17 



Comparative prices of ivoolen fabrics, &c. Continue i. 



*These goods are improved in quality. 



fThe Ballard Vale flannels are exceptionally fine goods, the chief cost of which 

 Is labor, and are slightly advanced because of the advance in wages of labor. 



The above statement is entitled to more consideration because it was 

 not prepared by manufacturers to suit a purpose. It is all the- more 

 reliable because of the moderate reduction it shows, and because an in- 

 crease in price in some cases is stated. It shows upon the whole a sub- 

 stantial reduction, and this in face of the feet that the wages of labor 

 have increased, as is declared, 15 to 20 per cent. Upon the whole there 

 has been considerable reduction to the consumer, although the duties 

 npon all the articles have been more than doubled by the successive 

 tariffs of 1861, 1863, and 1867; so that this table furnishes a complete 

 refutation of the free-trade assertion that the prices of goods are en- 

 hanced to consumers in proportion to the increase of the duties. 



As to finished cloths not included in the above list, such as fancy cas- 

 simeres, of which the great bulk of clothing goods is composed, it should 

 be observed that only a few of the old mills continue to make cloths 

 identical with those made before 1860. I have, however, samples from 

 two such mills which illustrate the general reduction of prices in this 

 class of goods. They are: 



Enthusiasts for protection may be disappointed that its friends can 

 adduce no more startling illustrations of the effect of protective duties 

 in reducing prices; but it must be remembered that the manufacture of 

 the fabrics last referred to was firmly established years before 1860, and 

 after the first effects of the introduction of a new fabric in reducing 

 prices the further reduction is slow and gradual. The most striking 

 effect of protective duties is seen in the introduction of new fabrics. 

 The invariable effect of such an introduction by domestic manufacture 

 of an article formerly obtained only abroad is invariably to reduce'prices. 

 Hi 2 



