Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-12-10
lCOXAUEICATRD.
The True Policy.


nual value Of tn. manufactures OF that city,
and It's immediate vicinity, at Sill 100000,
or Sl45 900 600 for the city alone. To pro-
duce this vas, amount, l32 600 hands are em
p!oYed, the average productive power OF
each being about 81 100 per aanum.
Here lies the secret of the prosperity Of
Philadelphia, and her GOO 900 Inhabitants.
Her foreign commerce is not equal to that
of b ,tinore, while ner population is three
times as large.
Now, Alexandria possesses as many ma
tural advantages Ter manufacturing as Phil
aiephia. Coal is cheap here-rents are
cheap-the necessares Of life are as cheap
here as elsewhere. FJr navigable purposes
the Potomac is fer superior TO the Delaware.
Alexardria has, also, miller climate,
AMI is 200 miles nearer the markets Of the
South than il Philadelphia. No city 10 the
Uoion s more cligibly situated for the pro-
duc.Ion OF those very descriptions of manu-
features for which Pliladel phia is renowned,
and by which she is enriched.
Ii Alexandria were engaged in manutac-
lures in al equal ratio with Phladelp ha, 60
lar a. population is concerned. she would
produce an annual value of $4,000, 000 and
give employment TO COO persons, at remu-
neraiiSe wages. To accommodate those 2.
600 persons, at least 500 houses Of moderate
dimensions would be reQuired--involving q
demand for an equal number Of lots. A
large amount Of real estate would, also, be
required, in addition, for the erection of
workshops, warehouses, aud factories.
By reference to Mr.. Freedleys valuable
wrk, o synopsis Of which may be found 10
tho November number OF the Merchants
Magazine, it will be seen that the most ion.
poraus branches of manufacture pursued
iu Pailadelphia, are cotton and woollen
goods, cothiog, bead and crackers, carpet
ing, chemicals, boots and shoes, locomotive
and other engines rctiled sugar, -four, furni.
ture, provisions, saddles and harness. shirts
sad collars, machinery, leather and morocco,
linseed, roSin, and other oils, umbrellas, yes.
sell, rectifed whiskcy, tobacco, cigars, and
snuff, IS, &c. Now, there il not q single
article above ensmsrated which cannot also
be manufactured in Alexandria as cheaply
and as probably as 10 Philadelphia.
At the present day, as the experience Of
all cur large cities proves, it will not do to
re'y upon Commerce or the exchange Of CON-
modities alone. New York, entirely coa-
mercial as she is, turns out annually 10 pros
porous times, MANUFACTURES 10 the amount of
two hundred milIion dollars. Pnilaiel phia,
rs already stated, one hundred and forty-fivs
millions. Baltimore no. less, probably, than
fifty millions: while Cincinnati and ST. Louis
would make cspee,able show in this line
BY the side of any of their Eastern eontem-
pararies And in our own State, Richmond,
a,cJrdipg to recent data, manufactures TO
the amount of nineteen millions year, with
population Of less than 10000. This fact
alone, despite all re ,soning to the contrary,
proves that manufacturing eau be prosper
ously conducted 10 the Southern S,ates--and
if in Richmond, why not il Alexandris?-
We have 10 water power, it IL true-Dether
has Philadelphia. nor New York, nor Pitts
nurg, nor BaltimoTc-nor is it necessary
F, large variety of manufactures, and es-
pecially, for that Of iron, steam power is
preferable, inasnuch as tho fuel required for
melting and heating the metal is amply suf6.
cicnt to generate ell the steam required,
without additional expense.
By the extension of the Orange Road to
Lyncnburg, Alexandra will be placed in d.
rect communication with the South-W est.
The completion Of that great work ought to
be inaugurated by the systematic develop
ment in this city Of its advantages for secur-
ng large portion CT the trade Of that rich
section Of the Union, in domestic mauufac-
lures. To effect 50 desirable an object, every
encouragement should 6e extended TO skilful
m chau,cS and artisans from other cities who
nay be disposed to establish themselves in
oar midst, as wei! a. to our own residents,
wau may be inclined to embark in the Ca
reer Of enterprise and improvement. 10
word, what is wanted is PUBLIC SPIRIT
without which no small town was ever con-
rerted isto large one--and the absence Of
which has converted many large town into
al Insignificant, village.
With hardly an exception, all the large
towns upon our Atlantic seaboard have pas
d through che same stage Ct depression
which now affects Alexandria. Providence,
New Haven, Newburyport, Albany, Ports
IN outh, n H., and Salem, were Fifty years
ago, towns Of great commercial prosperity.
Within the last twenty-fv years, their trade
has been absorbed ty Boston and New York,
rendering their very existence at one time
p-ecarions. But with the energy Of the Au-
glc-S!xon race, their citizens resolved not to
ole without struggle They established
no .nufsc,ories, and the consequence has been
az increase Of from so to 100 per cent. 10
population, end propUrti9nate increase iu