Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1870-01-06
~ The iron manufacturers If the

EE The iron manufacturers Of the
Hanging Rock iron region, including
both sides of the river. were in session
at Portsmouth, last Thursday Rep
resentatives we're present from thirty
manufacturing establishments. The
meeting was called to consult upon
matters of peculiar interest to this Sec
lion, in view of the proposed reduction
of the tariff on pig iron. The conclu-
siens of the meeting are embodied in The
following resolutions, which passed
unanimously, to-wit;
"WHEnEAs, There is an unprece-
dented attempt on the part of Foreign
Free Traders, to break down the finan-
cial policy of the United States, in ref
erence 10 the protection Of the lsborer
and producer, in this country, to ac-
complish which, large Sums of foreign
gold are being disbursed to influence
public opinion in favor of the repeal of
part of the revenue laws, known as
the tariff, the principal or only effect of
which would be 10 oppress the laborer
and producer, as to make their eondi-
ton parallel, or Inferior to that of the
subjects of Monarchies of Europe, and
especially the psupered labor of Eng
land. Therefore
"Resolued, That we, SIS manufac-
turers and laborers, residing in the
Hanging Rock iron region, while we do
not defend as apern,snent measure of
financial policy, for the people Of the
United States, the tariff OF 1862 in all
its details, yet We do most solemnly
protest against any material change in
the general principle of that act. look
ing TO the revenues and protection that
il yields aud affords TO the. GoEsrnment
and people OF the United States.
''Resolred, That We hereby accept
the issue rendered by the Free Traders
of The Old World and their satellites of
the new, and pledge our constant and
unyielding efforts to preyehi the adop-
ton of measures that shall affect, inju-
riously, the interests of the laboring
and producing industries.
"Resolrsd, That if labor and money
we're as cheap in the United States as
il Europe, pig iron and IFS products
could be manufactured as eheaply here
as there, and we do. therefore, depre-
cate any system which will tend to de-
press the wages Of the laborer and man
ufacturer, in its production-nine-
tenlhs Of the cost of which being labor.
"ResOived, That by reason of the
protection Of this branch of American
industry, giving promise ofpermanen
cy, the manufacture of pig iron in the
United States has increased more than
one hundred per cent. in the last four
years, and if capitalists shall have hope
of the same stability, the year 1871
will show an increase in the production,
of about three hundred per cent. since
1865, and which, if allowed to remain
until the natural resources in this
branch of our industry be fairly and
fully developed, full supply for all
demands would be produced here, di-
versifyins and giving employment to
the labor of our people 10 an extent
never before known, and self-interest,
if not self-preservation, dictates eau
ton against disturbing any.industrial
interest of the country"
VIZ. D. KELLY, Esq made an ex-
hibit of the business at Center and
Hecla Furnaces, for the past six years,
which showed an average gain on cap
ital of seven and a half per cent. per
year. This is lower than 20 put the
profits, some weeks since, in an article
upon the iron business, and which call
ed forth the ridicuIe of the Cincinnati
Gazette, as being twenty or thirty per
cent. below the real profits. The
Gazette will please make note ofMr.
KELLY's statement, and, if it has any
justice in its makeup, give us credit
for being nearer the truth than it was.
The meeting appointed Hon. II. S.
Bundy, John Means and John Camp
bell comm ittee to 60 to Washington,
to represent the interests of this section
of the country.