The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-09
Academy, Richr-ond }
March 4, 1910. {
PROGRESS OF MANUFACTURES.
Atte5orouyh. { Mass. 1lM Feb. 1910.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ENQUIRER.

TO THE EDITOR THE ENQUIRER
SIR have proposed, through the medium of
your paper, to convey to- the public the progress
ot the arts in the United States, as far as INV in
formation, and tho time can spare, will admit
| Early in 1903, was INDUCED with an opportuni.
ty of viewing the then progress in the northern
and eastern states-rO begin with the cotton
| spinning BUSINESS, which has attracted my attcn-
ton trust l shall not be incorrect in saying,
that in the early part of that year, there was not
IN motion in the United States more than 10000
spndies Since that time, the art has spread
! and the snowiedgc increased to z degree beyond
the most iattering calculations. 1t is impossible
Tor me To be correct as 10 the number of spindles
Which is agreed to be put in motion, and the
| buildings now on the way TO contain them but
| trust shall not be incorrect i'm saving that to
the eastward CT the north river, which empties
Itself INTO the bay at the city of New York, there
ar. establishments on the wGy and will shortly he
IN motion, three hundred and fifty thousand spin
dies and in the middle states, the art has ex-
tremcly encreased-and from authentic accounts
the progress in South Carolina and kentucky is
considerable, and in Virginia the art is progress
sing with success. Several establishments are
now on the way. II appears to me, upon
viewing the progress in New England that the
people OF that part of the United States will be
| able III few years 10 spin cotton for the whole
world. Ii may judge from the progress during
the last Is months, may say that, in three years
from this time, there will be in motion in the u.
States one million OF spinning spintlIes -
The business will certainly be overdone, unless
the yarn becomes an article of eXportation
| Many looms are now at work and the number
| increasing with vast rapidly As good looms
and weaviEg, as are any where TO be found III The
u. ). are now IN Alexandria, Va. In the latter
end OF the last year, there came over from Man
chester, (Eng.) several families, with whom
there were several weavers, who were in ipdi-
gent circumstances--but through the interposi
ton and berality of the inhabitants of that place
the weavers have been put in way to have looms
and Wrapping machines made, and put to work
The wool manufactures increase greatly. have
seen cloth in the city Of New FORK at ten dollars
per yard Of the mandatory of that county, as
good as that of Ia S price imported from Eng.
| land
have not seen any proceedings of the Legis-
| latlire OF Virginia for giving encouragement to
the raising OF sheep. It certainly is one of the
most important subjects that could occupy the
attention of that body. Nothing would contri-
butte more TO the prosperity and happiness of the
state, than a scheme to raise wool sufficient TO
supply the inhabitants. No difficulty exists at
this time in the practcabilty Of manufacturing it.
In the state of Massachusetts, where much care
| and exertions are practised towards increasing
| the quantity and quality of wool, and where ma
ny (merino) sheep are shortly expected, the hope
and prospect is so flattering, that the estimate
| is, that in ten years from this time, the heeces
which will be shorn in that state, in the tenth
year from this time, will be worth one million of
dollars,-And if the quantity should not increase
| more per annum than 25 per cent, it will certain
| ,y increase at that or more. This will soon be
come source of much wealth
The raising of flax has of late been greatly en-
couraged, and it is astonishing TO see the mum
Der of wheelwrights engaged in making fax
vvhse!s-in many parts of the eastern northern
states the domestics appear 10 be entirely en-
gagged in spinning fax.
| There is scarcely article in use which is not
manufactured in some quantity in this country
and from the enterprise, industry and advantages
which we have in the u. S. am fla,tered with
a prospect that this will soon become great, il
not the greatest manufacturing country in the
world. ! have been in a circle where sewing
silk is manufactured to a considerable extent,
and superior to any imported. Doubts will not
| long exist, but we can manufacture every article
we may want.
Your most obedient,
RICHARD HARRIS.