Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-16
IT, T,-DeD+ina INDUSTRY.

Editor Moraing Nelcs: have been in
terested in the efforts put forth by the
naval stores men for the improvement oil
that industry in the way of making pro-
duction more profitable to the producers.
1t is, truly, greatly to be deplored that
such an important article OF our coh-
MERGE should leave so little in the hard
worked hands that are entitled to receive
so much from it, And a still more DIS
turbing idea is it that our country is beng
raDidly drained of an intrlnslcallv very
valuable element of wealth ana receiving
therefor no benefit at all-of, at most
mere pittance. Heartily am with them,
therefore. in any we'll considered plan Of
ameliOratiOn.
REGARDING the methods to be employed
In bring about the desired end, L would
like TO saw few words. Perhaps l am a
little late in Offering my suggestions;
perhaps they may be deemed untrust-
worthy; perhaps intrusive; but what l
say shall be the solid, incontroYeruDle
truth.
The trouble is that the price of naval
stores has declined to point when
leaves little or no margin for the pro-
ducer-possibly brings him only loss.
Both the cause and the remedy are quite
plain. We are confronted by an unmlS-
taxable case of over-prOductiOn, that Is,
more turpentine and rOsin are being
made than the world wants-the supply
has exceeded the demand.
The remedy is equally clear. Ihefe
are two alternatives, and only TWO.
Either the consumption must be increased
to create n better demand, or the prOduc-
tion must be decreased to diminish the
suDply. The first alternative is altogether
beyond the control of the producers; the
second is entirely in their hands.
Among the measures suggested by those
concerned to secure larger profit TO the
manufacturers is one recommending
reduction in the price to be paid for labor.
This idea is wrong from its foundation,
and if acted upon, can result only
most disastrously to the good purpose IN
tended. 1t may, perhaps, be cailed
the cardinal doctrine of all political
economy that the price depends
upon the cost of production,
subject to the proportion between the de-
mand and supply. An inevitable result
of decreasing the cost of production
would be a decline in the price. This In
cludes not only the price paid for the ma
tural material and the cost OF the labor
employed, but also the charges OIL trans
portation and handling, 50 that 1t would
be chimerical in the extreme TO nope Tor
or by inducing railroads to lower their
rates of freight, or the mlddlemen to
diminish their charges.
OF course if one man or small com
munity has the benefit over his competi-
tors of these lower expenses, he Will have
that much advantage over them; but
when a concerted movement is made
looking for Il general reduction OF the cost
of production, the plan becomes a BOOM
erang. If the labor was boiled down SO
as to make barrel Of rOsin cost 10 cents
less. and the railroads allowed cOnces-
sion of cents on freight, do the producers
for moment suppose that the purchasers,
who are as anxious for lower prices
as the producers are for higher. will pay
as much as they did befOref Assuredly
not: ard the producers will find them
selves totally unequal to the hopeless
effort of preventing the price from declln-
ing, not merely the 10 cents they iancled
they would gain, but perhaps even few
cents more, by the general idea that as
the cost of production was less The amount
of capital needed would be less, and
also by the more solid fact
that lower wages in kind usually
result in more work being done, and
still further increase in production.
Hence the last state of the producers
would be worse than the tirst-not to
mention the distress brought upon the
poor labOrers by the diminished wages.
There is one remedy, and only one, but it
is infallible. Production must be cur
tailed. How this is best to be brought
about, those engaged in the business must
decide for themselves. | recommend de-
liberate and united action on the part of
the manufacturers and their factors, and
not only in Georgia, but in the other pro-
ducing States. This will work like
charm if good faith in keeping up to the
articles of an agreed covenant be pur-
sued pretty generally, and L believe it
will if the agreement is made.
Let tine factors, who are deeply in
terested, move earnestly and vigorously
in the matter. Do not allow. if possible,
the producers to ruin themselves, and the
interests depending upon them, by resort
ing to useless schemes of betterment.
The country would be vastly benefited
by some pause in the excessive depOpula-
ton of her rich and teeming forests. And
let not the production be so eXtrayagantly
increased again until the consumers, who
have so long been enjoying the products
of our noble pines for nothing almost,
show their needs by their demand, and
can be made to pay for what they carry
away. DEM0CRTrUs.
Savannah Nor a. 1893