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The specimens of this coin issued in 1827 and 1828, now Houses, which, in the Senate, was referred to the Comassayed, present results materially different from the mittee on Manufactures, and, in the House of Representabove, and indicate a very sensible deterioration in the atives, to the Committee of the Whole House; that, in standard thereof. These specimens vary from 10 oz. 1 the Senate, the Committee on Manufactures made a redwt. 12 grains fine silver, to 10 oz. 7 dwts. 6 grains in 12 port thereon, printed by order of that body, which conounces. The former is equivalent to 1084 cents per ounce, tains statements, supposed to have been made by your and the latter to 111 6-10 cents per ounce. The value of memorialists in the petition in question, and conclusions the former, according to their ordinary weight, will be, deduced therefrom, not conceived to be correct by your by tale, about 93 6-10 cents, and that of the latter 964 memorialists; they therefore feel satisfied that the facts cents. Nothing can be usefully affirmed of the average referred to by the committee of the Senate have not been value of coins liable to variations of this extent. fully comprehended, and that the committee has thus Late deposites of large amounts in Spanish dollars, ex- been led into material errors, which, when clearly and hibit a result not observed at the mint before the latter distinctly pointed out, your memorialists believe, will bepart of the last year. They have heretofore been stated come evident to both Houses. Your memorialists accordas producing on an average 100 cents 3 mills, conformably dingly respectfully ask permission once more to exhibit to the ascertained value of large quantities received from to Congress, in greater detail, and with all the perspitime to time for coinage. Recent deposites have produced cuity they can give them, the practical facts on which less than one mill above their nominal value. This is to they found their claim for legislative relief, accompanied be attributed to the diminished average weight of those by such remarks on the report of the Committee on Macoins, arising in part from the cessation of new issues, and nufactures in the Senate as are absolutely necessary to probably still more to the fact, that a large proportion of prevent the former statements of your memorialists from the Spanish dollars now remaining in the United States being misunderstood. may be the residue of parcels from which the most perfect have been selected for the purposes of commerce and the

arts.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. S. D. INGHAM,

SAMUEL MOORE.

Secretary of the Treasury.

First. The report of the Committee on Manufactures in the Senate, after quoting some of the statements of your memorialists, remarks: "That, as this petition is printed for the use of the Senate, and placed among our documents for future reference, if necessary, it is proper that explanations should be given, to prevent erroneous impressions, which it is calculated to make." Your memorialists believe the erroneous impressions here alluded to, to be the prices given by them, in their petition, of the cost of iron; but the committee, and not your memorialists, on this point, have fallen into error, by assuming, as the committee have done, the returns made to the I have the honor to transmit the accompanying memo- Treasury Department as the basis of their calculations, rial, and, on behalf of the petitioners, to request you will when, as is well known, no distinction whatever is made present the same to the House of Representatives, over in the Treasury returns between the prices of refined and which you preside. common iron; whereas, in their petition, your memorial

WORKERS IN IRON.

PHILADELPHIA, January 14, 1831.

The memorial is signed by three hundred and fifty-eight ists expressly declared, that, on refined iron, manufacturpractical workers in iron, and will be found, by the mem-ed by rolling, which then actually cost ten pounds sterbers of the House from our districts, and others acquaint-ling per ton, or, at the par value of exchange, forty-four ed with the names, to contain the signatures of not only dollars and forty-four cents, and has since fallen to nine the principal, but all the intelligent master-workmen and journeymen in the smithing business, of the city and county of Philadelphia.

Several of the memorialists have been informed by iron masters, and owners of forges and furnaces, that these gentlemen themselves are at length becoming satisfied that some modification of the present ruinous tariff on iron is necessary; experience having sorely taught them that the existing exorbitant duties on the importation of the raw material, so far from increasing, actually dimi

nishes the demand for American iron.

With the highest respect and consideration, I am, sir, your most obedient servant,

To the Hon. ANDREW STEVENSON,

JOHN SARCHET.

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Washington.

