Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-10-06

SANFORD INDUSTRIES.
How They arc Affected BY Changes In the
1asiN.

sanford. Sept. 2s.-Hon. Thomas b..
Reed in his campaign speeches, frequent
Y alindes to the Industries Of Sanford,
Mi,,lie; Illustrating the operation of a
II one really desires lesson on the
HILL HILL, ne mas only to come to Sanford and
i, ,iinser awhile among the operatives in
listen while they relate their experience
II VIII be sufficient to convince any think
ing ing nan y that the prosperity of Sanford
ing community In the country. depends
American industries
Tampering with the tariff is ycrv nuirir .
~ felt IN sanford, for the reason that the
product OF Sanford foctories enters into
dlrecl competition with the product Of
ries N' i-'s'''" iae.o-
Previous to 1867. all the mohair carriage
robes 500 n this country were imported
Thomas Goodall. the pioneer of the horse
blanket and carriage robe Industry in
his country, is an Englishman who came
Thomas Il. Reed - io'
Prior to 1860 he had been engaged in the
horse, blankets. When the North de-, de-
clared war on the South. he turned his
attention TO the production of army and
navy e PA kira ana besides making for
of these blankets to Union soldiers
In 1860 ne disposed of his plant at Troy
n. r., ana returned to the mother coun-
business. Finding. however. that he
could not content himself with life of
idleness. even on competency earned by
years of arduous toll, he engaged IL ~
porting carriage robes from England Ia
this country While in this country he
had been an ardent supporter of protec-
ton to American industries and other RE
publican principles. In England. when
engaged In exporting English goods TO
his country, he naturally favored a free
trade policy for the United States. slmnlv
because. as he says. il would have on
abled him to increase his profits and
would at the same time have rendered
American competition next to impoSsihtn
The demand for these goods was CON
stantly increasing and this led him to the
conclusion that much greater profit
might he realized under the then EXIST
ing tariff by manufacturing these good,
in this country, the tariff operating to his
idyantase by heeping out TO a consider
tories Accordingly he came TO this
country in 1861 and In October OF that
year settled in Sanford where he estah-
ished what are now known MS the SAN
ford mills. His reason for selecting San
tord was owing to the fact that 1t was re-
moved from the great Industrial cenicrs
ana he thought to thus escape for a con
Nderable period competition ut home, In
MS ht WAS successful. hui IL III probable
mat what he gained in that way WAS lost
N the great cost of bringing his raw ma-
product to market. Entering into compc-
ttion with the foreign article. he soon
mad the home market 20 himself. for the
duty imposed on the foreign made fabric
enabled him to undcrseli all and thus
drive his foreign competitors to other
fields
Mir GoodaIl says that it was the protec-
i've tariff that made 1t possible for him
TO establish this industry in this country
or without the protection afforded by
he duty imposed on foreign fabrics Of
nc same class he could
gained foothold F'ostcred ny protec-
ton it grew from a very small beginning
nuin in lsg2 the business had become one
al the most important in the whole coun-
Try with imitators in half a dozen states
! ct ne reader bear in mind that ut the
~" when this business was established
mail farming settlement containing less
han City dwelling houses. II is now the
largest town in York county and will he
ouless ruined by Organism Names next
aitv.
In 1890 one fifth of all the wooden oper-
iives IN the State We're employed in san
ford and of the annual total product of
No WOODEN mills of Maine, the money
value of which, according to the last
census was $500, 90 Sanford's share
vas one-fourth. Every year under a
Republican administration. saw an ex-
pension of the business and an increase
n me capacity of the plant until the
buildings cover acres instead of feet
'Uring every Democratic administration.
The business has ianguished hampered
~ constant fear of tariff legislation det-
r'03ental to the interests of the industry
n'l-r the oneration nf the Mckinley tar
in bill. the business nourished 10 a great
or extent than ever before and in conse-
nee. everyone in the community was
prosperous, contented and happy. But
VIXEN the Wilson bill went into effect.
iNru was one of the first of the then
m"nnfacturir~ towns to feel its
blighting influence The depression b.
+ "a iaai and is now nearly as bad rs it
I'm be without resulting in utter ruin.
ne people who depend on their labor in
hose factories understand all this for
by have not failed 10 profit by the Oh
ffcns that have existed here under differ
cn+ administrations aud it was their
IN in the Republican party and its
riTsneiplcS of sound money and protection
10 American Industries that made them
nd in swelling the Republican plurality
IN Maine. this wear. to Unprecedented
Proportions iddeford journal.