The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-03-02
ST. Louis AcrIculturist and Farmerl


ing above that paid but twenty-four
per cent. ad valorem. In fact, for
extended periods under the existing
tariff, American woods have touched
lower prices than have
ever been experienced since
the wooden manufacture of the
country generally ceased to be a
household industry; the woods re-
ceiving the last protection command
ing the highest prices.
2. The number of sheep owned,
and the quantity of wool produced
east of the Rocky Mountains, have
largely and continually diminished
the number of sheep in Iowa, "a typi-
cal state) for example, having de-
cliDed, according to the state audi
tors report, from 1854 900 in 1867 to
30l, 900 in 1879.
The business of manufacturing
woolens in the United States under
existing tariff has paid a smaller
percentage of profit on the capital
invested than any other leading
branch of domestic industry.
4. The American people, during
the same period, have paid higher
prices for their wooden clothing
than the people of any other nation,
their compeers in wealth and clviliza-
ton.
5. In place of the existing tariff
rendering the country more indie
pendent of foreign nations in re-
spect to Its supply of wool and
woolens Gas it was confidently
claimed it would be( the exact re-
verse has occurred; the importation
of foreign woods during the year
1880 having been in excess of 1885,
100000 pounds as compared with
24,000,000 pounds in 1868, and AZ, 000,-
600 pounds in 1870; while during the
same year (l880) the United States
bought of foreign countries manu-
factured products of wool to the
value of $33,613,000. On the other
hand, the United States sold during
the same year to foreign coun-
tries wool of domestic production
to the extent of only 49,, 551 pounds
and manufacturers of wool to the
value of only $216,576. So much in
the way of Introduction to the fol-
lowing story:
In 1869 the then special commits
sioner of revenue of the United
States, in his annual report on the
revenue and industry of the country,
called attention to a report made to
him by reliable authority, of the
sale in England of old, second
hand or discarded wooden ma
chinery for importation into the
United States, where it was used by
parties who subsequently demanded
and received an increased protection
on their manufactured products. On
its face the statement seemed so in
credible that the public generally
believed that there must be some
mistake about the matter; while the
protectiOnists did not hesitate to
characterize it as "free trade lie"
for the PRONUNCIATION of which Brit
ish gold was undoubtedly paid. .
The matter there rested, and
would possibly have never again
been heard of had it not been for
the recent imprudence of the United
States consul at Bradford, England
Mr.. G. D. Shepherd-who in his re-
port to. the state department,
under date of January 4, 1881,
concerning the business of this dis
trict (Which is well known to be q
great centre of the English wooden
says: "The export to
the United States of looms and other
manufacturing machinery has been
greater the past year than ever be-
fore, and still continues. This ex-
port is not altogether, L apprehend,
because the superiority of English
machinery over American, for the
latter can be run, believe, at double
the speed of the former, but because
il is wanted as a model upon which
to improve, and because it can be
bought (the secondhand article) at
nearly old iron prices" /
Here then we have an official slate
menJ concerning the influence of
our existing tariff, which is well
worthy the serious attention of the
American public. A large quantity
of old and discarded wooden ma
chinery has been bought during the
past year in England, at about the
price of old metal. What for The
idea of Consul Shepherd, thatit was
sent in any considerable quantity
"as a model upon which to improve,n
is unreasonable. For if there were,
in the first place, any details in old
patterns of English wooden ma
chinery with which American me-
chanics and machine builders were
not long ago fully ac-
quainted (asupposition not probably
any information which they might
desire, and which was manifestly no
secret, could be more readily and
cheaply acquired through the agen-
cy and duplication of drawings
rather than by the. repeated pur-
chase and transportation of large
masses of old metal. The old ma
chinery was therefore bought by
American wooden manufacturers
and sent to the United States for
use and prominent New England
merchant, conversant with the do
nestle wool business, to whom the
writer appealed for additional infor-
nation, acknowledged himself con-
versant with the facts as above
stated, and justified the importation
on the ground that such old
pattern, half worn-out machin-
cry could be used profit
ably in this country. We are
therefore, warranted in drawing the
following interesting, and from an
American standpoint, discreditable
picture ofthe wooden industries OF
Great Britain and the United States,
In the former country the manu-
facturer, being dependent upon his
own resources, is obliged to protect
himself naturally by promptly avail
ing himself of every new improve
ment and process; by discarding
his old machinery as no better than
old metal the moment anything su-
perior is offered, and by continually
offering to the public the cheapest,
the best, and the most novel pro-
ducts at the lowest price. As con-
sequence he has thewhole world as a
customer, and in the year 1881, in ad-
dition to supplying his own market,
sold to foreign countries manufacture
ed products to the value of Sos, 900, :
600. On the other hand, the Amer
lean wooden manufactures, restrict
ed in his supply of raw material,
and protected by heavy duties from
foreign competition, is enabled to
go to Europe. purchase old machin-
cry which foreign manufacturers
find Improbable or unsuitable to
use, bring it to this country and sell
it's imperfect, behind the age pro-