The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1878-06-28

principal factors raw materials and labor.
Atterward come interest on capital and
general expenses. Notwithstanding the
great progress OF late years made in reduc-
ing these expenses, especially that of labor,
through improved machinery, the difference
today existing between the cost of produc.
tlon and the selling price of American do.
mestlcs does not warrant the continuous
running OF our Eastern mills On the 18th
OF May eight Fall River mills, tho Flint,
Stafford, Wampanoag, Chace, Robson,
Tscumsch, Wetamoe, and Troy, asgregatirg
weekly production of 10000 pieces, shut
down for u week. This is the beginning of
movement among Eastern manufacturers
to secure the stoppage of mills on alternate
weeks, until the price for cloth shall be
such as will yield fair return on the out.
lay for labor and capital. Had this system
been adopted year ago, the heavy losses
OF mill owners durinp. the last twelve
months might have been avoided.
Several of the mills in Pawtuckct have
shut down. A general movement of this
kind throughout New England would soon
effect n marked Improvement in the price of
domestics. However absolute the law:.of
demand and supply, it does not prevent an
intimate connection between the selling
price and the cost Of production 1t is..notI
surprising that production has run ahead Of
consumption. In the textile industries thi
progress of invention has produced .extH
ordinary results. Steam spins, weaves Jkd
prints thousand different stuffs, whichthe
sewing machine afterward seizes hold6f.-
"A good weaver could formerly turp,o out ten
.sys ,,fp<ssesrvvys5eass, yss.-s-->
coald only naEs f5S - ! u SkitShes &
minute. The French loom produces from
5000 to 5000, the straight automatic loom
45sOG0y the circular stitch loom $4,000 to
60 900, the articulated needle loom 24O,-
900 at first, then 100000, andssnow the
double circular gives 100000 So that
workman produces from 1000 to 5000
times the work of knitter OF the old
times. The long continued and severe de-
preston in our manufacturing industries
has resulted in an immense shrinkage in
1a, % jssn jpsspsts ri asn msn s; e.
the Salisbury mills. Though nearly one
hundred and fifty capitalists -rfom New
York, Philadelphia and Boston were pres.
ent at the sale, property stated to have
cost the present company, 81 100000 was,
after some spiritless bidding, Knocked down
to Mr.. Juo. Gardner, Of Boston, for $780,
600. The mills are in good repair and can
be started up immediately without any ad-
ditional expense. There are 1873 tenement
houses and twenty-scven stores included i'll
the property sold. There arc likewise
a9Eea, Of reservoirs, controElsg all the
water from tidewater back for Ten I'M les
The mills shut down about year ago aand
ever since have been closed.
While over-prdductiss Ut hope bas glut-
ted the market with .Amcficau doJjk kstics,
the imports of dry g9ods for 2 6y& five
monthsof the present year sh| p, without
exception, decltne-fin all ella es Of goods
as compared with the correspot tding period
of last year. The consumption of foreign
goods in all cases has been less, but in cot
ton goods more especially so. There exists
among us class Of so called manufacturers
and political economists who have somehow
got it into their heads that the one thing
necdful to relieve us Of our surplus manu-
facturcd goods, to provide employment for
the thousands of operatives now in condi-
ton Of enforced idlcness-say at Fall River,
Mass, and other Eastern manufacturing
centres-is a plentiful supply of ocean
steamships to open up to us The trade of
South America and other countries, at
present pretty much monopolized by Eng
land and Germany. The idea is that it is
mere question of steamships, and nothing
else. In point of fact, there is no dearth
Of steamships if only they could be profit
ably employed. There are merchants in
this city today who will gladly put on
steamers to any foreign country, provided
-ous manufacturers will guarantee cargoes,
and that, too, without asking subsidy
from the United States or Brazil.
When our manufacturers can undersell
England and Germany in the markets of
the world-and perhaps before-Eassern
mills will run on full time all the year round.
That time has not yet arrived.-N I. Sun.
An observing young gentleman OF al
most three years said, during pause in the