Middletown transcript., 1870-08-20

quite as well to erect a merchant mill
along the line of Rail Road and export
our grain packed, thus retaining the hand
some profits realized by our neighbors, a.
mong our own citizens St. AIMS branch,
never failing stream, would drive pa
per mill Of no mean proportions and the
material now hauled from our midst rs
worthless and at very meagre price
would then be shipped to our cities ready
for the printer and we receive the cash in
return for circulation here. We have
here fruits Of all kinds, why not start a
cam .ng establishment, and instead of be-
ing at the mercy of falling markets or tho
fluctuations of dealers, send your fruit to
market only when the demand makes it
profitable The Wilmington and Reading
Rail Road has brought coal as fuel very
near to us. The open route via Cris6eld
or Annamessex, brings Norfolk, destined
to be the great outlet of the South and
Southeast for cotton and tobacco. Why,
then, shall VIC not erect cotton mills here.
and give employment to the great number
of children now roaming the streets unem-
ployed, at the same time teaching them
habits of industry and giving them hand
some remuneration for their labor.
So it would be with woolen factory.
We are now importing, through our mer-
chants, the very goods that we have sold
the fleece to make, and are paying three
fold profit to those who have no more
means than can be had here, but who, to
the shame of our wealthy men, have more
enterprise. Nothing can be successfully
urged against any of the enterprises have
named that could be called good argument.
We are not without the means. If you
doubt it, point out, if you can, finer
country, or one where more money is real
lied from grain and fruits, but it will be
an easy task to show you country where
less money is fritterd away, by foolish spec
ulation. If but one tenth of such inoest-
ments were applied to the advancement of
factories, workshops, and producing enter
prises at home, money would ere long be-
come plenty. Every man, woman and
child, receiving their weekly wages. would
generously supply themselves at city pri-
ceS, over the cOunte's of well kept stores.
Everything about us would wear differ
ent aspect and Middctown, from " vii
lage," would take her place as a manufac-
turing city, without doubt.
Since reading your remarks above re-
ferred to, have visited some of the lar
gest cotton and wooden factories of phila-
delphia, and by the kindness of their own
ers gained some insight into their n,odus
operant. | find that good mill, suita-
BILE to make cotton goods from the yarn,
could be erected and fitted out complete
with 40 looms for about $15, 900, and
would, running ten hours per day, turn
out 1000 yards of goods that are now
bringing 20 and 25 cts. per yard. The
yarn can be had for about 40 cts. per lb.
and l lb. will make 81 yards of good fa-
bric To take the cotton from the bale
and manufacture it throughout would re-
quire additional buildings and machinery,
costing about Is or $4,000 additional,
but feel satisfied that mill could be
erected and fitted out complete with ma
chinery (using steam as power and coal as
fuel, for $50, 900 and that will earn for
its owners 500 perday clear of all expen-
ses, rent and depreciation of machinery
included, and this opinion draw from the
of men who have made the
business study and have been very sue
cessful.
l know of nothing more profitable than
cotton and woolen factories properly man
aged to which cheerfully add paper mills.
Now, Mr.. Editor, are there not half do
zen of our wealthy men who are willing to
take hold of such an enterprise, and give
our town a start in the right direction.
Suitable sites are plenty The hauling
except coal not much of an item If
they will do SO am sure they will soon
feel demand for tenements, and our pop
ulation viii be composed of those who will
be industrious workers in the new hive
and do much to bring money to the place.
that will not only enrich themselves, and
enhance the value of property here. thus
comforting lasting benefit upon those
around them.
Urge it upon them and while we all
look upon our Ioion Hall as an ornament
let us hope we may soon look upon the
I" Peninsodr Cotton MWs," as the pay
ing institution of the place and soon we
will know that the plow and anvil are not q
happy trio until the loom be added.
CoTToN.