Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-06-24
Editorial Correspondence.
nH vfSnln. nIpin-

| .. Editorial Correspondence.
..-, Dayton, Ohio.
Manufacturing the Sou'ce Of its Prosperity
and Opulenre-A few Practical Thoughts
for the citizens Of Muscatime.
DAYTON, June H., 1859.
In my last letter referred to this city as
having a population Of at least $4,000, and
holding its own during these hard times. l
have since had an opportunity of looking
around and examining the sources of its trade
and prosperity. Knowing that it had not
the advantage of water navigation Except
Canals) and that it was situated only 60
miles from the "Quccn City of the West,"
was surprised to find Dayton as large as 1t is,
with such vast and increasing business
My ramblings soon convinced me that the
city is mostly indebted to its manufacturing
interests for its prosperity. With the assis-
tance of Mr.. G. M. Raymond, (of the firm of
Broadrup, Raymond & Co., builders of wool
en- machinery | ascertained that the num-
Der of manufacturing establishments of vari-
Gus kinds in the city, propelled by water
power and steam, is not less than twenty, in
which are employed at least one thousand
hands! The manufactures of Dayton sup
ply in part all the Western country. There
is more manufacturing done here than .ilI
Cincinnati, with its superior commercial IA
cilities. Dayton is sometimes styled I" the
Lowell of the West" and she merits the
appclatlon. The hydraulics constructed on
Mad river at this point afford immense wa
ter power, which is all put to use. They
have here cotton mill, spinning cotton yarn
and candle wicking also, last and shoe peg
manufactory the lust factory should think
of to be run by steam and employ constantly
manufactures building machinery of nearly
all kinds is too numerous to mention in this
letter. There are also three paper mills in
operation here, with dozen or more brew
cries. These manufactures have been built
up within the last ten years, mostly by men
of small capital but n practical knowledge of
their business and a disposition to roll up
their sleeves and go to work themselves
Such man is Mr.. Raymond, above men
toned, whom l found with his working
clothes on and the sweat of honest labor on
his brow. would advise the readers of the
journal in want of wooden machinery of any
kind to patronize thu firm with which Mr.. r.
is connected. They send much Of their work
to Illinois, Iowa and Missouri
Dayton can boast also of many fine public
buildings, but will not cnumerate all of
them. The Court House of Montgomery
county is built almost entirely of dressed
stone, inside and out, and even the roof is
stone, though it has recently been covered
with metal as better protection against wa
ter. The cost of this substantial structure, l
am informed, was $l25,GOO. One of the
State Asylums for the insane is located here,
on an elevation east of the city, overlooking
most of it. The building with its wings is
about 800 feet long, and is prepared to &C
commodate 10 inmates. 1t is now nearly
full Of these unfortunates, as are also the two
other State Asylums, one Of which is located
fourth, | an tod. is in course Of erection near
Cincinnati.
Dayton is, in short, the most substantial
and thriving city in the interior Of Ohio. 1t
disputes with Columbus the palm OF being
the third city in the State in point Of popu!a-
ton, Cincinnati and Cleveland being larger.
1t has beautiful location in valley, at the
confluence of the Miami, Mad and Saltwater
rivers. There is abundance of fine building
stone convenient, which has been put prop
erly to use in the erection of edfices and in
making substantial sidewalks. The streets
are all Macadamized, and turnpike roads lead
in almost every direction from the city.
There is said to be more wealth centered
here than in any other city in the State.
Nearly all the farmers in this vicinity arc out
of debt with the very best improvements and
money at interest
The example of Dayton, in establishing
and encouraging home manufactures, might
we'll be followed by Muscatlne. Manufactu-
ring is the source of substantial prosperity,
but unless it is encouraged it will never be
established. We possess many superior ia:
cilities at Muscatine for manufacturing. True
we have no water power. Steam, however,
with coal as Convenient as it is in our city, is
about as cheap and certainly more relia'
BILE. We have nearer access by river and
rail to other parts of the State than any of
our rivals We want more manufacturing to
build up our city. We have great CONNER
cial advantages, but they will not do to rely
upon alone. Will not our citizens consider
this matter, and discuss the best plan that
might be adopted to secure result SO desi
rable? At other places public meetings have
been held, at which committees have been
appointed to report on the facilities for man.
ufacturing and invite the attention of mechan-
les to the same Let us do this, and by ev
cry other means in our power encourage the
establishment of manufactures in our midst.
j. NJ.
The Crops and Fruit Culture i'm
Ohio.
VICINITY OF DAYTON, o., June 10, '59.
DEAR JouRNAL:-Your readers, many of
whom formerly resided in this region, will no
doubt be interested to know something