The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-05-27
A MANUFACrURNG NATION
The ce'sses'n'ai Exposition an EIe~csst 10,
me DeO> topnsent IF our Mans1actur-
tag Interest.


The cesfe''ssai Exposition EIesncsst 1,
me DcU> iopment IF our MANUFACTURE
tag Intcrest.
There can be no reasonable doubt tina
the United States is about to assume
new and important position as n manu-
featuring nation. But a few short year.
ago, we were known as an agricultural
country, having vast mineral resources
lying idle and unproductive. Our inn
ports of the various metals and of manu-
featured goods we're something enormous;
we have just emerged from a war unsur-
passed in its expenditure of human life,
money, and national substance, war in
which the whole losses of both sides fell
upon one nation and people; and yet
since the close of that conflict, we have
made our debut as manufacturing peo-
pie and maintained rate of progress
hitherto unparalleled in the history of
nations. To this fact more than any
other will the centennial exposition
point OF the sixty acres of ground
covered by the exhibition buildings, only
about twelve acres are devoted to agri-
cultural and horticultural pursuits,
while there are fourteen acres devoted to
the products of machinery alone. Time
will probably show that the markets of
the world will be open to American man.
ufacturers, and the centennial exposi-
ton will do much to bring the demand
for our mineral and manufactured pro-
ducts in direct contact with the supply.
The more we examine into. this view of
our subject, the more impressive it be-
comes.
During the last decade, the prices of
our raw material and labor have ruled
exceedingly high; and yet we have driv-
en- foreign steel from our markets. Our
imports of cotton and of nearly all other
manufactured goods are largely and con-
tinuously on the decrease At the pre-
sent time, our cost of production is di-
minishing by cheapness of labor. We
are steadily grasping the edge tool trade.
Our cast iron is forcing its way as the
best yet produced, and the inventive
power and intelligence of our mechanics
are universally recognized. We are
about to repeat the experience of the
older nations. During an area of high
prices, we developed our mineral re-
sources and learned to manufacture high
class goods, and to spin and weave our
own products; but the comparatively
high price Of our labor and other similar
causes excluded us from entering the
competitive markets of the world. For
tunately for us, there has set in, with
every prospect of a continuance, an era
of diminution of the values of both ma
terial and labor, which will enable us to
tender our goods in markets other than
our own; and more fortunately still, the
centennial exposition steps in and brings
the purchaser to inspect our goods.
This is the first instance, in the history
of the six great international exhibitions
of the last twenty-five years, in which
the question of the comparative cost of
productions has been largely considered
or mooted in an international sense.
Never before have the representatives of
national industries debated the questions
of comparative cost of production, of
Affxing to exhibited articles their prices,
of the propriety Of competing unless such
prices were affixed, and OF the question
able policy of putting on exhibition pre-
ducts of manufacture, lest the nation
mainly interested in such should gather
information and ideas rendering them
still more formidable as competitors in
the worlds markets. These are the
facts which evidence the existence of a
feeling that the centennial will become
the means through which new channels
of trade are to be opened up, and long
established markets are to be closed
and through which, while new customer.
are to be found, old ones are to be Ger
tainly lost.
Among the branches of American trade
to be the most largely benefited, we may
doubtless mention the iron, steel, ma
chine, edge tool, saw, agricultural inn
plement, woodworking machinery, gen
eral and special tool, timber, and cotton
manufacturing industries. Nor will
the intelligent foreign visitor fail to per
ceive that our remarkable progress in
manufactures is largely due to the com
parative iberality Of our patent laws
and the encouragement given to inven
tors through the progressive character
of our people. That the number o.
visitors to the exhi bition will be large
the travelling propensities of Americans
are probably sufficient guarantee thai
the attendance of the business communi
ty will be proportionately larger than al
any previous international exhibition
there is every reason to presume, for the
reason that competition is here unusually
close. Every tradesman considers it hi
duty to be "posted" as to his competi
tors goods and facilities to carry on hi
business; the drummer" as our genul
of the commercial traveller is facetiously
termed, is a profuse American institu
ton; while an American housewife
scarcely makes a purchase without hav
ing priced the desired article at two o.
more stores.
We are convinced that the honors il
the shape of awards will be eagerly
sought, and that their possession will
largely influence many branches of trade
while the benefits to be bestowed upon
us by this peaceful industrial monument
are at present almost incalculable.-