The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1860-02-09
Manufactures Of Richmond--.FIaX
Movement.

Movement.
A few weeks ago we alluded to the neces
sity of more manufactures for our city. and
especially of kind that could furnish en-
ployment TO unskilled persons, laborers. wo
men and children, who, oftentimes can find,
little or nothing to do. Multitudes Of boys
are getting wresehed education upon the
streets. who would be greatly benefited by
having some steady employment. and many
girls and young women are brought up in
habits Of Incidence, who much need. not on
| ly the earnings but the habits of useful in
dustry, which now many of them cannot pro-
cure. except by becoming servants in fami-
| lies, a pursuit towards which many of them
have a very strong. and we believe not unrea
sonable Iepugnance. The amount Of earn
/ ings of young women by factory labor gene
rally far exceeds those of house servants
Many a western farm has been purchased by
the earnings of New England Factory
( girl.
Richmond has been made what it is by
manufactures. We have been at some pains
during the pas. few days to obtain the prop
er statistical information on this subject. and
we find the amount Of capital now invested
here in manufacturing to be 1856. 700 yearly
value of manufactured products 1908. 900
Our manufactures give employment to an
aggregate of 666. mechanics and only y
of this number are mechanics.
1t must be evident at glance that there
are persons enough in this city. who cannot
or do not get work. and who ought 70 DO
something for their own support. to supply
several large factories with labor.
1t is proposed to organize company I'M
der the excellent general manufacturing law
of this State, for the manufacture Of flax and
fax machinery. 1t is desirable that full
test on large scale be made of the various
fax inventions. for making not only linens,
but the coarser articles. bagging. sacks.
pets, rope, Irvine, dc, and, since there may
be in some minds question as to the prohta
bleness Of some Of these manufactures, and
since the question is one of the greatest i'm
portance to the country and to the world. it
is proposed TO put the shares low. say S25.
and make Efforts throughout the whole coun-
try TO get sto k taken. that a test may bs
made as early possible, the capital being
SO distributed in small shares that. in case the
friends ofthe measure should be disappointed
in their expectations of profit. no disastrous
individu loss can be sustained.
| There is, to say the least. very strong
probability that linens, by Leavtt's invention
may be procured for about the cost OF cotton
goods; and as such a question is of interest
to every body on the face OF tie earth. it seems
certainly not improbable that strong move
ment may be made in its favor by the people
of the country. not depending merely on cap
i;alists
! To say that capital enough is not in the
Western country for such an enterprise, while
this city has a million or more now already
in manufacturing, is merely absurd Enough
could be furnished by Richmond alone for
this demonstration without any serious inju-
~ to the town or to individuals, even in case
Of failure.
| There is no better place than Richmond
for the commencement of this enterprise 1t
will soon be commenced somewhere and we
may as well secure its advantages, when we
may. 1t is hoped and expected that in case
Of the success Of the flax manufacture here,
the building of flax machinery here for the
whole country may be the result, aud Of itself
constitute the largest machine establshm ent
in the Western country.
| All our citizens are interested in this eff
| fort-,he holders Of real estate, farmers, me-
chanics. merchants. all, all are deeply inter-
ested. and there is hardly an able bodied man
in the county, who cannot, if he would, at
least take one share Opportunity will of
course be afforded to the stockholders to pay
their shares in whatever the company may
require in building. real estate. brick, lam-
Der. wood, provisions, &c.
An organization will be affected 10 few
days. and our citizens will be called Oh for
subscriptions. when it is to be hoped they
will respond in manner that will sustain
their high character for lberality and enter
prize. We shall see what we shall see.
| LIFE OF JOHN BRowN-We are indebted
to Messrs. Paynes' OF Dayton. Ohio, for a
copy OF this new work and which Is attract