The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-30
Rithntond nlspatth.
MONDAY. Jan oAh1 ''' io'i'
Manufacturing Enterprise.

MISUNDERSTANDING ClIc1 ~ 2SCa
The most successful manufacturing es-
Establishments in the country began in small
way, and were built up by the industry,
skin, and economy Of their founders.
Many enterprises which are started with
large capital, and with great array of Off
GERS, fail, and sink the money invested IN
them, because Of the want OF experience
and of qualifications essential for success
IN a branch of human pursuits which can
net be successfully conducted without
great experience, unfiaggins industry ana
rigid economy. :,
In the prosecution Of business IN sinai'
way, economy is observed as q necessity
and those who conduct it arc, OF COURSE
men of both skill and experience.
When they have sagaci'y and enterprise
along with these, they gradually extend
the capacity of their establishments to
meet the incrca sing demands of their bust
ness. An establishment growing up in this
way is like the house built upon rock.
Its foundation Is impregnable, and the
mcritorious founders meet the rich
rewards of their industry. They i'll
this way find themselves in posses
sion of a great and profitable bust
Mesa business that has expanded with
the steady growth of the demand for their
fabrics, aud which is thus maintained with
ease and steadiness by the exercise of ordi.
nary forecaste and judgment. An estab-
lishment of similar capacity started, fully
equipped, will require large capital to
support it, because it has not grown UP
with business commensurate with It's
means. Therefore q great degree OF tact
and experience are indispensable to its s'c'
cess-to the securing Of the amount of bust
ness essential to its support with sufficient
promptnesS to save it from failure by AVOID
ing the exhaustion Of the capital of the cor
poration or partnership under whose aus
pices the venture is made.
We have several notable instances in this
CITY of fine establishments grown large and
thrifty from very small beginnings. they
afford the best examples and the highest
encouragement TO industrious, Skllltui, ana
sensible men of small means. The Whole
country affords instances OF admirable sue
cess in this way. Some of the largest ana
most famous manufactures in the Union
had the smallest start in pccuniary means,
and were pushed ahead by dint OF the I'M
assisted energy and tact Of their founders
Still there are great establishments that
may be, and some that must be, started on
grand scale, with abundant means. There
are branches Of manufacture that require
such establishments, and fabrics that are
ALWAYS in demand, and find such ready sale
rs that a mandatory may generally con.
slider itself working up to demand, instead
Of growing slowly with demand. OF such
are cotton and wollcn cloths and rolled
iron. But as such goods, by the immense
enterprise, ingenuity, and experience en-
poyed in their manufacture afford but
small gain in all establishments devoted TO
them, mastery skill in manufacturing and
in management is indispensable to success.
As Richmond is to become great manu-
featuring city by reason Of its advantages
for the concentration Of the raw material
its motive power-itS facilities for the dis
tribution Of its fabrics throughout the lnte-
rior-its hcalthincss, agreeable temperature,
and admirable sccncry-her citizens should
be excited with il alldable ambition to bear
conspicuous parts in the active and -four
ishing enterprises that in few years will
add wealth and population to Richmond.
The unknown mechanic of to-day, living
obscurey in a frugal way upon small
weekly compensation for his labor, may in
ten years from to-day be leading manu-
mclurer, having money and credit, and
daily adding to his wealth and Influenza
model Of industry, forecast, and problty
for the emulation of others, and bcneiac-
tor of the city, to whose aggregate wealth
and fame he has added largely.
Thus is Richmond TO grow and prosper.
There is no wealth but that which comes
fromth ground in the products of tillaSe, or
the forests, mines, or waters, and in the
added value that some ofthese things receive
from the hand of the manufacturer. The
solid wealth of cities comes mainly from
this added value due to mechanical indus
try. And in proportion to the activity and
personal qualifications of the manufacture
ing community will be the amount of this
growth and increase in this city.
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