The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-09-04
MANUFACTURES IN VIRGINIA.

MANUFACTURES IN VIRGINIA.
The Norfolk Trginian publishes an
excellent article on the resources of the
State. and urges the absolute necessity OF
manufactures as the means of developing
such resources, and bringing the State up
to the advanced standard of improvement,
in its agriculture, manufactures and COM
merce combined, with such northern states
as embarked largely in manufacturing
while Virginia was yet priding herself upon
system of labor and labor-industries
which retarded rather than advanced her
material interests and prosperity as State.
The VHgiaian does not put it exactly in
this light, but it says that the people OF the
State have relied altogether too much upon
agriculture, and have brought too little OF
their energies into the field of rivalry as
concerns manufactures. This is unques-
tionably true, ard while the Old Dominion
is suffering to-day for the want of agrlcul-
tural development, her stagnation in this
respect is more directly owing to the
scarcity Of manufacturing enterprises than
to any other one cause.
The fact which all intelligent observation
verfies is, that manufactures and agricul-
ture 20 hand in hand together, and the sue
cesslul prosecution of both is the prerequi-
site to a profitable and well sustained COM
merce. To become successful CONNER
cial people, we must diversity not only our
pursuits and industries, but our produce
tions, both Of the soil and of skilled labor.
With the exception Of Richmond and some
few other points in the State, there is little
OF no manufacturing done in Virginia, when
the means of profitably embarking in
almost every line OF manufactures are no.
where more abundant and inviting than
among our own people. We have water
power enough here in Richmond to
run more spindles, in the manufacture OF
cotton and woollen goods, than are now
actively producing their most splendid re-
suits in Lowell, Manchester and Lawrence
put together, while our inexhaustble stores
of natural wealth greatly exceed those Of
all New England combined. Why should
we not have another Lowell, or Manchester
or Lawrence, or all three combined, here or
the James River rapids, extending dis
lance of seven miles, and offering facilities
for using the same water eight or ten times
over to the mile? There is no reason II
the world why these results should not b'
achieved, with saving in transportation o
the raw material, which Of itself woult
constitute very handsome profit on thu
manufactured fabric.
Such manufactures as ought to spring W
in Richmond in the next eight or ten years
would infuse new life and activity into {
thousand other industries of diversified in
terest and moment to our people. On
great industry becomes the handmade OF
hundred other and smaller industries, and
that seaboard state which most diversifies
it's productions and the products of its
skilled labor, will not only become fore
most in the race Of developed industries
bus in commerce which is alone fed by this
diversity OF productions.
But the water-powers of Virginia are bu
small portion of her natural wealth. He
extended sea-coast measured by her navi
gable riyer-lines, her fine harbors, com
merce-inyitmg streams, and open estuarie
to the sea, all invite US to manufacture
and commercial prominence as people
The wonderful prosperity of the iron-inter
est, and the enhanced price of iron every
where, with the acknowledged inability @
England to meet the demands upon her a
the foremost iron producing country in tn
world, should remind US that there is l.
State in the Union with greater or nor
abundant resources for producing iron
the very best quality than Virginia. A
that we want is the magic hand of industr
to wave over our iron mountains, our Goa
beds, and our lime, all ,Siamesed together