Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-06-26
TcoMMuNicArsp. j

IWr. Snoscdsn:-.s Citizen agrees with me,
that our Town has great natural advantages
that it does not prosper as it ought-that this is
onr own fault-and that Manufactures would,
he doubt, be Of great advantage. But then
he enquiries, 80 what are our means, and how
have these means been heretofore empioyedl-
Who are the persons to whom we are to look Tor
the establishment Of Manufactures?'' Manu-.
features would be Of great advantage" he adds:
1" But Commerce is also necessary to give effect
to Manufactures: both require capital, and how
il this TO be obtainedi' This he thinks the i'm.
por,ant question, and he wishes me TO solve it,
Now it is not to be expected that one Old man
should have the whole burden OF planning anu
executing the means OF our prosperity. pro-
posed this subject 10 be discussed, WIN the nope
that ADLER hands would take the laborious part
of il, and at least assist me by proposing p'ans
instead Of questions. 10 not say th's because ",
i am offended with the communication OF Gel.
tizen. n-Far from it. His questions are very
proper, and very property put. But | mean
this: that I consider this partnership business,
and EXPECT those who write upon II to suggest
MANS. or some improvement Of plans suggested.
Rut. 10 70 on: am far from the folly OF under.
,aluins our merchants. Nobody knows but am
one. or have been one. myself. Every body
knows that the prosperity Of town depends
principally upon the enterprise OF IFS merchants.
would not, therefore, withdraw enc copper from
proper mercantile pursuits. But we have many
persons engaged in traffic among US, whose time
and talents might be more usefully employed =.
Now, suppose each Of our merchants employed
only so much of bis capital in setting up Looms.
and furnishing materials to as many weavers Of
cotton goods, as he now assists with means to
conduct these little shops;-how many idle per-
sons would be usefully employed-hOw much
money that il now sent to the North would be
kent in useful aud constant circulation among
ourselyes-and what vast Improvement should
we witness in the moral character OF our com.
munity. Let no man hastily rdicue the sug-
eestion. la the City Of Philadelphia, am ere,
dibjv Informed, thousands of families sup
ported by the Loom. A poor weaver applies to
a merchant for employment: he furnishes him
with a loom, which costs him about $40, and
materials for his work: the weaver returns to
him at the end of the week with his cloth, for
which he is allowed the market price: and IN a
little time he has paid for his loom. and is able to
Tor himself. al industrious weaver, il is said,
will earn dollar day. When was in Phila.
deiphia last, which is some years bygone, was
told that there were probably 10000 Of these
weavers. then in the city, earning ard circulating
. every day. $4,000. Suppose we had one thous-
sand here. and they could easily be had, even
that would give ne " face to our affairs. There
is one pla,-and that only ia oRe branch Of bu-
siness.
But should like to see cur citizens act with
concert in this business This way Of mine may
be impracticabe. 1 do not know that it is the
best. Let some one show that it is not the best,
If he can, and propose some other. But where
is the capitals In our pockets. Where d,d we
find capital to make ioads or a canals or to
build boat You say these are done by stock
companies. Very good; and can't we form
a stock company to establish Manufactures
among usi We have means enough, | am very
confident. have a little-it is but little; but,
little as it is, will cheerfully join my fellow
citizens in using part Of il in any wefl.advised
plan Of establishing Manufactures among US.
June "a. s'BELLHAVEN.