the difficulties of procuring the facili-
ties Of mining, that even at the price Of
thirty eight cents per bushel now charged
for coal, they make only fifteen per cent.
per annnm, they should be praised rather
than censured; for it is wonderful that
corporation or speculator should be found
who is satisfied ,Oith fifteen per cent.-a per
cent. which in ordinary times, when men
have not become insane on the subject of
money making, would be regarded as enor-
nous. But high above all spectators and
other corporations, stand the cotton manu-
facturrs Of the South. To say that they
have abusedlhe privileges of their charters
and disregarded social duty, is to convey
ne adequate idea OF their ontrages upon all
conscience and decency. For several months
after the commencement Of the war, they
purchased the raw material at their own
prices, while in the course of eighteen
months, .hey have advanced the prices of
their manufactured goods from 500 to $50
per cent. No respectable man conld be
found 10 justify or excuse such extortion.
Yet many good men are so bewildered by
the mania Of the times, that they are salts
fed by the argument Of agents and mana
1gers, that If the companies do not charge
Inn al
lspecuators will, and th.y are therefore
tcunteht IN pocket this ili-gotten gain. Let
Us examine, however, the morality Of this
mode of satisfying good men. that it is
lust and right 10 secure more than fair pri-
ces. If the companies sell at moderate
prices, The consumer will not be benefited,
they say, because the spectators would
buy up their goods and make the customer
pay as much as the companies now ger.
There are two answers TO this lallacy. The
first is, that il is not true. II the compa-
nies we're really willing TO sell their goods
at fair rates, they could easily adopt such
regulations in making sales as would ena>
bic the consumer to get them. 1t would
perhaps add somewhat to their labor, but
they could without difficulty sell every
kyard of cloth they manufacture either to the
Government or individuals, who want them
for their families. Ii cotton 0snaburgs
were now selling in this city at twenty-five
cents per yard, a person needing for his
family only one hundred yards, could travel
three hundred miles 10 Petersburg and
back. pay his expenses and save money,
rather than pay the present prices. And
how simple matter would i be TO sell to
none WIN did not furnish satisfactory evil
denee that they were not purchasing for
speculation. Ii there was ga WILL" there
would be found "a way" No reasonable
man would object 10 these corporation.
charging such prices for their goods q.
would ensure ample dividends. Such di,i.
, denJs they could make, and vet sell ther
goods al such prices as would cause them 70
! be regarded with favor, instead ol bel
! hated as enemies to their country.
The second answer Is this: II these
corporations are justified IN charging
Sonscionable prices, because il they do .,
. spectators will, then there is no enorm Il
/ which may not be justified. You mai Is
! on the same ground rob man, beraus {
i YOU do not somebody else will. Il II
substance, to say 1--WE fear others
. speculate upon our goods, we will therelUte
! extort upon them" lf the obligation b
conscience be admitted. il cannot be let.
! ed that TO charge more than what = flt
; and Just is wrong; and il can surely hs ao
relief to the conscience for one 10 say u |
+ had not done wrong, somebody else would.
/ Aud what 10 these corporations pleal Y
, extenua,ion or excusei They tel nn
i they made bu, poor dividends heluf. ,He
war--that thef are wearing out The n.s-
/, chincyr, sc. Bn, the matter, when sif 4
, stated. is this: The country Is at wa ,rs
I enemy have bluckaded our ports, tbese lIe
1 but few cotton manufacturing establish