The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-12-30
Iron Hard Down-Why,


The iron interest at the North sets up q
howl on account Of low prices, idle mills,
idle operatives, large stocks, embarrassment,
and general Encouragement. The "artful
dodgers among the immediate resumption.
lists are endeayoring to persuade the IRON
men that all their troubles come from "sus-
pension" and that resumption" will heal
all their woes. These resumptionists even
exsggerate the troubles at present in order
10 excite greedy hope in the effect of re-
sumption.
We are given to understand that large
proportion of the furnaces and mills through
out the country remain idle, and that few
OF the manufacturers who have had to run
their works will be happy at the end of the
year to fad that they have earned running
expenses. The hopes entertained last sum-
mer have proved Elusive, and the disap.
pointed iron-masters, tired oflookiug forward
from spring to fail, from fall to spring, begin
to fear that there Is nothing in store for them
next year. The Alabama and Tennessee
FORCES suffer, as do the old establishments Of
Pennsylvania, while in Missouri and Illinois
the iron-masters are doing somewhat better,
but not enough to make noteworthy eX.
ception to the general rule Of prostration and
unreWarded labor. ,.r4
The hope held out to the sufferers is that
we are young and growing country; that
before the close of the century our forty
millions will be increased to sixty millions,
and that the added twenty millions will re-.
quire added thousands Of miles of railroads,
thousands OF iron bridges, thousands of iron
ships, &C., &C., all consuming vast quantities
of iron in its various forms, and giving EN-.
pioyment and profit to the greatest interest
in the land.
All fudge The matter is that people are
preparing for resumption under law. That
is it. This preparation has stopped enter
prise, and building Of reads and houses, and
the progress in the direction of hundred
projects that would require the iron.master'S
cooperation is paralyzed.
Stop this preparation for resumption; le
resumption come In natural way, and tina,
terrible contraction, which is the cause o
the suspension of industry and of the de
Inand for iron, will be ended. The country
will gradually recover confidence and enter.
prises will be renewed, which will revive al
sorts Of industry, and particularly the iror
trade.
The iron.masters may well look upon re-
sumption, noieas oolens, under the law, a
the serpent instead of the fish, as the stone
in lieu of the bread which they beg. While
the resumption law Is unrepealed the rigit
preparations for resumption must go for
ward. There will be no revival of enter
prise or Of trade; DO renewal of indus
try; no restoration of the demand for irol
o. all.
And after resumption there may be such
exhaustion and depression as " mus. give Us
pause" II resumption comes upon us in
state Of health-With a restored confdenc
aud restored industry-the course onward
Will be plain-the vessel will have beer
safely launched into deep water, and the yoy
agesWilI be propltious.
But the promises that are now held out b
the advocates OF immediate resumption vii
turn out like the tabled fruit of The deser
although bright and pleasing to the eye, bu
Gust and ashes 10 the realization.
What will 1t be to the irou-masters an
me workers OF the day that our forty mi
liens now shall be sixty millions OF peopl
at sae close Of the century, when the preser
assofs apon the stage viii be IN their grave
hsee2seg scupdly, rot at oil aware OF Ii