New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-09-01
AMERICAN CUTLERY,

FREE TRADE TESTIMONY FOR PROTECTI0N-WHAT
CORRESPONDENT OF THE SHEFFIELD INDE-
PENDENT SAYS.
If We want to find what Free Traders here really
believe concerning the results achieved by Protec
ton it seems must read what they write to their
foreign friends This is srikingly true in regard to
the progress of American cutlery. member OF the
Sheffield cutlery trade. writing to The Sheffield Inde-
pendent gives the following remarkable testimony
respecting the excellence and cheapness OF American
cutlery and the enterprise Of its manufacturers Inc
evidence is oil tho trustworthy as it is offered
solely in tho interest Of the Sheffield makers, who
arc advised to use energetic measures to retain that
part Of their trade passing from their control
"There will be no legislation this session the tariff
which change in actual operation until 1879 at
the nearest Tho opposition therefore, which Sheffield
manufacturers have encounter from native and pro-
tectod industry will not be abated for two II not FOR
three years to come not encouraging for such Shelf
field trades as tho trade for instance which now
nearly wholly driven this market 1t is no use de-
nyng either that during the respite which such trades
here as tho spring knife and tabe-knife trade will
have, their opposition will become more formidable
1t is true that the manufacturers Of tabeknves here
seem to have gone low they can in Price,
and that Sheffield goods just compete and that Is
oil and moro than that, pretends that American
table knife making money But there they
stand gigantic establishments each with it's little world
OF workmen around It, the representatives OF much LABOR
and capital invested under legal sanction and therefore
claiming tender consideration in any future financial ad-
Justnsnt The American-ntade and Uoblade pocket
knives beginning to push out similar 0oods made IN
She1leld all oper the West and North West They run
chiefly such Styles in blade as cost from three to
elk shngs per dozen Sheffield, and such two blades
as cost from to shngs In price they arc about
tho for the pattern but In fitting finish and
style very much superior The steel used as rule
nj md fhe lad COMPLAINT. Their patterns
ore not numerous. Indeed, they adopt precisely the
same tactics those used by the tableknife manuac
turers when they first commenced that competition with
Sheffield which has ended, practically IN the TRANSFER
snes Of that oustne" to this country. They choose
few good popular styles, they invent and
use machinery for every process possible, they
put In good blades, neatly ground, splendidly
marked, and turn out every knlre the
precise duplicate of every other. Hence the uniformity
reliability and general style which is found In no Shef
field goods except those Of standard makers regard 1t
as absolutely certain that the Sheffield spring trade
has, 40 far as this market concerned pass through
precisely the same stages those through which tie
tabeknife trade passed Gradually the methods used
here will push out all medium and common imported
goods; then will time of utter stagsation and be-
wilderment among the masters and men usually
working for the United States trade then none but
goods with name will remain salnble here and finally,
1t is to be hoped, in tie sister business enterprs
ing manufacturers will arise IL Sheffield who, adopting
machinery will speedily regain the lost ground and
bring back employment Tiere IA ns excuse however,
after past experience for such crisis arising The
cnery and processes used here inexpensive though
eecve-so effective indeed, that of the oldest and
energetic and successful Of the Sheffield manufao
turers after investigating them the spot last year
could lay consolation to his heart than the old
system would last his time out II the trade would
send out at their expense two Intelligent practical men,
and let them spend month here and probe the subject
to the bottom they could at outlay Of t75o or d oo
save their feow-workmen from world Of coming went
and perple1ity. Why not do iti'
1t is certainly complimentary to American skill to
find old and world Sheffield instructed to send
workmen over to learn how We make knives. But
it is not agreeable to think that the information
acquired is to be used with the aid Of cheap labor
and capital, to regain the lost ground" or, in
palmer words, to ruin American manufactures. It
is to prevent precisely such disastrous results as
this among other objects, that Protection is and will
be m maintained.