Iron works have greatly increased in the United States and are prosecuted with much more advantage than formerly. The average price before the Revolution was about $64 per ton; at present it is about $80—a rise which is chiefly to be attributed to the increase of manufactures of the material.
The still further extension and multiplication of such manufactures will have the double effect of promoting the extraction of the metal itself and of converting it to a greater number of profitable purposes.
Those manufactures, too, unite in a greater degree than almost any others the several requisites which have been mentioned as proper to be consulted in the selection of objects.
The only further encouragement of manufactories of this article, the propriety of which may be considered as unquestionable, seems to be an increase of the duties on foreign rival commodities.
Steel is a branch which has already made a considerable progress, and it is ascertained that some new enterprises on a more extensive scale have been lately set on foot. The facility of carrying it to an extent which will supply all internal demands and furnish a considerable surplus for exportation can not be doubted. The duty upon the importation of this article, which is at present 75 cents per hundredweight, may, it is conceived, be safely and advantageously extended to 100 cents. It is desirable by decisive arrangements to second the efforts which are making in so very valuable a branch.
The United States already, in a great measure, supply themselves with nails and spikes. They are able and ought certainly to do it entirely. The first and most laborious operation in this manufacture is performed by water mills, and of the persons afterwards employed, a great proportion are boys, whose early habits of industry are of importance to the community, to the present support of their families, and to their own future comfort. It is not less curious than true that, in certain parts of the country, the making of nails is an occasional family manufacture. The expediency of an additional duty on these articles is indicated by an important fact. About 1,800,000 pounds of them were imported into the United States in the course of a year ending the 30th of September, 1790. A duty of 2 cents per pound would, it is presumable, speedily put an end to so considerable an importation. And it is in every view proper that an end should be put to it.
The manufacture of these articles, like that of some others, suffers from the carelessness and dishonesty of a part of those who carry it on. An inspection in certain cases might tend to correct the evil. It will deserve consideration whether a regulation of this sort can not be applied without inconvenience to the exportation of the articles either to foreign countries or from one State to another. The implements of husbandry are made in several States in great abundance. In many places it is done by the common blacksmiths. And there is no doubt that an ample supply for the whole country can with great ease be procured among ourselves.
Various kinds of edged tools for the use of mechanics are also made, and a considerable quantity of hollow wares, though the business of castings has not yet attained the perfection which might be wished. It is, however, improving, and as there are respectable capitals, in good hands, embarked in the prosecution of those
