The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1848-09-29

MANUFACTURES IN THE WEsr.-We know
that II is favorite argument with many men,
that the west has been designed BY nature rs
the great granary for the supply of the mani
featuring regions of our country and Europe,
but they seem to doub: the possibility of ITS
ever becoming manufacturing portion of the
Union. Those who so judge the west, argue
more from the i'll success which has attended
past efforts 10 establish manufacturing in the
Mississippi Valley, thanfrom a real knowledge
of its immense resources. Past efforts were
premature, for manufactures cannot be success
iul in sparsely settled country, where provis-
ions are dear, no matter how great its unde
reloped resources may be; but the increase Of
population, and the consequent development
Of resources, at once establishes the very con
dition which tends to the success of such Ell
terprises. Twelve years ago there was no in
ducement to invest capital in manufactures in
the west, because there was no possibility,
then, that the west could compete with the
east, and until il car do so, at least in ives
tern market. any attempt ii makes in the man
utacture OF cotton and wooden fabrics, or, ~
deed, any other saleable commodity, must PROVE
a waste Of means. All enterprises of this ella
racter must promise to pay, before moneyfd
men will take any risk in them. At the pr
iod We mention, and we may say up to the PIE
sent time, steady stream of pc pulation tts
been flowing into our valley. What was but
few years ago a barren waste, has been filled
up with a producing population, and although
this population has improved only spots on this
vast surface of country, yet the Influence oil
their industry has been felt in every portion OF
the Union, and even in Europe. Although,
during the past two years, the war withdrew
10000 producers from the west, yet the esti
I o1f. q.
mer years. The drain of supplies, caused BY
the army and foreign demand, created no scar
city in our markets.
This great body of producers has now, by the
peace, been thrown back upon the soil, and al
OF them supplied with land scrip-an induce
| N ut to locate and continue iarming-the tide
of en-; ;gration also continues to flow into oul
valley from abroad and this continued increase
of agficuliur isls, npon rich lands, must tend, il
the course ola very few years, to food GU,
markets with the productions of the soil. TIL,
cities upon the Mis ;ssippi river will then be
come lie cheapest me-, eets in the world, ant
ST. Louis, the great depot OF this trade, vii
present every advantage tof manuiaclurln!
with success.
i The low rates of produce, caused BY an over
supply. will make many agriculturisis glad u
engage in manufacturing, and the low Price o
provisions VIII then aid such enterprise ues'
TO compete with the east. As for material, n
) country in the world is better situated. We
have abundance of coal and iron at our yer,
doors, cotton upon the borders of our river
and The best lands i'm the world for grazing the
finest qualities of sheep. Here are the essen
tials Of wealth. which only needs the capital
labor, and skill of population to draw il forth
The little capital which the west possessed
could formerly be more profitaby invested, il
buying lands and in carrying population, bu
now, when the increase Of the latter promise:
better investment in manufacturing, capital
J lists will not hesitate TO embark in it.
New England has. by her energy, most won
} lderiully prospered, for her success in manufac
lures cannot be attributed to her natural adj
; vantages. 1t is true, she had the very impor
iant natural aid of good water power, bu
against this she had poor soil. She had abun.
dance of laborers, but the profits of her manu-
features have been expended in supplying hel
factory operatives with food, and in making
her barren lands productive. When the west,
with her immense natural resources, not only
of manufacturing material, but of cheap provi.
sions, shall enter the market as competitor
eastern capitalists will see the great advantage
which capital invested west will have over in
vestme nts east, and will undoubtedly seek the
, field where it yields the best proit.-St. Louis
Repeiue.