-

MEMORIAL.

and that, on common iron, which then cost six pounds pounds sterling per ton, the duty was eighty per cent.; the duty was one hundred and forty per cent.; and, so far sterling, or twenty-six dollars and sixty-six cents per ton, from thereby conveying "erroneous impressions," your memorialists have since ascertained that common English iron, at cargo price, was then selling at five pounds five shillings sterling, or twenty-three dollars and thirty-three and fifty-nine per cent., or nineteen per cent. more than cents per ton, thus making the duty actually one hundred of iron, such as half inch, either square or round, and unyour memorialists alleged in their petition. Smaller sizes der, are subject to a duty of seventy-eight dollars and forty cents per ton, the price of half inch being six pounds five shillings sterling, or twenty-seven dollars and seventyseven cents on that size, equivalent to two hundred and eighty-two and three-quarters per cent., which, nevertheless, continues to be imported! On the smaller sizes

To the Senate and House of Representatives of the United of iron, in consequence of a difference in cost, although

States, in Congress assembled.

subject to the same specific duty, the duty actually paid is somewhat less per cent. than that on half inch iron. The memorial of the subscribers, citizens of the city and As the committee of the Senate, in their report, have county of Philadelphia, mechanics, employed in various pronounced common English iron to be "bad," your mebranches of the manufacture of iron, namely, as steam morialists will be excused for here inserting a set of exengine makers, anchor and chain smiths, shipsmiths, periments on the strength of the various malleable metals, machinists, founders, hardware manufacturers, edge-given in the works of different French and English scientool makers, locksmiths, coach and wagon smiths, far-tific writers on mechanics, incontestibly establishing the riers, whitesmiths, and blacksmiths, respectfully repre- relative cohesive properties of these metals, and fully verified by the practical experience of several of your meThat, at the last session of the present Congress, a morialists. These experiments are on the suspension of number of your memorialists presented a petition to both metallic bars, one-quarter of an inch square and six inches

sents:

21st CoNG. 2d SESS.]

Cast steel,

Workers in Iron.

8,391 pounds.

Swedish iron, (proper to make steel of,) 4,504
Other descriptions of iron
Wrought copper,

Cast copper,

Yellow brass,

Cast tin,

Cast lead,

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long, and show their respective cohesive strength, ex- expense;" and refer to the rolling mills "which have pressed in the number of pounds which each bar of me- been in operation for several years in the county of Mortal would hold, namely: ris, in the State of New Jersey," and elsewhere; where, ed into bars and bolts, of the smaller size, at a small exthe committee assert, "common bar iron may be convertpense." Now, your memorialists must be permitted to say, in replying to this statement of the committee of the Senate, that the hardship they complained of, arising from the duty in question, is not, on their part, "voluntarily incurred, and for the reasons which they proceed to give. First-Iron of the small sizes, paying three and a half cents per pound duty, is still imported and purchased by By the foregoing table, it will be seen that lead, the many of your memorialists, although these small sizes, toughest of all the metals, possesses least strength of co- manufactured in this country, receive a bounty or "prohesion; whilst, on the other hand, cast steel, the most tection" equivalent to the duty. This, your memorialbrittle of the malleable metals, possesses in the highest ists clearly conceive, proves that the statement of the comdegree strength of cohesion. Accordingly, in the appli-mittee of the Senate is not borne out, and is certainly at cation of the malleable metals to the various purposes of variance with all their experience upon a point in which business, their cohesive strength, as well as their tough- they cannot be mistaken; for, notwithstanding "the many ness, have their respective values; and in the same me- mills erected for rolling iron of these small sizes," spoken tal-that, for example, which your memorialists exclu- of by the committee as being done "at a small expense,' sively work up, namely, iron-these opposite properties your memorialists still find their advantage in purchasing are found advantageous, and are respectively turned to the imported article of the same description, subject to the best practical account. Hence, from its superior the heavy duty in question, as well as the other charges of toughness, Spanish iron, by all competent judges, would importation. Secondly--Your memorialists will add, that be preferred for rivets, harpoons, and other articles, in some of them have actually paid the American manufactu which toughness is principally required; and next in point rers twenty-five dollars per ton for rolling iron of one inch of excellence, for the same uses, the best American iron and under into five-eighths of an inch; and from the same would be selected. For implements of husbandry, crow- sizes into half an inch, thirty dollars perton; whilst the forbars, cut nails, and other articles requiring stiffness, and mer sizes, of five-eighths of an inch, only cost the manufacresistance against friction, Swedish iron is the best adapt- turer of hardware in Great Britain twenty-three dollars thircd for these purposes. For sheet and rod iron, on ac- ty-three cents per ton, and the latter sizes, of half an inch, count of its superior ductility, Russian iron is generally only twenty-seven dollars seventy-seven cents. Hence it preferred. English iron is preferred for various pur- is, that, from our own present absurd duties on all sizes poses, on account of the decided superiority it possesses of rolled iron above half an inch, the British manufacturer in various qualities; in chains and anchors, froin its supe- is enabled to import into the United States, in the form of rior strength of cohesion, its great excellence in welding hardware, a ton of iron, at the rate of twenty-eight dol or uniting, and surpassing every other known iron, both lars eighty-three cents, including duty; and that, on all in this latter quality, and in its power of resisting rust or sizes of rolled iron of half an inch, he is also enabled to corrosion when exposed to the action of dampness or import into the United States, in the same form, a ton of fresh or salt water, for more than a double period of time; iron, at the rate of thirty-five dollars thirty-nine cents, inin rails for railways, spikes, and bolts, on account of the cluding duty; the discriminating duties, in favor of the superior manner in which it is prepared in all the various British manufacturer, being, on all sizes of iron over half forms required, as well as from its acknowledged supe- an inch, thirty-one dollars fifty cents, and, on half inch, riority in durability; and for wheel-tires, for the same seventy dollars seventy-seven and a half cents: the duties properties, as well as from the greater evenness with on hardware manufactured of the smaller sizes of iron which it is always drawn. From the various qualities being only one-eleventh of what they are on iron as a raw above enumerated, American, Swedish, and Russian iron, material; and on hardware made of larger sizes about oneall manufactured by hammering, and English and some American iron manufactured by rolling, of the common sizes, are all sold in this market at nearly the same price, to wit, at about five dollars per cwt.; Spanish iron being not much used or known here.

