The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1808-02-23
1fXSCELLA.NY.
DOMESTIC .dRTS.
TO 1.HE PEOPLE OF MARKHAM

'iSiiS Il pian Tor the establishments OF woOllen <
cotton monuf .ctories having several times con-
,cncd To- deliberate ON the subject of their up.
fointment, and having been favored with, and
examined variety ot Communications from gen
temcn IN different parts of the country, contain
iats very useful remarks and observations on the
praoticablity of Carrying SO desirable an csta-
tiishlDent INTO opcra,ion---bcg leave 20 offer the
foii0wI:ic exposition OF their impressions this
interesting subject, TO their follow citizens.
Your committee are convinced that a crisis of
all others. the most favorable since the u States
became nauon, for the establishment of manu-
i-ctoIes, iasarIivcd, period when, If they Judge
correctly ~ public OPINION, it is with very IL w
exceptions in favor of making the experiment.
Iiut IN an undertaking OF this nature the real and
supposed difficulties 10 be encountered have here
toiore bcen thought SO numerous as to be inslu-
ino'ntab!e; it has therefore become the duty of
uns committee to ascertain what these difficulties
really are, and whether they have not in time past
neen greatly maSnihed either through tnudity, or
ny those whose interests were opposed to such
establishments. The objections which have been
offered may perhaps be condensed into the fol-
lowing
list. The impracticab;lity of finding persons
quahhed TO construct and finish labour- saving ma
cbinery.
I'd. The difficulty of producing suitable cha.
racters to conduct and superintcnd such establish
'ments.
Sd. The scarcity OF certain raw materials
4th The high price of labor
ON The want OF sufficient capital, and
9th. That, even after all the preceding obsta-
cies had been overcome, ono still greater would
pe found TO exist in procuring a market for such
articles rs might be fabricated.
Although the committee may be incompetent
to obviate and remove all these difficulties and
NobJeetions. yctf in the succeeding remarks they
aie fortunate enough to point out the utility of
some and weaken tile force of Others they will
inf 81,
these observations together has not been misap-
Phcti, and will have the s. tsfaction OF believing
whatever may be the effect of the present report
on the public mind, that they have endea~ordd to
render their fellow citizens service by this fee
Die attempt to urge the propriety and expedfencv
OF an establishment, which they are convinced
would tend to promote the general welfare
IaEing then the object III the ordinary state,
they wodId answer to the tirst.-rhat since this
business has been agitated, the letters received
oy the chairman and others containing offers of
service from persons of avowed experience de-
cafifB themselves competent to construct and Il
nish any machine necessary in cardine spinning
Snd weaving cotton or wool, 30 most completely
10 retute this objection
The same. documents are applicable in rernov-
ing the second difficulty, viz. that of procuring
suitable characteristic conduct and superintcnd
the work and although some doubts may have
renamed on this part of our subject, yet we feel
confident that an attentive perusal of the letters
referred to, will etfcctualy remove them for
ourselves, we consider the fact as completely as
certained as the former The third objection is
one winch we cannot SO easily overcome To re-
move ltentirely!s at present mpracticable. II is
true our country produces some wool, but YOUR
comIhttec are aware that the quantity is by no
means sufhclent for the supply of an extensive
mandatory, yet they believe enough NAV be OBJ
tanned TO commence and carry OH an undertaking
on small SCALE winch is perhaps all we ought
afftt ,.l,,
1901 AS relates to this article. But if it was once
geseraliy known that 4 market for the purchase
OF wool would be regularly kept open and suffi-
Gent encouragement given to farmers and others
Tor Increasing the quantity and improving the
tiuaiity, no doubt can be entertained that i'm ftw
Years considerable supplies might be obtained of
that Kind used in the fabrication of middling and
common cloths. These being articles of prima-
~ necessity ought first to claim attention.
Should our present political difficulty be as it
ny many is expected, eRcraased to :ti actual war
fare, establishments of this kind would become
absolutely necessary, even for cloathing the very
troops who might be called out to fight cur bat
ties IN that Case it can hardly be questioned that
bounty would be allowed either bv the federal
or state government, for the growth and improve
ment IN quality OF so essential IN article az woei
but should this last expectation not be realized.
the constant and INCREASING demand for woollen
cloths may be relied ON TO afford sufficient sti.
mllus to those concerned.
AS respects the article of cotton nothing f,,r
Their need DC sad, than that it is produced from
our own soii IN such quantities, and afforded for
sale III so iowa rate, as 70 be profitable manufac-
ture, even to private individuals without capital
HE 4th objection mas by many persons & some
ot considerable experience, been thought emit.
tied to more weight than the committee feels
sensible OF, or can attach to it. They are not ig-
rOIant that the nominal price of labour is consi
dcrabic, but they believe its comparative and &C.
t,Ial value is little greater here than in some o.
tner countries, where Manufacturing is carried
ON TO great extent. To form a correct Judgment
III this case, IT becomes necessary to ascertain,
whether The labourer or trade sn,an in this coup
try who receive from forty to one hundred and
thirty three cents per day, their boarding being
firm shed, can procure more ofthe actual conye
n'eucIcs OF life, such as clothing, furniture etc
than the same description of persons can in en-
gland, on a salary OF from ] shilling to 9 and s
pence sterling for the same portion of ,abour
Your committee have no data at hand which
VIII positively determine this question but from
tnc best information the subject, they feel a
strong conviction that the difference if any. il
very trif,ng but suppose it was considerable. il
would be more than counter balanced in the ma
Iutsctory OF cotton, by the reduced price at which
We can procure that article. The committee re-
commend To- those who are in the habit of com.
planning ~ the exhorhitant charges on our labouy
Crs AND mechanics, to reflect for moment ON
tbc small conparat we alue of money amongst ,s
they siso beg leave tn remark, that in an under
taxing Of This knd, the estimates Of the annual
1iuc Of iabour ought to be very differently form
cd, from those which arc made for a day or a
week on board ctr vcssply or or, MIR ,,rb.r,.,s .