Those  manufactures,  too,  unite,  in  a  greater  degree  than
almost  any  others,  the  several  requisites  which  have  been  men-
tioned as  proper  to  be  consulted  in  the  selection  of  objects.
The  cmly  further  encouragement  of  manu&ctories  of  this
article,  the  propriety  of  which  may  be  considered  as  unquestioii-
able,  seems  to  be  an  increase  of  the  duties  on  foreign  rival  0(HOh
laodities.
Steel  is  a  branch  which  has  already  made  a  considerable  prch
gress,  and  it  is  ascertained  that  some  new  enterprises,  on  a  more
^ctensive  scale,  have  been  lately  set  on  foot.  The  &cility  of
carrying  it  to  an  extent  which  will  supply  all  internal  demand%
and  furnish  a  considerable  surplus  for  exportation,  cannot  be
doubted  The  duty  upon  the  importation  of  this  article,  whidi
ifl,  at  present,  seventy-five  cents  per  cwt.  may,  it  is  conoeivedy
be  safely  and  advantageously  extended  to  one  hundred  centsi
It  is  desirable,  by  decisive  arrangements,  to  second  the  efforts
which  are  making  in  so  very  valuable  a  branclL

The  United  States  already,  in  a  great  measure,  supply  them-
selves 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  persona
afterwards  employed^  a  great  proportion  are  boys,  whose  early


JBr.  S4.]  MANUFACTURES.  261

habits  of  industry  «re  of  importanoe  to  the  community,  to  ihe
present  support  of  their  fiimilies,  and  to  their  own  fiituie
comfort  It  is  not  less  curious  than  true,  that,  in  certain  parte
of  the  country,  the  making  of  nails  is  an  occasional  family
mano&cture.
