, 1866-01-18
FROM JACKSONVILLE,
a Meeting Of Farmerp and Citizens
manufacturiuS In Southern Illinois.
Correspondence Of The Chicago Tdbune.]

4 Meeting of Farmers and Citlxens-
Manufacturing In southern Illinois.
Correspondence Of he Chicago Tttbune.]
JACKSONVILLE, Jan. 14th, 1865.
On Saturday last q very large meeting Of
the best farmers and citizens Of Morvan
county, WIS held In the Court House In this
city, to consider questions with reference to
the agricultural, commercial and educational
interests Of the county. Judge Wm. Brown
presided, and Col. G. F. Smith acted as Sec
rotary. Prof. J. B. Turner, who had attended
the late Bloomington Conventions, addressed
The meeting At considerable length, reporting
the action Of said conventions, and discussing
the questions Of the IndustzfaIs University
Scheme as system Of education, the freight
the remedy, and the commercial interestsand
relations Of Jacksonville. It Is impossible to
follow the Professor In his Interesting ad-
dress, and to do SO would be but to repeat
much that has already Appeared in tho rR1~
high fleights, but how to remedy Tie eyIl Is
moi so clear. Gen. Murray Mcdonnell, who
followed Prof Turner, thought competition
the only remedy, and advised the building Of
more railroads. But our farmers will moi in
vest their money In railroads, or hare none to
invest, and at present prices for grim, are not
new railroads are built, 1t must be b. foreign
capitalists whose interest It will be to keep up
tho price Of fFeIghts. The railroad companies
seem to have an understanding and q unity of
action, 50 that any new roads That may be
built, easily fall into tho ring, and instead Of
becoming competing lines, become links of the
old chain, increasing Its power and extending
its Influence. This, however, Is new ques-
Hon to most Of our people, and requires time
for its solution. The remedy will come after
a while.
the Hon. J. T. Springer, and then rrof. TuT-
ucr, Hon. Joseph Morton aud Judge Vim.
Brown were appointed d committee 10 take
further action and to call future meetings as
they may deem expedient. !.
While the farmers and citizens are holding
meetings and discussing these grnye questions.
there are those among us who feel that par
tial remedy may be found in the encourage
mcnt Of home manufactures, and arc accord
ingly at work.
We have at present very fine wooden
mauufnctory, which, Is to be enlarged the
coming spring to double It's present capacities,
turn Oft 85e thousand yard. of cloth per
week, and yurus in proportion. This viii In.
yolye an outlay of one hundred and twenty
thousand dollars. Be&des this new COM
pany has just been otsantzed With capital
OF s{ty thousand dollars, intending to erect
woolen factory the coming spring.
Morgan is one Of the best counties In the
State for wool growing, and hereafter we will
Ealsc less corn and more wool, aud will hance
have less work for the railroads. Several
other manufacturing enterprises arc in en-
bryo. and may develop Important resultsIin
few months. It may be Impossible for the
whole State to do likewise, but In Morgan
county our interests and pursuits may be 60
diversified and augmented as, to almost en-
able us to lire within ourselves and 10 our
selves. There Is wealth enough in our coun-
ty, Il rightly directed, to build up mann
faeturing interest that would soon supply all
our demands, and reach into adjoining coun-
tics, while In return they would absorb aud
uso up the products Of the county, thus fur
Dfshtng the producers q home market, and
enabling them In turn to purchase all manu-
iactu1ed goods at the door Of the mannfac-
tories. With such policy wisely and vigor-
onsly pushed, Jacksonvillc may soon become
the Lowell Of nltaois."