Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-11-25
CAUSE OF TIE IRON CommoT,oN.

OoA vi lESON W N N OllON,
OF all the "Infsnt industries" that have
appealed to the American people 10 shield
and support it in its helplessness, the iron
industry always has been, and is now, the
most piteous in lis fearful squallings and
baby-like dependence. There is after all
these years of protection, no vigor and no
manllness in it. 1t still wants nursing, and
feeding, and carrying. The iron manulac-
turers have discovered, in consequence of
some significant recent occurrences, that the
tariff is about to be reformed. They do NOT
want reformed tariff, but would welcome au
increased one, and the infant industry is in
duiging in fit Of baby temper because oil
what 1t sees to be approaching. 1t is going
to do terrible things in its pet, wages of
workmen are 10 be cut down twenty or
twenty five per cent, furnaces are 10 be
blown out, mills to be closed
The movers in all these coming
events do not assert, however, that the eatas-
trophies about to occur are owing to fears
that the tribute they have upon their fell
low-citizens will be cut down. They assert
only that the everlasting infant industry is
III NAoNAN6Si iuSIc 10 Oh
uusold material on hand, and that prices
have gone down, making it necessary for
them to stop their work or be ruined.
The completion of some of the new railroads
have, of course, decreased the demand for
come description of iron, and the commence
ment of winter has caused various outdoor
works, in which iron is used, TO be suspend
II k,,t 81
tries that do not whine about being "infan-
Ele." The iron manufacturers are bent,
however, on setting these habitual trade mu-
tations in such array, and casting of them
the cad hues of such colors as will make
the iron baby look as cadaverous, and weak
ly, and helplesaly dropping as possible.
But this outbreak of complaint and
wailing is mainly got up for a purpose,
and that purpose is to preserve, if chicanery
and management can do it, the undisturbed
enjoYme emit OF the monopoly that duty OF
SIS ton upon railroad iron, and duties
upon pig iron, and various other irons, con-
fer. The furnaces about Chicago are play
ing prominent part in this pro-tariR per-
Torrance, and the correctness Is shown
by facts published in the columns
OF the Chicago Tribune. That paper
said on Wednesday last that the real diff
Guilty that exists is over production, which is
the result OF the over-siimulation from large
profits. In 1881 the total capacity of the
Bessemer steelworks in the United States was
100000 tons; in 1882 2, Isl, 600 tons, nearly
double; the total demand the coming year is
likely to be about 1000, OOo tons, one hall the
capacity. When two tons are made and only
one is wanted, low prices are the consequence
OF that condition of things, net of tariff
reform. But what caused the extravagant
profits which led TO this unreasonable extern
sion of producing power in spite of the
knowledge that there would be a decrease in
the demand for iron in proportion as the
new railroads building were completely
Evidently The monstrous high tariff, which
cut off any important foreign competition
and so made the railroad iron business
monopoly. Grsediness 10 get hand in
purse 90 we'll filed led 10 the building OF
more iron works than were waassd, ana
over-production was the result. The exciting
GAUGE, therefore, OF the present difficulties
was the tariff; without that there would
have been no outrageous pro6ts-and they
were outrageous, for rails are making to-day
at $40 ton that little while sgo sold at
$50 a ton; $50 ton for what can be
made at a living profit for S42 a
ton-without extravagsnt profits there
would have been no over-stimulAtion,
and without over-stimulation there would
have been no doubling of capacity Of sup
ply beyond any permanent demand, and
without that doubled capacity there wonld
have been no such over-prodnction as We
Bee at present. Just such evils as this is
one of the unavoidable results OF the pro-
lection system that men, who have studied
its effects are well aware of, and about
which they have uttered abundance of dis
regarded warnings. Acquainted with the
facts here brought out, the readers of the
APPEAL will not let their advocacy of re-
torm of the tariff be weakened by the dis
lay for effect which the infant iron industry
lsnou exhibiting, nor by the further dis
plAs which they have in preparation.