sixth: thus excluding such of your memorialists as are engaged in the manufacture of hardware, from any thing like a fair competition with the sime articles brought by the British importer into our own market! Some of your memorialists, besides, have been informed by owners of Secondly. Your memorialists did not mean to state, in the largest and best rolling mills "in this country," that, their former petition, that the quality of the iron made in at the present prices, they are by no means desirous to Great Britain, which sells at from sixty to sixty-two dollars convert common bar iron into bars and bo'ts of the smalland twenty cents per ton, is dependent on the hammering est sizes, notwithstanding the declaration of the committee process, as inferred by the committee of the Senate. The of the Senate, that your memorialists' preference of the quality of this, as well as of every other description of imported iron of this description "must be altogether voiron, arises from the purity or fineness it receives from luntary." the furnace or forge, in the application of heat, and not from the process by which it is drawn. The hammer is used in England in preparing large and irregular pieces of iron, in which the rolling process cannot be resorted to; and hence this difference of price.

Thirdly. The report of the committee of the Senate alleges that your petitioners complained of the hardship of purchasing small sizes of iron at the high price, arising from the duty of three and a half cents per pound on it; which, the committee remark, "if incurred to any considerable extent, must be altogether voluntary, as the iron may be imported in bars of a large size, and converted into those of a lesser size in this country at a very small

Fourthly. The Committee on Manufactures, in their report to the Senate, refer to a part of the former petition of your memorialists, which stated that wheel-tire with holes punched in it, sheet iron cut and punched for stovepipes, boiler plates of a size and punch for steam engine boilers, and hoop iron punched, were imported at the ad valorem duty thereon of twenty-five per cent., as "all cases of evasions of specific duties, and frauds upon the revenue;" and style this part of your memorialists' petition "an exhibition of the mysteries of trade, which must be new to the Senate;" "as an ingenious plan to evade the duties on bar iron, and, when carried into execution, s gross and palpable fraud upon the revenue." And the

