Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1865-11-09
Our Opnortunitv.

There is in the existence of communities. as
In that Of men. . turning point for good or
for evil--a time when success or failure in the
future is Insured by the action of the present.
That time has arrived in the history Of Cum.
berland 1t has always been admitted that
this city was surrounded with natural advan-
tages sufficient to Insure its success and ad-
vancemcat in 4 commercial point Of view,
yet it is we'll known that money and industry
and enterprise and energy are necessary to
develop our resources and to enable US to
enter the markets as competitors. Years ago
the amount Of available capital in the hands
of our citizens was insufficient to enable them
to make heavy investments, and by reason of
this fact our progress was necessarily slow
Now, however, this want of capital does not
exist, for two reasons In the FIRST place our
citizens have by shrewd business speculatuns
in great many instances secured to them
selves a sufficient amount Of funds to enable
them to engage in almost any manufacturing
business they may desire. In the next place,
the war brough into our community men who
we're possessed of capital and influence, and
who, being pleased with the city and its soc
ETY., and the advantages offered. desire to re-
main among us and engage in commercial
pursuits.
Now, by what will these capitalists be in
Huenced, and what will. in all probability, be
their course of action? Their anxiety to en-
gage business will not induce them to pay
exorbitant prices to parties for ground upon
upon which to erect their establishments, for
the simple reason that they cannot afford it,
and would not if they could, because Of their
natural repugnance to submitting to extortion.
We have heard of parties, holding their
ground at reasonable prices, until offers were
made by enterprising persons, when an imme-
diatc advance of 100 per cent. was made, and
the trade at once prevented. Now this spir-
it of greed cannot possibly have any other
effect than that of repelling the advance made
by these parties. and of preventing tie in
crease of cur trade Suppose more liberal
policy is adopted suppose these persons who
own available sites dispose Of them at their
real value to men who will improve them ;
suppose some inducements are extended TO
these capitalists to engage in business here,
wha. will be the result In short space Of
time the advances made would be met and
factories and furnaces and foundries would
send forth their busy hum from morning till
night, where now the cattle Craze, and weeds
and grass grow rank and strong,
Now is the time for the citizens of Cunlber
land to seal the future destiny of the city
They have it in their power, by liberal deal
Jig and energy to give it an impetus which
will carry it to an enviablc position, and
eventually bring wealth and comfort to every
home. They have coal and iron in unbound
cd quantities /; they have excellent water pow
er: they have railroad and canal facilite.
which are being increased every day. Why
not take advantage of these things and turf
them to good account? Heretofore our cit,
has improved rather in spite Of many of he
citizens than because of them. Let this pas
history be buried. Let the citizens adopt
liberal policy, and their libcrality will be re
maid ten fold We have cotton factor,
which should be in operation, and by whcl
cotton goods could be produced much chcape
than they now are; VIC have hundreds @
acres of vacant grounds lying in the most eli
eible parts of our city awaiting improve
,psuts we want moro foundries, more ma
ebine-shops. more mills. and more factories
and all these things can be obtained readil,
il proper spirit is manifested by those VIII
hare these things under their control.
EHGottschalk has composed piece 70