Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-04-01
A Manufacturer on the Tariff.

In response to letter of inquiry from
his member of Congress the following let
ter has been received:
| COLUMBUS, GA. March 13, 1884.
Hon. Hugh Buchanan, House Of represent
H1otiues, of Washington, d. c.:
Dear Sir,-I have your letter of the 10Th
| inst, in which you ask my views as to what
effect reduction of twenty per cent. would
have on the cotton manufacturing interests
of the South.
To the question I answer unhesiratingly,
none.
The Sounh is now engaged in manufac
| turing, say, standard or heavy weight
goods, and which are mainly consumed by
the masses of our population, South and
North, and now the South sends her surplus
production to the North, where they dis
place all such heavy weight goods as were
formerly made there and sent South. These
advantages Gin such goods must ever re-
main with the South over New England
and Old England; and New England, on
account of closer proximity to the cotton
fields, has relative advantage over Old
England.
A reduction of twenty per cent. on the
tariff would not enable England to compete
with this country, North or South, in these
heavy weight goods, but if the tariff on all
articles entering into the cost of manufac-
ture in this country were also reduced
twenty per cent, then the manufacturers,
North and South, would be benefited, and
if the duties on all such goods entering into
the cost of manufacturing were made free
then the North and South could compete
with England in all markets Of the world.
The tariff as it now stands, of course,
shuts out all foreign competition with man.
ufacturing productions in this country, ex
cept few specialties of fine goods for the
wealthy, and it locks in their productions
and thus confines them to the home de-
mand, and as q consequence there is now
glut of goods. To illustate my position:
The company over which / preside con-
suInes about fifty bales of cotton per day.
A New Enland mill consuming that amount
of cotton would have to pay $3.50 per day
more for it than it cost this company, and q
mill in England would have to pay more
than that.
These advantages are so great that the
tariff, if entirely removed, would not ena-
BILE England to compete with this country
on heavy weight goods, and if the tariff was
removed on all articles that enter into the
cost Of manufacturing, then this country
could command the markets of the world
nd the supremacy of England would be
ended.
have visited England three times and
have investigated the cost of labor COM
pared with the South and found it more. or
higher, than here, and yet our operative
was in better condition, from the fact that
food cost less with us and clothing also, as
our climate does not require such heavy
clothing. think labor at the North about
the same as in England.
also investigated the cost and selling
price of heavy cotton goods and concluded
could sell in England at a profit, but to
do so must adopt their peculiarities of
styles and prefer home market.
l believe if all our custom houses were
abolished that this country would find in
England large market for our manufac-
lures OF cotton and woolen goods. Now
this country is heavily taxed with almost
everything that enters into the cost of pro-
duction, beginning with machinery and
ending with bailing the goods with Scotch
burlaps.
believe the manufacturing interests in
this country with their natural advantages,
if free from all tariff legislation, would
soon make the United States the great
manufacturing centre.
Yours truly, w. III. Young,
President Eagle and Phoenix Manufacture
ing Company.