Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1836-08-09
FOR TIL: ENQUIRE
THE PROSPECT BEFORE US.

MANUFACTURERS.
Circumstances seem to indicate the inhabitants Of
Richmond the necessity of cncourag ing the establish
ment Of manufactures extended scaie 1t they de-
sire TO promote the growth OF the town and increase e
value olher real estate. The price OF labor becoming
and has become HIGH for the general profits OF aGTl-
culture in the country whose produce comes 70 this mar
ket The rich lands the borders 0! Inc rivers and
the new lands adapted to the culture OF Tobacco may
bear the expense of labor at the present hg Iats; but
il is rmonstrae, that The poor and thin SOILS even I'M
der the best cement cannot yield an annual product
cGuvaent to the hire of the labor cmplorrd on them
The propreors Of such lands. will sooI !nd their in
terest abandon the cultivation OF them, and eiiher 10
hire out their aborers work rail roads and canals OF
TO remave with them to the South west where the crops
of Cnltnn offer such tempting profits Richmond must
then look to something else than The products oil agr'cn
ture to advance her trade and prosperity Even the sup
p,y Of Tobacco from kenuck and Missouri may, III the
course of few years. most seriously interfere with the
profits Of planters, in That sapt-and although lie
extension Of canals and rail roads may bring 10 this
kri the products Of distant regions, still. our main
reliance for increased prosperity must at least be Oh
manufactures. =, -, =
Lot any imDartial observer examine the locality Of
Richmond with all IFS advantages and he may well won
der that man has done little when naturr has done 50
much for The place At the head OF tide wafer OF NJ"
bic rivcr-w! avenues opening TO the interior OF 'he
country in every directon-wilh immense "a1ei P'"
or for driving every description oil inachnefy-With
inryhaus,ihe beds Of bumnous coal IN lis Vicnity'
and on the very margin Of The ri"erw!th abundant Oo
dies of iron Of the best qnaiIty-"has Is ,''Te'
but the want OF enterprise, 10 render nch"''' VIZ
greatest manufacturing place III the !illahue 9ales
Great Britain probably her prosperity more 10 h'r
resources coal and iron than TO her c'nneEceindeed'
ler commerce depends CHIEFLY on her Inahuactu,e'
Il is ,uc she had an immense capital to hcgn vita: when
the discoveries Of Watt and Arkwrght in the steam en-
CINE and the spinning jenny, gave her start 10 tG race
Of manufacturing which has kept her hleaa Oh on "
competitors for many years; bet now. the use OF lese
machines is rs well understood il America as III NITea'
Britain and there good reason why we SHOULD mol
press upon her heels in that contest as wei as we a'c
in commercial npcllon. We can for the most part
employ cheaper agent in driving machinery man sic
car-lnasmuch water power Is cheaper tnai s'e"ni
power that requires great consumption OF tue-aho
exclusive Of that superiority only need ute OF ht
industry enterprise and capital to open to U.s. III the VI
c:nitv OF Richmond equal in our mines OF coal
Instead of raising million two bushels OF that va''
able mineral proper explorations would soon eHaOe us
10 rnsc four or five times that quantity WIFE surh pros
pecls rs OURS neghbos Of the North would specify
employ sufficient capital and exertion to exclude all
chance of foreign competition; bn while we are STUN
bering over our hidden treasures in great danger
EurIsh and Nova Scotia coal for the supply OF manu-
fac!ures established in less favorable positions than ou
own IF public attention could be awakened lo
our real advantages it would seem Impossible lhat We
could ngan fall into present state OF apathy. we
have intelligent, active and enerprizlng men IN one
pursuits and il is amazing that so many OF then' snoue
nerlect this Obvious resource. Let our coai anu 'o
mines be in full operation, and can every
sort of Hardware from the heaviest TO the ghes' a.
cheuply and as we'll any other establishments III '
or any other country-and numerous other manufactures
dependent on machinery may also be carried on as Pro
ftaby as elsewhere