The Nevada Democrat., 1862-01-23
Changes in our Manufactures

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If the war should continue for any con-
siderable length of time, it will make some
very important changes in our manuiac-
turing industry. Our cotton mills must
cease running for want of the raw material.
What will be the eflectl viii the owners shut
themselves up in their houses, aud doze
away the rest of their lives in idleness? And
will our workmen all fold their hands in
helpless imbecility, and die of starvation?
Events now passing before our eyes are a
complete answer to the question. We see
the expansion of our cotton manufacture
suddenly brought TO stop, and ready in-
Vestment by our cotton manufacturers in
great establishments for making arms. That
great impelling power of industrial opera
tions-the love of gain-one of the most
useful and valuable principles that have
been planted in the heart Of man by his be-
neicent Creator, fortunately drives our
manufacturers TO seek new employments
for their capital and thus our industry,
instead of being destroyed, is simply diver
ted. If q continuance of the war should
make q permanent change desirable, we
may be sure that it will take place. The
active, ingenious and versatile Yankee is
not going naked if he cannot get cotton
much less is he going to starve to death for
the want of that particular vegetable fiber.
Men lived and clothed themselves very well
before cotton came into general use as an
article of clothing, and if a blight should
seize the cotton plant so that no more of il
should ever grow, it would take mankind
but very short time to adapt themselves
to the change.
idao TINT fha nareOuc nmnl0vpd in
any particular industry must perish if that
industry is destroyed results simply from
an ignorance of the nature of wealth and
the process of its production. There is no
limit to the demand for the products of la
Dor. If man cannot produce one arti-
Gle of paoperty let him produce another.
He will be sure to find market for it at
some price. 1t is true that he may pay
such prices for his raw material and for la
Dor that bis article will cost him more than
it will bring. But the enlightened self in
terest of each manufacturer will save him
from this error, and will so distribute the
labor of the country that il will be gener-
ally remunerative. There will be an enOr-
nous increase in the number of our woolen
and linen mills, though we look for the
largest expansion in our iron manufacture.
This is the industry which has had the stead
lest and most vigorous growth throughout
the world, and this growth is unquestiona-
bly, destined to continue. New uses are
constantly being discovered for this most
valuable metal, and new improvements in
the process of its manufacture. Both Of
these classes Of discoveries tend to Increase
amount of its consumption. We published
last week statement from the London
Engineer that the Bessemer steel Of excel
lent quality can now be made for $50 per
tun or Il cents per pound. 1t is impossi-
BILE for any person to conceive the extent to
which this single improvement will increase
the consumption of iron. There are thous-
ands of uses for which iron is adapted but
for which it is not used on account of the
cost, and every reduction of the cost in
creases enormously the amount Of its con-
sumption.
Any community that leans exclusively
upon one branch Of manufactures is more
exposed TO general disaster than cOmmu-
nifty whose industry is varied. II is for
tunate for this country at the present time
that we are not so exclusively devoted TO
the cotton manufacture as some Of the dis
.ricts of England. II the war has the effect
TO direct the attention Of our manufacturers
to the hundreds of openings which exist for
the profitable employment of capital, and
thus to give greater variety to our occu-
pations, its effects may be ultimately favor
able to the prosperity Of the cOuntry.-Sci-
enti6c American.