The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-03-29

F,sma aha Seu Orlsans Commercial Balenn, MaIeh Isl
4. "A uot time for a movement 10 make a beginning 10
s.tabIsh a cotton factory in our neighborhoodf Such a
napose Was In contemplation Some year and a half sinee.
M which WAS nipped ia the bud by the financial crash.
The field for operations now seems 70 be clear, and We
tllnk that the movement ought TO be undertaken with
DOT delay.
ws viii soon be upon US. If properly managed, we have
not a doubt az TO the success VI the enterprise, which will
h. but the pioneer Of many Others Of similar kind which
will follow. We have among US, Al our very doors, every
element and material Of success.
We think the establishment OF a cotton factory near
this city would mark a distinct era In lie history. IL
would be a nucleus around which a great interest would
cluster and grow up. IL would tend powerfully 10 give
ma fixed population, and give steady. certain, and re-
@unerative employment 10 thousands Of our floating in
babitants, who, AS things now go, are here to-day and
elsewhere tomorrow, and who consequently are not Of
the slightest use to US while they are here.
The Savannah Republican,, referring 10 a most success
hl cotton factory in Georgia, says, forcibly enough, that
we might as we'll drive our hogs 10 Cincinnati 10 have
them slaughtered and then bring back the pork, as to
seud cotton to the North 20 be manufactured and then
bring the cloth back 10 be used where the cotton origi-
ualy grew, when we can manufacture il as well as it can
be done elsewhere, and save a vast amount of money paid
for freight and insurance both ways and many other Incl
dental expenses.
The common cry is that we have not the labor manu-
hacture cotton. We answer that the statement is not
true in point of faet. We have the labor. There IL not
a large town in the South that has not idle hands enough
to carry ON a respectable factory. Here in New Orleans
we have enough Of them for half a dozen factories. But
suppose we had not. Make the effort and the labor would
come. There is not the least doubt of il. Let il be
known that hands were wanted at good prices for factory
work, and 1t will not be long before they would be here.
As well might a farmer, In commencing TO clear away
the woods to open a farm, say that he could not begin
because he had no grass OF hay 10 feed the mules and
oxen. Clear away the brush and the grass aud fodder
will appear.
This cry Of no IaB6r Is the We essence OF do nothing
ism and imbcciity. IL is the motto Of the laggard who
wants some excuse ior his laziness aud want of entei prise.
Nothing attempted, nothing gained.
We have very little doubt that an investment for the
purpose of inaugurating the manufacture of cotton here
would pay az well as any investment that could be made;
better than bank stock, or insurance stock, or real es-
tate. We published az authentic statement months
ago showing that stock IN a cotton factory in our neigh
boring State of Mississippi pays trenty- nine per cent We
have facilities for labor altogether superior to what there
are in Mississippi, and the success of an enterprise of the
kind here could, therefore, scarcely be less than it is
there, and would, in all probability, be much greater.
Let some of our permanent capitalists get together,
talk this matter over, and set this ball in motion. The
times are p~ropitious for it. Who will move in the matter ?