Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-08

We feel profoundly the impatance
of interesting the popular mind in the
subject Of the mining and manufacturing
interests of our city and State. We have
given facts, from time to time, showing that
Tennessee possesses advantages for mining
and manufacturing industry superior to and
more varied than any other State of the
Union. We have shown that her surface
soil for agricultural purposes is so rich and
well adapted to the production of breadstuffs
and provisions that she can supply apopula-
ton Of at least five millions. We have
shown that she has as much iron rs Penn
sylyania-copper enough, when fully de-
veloped, to supply the wants of the whole
Union-of zinc the same may be said with
truth, and Of lead and otherminerals there is
abundance that no section Of the Union
giyessuchpromise, 50 far as progress has been
made, ola vast yieldof petroleum. We also
produce cotton, tobacco, wool, hemp, fax
and the other textile staples to remarkable
perfection.
Now what do these facts teach us ? What
do they impose upon us as a duty? Occu-
plying the central position among all the
States lying between the Allegheny and
Rocky Mountains, and betweenthe lakes and
the Gulf of Mexico, with ample water power
and many channels of quick and certain
communication with the section embraced
in these grand limits, we stand in the most
commanding attitude with reference to trade |
and commerce. But we must understand |
that this magnificent endowmentof natural |
resources and advantages is worthless to us
till we avail ourselves, bytheir development
of their riches.
How is this TO be done :. Simply by INTEL
ligent concerted enterprise. The flow of our
raw products to other States for manufacture
and return to us, must stop. We must keep
at home and manufacture for ourselves our
own raw material. We tins save the cost
both ways and realize the
profits ofhandling and manufacturing. We
thus become a great mart for trade, and sup
ply the finished articles of commerce to the
consumers Of other States. o
five desire to become a rich and pros
porous people, this is our only reliance We
are shut out from the outward commerce of
the world. We have no ships and sailors to
traffic abroad and bring back the wealth of
other shores TO our people. We must, there
fore, either consent to be simply toll-gather-
ers, or hucksters on the highway of interstate
trade; or we must seize and manipulate the
gifts which nature has placed in our hands,
and put into the channels of internal COM
merce our own products.
What is to prevent Nashville, or Knox
vile or Memphis from competing success
fully with any of the manufacturing cities
outside of the State? This city has advan-
tages which neither Louisville nor Cincin-
natl possess. Yet mark the difference.
It is not wholly for want of capital. There
IS money enough in Nashville and the sur
rounding country TO initiate series of in
iustrial enterprises that would in two or
hree years return most handsome rewards.
But ii is not rightly applied. Many of the
holders of money prefer rather to use it in
having notes, than to devote it to these
'reat objects. To get their ten or twelve per
ent, they overlook the greater interests of
themselves and the public. THERE'S scarcely
my manufacturing enterprise in this State
which will not pay goods dividends. They
will not only pay dividends, but they will
nhance the value Of the surrounding pro-
'erty. They viii create values where none
'efore existed, and increase those already in
xistence.
In the great change which has occurred In
ur labor system, the direction Of our labors
nd energies must also be changed, or we
enter retrograde march. I'm
ess We 60 forward, we must of necessity go
ackward. Our true wealth. progress and
henceforth lies in our manufactu-
ing and mining development. The capital :
the State must seek investment in these
additional capital must be |.
lvited to come to us, by practical demon ,,
ration of the fact that such investments =
ill pay well.