The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1853-02-11
For the Daily Dispatch,

u wish to call the attention of the friends
OF domestic manufacture in this town, to
what conceive 10 be the most practicable
plan Of establishing pertnanrnt system Of
manufacturing, and which will not be liable
to the failures which have taken place here
SO frequently within the past few years. II
isa point given upby all, that Portsmouth
must become manufacturing town, il il ev-
er arrives 10 any considerable degree of i'm
Epoflance in the scale Of cities. This matter
concoctpd, it only remains to ascertain what
is The best mode Of promoting manufactur.
ing establishments. We possess in suffic-
lient abundance the elements of manufac-
turing district, yet manufactures seem 10
laugpish and die. 1t appears to me this need
tnot be SO. We are large consumers of the
fnsnufaclures Of other districts which are not
I So layorably situated as this. Then why not
manufacture for ourselves? II is not un-
common for the raw material or materials in
"a half finished state TO be sent thousand
miles, there taken through other processes Of
manufacture, and brought back TO be con-
sumed here in the finished state. This is lit
orally true Of the articles of iron and leath-
er. The means OF purchase in this place will
before many years reach its maximum; then
the country must seek other sources of en-
ployment Or remain stationary. Now if the
New England States Can send for our raw
or unfinished materials, manufacture them
st for use and send them back for us 10 con.
sumo, and at the same time live upon our
surplus provisions, il seems 10 me it would
be well for us to inquire by what process all
this round about operation is performed. 1t
is done principally by associated companies,
who unite their capital for the purpose OF
CREATING motive power TO propel any ma
chinery that may be required to manufacture
any given article. Men OF skill in any
branch of manufacturing rarely ever possess
capital sufficient 10 put their particular trade
in successful operation. On the other hand,
men of large capital rar.ly possess mechuni
cal skill sufficient To carry on any kind OF
manufacture without having to pay an ex-
travagant price for probably an inferior kind
ofskill, consequently failures are Of frequent
occurrence.
The plan which seems to be the least LA
bic 10 future as praclised in some of the
New England towns and Villages, is, to form
companies for the purpose of creating mo.
tive power and erection of suitable building
for work shops which are rented to skillfu
mechanics TO carry on any kind of business
to which steam, or other power can be appli
ed. This in great measure separates the in
terest Of the capitalists and the operatives. -
1t is the business Of the capitalist to furnish
the power and shop, at moderate per cent
age on his investment, and the business o
operatives to turn out the manufactured
goods OF what ever kind.
Throw out these suggestions for those tc
reflect on who have capital to invest for thC
good OF the town, but are afraid of losing it
as has too often been the case heretofore.
shall take up the subject in futule articles
and show The superiority of this. over an,
other system of manufacturing which coull
be adopted in a place where capital is scare
and widely diffused in the hands of individ
uals.
BOB WALKER.
PORTSMOUTH. Feb. 5lh 1853.