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committee further allege, that the importation of partially the many articles which can be imported at and under the manufactured wheel-tire, with holes punched in it, is "a present cost of bar iron. By the letter from the Secretadevice of the importers to evade the duties upon bar iron," ry of the Treasury of the 5th of February, 1830, trans. which, they add, "cannot impose upon the custom-house mitting statements of the commerce and navigation of the officers, and, if it should, will no doubt be corrected as United States, &c. &c. printed by order of the House of soon as made known to the Treasury Department." In Representatives, it will be found, at page 88 of that docureply to these allegations of the committee of the Senate, ment, that, in the fiscal year 1828-'9, there were imported your memorialists do not feel themselves at liberty to in- into the United States 65,896 pounds of hammers and dulge in the expression of feelings which an acute sense sledges for blacksmiths, valued at $3,049, equivalent to of justice might warrant; and the unfeigned respect they $4 664 per cwt., which is 33 cents below the cost of bar entertain for both Houses of Congress will prevent any iron in this market, exclusive of duty, and of which only animadversions, notwithstanding the imputations which the 2,097 pounds were re-exported; so that 63,799 pounds of committee have thought proper to cast upon such of your hammers and sledges have been imported, during the year memorialists as have been accustomed to import iron ma- mentioned, for the use of the American manufacturers of nufactured in whole or in part, in conformity, as they be- these very articles. Wheel-tire, which your memorialists lieve, with a just and strict interpretation of the revenue in their former petition asserted could be imported, laws. Without any infraction, however, of their respect since that time has actually been imported, in a finished for both Houses of Congress, they may be permitted, in an- state, for about $44 17; whilst bar iron, suitable for this swer to these allegations of the Committee on Manufac-purpose, is now selling at about 90 dollars per ton; more tures in the Senate, to observe, that the sections of the than double the price of what it cost when imported in a various acts now in force, imposing the duties in question, manufactured state from a foreign country! Frying and point out these distinctions, and not your memorialists; and dripping pans, both in part and in whole manufactured, they believe have always been so understood and applied, as are now, and ever have been, imported, duties and all other only to subject iron manufactured in whole and in part, not charges included, at a less price than the cost of the sheet otherwise specified, to the duty of twenty-five per cent. iron. Tea trays, of large sizes, made of doubled rolled ad valorem thereon. It will be seen that the act of May sheet iron, with only one coat of paint or japan, can be 19, 1828, limits the additional ten per cent. ad valorem imported, duties and other charges included, at $83 72 duty to the articles made of iron therein enumerated, and per ton; whilst the iron required for the same purposes is that all other manufactures of iron, not otherwise specifi- selling at double the price, namely, at from $160 to $170 ed, remain subject to the duty of twenty-five per cent. ad per ton. Tea trays of the above descriptions, therefore, valorem imposed by the act of May 22, 1824. Your me- can, and no doubt will be imported into the United morialists moreover assert, without fear of contradiction, States, to be converted into stove doors, blowers, coal that the interpretation uniformly given to these sections of scuttles, &c., as well as an almost infinite number of other the acts in question at the custom-house, and, it is be- articles of foreign manufacture, as a raw material, to be lieved, with the entire sanction of the Treasury Depart- applied not only to the same, but various other purposes, ment, has been always to allow the importation of iron unless the present exorbitant duties on bar, sheet, hoop, manufactured in whole and in part, when not among the and rod iron be reduced to a uniform rate with the duty articles specified in the act of May 19, 1828, subject only now imposed on the importation of hardware. Againto the ad valorem duty of twenty-five per cent. imposed wire, No. 18, is imported, which costs four pence sterling by the act of May 22, 1824; that this construction of these per lb., or £37 6s. 8d. sterling per ton at par, equivalent acts imposing the duty in question is entirely correct, must to $165 00 be obvious to both Houses of Congress, if they will refer The duty thereon, at ten cents per to an act passed during the last session, regulating the im224 00 portation of railroad iron, which expressly confines the application of its provisions to iron imported for railroads, thus clearly showing that Congress deemed it necessary to enact a law for the express purpose of preventing iron so imported from being applied to any other purpose except that of rails, which might have been done previous to the enactment of the said law. It is, besides, well known to all of our fellow-citizens engaged in, or practically acquainted with, the ironmongery trade, that, under the provisions of the act of May 22, 1824, imposing the ad By the above statement, it is then manifest that a protecvalorem duty of twenty-five per cent. on manufactures of tion is given to the manufacturers of knitting needles at iron not otherwise specified, and not subsequently enume- Birmingham and Sheffield, by the duty in question, rated and repealed by any of the provisions of the act of amounting to $142 63 per ton; and granted, too, by the May 19, 1828, it has been the constant and uninterrupted provisions of an act of Congress of the United States, in practice, at this and other ports in the United States, to import iron, manufactured in whole or in part, under this ad valorem duty of twenty-five per cent.

