Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-11-25
SOME VIGOROUS FACTS.
THE TARIFF AND THE SPOOL
COTTON INDUSTRY.
Forecast for 1892 A Democratic Esti-
mate of Mckinley and the Future-A
Survey After the Battle-A Few Political
Notes.
The spool COTTON Industry.


ESQ, of Madison, well-known lawyer
and q free trader, wrote letter to the
Willimantic Linen Company, of Connec-
ticut, for information as to the effect of
the tariff on the American spool thread
business. The company did not delay
in answer, ard stronger or a more elo-
uuent defense Of protection has not
been published in many a day. Of
course, the figures did not exactly suit
Mr.. Richmond's purpose, for they were
not what he expected, and therefore he
did not hasten to the press with the let
ter. But the Willimantic Company
gave copy to the Hartford Courant,
from which it was taken by the Madison
Journal. The letter is exceedingly in
teresting, and is as follows:
HARTFORD, Conn.,, Oct. 19, 1891.-T. c.
Richmond, Esq., Madison, Wis: My
DEAR SIR-Yours of October s was re-
ceived at Wllimantic October Is, and is re-
ferred to me for answer,
You wish to know the effect of the tariff
on our manufacturing industry. which is
spool cotton. Prior to 1860 the duty on
spool cotton was from rs per cent. to 80
per cent. al valorem, which was not Suffi-
clent to establish the business in this cOun-
try on permanent and competing basis.
In 1861 the duty was made partly specific
and partly ad ValOrem, and would now, if
still in force, be equivalent to about %
cents on each dozen of SpOOlS containing
200 yards on each spool The present duty
is IA cents on each dozen spoolS, containing
200 yards each, the reduction being made
in 1883
Under the high duty the English manu-
tacturerS who had previously supplied the
market (the Coats Company and the two
ClarkS) transferred their American buSl-
ness to this country, expanding about $10,-
900, 600 in mills and machinery. In 1860 this
company was already manufacturing what
is known rs threc-cOrd glace spool cotton.
The price of this article was then 4215
cents net for one dozen spoolS containing
2OO yards each. We now receive for this
article, greatly improved in quality, 16L
cents for the same quantity.
In 1850 our wages averaged about 81 per
week for each man employed. Now our
wages average about So per week. In
short, while the price of these goods has
been reduced 10 per cent, the average
wages paid have been doubled. There has
never been any duty on the raw material,
which is cotton.
The wages paid in Great Britain have
also been raised in the thirty-tWO years.
and are now about one-half what is paid
for this class of labor in this country. We
have the pay-rOllS of The principal manu-
facturers of spool cotton in Europe and
find the above fair statement.
OF course the cost of spool cotton has
been greatly decreased in the thirty years
by the invention of labor-Saving machines,
and by acquired skill and experience.
But, without exception. these special ma
chimes have originated in this country, and
have later been adopted III Great Britain.
In the manufacture of spool cotton, and
indeed IN all textiles, the labor on both
sides of the Atlantic produces about equal
results per hand. If the laborer is paid 81
per week in Europe and $8 per week here,
the actual labor cost here will be double in
Europe. The same machinery is used
both here and there. 1T is run with the
same speed and with the same attendants.
l visited last May several of the best
fully satisfied on this point.
There are three results we should dread
from a removal of the present duty:
First, labor struggle, which would be in
evltable. as the competition of English
labor would be instantaneous and active.
Second, we should dread an influx of in
ferior goods under false labels
and with short measure, which occurred
constantly prior to the imposition of the
high duty. Third, great and unnecessary
loss which must enSue from sudden and
vast change in values, in case a measure
should he adopted which would involve
the whole range OF manufacturing indus
try.
Of course this loss would ultimately fall
on the country at large, but the first force
OF the dow WOULD De 1clG In SuCn INDUS
tries as have been established and conduct
ed for the last thirty years under the tariff
system.
The difference between the wages paid
in Great Britain and paid here amounts in
our case to about S., 900 per week, which Is
about double the profit we have earned in
the average of the last three years, say 81
per cent. on a capital of S2,000,0O0. Under
the present. system prices have steadily de-
clined and continue to do so, from the
active home competition. Up to this time
this decline has in part been subtracted
from profits and in part has been met by
better methods of manufacture and sale.
We certainly could not abandon the manu-
faeture of textiles in this country.
1t would seem to be clear proposition
that any country which imports brains in
the shape of invention, taste, skill and ac-
cumulated experience, and pays for the
same by sending away backache in the
form of crude raw material, must suffer
periodical bankruptcy. as was the case IN
this country before 1850, and is now the lot
of the Argentine Republic. Yours truly,
WILLIMANTIC LINEN Co,
A. c. DUNHAM, V. p.