Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-04-12
oyER-PRopUCTIoN IN THE NAIL
BUSINESS.

are now wrestling. Manufacturers say
tooperatives, "You must submit to
reduction OF wages or We can't make
any money" and the operatives reply
"Whateyer reduction OF wages we suffer
will go not to you, as manufacturers
but to the consumer"
There has been no falling of in the de-
mand for nails, but there is asteady con
tinuance Of improbable prices. This
has not been because the con-
sumer demanded it or even com
planned of the price. A difference Of
fifty cents on the price OF keg OF nails
is a very small matter to the consumer,
II would make but very small showing
in the cost of building house or any
small structure. II is not for the con
sumers benefit then, nor because he has
asked it that the price Of nails has ruled
so low. The consumers have had II
without the asking. Competition has
compelled it. The contest has not been
with the consumer but between manu-
facturers themselves.
There are manufacturers that must
sell. They are in debt and mnst meet
their maturing obligations, and they
throw their stock upon the market
in large quantities at reduced
price. Solvent and substantial mills
must either reduce or go out OF the mar
ket. 1t is the existing possibility, the
ever present capacity to make the sup
ply greater than the demand, that does
the mischief. 1t is probably true, there
fore, that every reduction that could he
made in the cost OF manufacturing would
result in making nails cheaper and thus
90 10 the benefit of the consumer. This
has always been the result OF close com
petition.
II might be suggested that manufacture
ers agree with their operatives tofix and
maintain scale OF prices, upon eondi-
ton that wages should be reduced to a
certain relative proportion thereto, and
the reduction should only stand so long
as the scale was maintained and the con-
sumner was not deriving the benefit.
1t is true that such an arrangement
might beget disposition on the part oil
the manufacturers to overstOck at the
reducsd cost OF manufacturing, and
when all the mills should be found with
a large product on hand the cutting un'
der would again be resorted to with re-
newed engery. And in fact whichever
way we turn for a solution we meet
with the same obstacle, OF over produc'
ton. We have it west OF the noun
tains as well as East The capacity o.
the western mills is more than equal &c
the demand for their products.
While such a condition exists we dc
not know where manufacturers are &c
look for relief, except to the slow pro
cess of new markets being opened Will
the development OF the country
And in this direction there
is no small encouragement. The
West is filling up more
rapidly than in the early days of West
ern immigration. 1t is true that what
the West is gaining in population the
East is losing; but to this there is the
usual Western response, that a new
country is being developed and the old
States gain by these colonies, new mar
kets for their capital, products, talent
skill and labor. Thus in noticing the
effect of emigration from the Eastern
States upon the agricultural interests
the North american consoles itself with
considerations which apply to any and
all other lines OF labor as well.
at is manifest" it argues, that We
in the United States cannot adjust oul
production to a proper balance any
more than the rest of the world. We
must take our chances of marketing Oul
products wherever We can do SO To the
best advantage. We have the command
in cotton, corn, wheat, tobacco, provi
sions and some other articles, and the
more we extend the area of settlement
4 .
exports. In food products we could
raise enough to supply all Europe, but
our surplus is restrained 10y the amount
required 10 feed the States which do not
produce their own supplies. In con
sequence of the emigration, many
agricultural districts of the New
England and Middle States show re-,
duced population, and from the COM
plants received from the west We APP
prehend that the census of 1850 will
show corresponding results there. Still
there is an obvious reaction beginning
in the establishment OF butter and
cheese factories, canning factories, and
other aids to agriculture.
On the other hand, the progress made
bv such States as Minnesota, Nebraska
Kansas and Colorado undoubtedly
creates markets of more valre 10 the
merchants, manufacturers and capital.
lists of the old States than the loss OF
population amounts 10. The rapid in
crease Of Illinois, Missouri and Iowa
has been of immense value 10 the in
, dustries of the New England and mid.
die states. Why, then, shall We object
10 Il repetition of that progress in Ne
brlska, Kansas and Colorado? Is il
not better to have these emigrants doing
well at the far west than idle and dis.
contented in the old States? They never
raised at home the enormous crops that
they produce at the west. Nor is il per,
ceptible that our own crops are reduced
by the affiux of population. In fact,
the man who leaves US betters his own
fortunes withoutinjuring those he leaves
behind"
The Alarming Condition OF the Iron