The Portland daily press., 1867-01-22
DAILY PRESS.
PCRTLA ND.
Tuesday Morning. January %, 1867.

Tuesday Morning. January %, 1867.
Concerning Spikes.
Mr. ]. N. Ayres writes from Stamford Com
necticut, to the editor of the New York T,;b-
une, to say that he has observed the secti,ns
in the Senate tariff bill allowing drawback
of duties on all imported articles used in the
manufacture of farming tools and In the con-
struction of sailing vessels, and that in his
opinion "some branches of our industry may
suffer seriously by this favorite legislation for
the agricultural and shipping interests" He
proceeds as follows:
Now take, for instance, little rolling mill in
this vicinity, manufacturing some 1900 tons of
| spike rods last year; these were made into
spikes, mostly for shipbuilding, and this draw
back on iron can be applied to the spikes used
as above mentioned, and those using them will
| import some direct from England, where the
labor is much less than here, and thus save du-
ty OIL 1-2c. or 34c. per lb. as the case NAV be-
on the rods, and the / 500 tons before mention
| ed were but small portion of what were used
IN your city and elsewhere last year. This
900 tons paid an internal revenue, when made
into spikes of about ~ 500, besides giving en-
| ployment to some eighty men and Summertime
6otamilies. The above does not include reve-
nue. paid on clothing, food, &C.. consumed by
these operatives, which might increase the sum
to $4,000. The consumers of spikes, SC. will
not get them for any less price than ii supplied
by the home manufacturers, for you are aware
OF the fact that when the English had control
OF our markets in supplying nails, screws,
prices to suit themselves, and that lower prices
were only reached by encouraging home pro-
duction. Further, the shipping and agricul-
tural interests are not in their infancy to re-
quire any fostering care that other interests do
not need, at this time, when all branches of in
dustry are partially paralyzed waiting for
smaller currency basis a little nearer the coin
valne to work upon. If we favor the above
named interests, other branches Of industry
will feel their needs, and press their wants to
the same end, and fear that when all hrancb.
es are served with apparent, not real, prospect.
ty, that there will not be much left but free
trade, without revenue to pay interest or prin-
cipal on our national debt. .4Irll7
1t will cost to import spike-rods to day
in currency, including duty on same H
at 80 1-3 per cent. prem. S107 20
II maze 10 spikes, deduct duty on same Al 80
Total $62 70
hand - 5000
r. ..,n lot Total $92 20
ent cost Of iron, coal, labor and with
Governments Tax at mill $50 90
Add for making spikes 80 90
Total $llo 90
Thus giving the English an advantage over
us OF some VIZ per tun on spikes used in the
construction of vessels, If the whole duty be
allowed as a drawback, beside their profit in
making rods and spikes
II we adopt Mr.. Ayress conclusions, the al
tentative is presented Of sacrificing the spike
manufacturers or the shipbuilders There is
no room for doubt that the shipbuilding inter
est, though not Sin its infancy" is in great
danger Of being strangled by the operation of
injurious laws. IT now Congress should de-
eide, as Mr.. Ayres proposes, that spikes are of
more account than ships, it would next become
an important question where market is to
found for the spikes. They are designed, it
appears, "mostly for shipbuilding" There is
now just one vessel on the stocks in New York.
If Mr.. Ayres could legislate for the country,
he would have none next year, and his ";ittle |
rolling milp would be compelled to 60 into
other business. There would be market to
be sure in the shipyards Of New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia, but our manufacturers would
be less able to compete with the English arti-
Gle on equal terms there than at home, by ex-
actly the additional cost Of transportation. In
any event therefore, tho manufacture of spike
rods must cease. 1t cannot be saved, even
If Congress were willing to sacrifice our ship
ping Mr.. Ayres may as well submit 10 the |
inevitable with good grace, unless he can
get his iron and coal at prices which will en-
able to turn out the rods at the mill as cheap
ly as cheaply as they can be laid down there
from England. ~.,,. -..,....s
As to the assertion that CONSUMERS of |
spikes, &c, will not get them for any less price,"
we beg MIR. Ayres to refer to his own figures |
which show difference of ST toni He |
probably means that heavy demand from
this country would raise the price in the Eng
lsh market, which is not unlikely; but he
must see that whenever the English manufac-
ture1s ask $50 a ton for spike rods laid down
in this country, they will no longer have any
advantage" over American ironworkers.-
He can take either position he likes; but be
cannot consistently claim that the allowance
OF drawback will give the English an advan-
tage, while at the same time the consumer
will not get his goods at less price. If the
American manufacturers can supply the |
market, they will certainly continue to do so
unless the English article is cheaper
The rolling mill gives employment, we are
told, to eighty men, more or less. But if
spike rods were the only product of the mill,
and these eighty workmen were to be thrown
out of employment by legislation which will
impart new activity to our shipyards, we do
not see how the country would lose by the
change. If either the ironworkers or the
shipwrishts must be idle, what prerogative |
can the ironworkels claim? Is their product |
OF superlative importance? OF what use are |
these spikes, except to build shipsp Mr. Ayres
tells US they are designed mostly for ship
building" Suppose we put stop to ship
building, how much better off will the iron |
workers be9 In point of fact they will 90 to |
work on railroad iron, on nail rods, &c. |
What difference will 1t make to them. |
whether ships are built with English iron in
New England or New Brunswick? That. on |
Mr.. Ayres's showing, Is the only choice which |
is left to us.
The country will lose something in revenue.
but the loss will be more apparent than real.
The attempt to raise an excessive revenue
overreaches itself by restricting production
and destroying the sources of revenue. The
conviction is very general that the excessive
taxation under which the industries of the
country now labor, Is killing the poultry !
which would, with better management, afford |
a store of golden eggs. 1t is the deliberate
purpose of the government to reduce its reve-
nues as far as will be consistent with the safe
ty of the public debt, in order to stimulate
production and develope its sources Of reve-
nue.. 1t is not good economy, as even Mr.
Ayres ought to see, to destroy our shipbuild-
ing interest in order to save the revenue 10 be |
derived from the manufacture of spikes.
t.' Look TO your Stables.
In this piping cold weather, good husband
man will not only have his thoughts about
him as to the comfort of the human beings
dependent upon him in the house, but he will
also be merciful to the dumb and needy crea-