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conformity, as is alleged, with the known wishes and earnest solicitations of masters and owners of American forges and furnaces, and, what is well worthy of note, beFifthly. The first section of the act of May 19, 1828, lieved by them calculated to protect American industry! provides that bar or bolt iron, when manufactured by roll- And these observations are equally applicable to wire ing, and above half an inch diameter, shall, on its import- fenders, sieves, and every other description of manufac ation, be subject to a duty of thirty-seven dollars per ton; tures from iron. Again, hammered nails, that now pay and iron of the same description, but of smaller sizes, the exorbitant duty of five cents per pound, are, neversubject to a duty of seventy-eight dollars forty cents per theless, almost exclusively imported, because the present What led the framers of the law, in this section of duty on nail rods is so enormous as to preclude all possithe act, to give such a decided monopoly to the manufac- bility of competition between the domestic and foreign tures of hardware and ironmongery at Sheffield and Bir- manufacturer. This last remark the following statement mingham, is what your petitioners are not able to state; will establish: The cost of 120 pounds of nail rods, at Birbut they know and feel that such is the effect of the pro- mingham or Sheffield, is less than six shillings and three vision in question. This view, moreover, can be clearly pence sterling, or, at par, $1 37 120 pounds being made manifest from the following statements of a few of required to produce 100 pounds of nails; that is to say,

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in each particular case will be the same, as has just been demonstrated; making it, consequently, always cheaper to import the above descriptions of iron in a manufactured than in a raw state, and thus depriving American artisans of employment, to which they are so well entitled, without injury to the consumers, to the same extent, on these descriptions of iron, and now not in any manner be6 54 nefiting the masters and owners of American forges and On the other hand, the cost of the raw material of furnaces. Your memorialists cannot perceive why the im 100 pounds of nails, viz. 120 pounds of nail rods, portation of one article of hardware should be considered in the United States, is an evasion of the specific duty on bar iron more than anoThe cost of three bushels of coal, at 28 cents per ther, as it is equally applicable to every description whatbushel, is ever, whether subject to ad valorem or specific duty; and Add to this the loss arising from difference of fa- yet the committee of the Senate contend that “there are cility in working, from its inferior ductility, many articles of hardware upon which there should be an equivalent to one-tenth of the labor, say 30 increase of duty, particularly upon bedscrews, mentioned Making the cost of raw material and difference of in the petition," as in opposition to all the above reasoning, labor of 100 pounds of nails, to the American supported as it is by the clearest and best established facts. manufacturer, Sixthly. The Committee on Manufactures in the Senate A difference, in point of cost, between English and Ame-remark, that "They are of opinion with the petitioners, rican raw materials, for the manufacture of 100 pounds of that there should be just proportion between the duties nails, equivalent to one dollar and twenty cents. This upon bar iron and those upon hardware; but that this proloss to the American nailer is caused by the American iron portion can be more properly attained by increasing the maker not practically understanding the business. The duties upon hardware, than by reducing them upon iron, cost of the iron, as compared with the amount of labor, as this, without injuring the manufacturer of iron, would profit, coal, &c. is as seven to thirty-five, or about one-protect the manufacturer of hardware; but this, it seems, fifth. At this rate, the duty on nails ought to be one-fifth the petitioners do not ask or wish." Had the committee on the iron, and four-fifths on the nails, to place the nailer been well acquainted with the practical effects of the duon the same footing with the iron master; but as we have ties on iron and hardware, in relation to their operation on averaged the cost of the iron at one-third, and the labor each other, and of course that no duty on hardware, short and coals at two-thirds, your memorialists will pursue the of that on iron, could "protect," as it is called, the manusame calculation. Now, three and a half cents per pound facturer