Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1862-05-28
For the STANDARD.
tut tHe Oldu
COTTON FACTORIES

Mr. EDIT6R:-Believng you to be an impartial
man, and trying to publish the truth and willing
to give all fair hearng-with these thoughts after
seeing an article in the Standard in regard to the
extravagant prices charged by the cotton manufac
turers for yarns and sheetings, as unnterested
man, have desire to have both sides of the queS
ton shown. There great many things 10 lie
considered in this matter and as l have been an
operative in the cotton mills for the last fifteen
years, know something of the change that has
been in the price of factory findings, as well as fac
tory goods. For instance, before the war, they
could get the best sperm oil for 81 80 per gallon,
and now it cannot be had at any price But, as
substitute, groundpea oil at the enormous price OF
So so per gallon, and lard oil at s. 90 per gallon,
and neither of them is good for lubricating ma
chinery as the sperm consequently the machinery
is damaged as much in one year as it would be in
three when luLricating with sperm; so here Is one
great tax the factories that they did not have to
contend with previous to the war. Belt leather,
that has run up to 81 25 per pound, when have
worked it that cost only 80 cents. Brooms from ~
to so cts. steel and iron for repairs have gone up
beyond reasonable former from 25-to 70 cts, the
latter from to 20 cts per pound. Laclng leather,
that could be bought before the war for 81 20 per
side costs So 90 per side at present. SpOols quilts
and bobbins cost twice as much they did previous
to the war; and there are great many articles that
the factories compelled to have which have all
got the specializing prices on them 1t does appear
to me, that if the people would take the above state
ments and calculate for themselves, that 1t Wouu
have tendency to some extent to alay the pre)u-
dice that seems to have arisen against the cotlOn
factories. Another thing to be considered IS taa'
the manufacturers are not to blame altogether lot
the high prices of their goods but spectators senu
in their orders bidding up, and it has been custom
airy ever since can recolleet that when an artlci'
is for sale, whoever pays the most for it, gets u
consequently the spectators who offer the most iOr
the factory goods, get them. Down with specula-
tion or it will whip us before Lncolns army does
There is another thing to be considered-tat Is,
wages in the factories have gone up. The lslanu
Ford factory is exception in this case for while
other factories have advanced wages % per cent,
they have advanced them 80 per cent There
another particular for which they deserve still more
credit; that is, they are selling their hands pro-
visions cheaper than any factory | am acquainteu
with, and all the factory goods the hands need lof
their own use are sold to them at reduced price
while others charge their hands the same that tney
do spectators. l do not believe that our agent pas
any desire to be speculator for l have Frequently
heard him tell his customers if they would furnish
him provisions at the old price, that he would sen
them yarns at the old price. But spectators olu
up, and who will refuse money? The only reason
can assign for the Island yarns going up hghsf
than the others on Deep River, is, that it is lar 81"
perior to any made in this county.
!. AN -OVERSEER