Wilmington daily gazette., 1872-10-08
fFtS zna6s kssofs
"VVS" "OrV
sts..
oy TIE MANAGERS OF THE TILIlHGToN
slAKb OF TRADE, M THE SECRETARY, GRO.

ton Eoari OF Trade. last evening, the report ol
Secretary, lengthy and Interesting document,
was read, which We conacnse A. follows:
the report opens with an alusion to the gen
eral prosperity Of our city, the rapid growth
ar ! extension OF all branches Of manufactures
aud the approach o. The completion OF the
Wilmington 4 Western k,ilroid with the great
advantage To- be derived IRON the latter enter
prise. as
The change OF location by the Board is next
referred To with the hope that The future meet,
inSs OF the body will Increase III interest, and
that all the members will presen: suggestions
and plans for the consideration OF the Board, Tor
the advancement Of the busincss interests of our
city.
The record of the p,<l year, briefly summed
up, Is rs follows:
a, the time OF the Chicago fire, the executive
9th rrs OF the Board We're absent from the city,
and therefore, without taking any formal action
in the matter, the members identified themselves
with the citizens, in endeavoring to relieve the
suffering caused by this dreadful conilagration.
On Oct. l., 1871, the suhject Of holding an
industrial Exposition in this city, was referred
10 committee. who reported that after consul
taiion with leading merchants and manuiactur-
ers they found large degree OF interest felt in
the proposal! and satisfactory disposition on
the part q! manufacturers 10 exhibit the pro
duets OF their industry, and make full and
attractive display. Bat they regarded the hold
ing of slel an Exposition mpracticable until
after the completion of the new hotel. Ii the
interest then manifested is continued, an lnius
trial Expo-iliun can he held in Fall Of 1873
The advantages OF such an enterprise are fully
I set forth.
The mex. business of importance was pro
position introduced Nov. 2Sth, ISL, to hold
daily meetings. The subject was referred to
committee, and wis still under consideration
when the Board adjourned Ter the Sumner |,
viii probably come up for ac.on soon after the
assembling of the new Board Of Managers
These daily meetings would result in giving
ir.~h impetus to the business Interests OF our
cty, and greatly facilitate the transaction oi
business between our merchants and ma,iuiac-
'urers Pnblic matters affecting the industrial
anI commercial interests Of tnc ,ity would then
receive proper attention, and be thoroughly
understood. aud co-nitratlon unity and strength
! be promoted.
4 Ut THIS time, Il committee was appointed TO
/ dlait new Constitution thai -houd meet the
! requirements al the liuard. The Constitution
! vs. duty presented and adopted
/ 1he Water street improvement is next re
/ telrcd to- and the widening of the street suf-
! crntiy 10 allow all the railroads entrance into
the city, earnestly advocated.
! The tax laws OF the State are referred to,
and thc need of their modification in certain
respects set forth. The removal OF Tie Tsury
! LAWS from the Statutes OF the state is also ad-
Nucated, and the new Board urged to take
steps to secure TIE favorable action of the next
! Legislature on this subject.
lie report then dWeiis at length upon the
! manufacturing interests of Our city, commienc-
lhg with iron shp-buildng, which branch of
hu>lncs, has been unusually active during the
last year. In view Of the present high prices
If iron, however, the future is uncertain, and
If continued will undoubtedly cause decline,
II not partial suspension OF the business, un.
u! the cost OF materials shall become lower.
! The difference in The cost of production of
iron ships in Wilmington and on the Clyde, Is
only about ten per cent, and should our ship.
builders use the inferior iron that is used Oh
the Clyde, the cost would not materially
differ
The business of manufacturing railroad cars
ana car wheels, in our city, has grown TO in
AenSe proportions. During the last year, an.
other large car shop has been established, al
our cars can now be found in all parts of II
country, the West Indies, Mexico and Sout
America. This business requires large nun.
! Der OF intelligent, skilled workmcn, and the
establishment of free public library, for the
benefit OF these and other mechanics is Sug-
gested.
lhe manufacture OF car wheels is also ONT
OF great extent and interest here. Over three
hundred wheels per day are turned out, and
tho business is constantly increasing.
The morocco business has not been as prof
table the past year as usual, owing to tn,
l.. high price Of stock, hut the production has
been asiarge, if not larger, as that Of any pre-
ceding year. New firms have been organized
and the mechanical facilities for manafactnr-
ing morocco largely increased. The value Of
morocco manufactured this year, will not bs
less than s2,000,Oo0, the number of person.
employed is about GOO, and the amount of cap
tai used, about s750000.
The manufacture of carriages have beer
uncommonly active during the past year. anc
the business prosecuted with degree of en-
terprise highly creditable to the trade
'fhe manufacture and working of iron viii
/. undoubtedly be the chief s6nlce of wealth t.
his city, i'll all time to come. The proximity
of our city to the mines, and our facilities fol
transportation makes il an uneXcelled poin
for this business. Very largee, quantities of iror
are now used here, in building iron ships
boilers, machinery, &c., and business in thi
respect will constantly increase. Wilmington
j, the place 10 push, with all possible vigor
the manufacture and working of iron. The
question Of labor is demora2ing the iron pro
ducing interests OF Great Britain. the scarcit,
of raw, material is beginning to bs felt there
and with the wealth of PENNSYLVANIA S mines
! pouring into our lap, what should hinder vii
r .nlngton from becoming the GLASGOW of Amer
) ica" The enactment of a General Corpora
4 ton Law-enabllng the capitalists and others
SO disposed, to invest a portion of their mean,
! IN industrial enterprises, without danger Il
/ their other interests--is favOrably spoken o.
ami the Board OF managers recommended Il
take the necessary steps to secure the enact
ment OF such law at the coming session o.
e the Legislature.
r The following statistics are appended =
number OF tons Of iron manufactured IL, 75O
number consumed, 81, 900 value of iron man
e uiactured, l, 100000; value Of iron consumed
S5,oO0,o 900 number Of tons OF bituminous Goa
consumed $4,000: anthracite, 10000.
IAe TRANSFORMATION facilities of Wilminntoi