The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1850-05-20


more favorable circumstances than Ports
mouth, which ought, and, at no distant pc
riod, we think will, put adoat q greaternum-
Der of boats than any other place on the
western waters. When the plans Of the
Portsmouth Dock and Basin Company are
fully carried out, facilities will be afforded
for boat buildingand repairing which cannot
fail TO command the business Of the Ohio
river.
Another branch of manufacturing bust
ness which must be carried on very extern
sively in this immediate vicinity, is tanning.
Portsmouth, as has been before stated, is in
the centre Of the most extensive range of
Chestnut Oak in the United States. In ex-
tent, it appears to coincide pretty nearly
with the bituminous shale deposits. ! The
chestnut oak affords superior bark for tan.
ming purposes, and is now taken below, in
large quantities for that purpose. There are
already two extensive tanneries Zone just
gone into operation) on the canal near
town; one in the town; one on the Ken
lucky side opposite town; and another, on,
the same side, just commenced Tanning
will be carried on TO some extent through
out the bark region; but owing to the facil-
tiles for procuring bark from various points,
together with the raw hides, and the facili-
ties for shipping the leather, Portsmouth
must always remain the great center Of this
important branch of business. Before ma
ny years, the exports Of leather from here
will be very large.
Leather being extensively and cheap!y
produced here, other branches of manufac-
ture for which leather is the chief material,
must also grow up. Fine shoes are now
made here, which can be affordedas low as
those Of the same kind made at the east, and
Of superior quality. A shoe factory on
large scale is now in contemplation and will
go into operation this season. AS leather
can be obtained here at low rates; as good
workmen can be readily procured and as
subsistence for workmen and their families
is isabundant, there is no reason why shoes
cannot be made here as cheaply, as at any
of the eastern towns. Why may they not
be made cheaper? Why may not Ports
mouth become the great shoe mandatory
and mart of the western country? No good
reason can be assigned why it may not.
If shoes can be manufactured here more
cheaply than at other points, so may sad
dies, harness, trunks and other articles OF
which leather forms principal material.
Few places, if any, in the west, are more
favorable for cotton and woolen factories
than Portsmouth. Cotton can be brought
here from the South at ttifing expense, ard
the uplands in the vicinity are well adapted
to sheep husbandry. The woolen manufac-
tories at Steubenville are fourishing, and we
believe the same may be said of several, in
the adjoining county Of Adams. The one
now in operation here, although no. large is
doing well.
Coach, carriage and wagon making is a.
mother branch of business that may be car
ried on here to great advantage. All the
materials are at hand; the skill is here and
the wofk may be readily shipped to any part
Of the western country. Why should such
great numbers Of wagons be taken past here
from Pittsburgh, destined for the south and
west, when we have every facility for max
ing them here, as good in material and
workmanship, and at equally low prices?
For the manufacture of every kind of
cabinet work and chairs, this point is equal
ly favorable, though it must be admitted,
that the facilities of sale, both for consump-
ton and export, must always be greater in
large places. Many articles, however, of
coarser kind will eventually be made, and
either disposed of here or be taken to Gin
cinnati.
These are some of the leading branches,
but there are many Others for which this
place holds out as great inducements as 9th
er places, to say the least. The leading man.
ufactures once established, Others must fol-
low in their train, since all are more or less
Intimately connected, and mutually strength
en- and support each other. In short, Ports
mouth is marked out by nature as the site
of great manufacturing place. This is its
destiny, and this destiny must be accomplish
ed. The power, whether water or steam,
can be commanded to an almost unlimited
extent. Another dam built at Piketon, which
is seriously talked of, TO afford slack-water
navigation to that place connected with the
canal, would give large powerat the three
locks. and on the lands of the Portsmouth
Dock and Basin Company. An other at Bear
creek, Is miles up, with cut on the east
side to bring a branch Of the canal into the
upper end Of town, would afford very
large amount Of water power at this place.
And when our railroad into the mineral
region is constructed, there will be no limit
to the extent Of cheap steam power.
The facts being as we have en1eavored to
state them, the interest and duty of the citi-
zens of Portsmouth are plainly marked out.