The Portland daily press., 1871-11-28
City Aid TO Manufactures.

TO the Editor Of the Press:
In your issue of Saturday, Nov. 49, you point
to cooperation as the end to be sought in case
any favors are granted to manufacturing inter
ests by the city and oppose what you call
Charles KimbalPs scheme for payment by the
city of all expenses of Board of Manufactures
a.A5 .i,A;- ela-ir and tho lease of pnnoccupied
buildings and lands of the city to manufactures
at merely nominal rates.
Mr.. KimbalPs politics L consider very bad.
therefore have seldom been able to indorse his
views, but deem it of no slight importance to
Portland that he has manliness and independ-
ence enough to break away from the traditions
OF his party and boldly advocate the granting
of aid and protection to manufactures in their
struggle to get foothold in our midst He is
in earnest and, a manufacturer himself, he
knows and feels the wants of those who would
establish new industrial interests, and is will
ing to extend every means for their support 1t
is misfortune we have not many as enterpris-
ing and public spirited. Thus much for Chas.
Kimball, whom would not praise beyond his
measure.
The policy of the Republican party
has been utilitarian uniformly, at least
its proclaimed policy, and it hardly be-
hooves the leading party paper of the
State to apparently deviate therefrom, by not
cheerfuly approving of city aid in establishing
industries which unquestionably will build up
prosperity and benefit alike all classes and con-
ditions of society Manufactures have caused
wealth to flow into other cities, and by encour-
aging and stimulating them we hope the same
may be the case here. A prominent manufacturer
in Massachusetts,, it is said will establish a cot
ton factory here employing 100000 capital in
machinery and for business purposes, giving
work to $50 hands, provided he can obtain land
and buildings suitable for which on lease he
will pay six per cent on the cost. Reasoning
from cause to effect would it not be the very
best investment the city of Portland could
make to-day? Those $50 worImen and fami-
lies must be housed and fed-their needs of ev-
cry sort must be met, and there is not busi-
ness however small in our city but that would
feel their presence with US. They would help
to bear the burden of our taxes and add to our
material wealth ncalculably.
You say eff Portland for instance will not
offer extra inducements to cooperative associa-
tions of working men, let 1t be a condition prec-
edeat to any tdUor, aid or inamuaity granted 10
any m1nqfdcturiag enterprise lchetter carried
on by iadipidudls or corporation, that the opera
tiues employed therein shall be entitled to share
of the profits of the busiaess''-the italics are
yours Now Mr.. Editor, does not every en-
ployee in factory share in the profits? And
does it not occur to you that manufacturing,
like all business, is often non-paying-then it
is profitable, not to the capitalist who feels the
sands running from under his feet, but to the
w rae fz Il.
thereby profited at the expense of the en-
ployer
We cannot afford here and now to try an ex-
| pertinent which has proven a repeated failure
| If cooperation were practicable to any extent
| no one would rejoice more than the writer; it
| has always been his wish that it might be car
/ riel into successful working, but the failures
| which rise ND Il monument to mark the grave
| of good intentions and disappointed hopes,
warn us of the folly of attempting to overcome
| the inharmony used among "many men of
many minds"
| 1t is manifestly unkind if not unfair, to speak
| of Massachusetts with its scores of million
aires and its thousands of poor and ignorant
operatives with the inference that it is conse-
| quent upon manufacturing. 1t is true there
are poor and ignorant operatives there put
they brought their poverty aud ignorance win
them from the old world-they are not 10 the
manor born. And the poor ones do not general
ly remain so long after reaching here unless OF
intemperate or bad habits, as the Savings
| Ranks will bear abundant testimony. But no
reflection upon Massachusetts-she leads in
the march of progress.
Business fiags-dullness pervades the city
there is a general lament among the people,
and the city comes up for help. VIII you
not lend hand? PUBLICUs.
PORTLAND, Nov. 22d, 1871.