Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-06-13
MANuFACTURrNe-A NECESSITY.

The commerce and manufactures of Great
Britain equal those of Russia, France and
the United States combined. In point Of
area of territory she is, in comparison
with those three powers, insignificant.
What then is it that gives her such wealth
and influence? The answer is to be found in
her iron and coal fields For these coarse,
but useful, minerals and metals she has
sunk shafts hundreds Of feet in depth, and
every time the cart comes up additional
wealth is added to her treasures.
By means of the two agencies she has
been enabled to push her commerce to every
country under the sun, and gathering up the
riches of other lands, brought home to her
self wealth, and necessaries, and Injuries.
The same might be done by our State, if
only the proper efforts were put forth. One
fifth of our area is computed to be filled by
iron, coal, copper, &C., and in yiens so wide
and precious, as not to require the expensive
system of tunneling. Within distance of
one hundred miles from Nashville as GEN.
tire, we have enough of coal and iron to sup
ply all demands Of this country, and besides
are accessible either by river or railroads
already built or projected.
As the case stands to-day we are buyers,
when we should be sellers. Instead of send.
ing our money out of the State we should be
receiving money in the State, for the very
articles manufactured from iron and coal
The original capital to be invested in the
working Of these two articles, is small, to
the return it will bring u.s. and this en-
ploymeEt of capital will directly benefit
every interest-the land-holder, the capital
list, the common carrier, the merchant, the
mechanic-because it will add to the bust
ness Of each one without any additional
capital. Why, then, should we not put
forth our hands to the work? What a
change would it be to see people coming
here from other countries to purchase these
articles from us, and thereby leaving in our
midst their surplus earnings. This would
soon be the case if we would only do our
duty, for the reason that we can manufac-
ture more cheaply than any other part of
the world.
1t is a very great mistake that it requires
immense capital to manufacture. To show
that this is 30, Massachusetts, which is the
greatest and wealthiest manufacturing State
in the Union, has only fifteen millions of
dollars invested in cotton manufacturing
and with this amount she placed in the
hands of her people, from the capitalist
down to the lowest paid operative, through
her merchants, railroad and steamboat men,
hotel-keepers, draymen and farmers, fifty
six million dollars; or in other words, In one
single gear, she returned TO her people three
times as many dollars as they had invested;
and this operation she repeats every year.
Were Our manufactures never to declare
a dividend upon their stock, they would
make us rich, because every body else
would have to expend with us, their sur
plus earnings for our manufactures, which
are essential to their well being. We have
all the elements to make us great, rich and
prosperous people, and there is every in
ducement for US to develope our resources.
Why, then, do we not put our hands to the
pillow and move it along. Every man wants
to improve his estate, whether he is rich or
poor, and a proper combination of capital
in manufacturing could be made, so as not
to affect hurtfully the business relations of
any one.
The very wastage of capital in our midst
this day, if judiciously invested in manufac-
tire, would in few years make this State
the great manufacturing State of the Missis-
sippi Valley.
We have the advantages of all others in
our central geog raphical position and in ad
dition we have all the elements requisite,
both in provisions, metals, minerals andraw
materials, to make this State to this Cont
nent what Great Britain is TO the World. =
Let our people consider this matter and act
upon it.