The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1865-09-22

TIE WATER QuEsrroN.-No one will deny, that
to build up the city of Norfolk, we must have
manufactures, and thereby enable our people to
add to our productions by their labor. We must
produce more than we consume, or instead of adj
vancing, we must gradually recede. This is a
self-evident proposition, which needs no waste of
ink or paper. But why have we never had these
manufactures Because the manufacturers of
the present age possessed of that spirit of 60
a-head-ativeness, that is not willing to conform to
the old exploded tread-mill system. The weaving
of cotton fabrics requires something more than
the old-fashioned hand looms that graced the
kitchens of our grandmothers and our mothers,
wives and daughters, like Miss Flora McFlimsy
must have something to wear. Fashion has her
votaries, from the frozen hills of Greenland to
the coral reefs of India, and to-day, ten thousand
steam engines are putting and blowing, and work
ing million looms, to supply the demand for the
numerous fabrics required. The raw material is
raised at our doors, and yet not one single pound
of it is manufactured here; every pound goes
forward, is manufactured elsewhere, and then a
large portion comes back to us, with all the addi-
tional cost of transportation. And why? Be-
cause we have no water suitable for steam. This
want of water has been like heavy stone around
the neck of Norfolk it has sent all of that i'm
mense quantity of cotton, corn and wheat, that
was raised in this section, by our doors, to be
manufactured elsewhere. 1t has kept Norfolk in
the back ground, while her less favored rivals
outstripped her in the race. Without manufac-
tories, this city never improve; and without
va an
never hope for manufactures.
Had water, such as could be used in manufac-
lures been introduced into this city twenty years
ago, we should now have the largest and most
wealthy city in the State. Our water front
would have extended to Lambert's Point; our
streets would have made inroads the rural dis
tricts our population would have been three
times what it is to-day; taxation would be re-
duced the value of real estate enhanced; oul
people improved in all the moral, social, and ply
steal relations, and our city would hold the posi-
ton which bountiful and all-wise Providence
seems to have intended.
Manufacturers have come among US, time ane
again, with the avowed intention of locating here
they have looked around and been delighted witt
our location and peculiar adaptation for extended
operations they have been pleased with ou
climate, and indeed all the major advantages w
possess; but, when they began to investigate tn
minor elements, and found that the first and mos
important of them all, water, was deficient, the.
have turned upon their heels and left US, to inves
their capital and energy elsewhere, and thu
will it be through all time, unless we introduce
plentiful supply of good soft water into the city
Let that be done, and manufactures will be stimu
lated, and the city will begin to increase in siz
and population; the value of property will b
enhanced; the rate of taxation reduced, and tn
condition of our people, morally, socially an
physically improved.