New-York tribune., 1868-05-30
AMERICAN MANUEACTURES.

The foreign products annually sold IN TINS
CITY. and thence diffused all over the country,
cost some Two Hundred and Fifty Millions per
annum; the American Metals, Wares, and
Fabrics. which rival and compete with them, may
ndNLe worth twice as much, but their value can
not be much less than that Yet, while Millions
per annum are expended in advertising foreign
Wares and Fabrics, and commencing them to
public favor, not one-tenth so much are devoted
to the commendation of their American rivals.
A merchant visiting our City in quest OF goods
can scarcely take up paper that does not
fairly blaze with displayed advertisements OF
almost every article imported; while no corre-
sponding effort is made to call attention to
American products. An importer or jobber OF
European fabrics spends thousands per annum
for advertising, while domestic houses that sell
far more spend in advertising but few hund-
red dollars per annum, and oftener nothing at
all.
The consequences are manifest. The retailer
prefers to sell foreign fabrics, because he can
stick ON higher price when selling to less
discerning customers And great multitude
of consumers buy foreign fabrics without
knowing that there are any other He who
chooses to wear q coat of American cloth uor
instance) rarely knows where to find it: he
may ask dozen tailors in succession, and be
told by each that none is to be had. 80 with
many articles in general use. There are thou
sands who would prefer to buy home made
goods if they might; but they do not know
where to find them, nor even that they exist
The fault is not theirs if foreign goods thus
The American Watch Company started sub
stantially new business in this country some
ten or twelve years ago. 1t was obliged to COM
pete from the start with powerful European
rivalry, favored by cheap labor, ripe experience,
possession of the market, the prestige of excel
lence, and strong presumption OF established
superiority 1t was not possible to give them
much help by Protection, since a high duty on
goods so precious in proportion to their bulk
inctes to systematic smuggling. But they
knew the value of extensive advertising to
secure quick sales and prompt payments; they
acted upon that knowledge; and their conse-
quent success mas been immense. They have
annually extended their business till it has be-
come gigantic, and still it steadily increases !;
while their profits have been quite satisfactory.
lney hheW HOW W haho hohoJ' "i" 'N'1
have made it.
Were Five Millions per annum to be hence
forth judiciously devoted to commencing Amer
lean Wares and Fabrics to American consumers,
their market would rapidly and steadily ex-
pand, to the advantage of American Labor and
the increase of American prosperity and thrift.
We believe that this outlay would prove de-
cidedly profitable investment.
We should not have called attention to this
subject. had we not incidentally heard that 1t
has already attracted the regard of those more
Immediately concerned, and that steps have
been taken by influential persons looking to
prompt and systematic effort to correct the in
veterate error. Trusting that good intentions
will not be allowed to die fruitess, we await
with interest the result.