Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-10-31
LOW ELL.

LOh ELL.
The city OF Lowell is tn. most remarkable ex-
ample oil what may be accomplished, by art, in-
dustry and well directed enterprise Less than
twenty years ago, its present site was either a will.
derness or comprised, for the mos, part of sterile
tarms, with mesgre houses, few and far Lsiveen
Now II 4. splendid city, Of some "a 900 thrifty in.
notwithstanding in spacious mansions-ha nd g.
some sueeiS-eltgani churches, public schools great
manufacturing es.abIlshmcnts-milis, workshops
and warehonses-inierseeted by canals and ariii-
cia water COURSES, TO give augmented power 10 the
operations OF machinery. II the forest has been
suodued and changed into beautiful streets so have
the courses OF the river obeyed the will OF man.
AMI been diverted into various collateral channels
giving power and movement TO the machinery of
great factories on each, and thus using the came
water again and again 10 succession. Connected
with ali these improvements, or artificial facilities
for business, "a the railroad on tire side TO Bos
ton, and on the oiher TO Nashua, Manchester, Con-
cord, and the back country. These improvements
and new sources OF wealth have been created as II
were, within twenty years, and with the advantage
OF having added, equally, TO the value OF property,
AM developed the resources Of the surrounding
country in the rear and down 10 the metropoli, it,
self.
Any one OF these grea, manufacturing establish.
men!s IS fruitful study, more for the political
economist than for the man Of science ard the phi.
osopher. IL combines the perfection Of art in ma
ehinery, with the economical efforts of human
power and steam. All these elements OF produc
tive wealth are concentrated, with admirable system
and order, IN each OF these vast esiabiIshmentt-
Some three hundred persons, and perhspJ ten thou
sand wheels and splndes, under the same rosE ore
all IN rapid motion, and acting in perfect harmony
II presents the aspect or vast hive with the inces.
sint hum OF business, and withou, drones. II oil
the wheels are exactly adapted to each other so ore
the human agents ever at their posts, with their
hands ready to Keep every thirg adjusted to the
proper performance Of the work. The wool or the
cotton IS made 10 pass through its various grada
tons, with perfect regularity I'LL j, comes GU, beau
ufol cloth, and II is then bned 10, ready TO be
transported TO any part of the world Tor a market
distinguishing CHARACTERISTIC Of the manufactur
ing operations ofLows !, the exact system that pre-
walls throughout. Attn stated hour IN the morning
the hrst bell rings at the call OF the second bell the
opervss are seen passing from the boarding houses
TO the factories, and al commences ut the same time
AZ noon the bell rings for dinner. and again fyr re-
sumiug work. Atihe "Curfsw," Of evening, the
days work IS done, md the lights arc put OUT.
This iE the daily routine.
Within the factories the same busy harmony
reigns. The wheels ore set in motion, and evefy
one IS al her post, regulatsg the beautiful opera
ton OF weaving fabrics Of various kinds. Without
hurry, hustle, or forced effort, every one s quietly
at work, and oil goes on with perfect harmony.
Thus are the operations acc mplished without
waste oftims oriatgue. The most Ingenious con-
trvancss Of machinery arc combined Win we'll di
rseed human skill aud industry 70 produce tho
most profitable results.
Soch are some Of the happy effects Of Tariff for
the protection Of American industry. While 70
pens desirable investments for capitalists u affords
profitable employment 10 the opeiltiyes,-to me-
ehanics for buiidng-to farmers for supplios-to
msrehsnts-to machinists, and 10 oil branches Of in
dusuy,-it enehinoes the value of real estate IN cs
~ and country. In fact, u has tendency 10 set
oil classes Of people NJ work, which, after all is the
sO.utlon Of the great problem in political economy.
Much has been said and written, on the adverse
tendency Of these great manufacturing establish
ments TO the health ond morals Of the operatives.
Unavofable illustrations have been drawn from ihs
condition OF the great rufoctgnng cities Of Eng.
land, where employment is given 70 a redundant
paupor population, and where the price of labor !,
scarcely Sufficient 70 keep soul and body together
from day 20 day. IN such a community the temp
tation TO prostitution and crime IS extreme. Fat
different - tho condition Of the manufacturing dis
tries in New Englsnd. Wages ore not only slGi
esn' q enable the opcraliyesto live WE'LL bu, 70 lay
up money every month The gifs can eorn beyont
their board, from one TO four dollars a week, ono
are sure Of Their pay. The most careful attention
| l. paid 70 guarding the morals Of the operatives .
10Th sexes. The least deviation from correct de
porlmen. is noticed, my offender against the NOR
q sense Of the community 10 Of once dismissed, anS
Wien thus discharged che is not admitted into anJ
Other i,ctory n tbs city. Jhusti s that the moral
OF these grea, female communities ass preserved 81
pure os those Of any other com nunty Of tqusl szs
the void round. A. 10 Tier health, ooe mas oni,
70 look mo any one n these IA tories, and glsnt
a. he erect forms-ihe c0n.enttd c5unienancss ar,
oedul spirta Of the opsfatiyee 90 lie tie6~d IN