The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1848-08-26

the mill, and among the operatives. Rosy
cheeks and winning smiles here too, told
Of health and independence, and we
could almost imagine ourselves among
Mhnerva's Nymphs as they piled their
whiring spindles, rather than among
poor factory operatives. One is surprised
at the quiet, at least so tar as the human
machine is concerned, which prevails
throughout these establishments. The
tongue, that busy member seems to have
lent its nimblr activity for season to
the fingers, and nought is heard save the
busy rafting of machinery, and the
sharp clicking OF the spindle asst flies
from bound to bound, with lightning
speed. At little distance from this mill
is another devoted to wooden cloths, and
if we thought the former mill Paradise
and the operatives Nymps. we could not
but liken this to Tartarus, and its labor
ers to the dusky maids of tawny Proser-
pine. At the threshold a rank, vile
smell Of greasy wool assails the nostrils,
and the cou ntenances of the motley
group of men, boys, and females, be-
grlmmed with green and stained with
dye stutis, black, blue, and brown, were
by no means calculated to produces very
favorable impression. The mill is owned
by Saxon. and most il not all Of the OPP
eratives are from Saxonv. Each sepa
rate process is carried on in separate a
partment. The raw material is sorted,
CREASED, spun and woven in one, fulled
and dyed in another, carded, sheared and
folded for use in third building One
who has never seen the interior ola large
wooden mill, can have no idea of the
many filthy processes through which
the smooth cloth that covers his back, is
forced to pass before it's thought wor-
thy of so high an honor, and surely none
could pass through such an establhment
without sincerely plying those who are
compelled to pass their days, by stern
poverty, or yet sterncr avaricc in such
a noisome place
Though we visited several other mills
these may pass as a spccimen ofaIl, Some
were in full operation, some running
with half their usua force and others still
at anchor, rating for change in the
wind and tide OF commerce. The re-
gion IN which these factories is situated,
is one of great beauty. Hills, steep and
rugged, rear their heads on every side,
separated by smiling values of the rich
est green, dotted with neat white Gotta
ges, beSpeakng comfort and inderen-
dence. From almost every mountain
side, stream comes leaping down, now
broken into cascades as it plunges over
the rocks, and now t,owirg with face
as calm, and as deceltiul as beauty's own
The whirlling Partridge on the hill, and
the leaplng Trout in the brook, give
promise ofrare sport to those who c. Sc
to mar Gods tandiwork, for iheir own
amusement. But 10 me the Joyous note
of the free, wild woodbird is more pleas
ant far, than its wild shrek of death ter
ror as it falls flutterIng at the sportsman's
ieet, and the nimble leaplng of the trout,
ialrer sight than his dying agonles on
the cruel hook.
Business transactions in Massachusetts,,
are lust now in an embarrassed state.
Under protective tariff, the manLiac-
.ure of Cotton was found to be exceed
ingly profitable. L rye fortunes were
made, and as natural consequence, cap
ital flowed in great abundance into this
branch OF trade and was invested in
costly buildings and machinery which
must owe their whole value to active
operation This OF itself was an injury
to the business, and it was rapidly be-
coming overdose, hen the repeal OF the
protective tariff, came Ike chilling
frost to deter those who were about en-
tcrlng upon it, and to wither tie fair
hopes of those who had already embark
I'd their fortunes ard their all The con-
sequence is, that a large amount of the
capital of Massac husetts, is now lock d
up in an intangible shape, in brick walls
and iron machinery, and useless water
power. The store.rooms are full OF man.
utactured goods, and few II any, are run.
ming with their full force. This embqr-
rassment falls almost entirely upon the
owners. The operatives can fall back
upon their homes, and in their old pur-
suits as housekeepers and domes,ics, can
maintain themselves respectfully until
some new and favorable change in the
manufacturing Interest, shall call them
forth to more profitable labor. But in
my estimation, the construction of such
vast establishments. in the interior of
New England, far from water carriage,
was speculation, not based upon a Just
view of the probabilities OF success.
Transportation OF the raw material from
the seaport to the factory, and of the
manufactured staple lack to the seaport
again, is heavy item at best, in the ex.
penses of a manufacturing establishment.
But when the factory is situated hum
dreds OF miles from tide water, and the
transportation must be made by rail road,
canal, and Wagon, and when in addl-