Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-10-23


ton Of force in the Departments, at the Arseu al
snd at the Navy Yard-there are large mum.
bers Of persons out Of employment in Washing.
ton. There Is not day that our business men
do not receive dozens Of applications for
employment from those In pressing need Of
work. Within the hour q widow lady has
made application AZ THs STAR once for en-
ployment for some Of her children, who stated,
and we doubt not tTuthfully, that with q
family Of seven children, six Of whom are boys
ranging from seven to sixteen years OF age, but
one has had days employ ment for the last
five months, and that one but for q single fort
might, when q 'furlough' came which thre "
him out. She has sought work for them and
for herself In every quarter, but the effort
seems hopeless
Now what an opening would be afforded for
this surplus labor now afioat in Washington
BY the establishment Of various branches of
nanufactures, such as Afford remuneratiye en-.
ployment for the densely populated New
England States Thepeople Of that cold, sterile,
unpromising section are never at q loss for
something to do. If one branch of industry
dries up, or gets overcrowded, another Is
started. Those needing work, and willing to
work, can always ind employment.
Here II 10 different. The channels of employ.
ment are few and narrow. Government en-
ployment now is given out almost entirely as
the patronage OF Cong who have their
own constituents TO provide for. Even in the
labor departments Of Government employ-tne
Government Printing Office, the Navy Yard
and the Arsenal, tbs proieses Of Congressmen
are day bv day crowting out the citizens OF the
District, even those, as at the Navy Yard shops,
who have spent years OF faithful labor in &c.
curing full knowledge OF their bu siness,
who are identified thoroughly with the inter-
tsts OF our city, and most OF whom have faml.
lies to support Before the imperative s.must'
OF member of Congress or Cabinet officer,
fheseexperienceda and competent workmen have
20 give place, without moments warning. In
the newcomers armed with the nf1uen tial rec.
oLan endation equivalent to An appointment
In private employ the labor-market Is even
more contracted, from the fact that bat little
man ufacfurinS or mechanical labor is carried
or here FroE the same fact, and for the rea.
con that the trades regulations limit the uum.
Fer Of apprentices, there Is very little opening
i toys 10 get employment, or to learn trades
fere. The opening Of manufactures here OF
various kinds, such as are carried ON in every
village at the North, would b. of incalculsble
sdvantage to the youth of our Community AZ
I5rdilg light and paying employment to boys
and girls. and. through the increase OF business
given to our mechanics, greatly enlarging the
capacity of the trades to take apprentices.
hSoAS WIN JUL SoSll8llStS WOLiQ
stitute by starting some such manufac tures
here! Who will be the first to lead ONT Gen.
Howard contemplates something of the sort
n behalf Of the colored people under his
charge, and he generally carries out what he
undertakes. Who will do as much for the
white unemployed, or for both white and col.
cred! Nothing could do so much to encourage
habits Of industry and seli-reliancs anongst
our people.
IL would "pay" for our District cities to make
Iarge Inducements 70 manufacturers to enter
upon business here, as Lewiston, Maine, did to
the capitalists Of Boston, aud as Augusta,
Maine. has lately to the Spragues. 1t would
give steady employment, and independent sup.
Port to large numbers now almost destitute.
Ii would save money here, and bring money
here II would give employment to
mechanics of all kinds. IL would make
a ready market for all sorts OF farm produc.
Gors and garden produce, and thus greatly
bereft all the surrounding country. Our mer-
chants and shop-keepers instead of having to
rely upon particular class Of customers
Government employees, &C., liable TO be
turned out at any moment, would have
lsrge and steady custom from the opera
tiyes and others engaged in the factories.
Ii would add immensely TO the prosperity OF
the District by drawing elements Of wealth
from other sources, instead Of our contributing
as cow to the supnSS..t Of more enterprising
communitles. LIST Us estimate the amount Of
money Tat goes out from Washington for the
C<Tchass OF goods hat might just As well be
Manufactured here. With our unrivalled wa.
ter power and abundan. labor supply, we are
ser iirr The cotton grown in our neighborhood
pss: Our doors hundreds Of miles to New Eng
lard to be manufactured. We bring 1t back,
with the cost OF transportation each way to be
added to the amount for which we are bled to
support the northern manufacturers. Who will
be the first to start some manufacturing enter
prise, big or little, in tie DISTRICT Anything
for q start