Made, Expensively, In Sheffield

[RichardB]

" One case has been mentioned, in which a cotton manufacturer established a factory at New York, that he might conduct his business free from those interruptions, to which it was subjected in this country from the strikes among his men. The conduct of the Sheffield workmen already threatens the extinction of the trade of that town, and its transference to our French and German rivals. At present the same labour in the manufacture of saws which costs 15s. or 20s. at Sheffield, can be done for 1s. 3d. at Molsheim, in the neighbourhood of Straasburg.

The consequence is, the exportation of this article to the Continent, which was considerable some years ago, has almost wholly ceased, many other of the Sheffield productions have shared the same fate, and America is almost the only market that is left for the sale of the manufactures of that town, At present the condition of the Sheffield operatives is far worse in respect of comfort, than at any preceding period, and the town exhibits the extraordinary spectacle, the inevitable result of successful combinations, of high wages, a decaying trade, and a destitute population.

The business that remains is now dependent on our friendly relations with the United States; war, or the policy of a tariff may equally extinguish it, and should that happen, the Sheffield workmen may perhaps at length learn, amidst unavailing regrets, that the question has not been, whether they shall get high or moderate wages, but the latter or none at all."

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I've no idea what I have, or have not posted, or, indeed where. Sure one, or more, of the sympathetic moderators will gently point out where I go wrong and not take the mickey at all