Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-02-07
American Manufactures.


very short time American manufactures OF
cotton and wooden have been exported to
England and other European markets, from
which we had formerly been heavy import
ers. The quality of these goodswa OF such
a character as TO give entire satisfaction,
and this enables us to retain these markets
and at a price which amply renumerates
our manufacturers. The statement too of
the Swiss commissioner to Philadelphia, to
his countrymen on his return, as to the
vast superiority of American watches will also
be remembered by our readers. These facts
are exceedingly Aattering to our vanity as
well as sources of revenue for our pocket
books. They furnish employment to the
capital and labor of our country, and to
considerable extent must have tendency
to drive away the hard times which have
been so long and so loudly knocking at our
doors.
There is, however, another industry which
has lately been added to our exports, which
bids fair to outstrip these before mentioned.
We refer to our manufactures of iron and
steel, which even the proud manufacturers of
Shetiield-whose contempt for anything
American has heretofore been of the loftiest
characteristic compelled to acknowledge as
dangerous, if not deadly rivals. The fact
that their factories are compelled to close,
and their goods find but few purchasers,
seems at last to have opened their eyes to
the fact that American products have taken
possession of their former markets, both i'll
this country and elsewhere. On Saturday
last the Sheffield chamber of commerce held
its annual meeting, and the president in his
opening address talked as plainly as the
Swiss commissioner. He told the Sheffield
manufacturers and workmen that they had
only themselves to blame for the loss of
trade with America and for the successful
American competition with foreign coun-
tries "The Sheffield workmen," he said,
" had not come up to the make and style re-
quired by customers" That is to say, Amer
lean manufacturers are making better aud
more attractive goods. Mr.. Mundella, the
Sheffield member of Parliament, said Ameri-
can competition was successful because the
Americans excelled in the rapidity of their
adoption of labor-saving machinery. lie
thought " if peace was preserved the Eng
fish trade had nothing to fear, and in any
case the English colonies furnished the most
inviting market in the world. From what
we learn of this speech, it was Intended to
counterfeit the depressing effect of the presi-
dents speech but it is uncharitable to guess
that the sentiment last mentioned furnishes
the keynote to Engand's whiting policy
on the Turkish question.
1t is at least undenable that the iron and
steel manufacturing industries of this coun-
try have recently taken great start, aud
the prospect of near revival of the business
of the country has not been so good since
| the unnatural and grievous depression which
has oppressed the country began.
Moreover, direct result of the hard times
and the dizziness of trade at home has been
to set our great manufacturers at work ex-
aiming the markets of the world. Com
mercial agents have visited China and Japan,
| Australia and India, South America and
the Old World, and unexpectedly favorable
reports have come back from many foreign
lands. Then came our Centennial, fighting
its way through from despised beginnings to
the grandest success the world ever saw.
And its chief benefit is yet to be felt. 1t
brought the intelligent producers of the
world to our shores, showed them the won.
derful extent and development of the coun-
try, its limitless resources, and the unim-
agined variety and excellence of its manu-
features. The results of this we have hardly
yet begun to feel, but already many ships
loaded with what may be called "Centen.
NAL " cargoes, are cutting the seas pointed
for many widely separated ports. They are
the pioneers of great foreign trade, to
which all the signs now point. And we can
confidently believe that when the tide
which has so long been at slack-water, be
gins to flow, as it soon must, it will bring
with it prosperity the most healthful the
country has ever known, because based on
sound economic laws, and governed by
intelligent experience.