The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-04-15

sented on the ground that the south has .
very largo number Of unskilled laborcrs,
and for them it is necessary to obtain en-
ploymcnt, Why. then, seek to introduce
the most difficult machinery 70 operate
without skilled labor2 The experience
Of our cotton manufacturers is directly to
the point, but II ovcrthrows the grounds
of appeal for the introduction Of English
machinery for the purpose Of employing
unskilled labor in spinning cotton into
yarn. Those in this city tell us that the
trouble they experience in working Eng
lish machinery, is the difficulty of getting
skilled labor, while our American ma
chinery is operated more easily and re-
quircs less skill in running it. Their
experience goes to show that were COR
poration TO start mill where the ma
chincry was to be operated by other than
taught workmcn, they would find II great
ly to their advantage to use American
.
built machines. -. .r t.-
The effort TO provide sonc Industry 10
frcc,l lafcr i,.a move in tho tight tlircc-
ton, and should be countcnanccd by tho
whole country; but tho movement should
he an intelligent ono. while this is not.
II proposes to Introduce an industry for
the employment Of their unskillcd labor
crs which can be exercised only by skilled
labor. II proposes to manufacture with
raw hands an article for which there is
absolutely no demand in that whole sec
ton, and scarcely any demand in this
country, relying wholly for the foreign de-
mand. which now requires the most per.
fectcd yarn produced by the highest Eng
lish skin, and it proposes to introduce
such manufacture in climate greatly
unsuited for it.
Seventy-fvc per cent and more, of the
demand for cotton goods in the South is
from yarn Of less number than %; while
n large proportion Of that demand Is
Qarger than at the North) for goods
ranging from numbers to 20 yarn.
Such yarn they can produce II they can
produce any; but instead of that the pro-
position is to produce yarn tho most diff
cult to make of any, yarn from number
sc and upwards to 90. a yankee would
say at once, let us supply ourselves by
home manufacture with that which we
have to buy. Almost the exclusive trade
of those freed labor States in cotton goods
is for our manufactures from numbers 2
to % yarn. ut cost Of two or five cents per
pound more than it would cost ut local
ity where the raw material is grown. 1al,.
A hot climate Is unsuited for spinning
yarn, especially that Of n nice quality.
The experience Of every cotton nianufac-
turer is to the-eiTect that wet climates are
the most favorable for such purpose. In
New England more yarn is produced. and
consequently moro goods manufactured,
in the months of March, April, May and
November than in any other months
while less goods can be manufactured in
July and August than in any other
months, while in those months our manu-
facturcrs find it impossible to spin
yarn without resorting to mechanical
means to get the necessary moisture.
Tho climate of England is VIGOROUSLY
moist, which gives her manufacturers an
advantages over hot and dry climates, for
which no Legislation can compensate.
The gentleman desires the success of
his amendment because he wishes to make
yarn to compete with that Of English
manufacture, and for that purpose he de-
clares it necessary to use machines of
English build. We have endeavored to
show that such ideas of necessity are
without foundation, and that there Is no
superior process known. in England for
the manufacture of yarn that We do not
use. These statements can be verified, If
the gentleman will consult any large cot
ton manufacturers IN the United States, or
cotton machine builder. He ADVANCES
another argument that the south, abound
ing in unskillcd labor, must have English
built machines To operate-a statement
made under total Misrepresentation of
the facts, and contrary to the experience
of every cotton manufacturer in this
country.
1t is hardly necessary to dwell upon the
disas.erous results which will arise from
the proposed measure. Tho true theory
upon which any tariff, however small, is
based is, protection to our homo indus
tries. Whatever feelings of charity and
pity we may entertain towards any section
Of our country, we arc not called upon by
the exercise of the commonest sense to
force one class of Our industry 10 contrib
ute MI tho aid, and that TO their own ex-
tinction. As the letter elsewhere well
says. "Adpit these machines free and we
are DONE" Every manufacturer Of cot
ton machinery in the country ceases his
works nor will he be driven TO making
better machines or from English patterns,
since no now makes from those patterns
al the machinery which actual experiences
has found to be superior to our own. i
Since writing the above, Washington
correspondent says: 1T appears that the
excitement among Southern members about adj
hitting the machinery duty free has been gotten
up by person who has ordered q set Of machine
cry for his mill at Tallahassee, Fla, and hopes
to get il admitted free"