Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-06-13
at Wormley's.
Manufacturing Interests Of ti,e
District

The report Of the joint committee of the legis.
latiye assembly on manufactures in the District,
made to the Council Oh Tuesday, is an exh aus
tive document, and contains history of manu-
featuring here from the foundation OF Washing
ton up to the present time. Referring to our
geographical advantages and the river front, the
report says Ii appears that as soon as the dredg-
ing and cleaning the channel between the Long
bridge and Georgetown has been accomplished
IN accordance with the law OF Congress and the
appropriation recently made for the purpose, the
depth of this channel will be Is feet, and the
width 525 feet. The report next treats of the
Chesapeake and Ohio canal and the different
projected lines OF railroads which will have their
termini in Washington, and enumerates the
steamship lines between this point and other
ports, with an estimate OF the annual business
Alter giving statistics of the -four, lumber and
coal trade, the report says the Potomac river is
one Of the greatest water courses of the Atlantic
slope. Commencing at distance OF about four
teen miles above Washington, at Great Falls is
great and unfailing water power all along the
40 feet OF descent until the river meets the in
flowing tide at Georgetown. The minimum of
this power has been carefully estimated by an
accomplished engineer at /, 100 cubic feet per
second. The total horse power would be about
1896. The water power at Lowell is about 1000
horse power. at Fall River l GOO. and at Bidde-
FORD 1850. For nearly mile above the Aque-
duct bridge at Georgetown are most available
sites fer factories along the Potomac between
its north bank and the canal. By the former,
vessels drawing twenty feet of water could
load from or unload into factories whose
motive power should be supplied by the lat
ter, and in neither would there be DELAYS
from ice for more than two weeks in the YEAR
In reference to the climate, the report saws II
there il any truth in the statement that Wash
ingtOn is an unfavorable place to live in for
manufacturing purposes, it must apply with
equal force TO Philadelphia, st. Louis and Gin
cinnah. BY far the greater number of orr best
citizens eDgagedin mechanical and industrial
enterprises have spent much time in the same
ayocation in northern cities, and we have their
testimony that Washington is far preferable in
this respect TO many of the northern cities
Taking the year as whole, there are more
available days here for comb liable labor than
can be found in any portionpf New England or
New York. While real es8te in portions of
this District has doubled, and>eyen quadrup Pied
and real property largely increased in value ali
the District within the last six wears II vet
remains true that abundant and most inviting
sites are offered to manufacturers for their uses
at merely nominal rates. The report says there
Is one branch OF manufacturing enterprise for
which Washington seems to be particularly fit
ted-that OF firearms. Iron and steel can be
made and coal laid down here at lower rates,
and buyers from abroad should find
here factories producing the latest inventions
IN this great branch Of industry. In conclusion,
the committee state that 1t is their settled opin-
ION that no money could be better appropriated
than IN the remittal OF taxes on all property in
vested in factories They go even further, and
would express the belief hat the legislative as
sembiy should extend to all useful industries
which are now or may hereafter be established
among US, every aid not prohibited by the terms
OF the organic act.