Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-09-22
dDulneBtn.
PROSPERITY OF THE WESTERN
COUNTRY!
A cur.cry view of the PRINCIPAL manufac-
tories in and adjacent TO Pittsburgh.

WE feel peculiar pleasure in taking
This hasty glance at our rising manutac-
tories, whose increase and success we sin.
ecerely prey for, believing it the surest and
rnost solid basis on which our country can
rest It's future independence and happiness !:
not throwing out of view, BY any means,
the culture Of our forests, and the re.
quisite improvements in agriculture -
for these, with manufactures, like man
ard wife, must go hand in hand. Let the
AGRICULTURAL and manufactures, therefore,
join hands, and bid the jarring world def.
ance: let them sit down together under
their own vine s. g-lree, & enjoy the fruits
of their honest lSbours whilst the mad.
dened nations IF Europe, are destroying
each other, and spreading deaih and des-
oiaiion over some Of the fairest portions
of the globe.
We should like to have taken more
>c&tcnded view OF the manufactures Of the
western country, had our information been
adequate. or the contracted na.cre of our
limits permitted. We mast content our
selves with what follows, and beg indul-
gence for any misealcu,atioos or errors
which We may have undeaignedjy com,
fni,ed.
Glass works---Of these we have three
in handsc mt operation, and the fourth at
New Geneva, so miles up the Monongs-
'hela river. Two OF these in town make
all Ainds Of flint glass, tumbiers, wine
glasses. decaniers, &c. to the amount Of
ahout $4,000 dollars annually. The other.
ywo make green bot4es, window glass.
yyr tn tl,sp ~ rE ca mr. I~no
nually. Slone or pit coal is their fuel,
which costs FIVE cents per busbel.
Cotton Mills.-We have two, che works
30, and the other conteu,plates working
shortly $50 spndles-Thry manufacture
cords, chambray 5, jeans, djmit'es, checks,
tickmgs, girthipgs, sc. to the value Of
about 10000 dollars annuuiiy. The ma
ehiReries arc SCI in motion by The power
of horses. Both keve wool cardiDg and
picking machines under the same roof.
There are few smaller cotton mils thro'
the country, and increasing; wool cardng
machines are numerous, some going by
[. water and others by horses. Cotton from
the Mississippi country, brought TO this
place, sells OIL 20 can;s per pound. We
are informed iha, 357 spindies arc at
work in ShipPngsburgh, (Ps.) which spin
sSf,vt So dcz n or ~ lbs. OF cotton yarn
daiy.l
In Lexington (Kcn.) there are several
cotton cloth, duck aud bagging manufa6to~
ries on large scales, which, u is said, work
up SEQ ton of hemp into bagging annual.
~, besides vast quantities of fashionable
Cotton wares. Que was erected in Frank
fort but il Was unfortunately burnt down,
and has not been rebuilt, notwithstanding
the generous offers made Cor that purpose
by the mechanics and others OF the place.
The one az Louisville was also consumed
but by the generous excTtions of the me-
chancs Of the town, it has been rebuilt,
and is 10 complete operation again.
The legislature should endeayor to PIE.
vent by exemplary punishmeDts the cons
iagraiion OF established manufactures.
Butons.--We have mandatory oI
white metal buttons to the extent of 40
or so gross per week, ard can be exlen-
died. OF the butlons made at ibis man.
uiaGSoTy, one of our merchants tells us he
expects to sell 5000 gross ia the Course Of
this year.
Iron grinding mill.--One has recently
got iHto operation for grinding 1at-irous
axes, scylhes, chissels, sc. aud being at
iached to the air Goupdegy, will be a con-
siderable saving in the carriage OF heavy
articles from the sea ports.
Iron moDgery. of this there is about
~ or $4,000 dollars worth made annually
-Ci ehlssels, claw bammeis, steelyards. shin.
gllng-batchels, drawing, knives, cutting
knives, shovels, tongs, hsckles, g.wblets
augeFs, squares. door lsGles, luciiscrews
kles, siocklocks, spinning Wheel mons
eScs, hoes, chains, kitchsn ware, &c
Scyihes, sickles aud sugers, are made
~ great numbers tbrouE hout the coun
try.
From late experiments il has been founC
that 6w,4hiGgcs, ard anVls can be made
here to advantage. TSe face Of thes,
huyiIs are cas-, On.a thick, cold iron plate
which renders them as hard as the elcs
igced anvis, and al less than o0c third o
tbe price Of wrought enyi!s. They src
c'lied stock cast aovils. Our smiihs be.
giD 40 use them ard highly approve o
them. ingeniIus and well Contrised iror
balk nils are est al COR aif furnace, TO.
gsther with large quantities Of hollow ware