Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-05-18

stances there are superior advantages in this
place. The material required for use in many
cases, grows and is collected IN our immediate
vicinity, and not unfrequently passes through the
town, or directly by our harbor's mouth. What
harm, would come to US if we should manufac.
ture annually $40, 600 worth Of palm leaf hats,
and supply the Inhabitants with this convenient
and necessary article, and send the surplus to
another marketl Are we prepared to answer,
that the business is not sufficiently respectables
No, we believe there are hundreds among US
who would E heartily glad OF employment in
this wav, and think it an honor and relief to them.
We believe, that the amount Of money paid every
year by the inhabitants Of this town, for manu-.
featured articles, (nearly all Of which might as
we'll be produced here.) is vastly more than is
generally known. From the best information we
have been able to obtain from gentlemen we'll qua
lifted to Judge, it will amount to more than too
hundred thousand dollars.
This estimate is not intended to include cot
ton or woolen goods. Now. brethren, if wa are
at all correct in our opinion OF affairs about US,
there is much need of all effort toward improve
mrnt, and we think it may be done without much
difficulty.
As an incentive to the introduction of more me-
chanical business will relate one circumstance
which has recently come to my knowledge. In
small town not more than IA miles from this, con-
tanning about one third of our number of inhabit-
ants. and in point of locality, much inferior to
ours, there is an annual mechanical surplus of
about $500. 900 over its consumption. This
yearly amount produced for expectation, when
compared with our amount annually imported,
shows plainly the great advantage that must of ne.
cessity follow the exporting community. If we
fall ion in
number Of inhabitants in each case, we shall find
ourselves minus in the enormous sum of 81, 2OO,-
600 annually. This is startling fact, and shows
what may be gained with proper management, and
what may be lost by negligence.
One Of the striking peculiarlties OF our town
consists in the large proportion of females com
pared with the males. This very unusual cir
cumstance NAV be accounted for in various WAYS;
much of it happens in consequence of the
great dearth of business here. for long time
past; our young men have left US to seek their for
tuness abroad: in addition to this, we are the on.
lv seaport in the state, and nanv Of our young
men are taken OF by exposure and sickness in
following the sea Other reasons may be assign
ed, but suffice it to say, this unusual proportion
does exist, which makes it the more necessary
that some kind Of respectable employment should
be introduced amongst US. Ii not unirequently
happens that we find or 5 females in family
of very moderate circumstances almost entirely
without employment, and all this, not from choice;
no, tar from il; but because their parents are not
willing tina, the morals and reputation of their
children should be exposed, aud under the pro-
teciun of strangers aud disinterested persons -
And who blames them? We cannot find it III
our hearts 10 blame any one for such course
What fathers or mothers are there among US who
would Willingly leave their children thus exposed
and unprotected? None. we dare say. There
fore they exert all their powers to sustain them
at home, preferrine honest poverty to The loss OF
morals and reputation: the consequence Is, they
are unabIe to disc harse their deb's as they would
wish; they are likewise unable to educate their
children as thew otherwise would do. consequent
~ the community must suffer.