Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1845-07-03
Correspondence of the United States Gazette
A Trip to New England.

This is just one half the fare from Baltimore TO
Washington, abou, the same dis'ance-Perhaps
a lille less. Along the line of this road, as
indeed upon all others which travelled in New
England. We could observe "miIls" or factories
upon either side, some large and some small, at
intervals Of a very few miles, and wherever wa
ter power was 10 be obtained, giving indication
of that industry which is the source of wealth
and prosperity--.lhat wealth ands prosperity
which are so grea. mystery to the people of
the South. Nor are these "mirs" (such is
the designation of the factories in New Eng.
land) located only on the grea, ,horoughfares /;
60 where you may, wherever a wafer power
sufficient to carry mill is found, land the
country abouuds with ,hem---you will find
mill or mills in full operation, more or less ex-
tensive according to the power. Sometimes
these are surrounded by dwellings which form
a village or town; a, oihe. times they are found
standing almost SOLITARY and alone" suggest
ing the quere, where do those who labor in them
live or board! Ii the question is asked, you
will probably be told, ,ha, the operatives in the
mill are the sons and daughters of The farmers
in the neighborhood, and that they board with
their parents. "Our daughters" said friend
who resides in Rhode Island, and who is one
Of the weallhiest men in the Stale, are not
ashamed TO work, even in factories" He
spoke Of The country, no, of The cities "'rhe
source of our wealth is industry. There is no
mystery in our prosperity; we all labor, men,
women, and children; we have no drunkards
nor idlers among us; they can't live among US,
for they have no one to associate with them,
and are looked upon with contempt, and as bad
company"
"Bu,, said I, wha. time have young women
who thus work, for visiting each other and enjoy
ing themselves" "They do not visit each other
was the reply. There is no such thing known
among US, in the country, as wishing. We drop
into each others houses sometimes, casually,
and are glad to see each other; but as for dres-
sing up and going to see each other, 10 spend
the day or the evening, or in other words, to
make visit, no such thing is known among US.
Indeed we have no time 10 do this, and if we
had, those whom we nigh, be disposed 10 visit
are too busy to receive and entertain US. The
rule is here for every one to mind their own
business if they have any, and if they have
none, to find something 10 do as soon as possi-
BILE, for we look upon an idle person as the
IS journeyman." Accustomed as have
been for many years past to differently con-
s,luted community this account of the manners
and customs of one portion, and perhaps the
mos, thrifty portion of the people Of our coun-
try interested as much as it surprised me: but
it revealed TO me The true secret of that pros
perity which is so conspicuous in the eastern
States.
A, Providence, availed myself OF an oppor-
tunity 10 visit, among other factories, the extern
sve works OF the New England wood screw
mandatory, which is a curiosity worthy the no.
lice Of all who visit that city. The works are
very extensive and the machinery the most per-
fec, that can be found for the manufacture of
this article. Some idea may be formed Of the
extent of the works from The fac, tha. they turn
out six hundred tons Of screws per annum -
Even with this product they are unable 10 sup
ply the market, and have orders months in ad-
vance Of their ability to supply them.
Upon entering the principal room Of this
manufactory-a very large one--l beheld a
hundred and fifty machines in operation, and
producing dealenIng clater, attended by, pro-
baby, a hundred and thirty young women, girls
and boys, from twenty years of age down 10
nine or ten; most of them tending one machine,
but some having charge of two. / could no,
refrain from remarkng to the gentleman who
accompanied me, that this room presented one
Of the mos, striking exempli6cations had ever
Witnessed, of the difference between the north
and the south Here were from hundred and
twenty 10 hundred and thirty persons, who. al
the south, would be doing nothing, and perhaps
worse than nothing, that were each, here, by
the aid of mac hinery, the invention of "Yan-
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