The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1846-11-03
TOWN MEETING

At WV
Chair and |. C. ScHooLFIELp, Secretary.
Saml. Nj. Wilson. from the Committee O.,
twenty-five, appointed at the meeting of the 18th
October. presented a Report. which, after being
read and amended, was adopted unanimously.
REPORT.
The Committee, to whom il was referred to
report on the action advisable To be taken by the
Town of Portsmouth under its existing condition !
respectfully represent,
mat, IN common with their fellow citizens
they have for sometime past. viewed, with the
deepest regret, The continually decreasing pros
perity OF the community that. powerless in
themselves as individual 8, 10 stay this rapid dc
cline in the fortunes of the place, thew have
looked forward with much anxiety and much
more, 10 the united action of the people, as the
only means OF arresting it; and that, though the
task is a responsible one, il is with real salisfac
ton they find themselves charged with The reso-
luton of the 10Th instant. /.
From the general scope of the resolution, your
ommit'e lear they cannot mature such a Re-
port as was contemplated by il, within The time
to which they are necessarily limited. Anxious.
however. as far as practicable, to perform the du-
ty assigned them, they will proceed to make such
suggestions as they deem pertinent thereto, and
to present especially for the consideration of this
meeting, the subject which of all, at this pariicu-
lar Juncture. they Judge most impor mi for the
action of the community.
In relation 10 the Indebtedness of the town.
your Committee have been relieved by the spe-
clal Committee appointed under the second reso.
luton of the 10Th instant.
your COMMITTEE have given n careful conside-
ration to all the other facts apparent 10 them in
reviewing the situation of the community, and
are satisfied that the immediate cause of the EN-
narrassments under which we are la orinp. is the
want OF employment for our population and that
1t is only requisite that ample, constant and prof-
table employment be furnished, 10 place us once
more IN a thriving condition, and 10 rid us of all
our difficulties. 1t is not needful, here, to inves-
tlgate The causes which produced this lack of EN-
ployment-the simple fact is all we have 10 deal
wi'h' and that is too well authenticated. in the
mind OF every one, to have it questioned.
1t is true that bare employment for our popula-
ton, fairly remnnerated, will not materially ad-
vance our prosperity beyond what we have al
ready enjoyed-but it will effect much i, will
enable us TO retain that population, it will secure
a TAR value for property, it will make the burthen
OF taxation a light one, it will prevent want, and
If even these things could be effected for our
community, they would now prove a blessing in
deed.
In considering how the necessary employment
can be tnrn he'd, your Committee have THOUGHT
that much might be effected by individual enter
prise, and 10 the credit Of many of our citizens he
II said, that in this way much has been effected.
Located as we are, in The midst of an agricultu-
raj country, where there is a constant and LARGE
demand tor all The implements of husbandry, with
a population composed in a great degree of well
skilled mechanics, there are many branches off
manufactures which we might engage in with ad
vantage, hndIng a ready sale in our neiohborhood
for the products Of our industry and TO this OBJ
Ject the individual enterprise of our citizens is
FULLY competent. if once induced to take that di-
rection.
There are alcn nthor hra l. g
requiring larger investment of capital, and which
could only be carried into operation hy combina-
lions OF Individuals, but which, if our citizens
could be induced to embark in them, would fur
nlsh employment to a large portion of our popu.
lation, and yield a fine return on the Investment
prominent among the objects to which the private
enterprise OF our citizens might be directed with
advantage is ship building, and your Committee
cannot iorbear here TO call the serious attention of
the meeting to this subject. No place in our
Union affords greater facilities for the successful
prosecution OF this branch of industry than Porls-
mouth, and at no place can be found men better
skilled to conduct it.. A combination of capital
devoted to this object, your Committee believe,
"ou'u not only well repay those advancing the
cdPital ana atord labor 10 our mechanics, but
would aud materially in advancing the commercial
prospects of The community.
your then, would recommend TO
dnu earnestly Impress upon each individual citi-
zen, the necessity Of furnishing employment as
lar as his means will permit, in the mode best
suited to his lnclinations and best adapted to his
own interests. In this particular the interest OF
each is The interest Of all, and each one for him
sell can best select the object in which he will
engage, al that is asked and urged, is that the
action ot each individual be a hearty RESPONSE TO
the recommendation.
II is to ommerc chiefly, however, that your
look Tor enhanced prosperity, and that
constant and profitable employment which alone
can make us a Furnishing community, and open
for Us that higher destiny which evefy true hear
ted citIZen loves to contemplate. This subject,
or rather the means of obtaining it,, has principal
y engaged the attention Of your Committee, and
ihey bring IL before this meeting as one prominent
object OF their report, and solicit for il a Jealous,
unanimous, and energetic support. Eminently
qualified as we are. by our water location, fer an ex.
tensive commerce, we have no back country 10
sustain II, accessible to us by natural means and
the only region attainable by artificial commnnica-
ton, sufficiently rich, populous, and fertile, is the
valley Of Inc Roanoke. The importance of this
communication to the commercial prosperity of orr
lown,It Is so well understood throughout our COM
munity that it would bs an act Of supereropation nm
the part of your Committee, to attempt TO impress
! on this meeting either by fact or argument.
Already has 1t been, that, under the favorino in
fuence OF this communication, our Town sprung
up suddenly from comparative nsipnifcance 70
one OF the most houFishing in the commonwealth
and that, when by means of a remorseless specu.
lation we were deprived Of it, the business of the
whole community was paralyzed, and we were at
once plunged into The condition from which we
are now seeking relief. Relying then on com
Lnerce as The mainstay Of our prosperity. and as
The most efficient means Of afordinr full and per-
maneot employment IN our population, and be.
llevIng that commerce is in no other way attain.
able lhan by a communication with the valley Of
the Roanoke, and satisfied as they are from past
experience that this communication can be best
effected by a Rail Road, your Committee feel,
'na' they caonoi Too strongly represent TO this