of hardware; and the duty on iron has already being the duty rods are subjected to, the duty on nails, at been shown to be from 159 to 2824 per cent., or an aug. the same ratio, should be twelve cents and six mills per mentation of from six to eleven times the present rates of pound; which at once appears so extravagant, that no in- duties on hardware, which your memorialists would not telligent man, in or out of Congress, could be found its only consider impracticable, but altogether unjust, they advocate. But reduce the duty on rods, the raw material, having no other object in the relief they now pray for, than to a fair proportion with the duty now imposed on nails, to be enabled to bring their own industry into fair and and you at once transfer the making of nails from the equal competition with the foreign manufacturer, which British to the American manufacturer; and the importa- the present exorbitant duties on the raw materials they tion of nail rods will certainly increase in the same pro- make use of wholly prevent, and which, they trust, must, portion that the importation of nails will decrease; but from the statements already presented, clearly appear. your memorialists are further warranted in adding, that, Your memorialists will be excused for once more repeatfrom the increased consumption of American nails, the ing, that, as long as the duty on the raw material is higher supply of foreign iron must necessarily be increased also. than that on the manufactured article, so long will the foDuring the fiscal year 1828-'9, we imported two hundred reign manufacturer keep possession of the market. Moreand sixty-six tons of rods made into nails; the first cost of over, if the duty on hardware should be raised above its these two hundred and sixty-six tons, in the form of rods, present rates, so far from benefiting any class of your me is known not to exceed $7,388 88; now, if your memo-morialists, it would only tend to substitute hemp, leather, rialists deduct this latter sum from the whole amount paid wood, and other cheap materials, for the iron which is now to the British manufacturer of the 266 tons, in nails, name-used. On the other hand, a fall in the prices of iron, conly, 36,723 dollars, it will leave $28,336 18 cents. This sequent upon a reduction of duties, would materially exlast named sum, if the duties were equalized in the man-tend its use and promote its further consumption; and thus, ner just pointed out, would give employment to as many, whilst at the same time the business of your memorialists if not more American nailers, than it now does to the Bri- would necessarily be increased, the whole country, in the tish. It is known to your memorialists, from the same in-capacity of consumers, would feel its benefits. And your equality in the duties here alluded to, that horse shoes are memorialists will here be permitted further to remark, actually becoming an article of importation, which here- upon the authority of all experience, that a nation which tofore have always been made by American smiths, and the excels in the production of cheap iron, which can only be cost of which, including duties and other charges, will not brought about by the freest and most unlimited competiexceed the present price of bar iron. Hoops for water tion, must excel in all the useful arts. and other descriptions of casks, can be imported, duties Seventhly. The committee of the Senate state, that and charges included, at 57 dollars per ton, being $21 40" They have received no information to convince them less than the duty on the raw material of which they are that these articles, to wit, axes, adzes, drawing knives, made. Hence a cooper, by importing his hoops ready cutting knives, sickles, or reaping hooks, scythes, spades, riveted, and thus saving that part of his manual labor on shovels, bridle bits, squares of iron or steel, steelyards, the hoops, can save at least one-half the cost of the article, scalebeams, socket chisels, vices, and wood screws, are when imported as "hoop iron," or in its state as a raw not sufficiently protected." Your memorialists, in their material. Thus, it appears, whether your memorialists former petition, did not, nor do they now, ask for any adhave reference to bar iron paying 37 dollars per ton duty, ditional burden to be laid on the consumer of the above or sheet iron, hoop iron, nail rods, and round or square articles; but they conceive that the fact, as stated by the iron, of half an inch and under, all paying $78 40 per ton, committee, furnishes satisfactory proof that the manufacor wire paying from six to ten cents per pound, the result turer of the domestic is not on as favorable a footing in

