The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1848-07-29
From the Louisville Journal.
asesusviIIe, and the EIcmenss Of its Progress


The growth of this city, and the inducements
offered by our cheap rents and cheap food,
10 mechanics and artizans, who, rom the
character Of their employments, lind IT ad-
vantageous to have their workshops in a
city.
BUT there is another element Of still great.
'sr Importance, and soon to be developed,
which, if seized apon, and controlled by us
In season, may result in making Louisville
one Of the greatest cities in christendom;
Ibis element is the power oil making steam,
which lies buried in inexaustible quantities
within our easy reach. refer, OF course,
C. the sections of the Appalachian coal field,
Oh the waters OF the Sandy, the Licking,
AID the Kentucky, and those OF the Illinois
,apal field where il IL cut by the Ohio, the
Green, and the Wabash, the White, and the
Eel rivers. These sections are accessible
ie Us, and the power there found cen easily
b, made TO enure to our benefit.
Ii is now admitted, by all thinking men,
familiar with the subject, that, eventually
The great manufacturing district Of the world
is to be on, or near the central portion Of
the valley, where raw materials, power,
food, and transportation are, and forever
must be cheaper than in any other healthy
country: if this is TO be the character OF our
population and the destiny Of our peculiar
country, where can be found more eligible
position than this, for a city 10 stand as the
exponent Of such a population and TO be the
heart Of such country?
When we have the history OF the rise and
progress of manufacturing districts, and mani
uiacturing cities in other countries, for two
centuries. and in our own for over half a
century past; and this history, traced with
the utmost minuteness; when we clearly see
the same causes in operation here that have,
in all instances, produced the same results
elStachere, are we not 10 reason with entire
confidence that ''like causes will continue
TO produce like efieets"-and to take what
ever preliminary steps are naturally required
10 fit ourselves for the position We arc here
after to occupy. Let us ascertain what is
to be the great outline Of the plan to be fill
ed up, and then expand our means and en-
ergies in conformity.
Although our city is the most suitable po-
silion for artizans who do not labor in inl-
mediate connection with each other, and do
not require large motive power. il is equal
ly clear that il is not suitable for extensive
manufacturing establishments these, as is
shown by the experience Of years, do best
away from the miscellaneous population,
the vices, and temptations Of a city, and
they must be where power is cheap and GER
tain. Hun over the list OF the most imp0r-
tant manufacturing towns in the world, and
you will and that cheap poscer is the chief
cause of their growth; and, econrerso, eX-
anime the geology, md topography Of Greal
Britain, France, and Germany. and the
eastern sections of the United States, and
you will find all the posiuons--wheIe there
is cheap, and accessible power, already ap-
propriate,l by capital and labor. Ashton,
Bolton, Blackburn, Birmingham, Glasgow,
Hslifax, Huddefs6eld, Leeds, Manchester,
Paisley, Sheffield, Northampton, &C.,
are either above the coal-beds, or the near
est possible positions thereto. Lowell, Man
chester, Dover. Waltham, Cabotsville, Paw
tucket, Fall-River, Patterson, Petersburg,
&c, &C., are at waterfalls, and nearly
every available waterfall on the Eastern
slope of the Alleghanies and north OF the
Potomac has been exhausted.
This is the inyaIiable rule where coal is
the power, that the cost of transportation OF
the power on the one side, and the raw ma
terial ard its products on the other side, TX
the place Of manufacture. .
What has made Pittsburg? What has
given the impulse which is this year putting
over 1000 brick buildings in and around
that cityl Ii is coal; that power which
brings the iron from the Juniata, the Ten
nessee, and beyond the Mississippi rivers;
the lead from Missouri and Illinois, and the
cotton from the southwest.
IL this is the fact, and il our steam is
cheaper than our water power, how worse
than idle it is to spend time and money, in
violating the evident laws of nature and ex-
perience by building, encouraging, or look
ing for the establishment of large manulac-
turing establishments here.
Ii may be said in Selutalion Of this argu-
ment that we have many iounderies which
consume coal from Pittsburgh and iron from
Tennessee; and that we have profitable
Touring mill in the centre oil our city which
grinds wheat from Illinois and Missouri;
that we have one cotton factory and two
large hemp manufactures using up material
Of distant growth; these are exceptions
which, as usual, prove the rule. The steam
boat engine, and all its fixtures must be fit.
ted 10 the boat as she lies at our wharf
but our ioundery could not compete with g
similar establishment on the coal fields be
low in making cotton presses, sugar mills
stoves &C., from the same patterns and ior
foreign demand. .-
The bran Of one or more flour mills, ant
which could not elsewhere be sold or used
will here bring high price. and more than
nav the fright of the coal and wheat. s.
the slaughter house, when in reach Of TN
brush and comb maker, and the poore
classes who consume the offal, may be NOR
profitable in the suburbs Of, than at a dis
| lance from the CITY. - a,sl
| A commercial city may also have a linn
tied amount Of the surplus labor OF won'el
and children, who seek employment 10
cotton or hemp mill requiring such labor
but the moment we pass beyond the cit
demand and supply in any Of these respects
the advantage is more than lost.
To illustrate this position more fully, Il
Us take a rolling mill on large scale, turn
| ing out !, 900 tons Of assorted bar iron an