The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-11-28
SOME VIGOROUS FACTS
THE TARIFF AND TIE 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.

The Spool Cotton Industry.
Last month, Thomas &. Richmond,
Esq, of Madison, well-known LAWYER
and 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 more elo-
quent 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 net 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. IS, 1S91.-T c.
Richmond, Esq, Mddisrn, Wis: My
DEAR SIR-lours of October s was re-
ceiyed at Wllimantic October Is, and is re-
ferred TO me for answer.
1ou 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 70 per cent. to 80
per cent. al valorem, which was not suffi-
try on permanent and competing basis.
In 1851 the daty was made partly specific
and partly ad yalorem. and would now. if
still i'll force, be equivalent to about ~
cents on each dozen OF spoolS containing
2O0 yards on each spool. The present duty
Is II cents on each dozen SpoOlS, containing
800 yards ca II, the reduction being made
in 1883.
I nder the high duty the English manu-
facturCrS who had previously supplied the
market tthe Goats Company and the two
ClarkSi transferred their American bust
ness to this country, eXpending about So
O01.000 i'll mills and machinery. In 1860 this
company was already manufacturing what
is known as three-cord glace spool cotton.
The price of this article WAS then ~ ?
cents net for one dozen sDo0lS containing
200 yards each. We now receive for this
article. greatly improved in quality, 10 .
cents for the same quantity.
In 1860 our wages averaged about 81 per
week for each man employed. Now our
wages average about IS per week. In
short, While the price of these goods has
been reduced 60 per cent. the average
wag, 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 i'll the thirty-two years.
and are now about one-half what is paid
for this class Of labor i'll this country. We
have the payrolls of the principal manu-
factltrerS of spool cotton i'll Europe and
tlnd the above Il fair statement.
OF course the cost of spool cotton has
been greatly decreased in the thirty years
by the invention f lab0r-Sayn@ machines.
and by acquired skill and experience.
But, without exception. these special ma
chimes have originated in this country. and
have later been adopted IN Great Britain.
In the manufacture of spool cotton, and
a "a In h,th n
sides of the Atlantic produces about equal
results per hand. If the laborer is pad 81
per week in Europe and IS per Week here,
the actual labor cost here viii 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.
| visited last May several OF the best
mills in Manchester. Eng, and became
fully satisfied on this point.
There are three results we should dread
from removal Of the present duty:
First q 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
ferlOr 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, i'll case a measure
the whole range Of manufacturing indus
try.
OF course this loss would ultimately fail
on the country at large, but the first force
of the blow would be felt in such 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 ana paid here amounts in
our case to about $1,000 PEE week. which Is
about double the profit we have earned in
the average of the last three Years. say i ,
per cent on capital OF S2.0U0,0O0. 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 Subtractcd
from profits and in part has been met by
better methods of manufacture and sale
We certainly could not abandon the manu-
facture of textiles III this country.
1t would seem to he a clear proposition
that any country which imports brains in
the shape of invention, taste. skill and ac-
cumulated experience. and pays for the
same Dy sending away backache i'll the
form OF crude raw material, must suffer
periodical bankruptcy. as was the case IN
this country before 1860, and is now the lot
of the Argentine Republic. Yours truly,
WILLIMANTIC LINEN Co,
A. c, DTNIIAM. V. +.