Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-02-10
FOREIGN Us. HOME STEEL RAILS


The fnllowisg memorial has recently been
submitted to the Committee OF Ways and
Means at Washington, and it speaks for
itsef. We propose to ask, In introducing
j., whether it is possible that Mr. Hinckley
desires to reduce the nett earnings of the |
Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore
Railroad, by purchasing American rails at |
I'M extravagant price; whether the present
receipts of the Delaware road are So great,
or the prospects Of the Wilmington and
Reading 50 overwhelmingly brilliant, that
Mr. FELTON, or Mr. Steele desires to drive
foreign rails out of the market, and build up
u home "monopoly?' We rather think
they do not. We arc disposed to b. lieve
they comprehend the necessity of getting
their rails upon the very best terms possible,
in order for the success Of the great interests
under their charge The stockholders in
their enterprises demand that, and so do
their own interests. Therefore, when they
the consumers Of steel rails purchasers
who must pay the market price tor them
ask Congress to protect the American steel
rail mills, by higher tariff duty, we believe
it to be only another grain in the mountain
of proof that in the development OF our own
productive industry, by judicious import
duties, lies the best interest and true finan-
cial advantage of all consumers. These
gentlemen express that conviction, as born
of their experience. They have tried, and
know. their situation, when dependent upon
foreign supply, and they perceive the foul
means by which the foreign steel makers
are now striving to break down our mills,
and drive their owners out ef the business.
The memorial says;
10 the Finance Committee of the Cnite0
States, and the COMMITTEES Of Way
and Means of the House Of Ref'resen
tdtiues, U. S.
GENTLEMEN Immediately before the con
structiOn OF the first steel rail manuiactor,
in this country, foreign makers charged
$50 per tun (eqnal then to $22s currency
ior steel rails. AS American works wcr
built, foreign skilled labor introduced, hom
labor instructed, and domestic irons, clays
canister and spiegel (after many and eS
pensive trials) found to produce excel!en
gradually lowered, until 1t now stands q
less than $40 per ton in gold (or $06 30
currency. Now that several millions
dollars have been expended in macbiner.
furnaces, and experiment in periecting tn
process Of manufacture in this country, an
numbers of our own citizens are dependel
upon 1t for support, the business IS threa
oned with annihiation by the pressure
English and Prussian makers. We, as use
of steel rails, and transporters OF the TOT
and material for American manufacture
and their numerous employees and skill
laborers. do not desire to be dependent C
clusively upon the foreign supply, al
therefore ioin in asking that, instead OF I
present ad valorem duty, specific duty
Two cents per pound be placed upon u
article, being the rate fixed by bill viii
passed the Senate January 81, 1867, and
a bill which was reported to the House
the Committee OF Ways and Means duri
the same year; provided, that the st
rails contracted for by railroad compan
before Jan. J., 1870, be permitted TO en-
the country at the present rate oil duty
six months after the passage Of an act NIX
the duty as herein petitioned for.
1t is signed by thirty-three gentlemen,
Presidents or other officers of large 7
ways, among whom are J. Edgar Th'
sop. President of the Pennsylvania Cent
Isaac Hinckley, President Of Philadelp
wilmington s. Baltimore; Samuel NJ
ton, President of the Delaware Line,
Chester Creek Hugh L. Steele, Presi'
of the Wilmington Il Reading; Fran
b. Gowen, President of the Philadelph
ReaGing; II. S. McConb, Vice Presi
of the Southern Railroad Association,
Thomas Kmber, Jr., President OF the
mira & williamspoit VIM. IL. Gatz
President of the Camden d Ami
Henry Wood, President OF the Philadel
n Baltimore Central; F. A. Comfy, l
dent of the North Pennsylvania;
Cooke, OF Philadelphia; and >Nath
Thayer, Of Boston.
Let people ponder the solid sen
this memorial.