Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-09-02
ALEXANDRIA, VA.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1872.

MANUFACTURERS IN VIRGINIA. Norfolk
Virginian has an excellent article in reference
to the resources of Virginia, and the absolute
necessity of manufactures in the State. 1t says:
Virginia has relied, and is still relying, too
much or agriculture-not that we mean to III
innate that single acre OF arabic land within
the limits Of the Commonwealth ought to DC
uncultivated; but, while the soil is the broad,
safe sound basis on which the State may con-
idently rest without fear of falling into decay,
there are other things that must be considered
other industries that must be fostered, IT we
would have the Old Dominion, under the lm-
pulses and auspices Of the now era, all she
should be and can be.
We must have manufactures IN Virginia.
There is no reason why we can have "holc
villages of factories OF various kinds here as
they have them in New England. Because we
have fertile lands that yield generously every
thing that can be grown in this latitude, 1t does
not follow that We are pursuing proper policy
in combining our industry exclusively to hus-
bandry. \ State may grow rich on agriculture,
but it can and will grow richer with agriculture,
manufactures and commerce continued: The
water-power Of Virginia in many localities Is
superior to that of numerous other places pros
pering under the influence Of profitable factor
les of different descriptions. And 1t must be
remembered that machinery can be moved, and
remunerativcly moved, by steam as we'll as
water.
The vast coal mines that arc soon to be made
convenient to the whole State, will afford
fund of fuel suft Gent for the manufactures OF
the world. And while other States, lu many
respects less favorably clrcumstanced, are main,
tanning and extending cities and towns, and
building villages through the lnstrumentallty OF
manufactures it is reflection upon the energy
aud enterprise, if not the practicable lntelli,
gence of our people, that we are dong little II
anything toward the utilization OF the advant-
ages with which we are blessed for the CONVEX
sion of the raw material we produce, and can
command from other sources, into articles or
use and ornament as is done elsewhere, and al
most everywhere else.
In other couutries-in other States of this
country, whole communities are mainly lndebt-
ed to hourishing factories for their prosperity.
Hundreds aud thousands of people, men, wo-
men aud children, are thus enabled to obtain
employment Millions of money are put IN CIR
culation, all branches of business are made &C
tive, and everybody is benefited by the thrift
of the manufacturers AS it is elsewhere so 1t
should be here As it is with other people so
it may be with our people.
A new era has opened upon Virginia, and
we must have new industries in addition to
those we already have.
We want to see more factories in our cities;
we want to see villages jp our State 65t0ppeting
with the busiest New England State in manu-
features.
There is certainly nothing that will so speed
lily conducc to the growth and prosperity ofthe
State as the introduction Of manufactures, and
they should be encouraged by all the means in
our power, and in this connection we know of
no place 10 the State, or out of it, combining so
many advantages for manufacturing as Alexan-
dria, and capital judiciously invested in any Of
the various branches here, would, beyond a
doubt, be very remunerative, as those already
here sufficiently demonstrate. There is every
facility, and now that steam is coming into such
general use, the ample supply of coal already
brought here by canal, which will be so greatly
increased when the railroad shall reach the coal
fields of Western Virginia, is an additional in
ducement to capitalists to turn their attention
to Alexandria where labor is cheap, material
abundant, and facilities unsurpassed.