Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-10-04

Committee,
&C., Louisville, Ky.
r-,,---~-r-s--x6sr--n~~----~<----
From the Richmond Nhig.1
let Us alma Of Maaafactaring-Got-
ten Statistics.
A Memphis Journal undertakes to
demonstrate by facts and figures thai o
cotton factory in that city will clear
;b81 rs more on every bale Of cotton wow
en- into cloth than can be cleared at the
mills of Lowell, and that 5000 bales at
Memphis Can be made to yield a profit
OF S548,090 Ia one gear, against the
5000, 900 Of the Lowell mills, built at
nearly the same cost. IT this be true
Of cotton mills Of Memphis, 1t appiies
as we'll to manufacturing establishments
in ether Southern localities. The true
theory ia 10 have the factories as near
the Gold Of production as practicabie.---
1t Ia unnatural shas tho raw material
should have to be transported as Ter a.
New England before it is worked up
into those fabrics Of which the pro-
duaers Of the raw material are thoma
selves among the largest consuners.---
The day cannot, surely, be distant when
q raore natural condition will be estab~
iished. Cotton fabrics are In universal
demand, and ii is, therefore. TO the ins
tsress of every class and every indiyi-
dual that they should be manufactured
and sold at the lowest possible prices.
The more middle men there are engaged
in the various operations pertaining to
it and the greater tho distance 70 which
the raw na a q gas e Rs sEaahEaPFa a
higher viii be the prices charged for its
fabrics. Again, every cent of profit
made by middle men and distant manu-
iacturera is 80 much taken from the
community Ia which the raw material
Is produced.
But it is not cotton alone that The
South could work up aud realize the full
profits of. There arc various other or.
ticles. For want Of enterprise we have
for years permitted other communities
TO appropriate this raw material, manu-
faotars it into all its numerous Market
able forms, realize all the profits it can
be made to yield, aud grow rich and
powerful, while VIC have been content TO
enjoy. that lowest OF all profts---ths
producers. Nor is this ail. Whom
our productions have been nanuiactur-
cd into fabrics we nfe compelled to puss
chase them with eli the accumulated
charges Of transportation, middle men,
manipulation, manufacturing and taxes,
with the addition Of Large profit tc
the manufacturer. We have, in the
last half century. thrown away thous.
ands of millions OF dollars to support
and enrich strangers. How long will
VIC continue to do so?
+, We sincerely hope that, in the now
order of things that Is being inaugurated
In the South, this grave error will be
corrected. The cotton States are rapids
~ growing rich. The money tbey arc
making can no longer be invested in
negroes as II formerly was. Let the
cotton raisers establish factories, and
make out of their great staple oil that
it can be made to yisld. Ii they can
do no better at first, let them arrange to
tranafes from New England 10 She
South come of the great establishments
with theis. machinery and operatives.
New Ia the time TO make beginning,
Here ia Virginia, where coston is not
@ staple, we produce great variety Of
raw material which we might easily
and profitabIy manufacture. but do not
We hand most Of it treceiviag only tho
small profs on productions over to more
enterprlsipg people. who work it up
and sell TO us Of heavy profits the varI-
Gus articles into which they have fabri-
cascd it. With q wates-power diffused
ail over the State, and with facilities for
manufacturing that excite the astonish-
ment Of all travellers ana strangers, we
have done, compared with other less
favored communities, but little In that
useful and profitable branch of indus-
try.
Richmond affords an unlimited field
for all such enterprises. So. much 20.
indeed, that everybody says it is her
manifest destiny to become great .mans
ufacturing city, This talk has lastsd
long enough. Let there be something
mere than talk--action. Fortunately
for her, enterprising firms and individ-
uals hava.commenced the great work.
She has great Touring mills, several
cotton factories, sugar refnerles. great
fourdries and furnaces, besides other
manufacturing establishments, The
chief and only objection that Northern
capitalists formerly had to engaging in
manufacturing enterprises here was
removed by tho abolition Of slavery
The chief and only objection they have
recently had, will, We hope. soon DO re-
moved by the QUOT and permanent
settlement Of our political affairs and
the restoration of our State 10 the