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$235,200 00 48,648 90

the American market, as the manufacturer of the same fo- lowest priced iron. At this rate, the discriminating duty reign article. The committee acknowledges a duty of in favor of the British manufacturer was actually $1,284,ninety-five per cent. on raw iron, which your memorial- 232 83, for the fiscal year 1828-'9. We also imported, ists believe they have already shown to be from one hun- during the same period, about 3,000 tons of sheet iron, in dred and fifty-nine to two hundred and eighty-two and the form of tin plates, upon which the iron contained in three-quarters per cent.; and at the same time the report these plates, tin being free, paid fifteen per cent. ad valoof the committee states that they have received no evi-rem, or $48,648 90. Now, had this iron been imported dence that the articles just enumerated are not sufficiently into the United States in the form of sheets, and had here protected. Now, to your memorialists, nothing can be been tinned, the duty on the iron in sheets would have clearer than that three tons of iron in the form of hardware been $78 40 per ton, or can be imported into the United States, as far as the duties are in question, at the same cost as one ton of iron in its raw state, according to the very statements furnished by the committee themselves. But, in point of fact, from six $186,551 10 to ten tons can be imported in the state of hardware, for During the existence of such a discriminating duty, it one ton in its raw state. In averaging the duty of seven-will be utterly impossible to embark in the tinning of iron ty-eight dollars and forty cents per ton, with that of thir- in this country; and, it may be added, furnishes, if it were ty-seven dollars per ton, supposing the duty on hardware required, additional proof of the absurdity of the present to be thirty-five per cent., it evidently appears that the exorbitant duties on the raw material. Of steel and iron views presented by your memorialists could not have been wire, there were imported during the year 1828-'9, into the entirely understood by the committee of the Senate. United States, 463,145 pounds, equivalent to 206 tons 1 Eighthly. The committee of the Senate remark, that cwt. 2 qrs. 2 lbs., on which article the same discrimi "There must evidently be a mistake in the statement of nating duty in favor of the British wire-workers has also the petitioners, that there are annually imported sixty been carefully imposed, which will be seen by reference thousand tons of hammered bar iron." In reply, your me- to the previous calculations in relation to knitting needles. morialists beg leave to observe, that the committee have The following is, therefore, a recapitulation of the quannot clearly comprehended the views intended to be con- tity of iron imported in the shape of hardware, with the veyed by this part of your memorialists' petition. Your duty thereon which it is now subject to, namely: memorialists have therefore now taken considerable pains Hardware subject to the duty of 25 per cent. in procuring documents and information from different ad valorem, in which the iron paid a prosources, which enable them to present, as they hope, an portional duty of $5 50 per ton, - 38,929 tons entirely satisfactory exhibition of the same fact, or at least Hardware paying 35 per cent. duty, the iron paying $8 25 per ton, as far as the subject will admit of elucidation. place, a quantity of iron contained in any given quantity Hardware paying specific rates of duty, in of hardware, paying ad valorem duty, cannot be come at which the iron pays $7 per ton, in any other way than by estimating it as forming an ali-Tin paying 15 per cent., in which the iron quot part of the first cost, which your memorialists estimate at one-third. But should it be here urged that this rate is too high, it then is manifest that your memorialists will have underrated their own labor, and consequently would be greater losers. Proceeding then on this basis, the following results are obtained, namely: Imports of hardware, subject to an ad valorem duty of twenty-five per cent. Imports of hardware paying a duty of from thirty to forty per cent., say thirty-five per cent. Imports of hardware paying specific duties,

In the first

$2,725,430

440,201
180,515

$3,346,146

The whole amount of hardware imported du-
ring the fiscal year 1828-'9,
The raw material, iron, contained in the above hard-
ware, amounted to 38,939 tons, paying the ad valorem
duty of 25 per cent. on the first cost of the iron, which
was $23 33 per ton, showing that each ton of iron of this
description has actually been introduced into the United
States at the rate of $5.50 per ton, or within a small frac-
tion thereof. Hence, the above 38,939 tons must have
paid, in duties, the sum of
$214,167 25

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The hardware subject to specific duties con-
tained 6,289 tons, paying, as above stat-
ed, 35 per cent. or $8 25 per ton,
And 2,579 tons, paying a specific duty, say
of $7 per ton,

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52,072 92
18,053 00

The whole amount of the duty paid on 47,798
tons in hardware,
$284,293 17
Had the above 47,798 tons been imported in its raw
state of bar, sheet, rod, or hoop iron, the duty in that case
would have been $1,568,526, estimating the duty at only
$37 per ton, leaving out of consideration the duty of three
and a half cents, and the first cost of hoop, sheet, and rod
iron, and in both cases assuming the lowest duties, and the

pays $12 50 per ton,

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Wire, paying from six to ten cents per pound
Sheet, rod, hoop, and other descriptions of

6,289

2,579

3,000

206

iron, paying three and a half cents per lb. 1,167 Bar iron, rolled, paying a duty of $37 per ton, 3,3324 Making the total of the above descriptions of iron, all manufactured by the process of rolling,

55,5144 To which add the imported hammered iron, 29,486

Making the aggregate quantity of iron import-
ed into the United States during the year
1828-'9 amount to

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of which amount there have been re-exported,
in all forms,

Showing the actual home consumption of fo-
reign iron to be

84,9984

3,654

- 81,344

Now, if to this amount there also be added
the quantity produced in the United States,
which, according to the estimates of iron
masters examined before the committee of
the House of Representatives in 1828, was
30,000 tons, but which an intelligent prac
tical man, who travelled through the Unit-
ed States for the express purpose of ascer
taining the fact, as the result of the most
careful inquiries, estimates at

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The annual consumption of iron in the United
States will be -

· 35,000

- 116,344 tons. Of these 35,000 tons produced in the United States, 10,000 tons only reach the seaboard, and, with the 81,344 tons of imported iron, make the actual quantity passing through the hands of the dealers in iron on the seaboard to be 91,344 tons, and 25,000 tons retained in the interior,

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