Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-06-03

of summer, the Russian troops will spread this
awful contagion through Poland, and probably
over Europe. He calls on the Government of
Great Britain, which from its commerce IS very
liable to receive the infection, to take measures
both for excluding it, and learning the best me-
thod of treatment.
>ef99as-
Manufacturing Capociiies Of IIrgmia.-We
have seldom met with communication which
evinced in the same brief space, more good sense
and sound judgment, than the following extract
of ettert to citizen Of this place from gentle
mon engaged in Manufacturing in the Eastern
part of Virginia. His practical mind and ex-
perimental knowledge enabled him to form
correct opinion, and to present the facts and rea
sons on which it was predicated; and ne has
done SO plainly, frankly and forcibly. Indeed,
we were much struck with the simplicity OF style
employed in several parts; especially where nc
says, that we Of Virginia had Gas well'' save to
ourselves the profits and advantages OF manufac-
turing, as to support the operatives and enrich
the Capitalists Of other States and countries
Indeed it would be as tcelf; perhaps it might be
better.
We do not propose to comment on all the facts
and arguments contained in the extract below
they are we'll entitled TO the serious thoughts OF
the reader. But some Of them are probably new
to many of our readers. Take for example the
accumulation Of force from the use OF machinery,
:. sixty fold" says the Intelligent and expert
enced writer In other words. one thousand
persons may, with the aid of machinery, do the
work Of sixty thousand without it. What an
immense addition. what a saving of labor -
Another; cotton yarns, manufactured in Peters
burg, actually constitute an article OF export
to South America. and even to the East Indies.
And yet our would-be great men in the Assem-
blv, ''lacking knowledge" wish to discourage
the citizens of Virginia from embarking in this
profitable business. When will our public men
learn common sense; condescend to examine
the natural capacity of the country; become &C
quainted with its reaHnterests; and cease their
ciamor for miserable distractions? Or, how
long will the people tolerate Public men who
take no account of the wants and capacities Of
the country, and exalt themselves by playing up
on Their prejudices and presuming on their igno-
rancel But to the extract:-Lynch. Trginimi.
sin point of climate. Virginia has the advan-
tage over the Northern States, IN having in the
winter more day light and less cold weather
In the Cotton Manufacture she has the raw
material plenty, and S per cent. cheaper than
the North. She has water power, food and labor
in abundance, and as cheap or cheaper / mean
that subordinate labor, unconnected with know
LEDGE. Steam power should be cheaper here
because fuel IS cheaper.
In point of skill. both mechanical and man.
ufacturing, the North has greatly the advantage
over us.
In pout of capital too, the north has superior
advantages.
In manufacturing there are two kinds Of labor
ers wanted, the one having thoroug knowledge
of the business, that is smart men as oyerseers;
a,,lt ho,, avnI 81
Of this latter there are in and about towns, very
many white people who are too poor to emigrate,
and indeed they often consist Of widows and
children unable to get support where there are
no factores-Ihese may be had at low wages,
and it is charity to give them employment. There
is probably no reason why slaves may not be pro-
fitably employed in factories, but imagine that
it is greatly to the interest of the community
that employment should be given to poor white
persons.
The customs and prejudces Of a community
act powerfully-fOr some time it was difficult to
get white persons to consent to 90 into factories
Il mean respectable white femaes-but once
overcome this prejudice by good management,
and they then are pleased with the occupation.
They know that they must work there or else
where, and if the factory society is raised to
respectable grade, it becomes agreeable-the la
Dor being light and pleasant. Parents are anxious
that their children should remain The employ
ment may be called sedentary, and from necessi-
ty great numbers are placed in the same building,
and it is probable that they become somewhat en-.
er,ated, but where due regard is paid to ceanli-
ness and to ventilation, this 10 so uncomfortable
as to be no serious objection. Children under
ten years of age are unfit for factories. They
may get some education previous to this period,
they certainly have no other opportunity when
they go in than that afforded by Sunday Schools.
Where attention is paid to good order and to good
morals, they NAV be well maintained. And it is
to the interest Of owners to attend to this.
The most material disadvantage to manufactur-
ing in Virginia is the want Of mechanical skill.
and the want of work shops for building machl-
nery-Up to this time, those who have engaged
in the business have experienced great inconve-
nience and loss both of money and of time
The advantages are those already named, and al
so the home market for very much of the goods
made. 1t is not on that market alone however
that the Virginia manufactur may calculate, as
commerce very readily distributes good articles
80 o t,,tto koc