Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-04-16
For Tie Enquirer.
THE NATIONAL. FOUNDRY

hessrs. Edttora-ln my former communications l
have act forth the advantages to be derived by the
General Government in the establishment of a Ma.
tional Foundry at Richmond. | now propose TO point
out some of the prominent benefits which will epure
to this State and 10 Richmond, should such location
be determined upon. There is no State in our Union
that has go many and such diversified national re.
sources as Virginia. In her mountains are deposited
almost every useful mineral tbat can be enumerated.
not only in insxbaustible quantities, but Of the most
! superior quality.
up to the crest of her mountains, is rich and liberal
10 the hand of the husbandman. Her rivers conve-
| nient 10 all parts Of the State-aford, above tide
water. the mosf ample water power for manufactures,
! and below Underwater the rsRdiest and cheapest
means of transportation. Her climate ia admirably
adapted to health. diversity Of growth and economy
OF labor. Her extent OF territory is equal to the wants
Of many times her present number Of inhabitants
Indeed, nothing is wanting to make her pre- eminent.
ly great in every element of national wealth, but the
cunning hand of man 10 open Der mountain tres.
sures, to cultivate her soil systematically, Industrious.
ly and economicaly-to dip the untiring wheel into
her tumblirg waters. az they make their way by OF.
ties and towns and villages and hamiats, TO the ocean.
Thus, rich in physical elements and rich in the intel.
ligence Of her people, she only has fingered In the race
of States, because the intellectual has not been an
piled TO the physical, because her sons have sought
other idols, have neglected her prosperity for their
individual advancement in the aliurine Aeld of Fede.
raj politics-have devoted Themselves to the service
Of the Onion n~egleciful Of tbeir State. How dit
fsrent would II have been now, had our prominent
men looked at, and served the State primariIy.-
Then would have been developed The riches of the
monntsins-science would have been spilled to apri.
culture; manufactures wonld have arisen, our citi-
xens would have remained at home, and in place of
the wild, injudicious lack system Of aafoconistic rail
roads, which has involved the State to the amount of
millions, and yet millions more are necessary to pom.
plste il, We should have had a careful view of the State |
with the Intention Of fixing the important leading lines
of Improvement 10 harmony with each other, and
advantageous IN the whola SfAfo frorp rrh;oh To- l,a
time, other lines might have radiated, ssrving the in.
terest OF sectional parts, until, finally, the system
would have been complete. harmonious. economical,
and thus Virginia would have been now the leading
State In every element OF nationality. But times, and
aud feelings, and practices are changing
ibis 10 q mercurial age, lite strongest characteristic ia
uAraisM; anti.fogyism 10 the cry, and, In the confu
of objects presented, extravaganza, expenditure
OF money, stands forth moot prominenti and THE ne
begets the worship of raammon. at the al.
of which all, all are bending the suppliant knee.
Already are our prominent men turning from the
'urbid waters OF political life to one Of thrift. The
payless. h~eartlees, demoraliziDg atmosphere Of CAPT
is no longer sought after as the only one in which
honor and greatness can live. All theee
are finding qualification in other employ
agriculture, manufactures, in commerce.
Ind these lead 10 State wealth.
To be successful in this revolution, we must throw
sIde all preludices, bid capital n welcome from what
yer iRnd II comes, invite artisans aud working men
come amongst us, teach the rising generation that
"uuSo oao " aSupIduby employed dS CODeuIUefs,I
md thus encourage work, and work within our own
'tate-and in aid ofthis State improvement we should
insist upon such national establishments ss are Con. {
and necessary TO the General Govern. {
nent; and for which we can offer advantages equal q
o those OF any other State. In this Virginia has I
'een neglected, as there is no State in orr Union DOS. '
essinx 90 many elements and facilities for national I
that has received go little patronage. |
This has been the result Of personal and combined \
Official Influence, exercised upon the several depart
tents at Washington by other States, and a want, q
of application on orr part. Be this, a. il u
the opportunity ie now presented for iha loca. o
on of the proposed National Foundry in our midst. c
hich, If effected, will be Of immense importance TO Y
10 State. 1t will employ our citizens 10 the noun. q
In mining and blasting our iron; 1t will give "a a
stance TO our bostmen ON the James River Canal. i. RI
III add 10 the revenue Of that Compapy-all to an Al
k,ent which may he understood when il is con. n
dered that al the cannon, shot, shells. and other
.snngs for the Army and Navy, will be made at this q
oonqty-not for one or ten years, but 30 long az We -
. onion' which 1t y to be hoped will be in al At. u
=, WIN aod to our means Of business, and bring into "a
otlce the capabilities Of the State. A
40 n'chmond II will be Of an ADVANTAGE. that but b,
" can conceive OF. For, employing hundred of %
orkmen, paying them certainly and nsanlsriv snd se
hundreds of thousands of doiia.s ~.
arket annually, and for all tine, must be m. ma
enhancing the value Of every species of bsr nro
and bsnedting every GLASS Of her ciu.sns. a,
G. D. fa