New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-12
THE CUTLERY MANUFACTURE And THE
NEW TARIFF

A factory in Ottumwa, Iowa, has increased
iyefold it's facilities for the manufacture Of
cutlery and its hands employed from 100 to
500. entirely because of the new tariff. 1.-The
Ottumwa Courier explains that the enlarged
works will compete with foreigners in the pro-
duction of class of cutlery which this country
was not able to manufacture with much sue
cess under former duties, in competition with
makers of other countries. At the same time
that journal states that the prices of all kinds
of cutlery are 10 higher in that town than they
were before the new duties were imposed.
These are interesting facts, and they accord
precisely with what ia known OF the trade in
Eastern States. Not one article out OF thou
sands in that trade is higher in price than it
was a wear ago, or October l just before the
new tariff went into operation, but the classes
of goods most largely imported are actually
lower. In fact the price of that kind of cutlery
is lower now than it ever has been at any other
time and because of the new tariff. The for
eign makers, in order to keep part of the Amer-
can trade if possible, put down their selling
price of at least a part of the goods formerly
imported by this country. The American max
ers, looking for great increase in their bust
ness, have made no advance on most articles
and some reduction on Others and are at pres
ent doing pretty well, thank YOU"
About 40 per cent of the production in this
country is of goods which foreigners were not
able to send hther before the change of duties
last year, because they were made here too
cheaply for foreign competition, quality con-
sideled. In all that class of goods which sup
Of tho actual IL,
this country and the consumption OF the work
ing and poorer classes especially, there is no
foreign competition whatever, though some ras-
callv limitations of American goods are made
abroad, and imported with American trade
marks, swindling ignorant buyers. Again the
more costly and finest goods made in this coun-
try are not imported at ALL simply because sim
liar goods are not made anywhere else. Who
ever will look through the stock of such an
establishment as that Of Landcrs, Frary *
Clark, Of New Britain, will find a great variety
Of STYLES excelling in beauty AM il quality
which have not now and would not have ii
duties had been unchanged any foreign com
petition whatever. This class OF goods include,
about 10 per cent in value Of the entire CON
sumption.
The change Of duties affects only the remain
| ING 40 per cent Of the consumption, embracing
goods Of a medium grade When the ne,,
duties went into force foreign makers put dOwr
their prices on many Of these articles, appar
entity just enough to cover the whole differ
ence in the duties. But the American pro
ducers, encouraged 10y assurance that the enor
nous home market was now within their reach
SO that they could make larger profits with in
creased sales though at somewhat lower prices
did not advance their prices at all. but on man,
kinds of goods are actually selling at som
reduction, and at the lowest prices ever made
The consequence is that they are closing tn
| American market against foreigners rapidly, a