New-York tribune., 1879-05-10
ENGLISH MANUFACTURES.
LETTERS FROM AN OFFICIAL.

THE SCFPTRE PASSING TO AMERICA-ClIEAP FOOD,
CHEAP MONEY, CHEAP LANDS AND CHEAP RAW
MATERIAIs-THE SUPREMACY WHICH THESE
ASSURE.
To the Ed,tOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: reasonable faith in the progressive de-
yelopment of m ,nufactures in the United States
leads me to believe that in the near future the scep
ire of England as the controlling factor i'll manu-
factures will soon pass over to America. The rea-
sons that compel and justify this conviction are
briefly and in part only, rs follows:
An operative cannot work for less wages than
will support himself and family. 1t costs nearly
twice as much TO live in England as 1t does to i've
equally we'll in the United States. And, alter all.
cheap food is the chief factor In the problem OF
cheap labor. Given QI machinery Of equal perfec
ton (2) operatives of eqnal skill ana l3l unequa'
terms as TO the cost of food-cheap food will turn
the scale in its favor always.
Itake it. IN the first place. that far as the cost
of food is concerned there can be and there is no
question. in fact about your ability to produce 1t
at lower cost than it be furnished IN England
This being admitted the second question of the rel
atiye perfection of machinery is one about which
there can be room for little controversy, lnasmuch
n all agree that the inventive genius OF
Americans is of the first order. The
useful and labor-sayug inventions which have
made your c0untrvmen justly famous among
civilized nations everywhere attest that If the past
can be safely taken promise OF the future they
have no reason TO fear that they will lag IN the race
wherein genius employs latent forces to do the
work OF man. In all branches OF manufactures
common to the two countries there is little dlier-
ence in he kinds or perfection of machinery Ill use
And where there is any variation, am sure, as
rule IL VIII be found that your inventions are DeS
adapted for your needs. The time has passed when
any new invention can long continue a monopoly IN
a small circle, for the fierce light OF competition
pierces the iumOst recesses of factories ana brings
into general use the latest improvements.
As 10 the relative skill of operatives, it may be
safely asserted that those who are best capa-
BILE of Judging agree IN the estimate that
Americans are at least the equals of English opera
t,ves. This. them Is sufficient for the present in
ouirv Ii am right IN. my reasoning 1t follows
that cheap food is really the pivot on which the
control of manufactures is to hinge The cost OF
labor must always be governed. IN large measure
bv the cost Of living. Especially Is this true ID
perods of dull trade, when profits are small and
competition is keen. 1t is in these times that the
manufacturers cut down wages and labor must
earn enough to support life, operative and man
ufacturer must 90 to the wall
Substantial wealth cheapens money. The more
there is of it, the easier it is to get This Is too
clear 10 need more than mere statement OF we'll
known fact. In the United states wealth. is H.
creasipg i'm a marvellous ratio. | need not occupy
space I'm recurring TO statistics to elaborate Tuth
universally admitted. The varied sources OF ~
come reaching into thousand centres OF activity
are pouring ont their returns III vast volume;
which, wear by year, enormously sWeis the grand
10 tal of yOur national wealth. Formerly, ana uh-
iii RECENTLY from 7 to 10 per cent was considered
only a fair rate Of interest on sound and longtime
Investments. ,oco 100 a., ,o.l+ &c
an inflated currency. II a burden of the war.
in its way. Specie payments Will insure lower
rates Of interest. The war period led to extraya-
pauces in countless ways, and the tide Cf specula-
fion rose high in all your hOrders. The temptation
of winning riches at venture Iureu uultltuues 10
min by causing them to stake their all and lose IL
i'm the lottery of uncertain and deluslVe schemes
This period has passed in the man. ana tne Ion9
travail of business depression from Whlcn you are
lust emerging has taught You pretty eHGciuabN
the hard lessons of industry, economy ana souuu
financial operations. The 1Ist greal behehi Is lnat
of cheaper money. ! am conIdent thaJ hNG
wears henCe-aSSumng that q hedithY grown wiz
he molntained-the rate of interest IN the UDltcd
States will be at least per cent lower thah II Is To-
dgv This Will strengthen your manufacturers
and in the almost vital element of cheap money
will place them on par with Lh@HSh capltaIiSts
This is a pOmt Of commanding Importance, LOT 10"
rates of interest in England hong enabled mInuIac-
turels to furnish cheaper goods thah you codiu o"-
ing 10 your high rates OF interest. -
lour vast area furnishes variety IN climate anu
lands for the milion-tWO cSScntlalS-cOmpaia-
tivelv impossible in England. Experience teaches
bat cycIes of depression recur at quite regular in
tervas III all countries. IN these peii3uS oEyl- t
stocked labor must ind employment III ullnB lhc
soil Your own III tory has taught YOU that lhls Is q
relief approaching almost to cure, IN the most Try
ing times of dull trade. In manufacturing centfe~
where population increases rapidlV, tHls sea
room 10 use "a nautical phrasc-lsa place Where
oupratives ont of work can find a safe refuge, ana
at the same time relieve manufacturers as Wen as
themselves. To-day the great need IN Ehg.and Is
cheaD lands, to which suffering operatives nlEht De
easily transferred at small cost, so as 10 enaOle
them 10 raise from the soil what charity now has
IN many cases to bestow-fOod to cat ana cIOtheS 10
wear. ., ,
The question of cheap raw materials is, perhaps
not less nor more important than the points that
Lave preceded 1t. Each Is, IN sense, the cOihple
mpnt of tie others. Nature has laYShly bestowed
her varied treasures on your continent Gold, sill
YER wood. coal, copper, iron, ana almost euuIeSS
natural products are found IN abundance III easy
reach of the artisan, while the SOIL yields variety
and profuslon of crops for the use and comfort OF
man Nowhere in the world are the natural advan-
taoes so favorable for the cheap production OF raw
materials i'm most of the chief manufactures OF the
ace ms they are in the United States
Considered in connection with the theory that
manufactures can be produced cheapest near tiIe
point where the raw materials are 1ouhd, lhIs ldsU
question is indeed important
Nv purpose III these three letters has been merely
10 point out III brief some of the reasons that con
vince me that Englands long supremacy IN manu-
factures is AT an end. Her extremity Is your Oppi-
tnnty. 1t is your right 10 take up the lead IN the
line of march Of this peaceful rlValry IL you eau
For one firmly believe that the day is not far dis
tant when American manufactures VIII unueIseit i sen
an Others In near and distant markets. Let IL not
he tbnQut that do not fully appreciate tDt wealth.
and power Of England. know her marvellous en-
ergy, her vast possibilities ana her lhuOlIitapIe
pluck But space cannot be overcome, ana Int ~
yentive powers Of other nations nave wrought
changes that no human gency can reverse.
Manchester, Eng, April 10, 1879. ClVlS'
ARRESTS ON ELECTION DAY.