Wilmington daily commercial., 1872-10-08
TRADE REPORT.
wILMINGrON's GROWTH and PROSPERITY,
Annual Report ofthe BOARD ofTrade


cessfully pushed towards compilation.
All branches Of our manufacture have beer
materially extended. either by the organization
OF new firms or the enlargement Of capacity for
production by the old ones. There seems to he No
Indication that this growth is to cease, but rather
to continue in an Increasing ratio. Our facili-
ties for transportation have been considerably
extended and improved, and with the compile.
tion OF the Wilmington and Western Railroad
will be nigh perfect. With the establishment OF
these lines there should come a new spirit OF
enterprise among our merchants, that the terri
tory about us may be made a source OF prott Ia
our trade. We can, IL We will, build up here an
active commercial interest, which will very prop
erly supple ment our manufacturing interests
render us nearer solf-sustAiuing-an enable US
to take that prominent position among our sister
cities to which our location, wealth, and industry
entities us.
The Secretary then refers to various subjects
which came before the Board, and the action
taken upon them. These include the removal
OF the rooms; the Relief Of the Chicago suffer-
ers the holding OF an Industrial Exposition (;
the holding Daily Business Meetings the
preparation and adoption OF a new Constitu-
tion. The Sec etlry alec refers to the cousdera-
tion previously gwen aud which will be hereafter
again In older. ON the Widening OF Water ST.,
Taxation. the Usury Laws. &c and offers some
practical suggestions upon them.
IRON SHIP BUILDING
This branch Of our manufacture has been un-
usually active during the past YEAR all the yards
having been occupied to the extent Of their ca
pacity, and indeed having been compelled to de-
cline oIders for the want Of time and capacity
to execute them In view Of the present high
prices OF iron. the future in uncertain and should
they continue. il will undoubtedly cause Glue,
II not practc suspension OF the business,
until the cost Of material shall become lower.
rhs difference in the cost OF the pro luc ion OF
iron ships in Wilmington and on the Clyde eI-
elusive OF the premiums OH gold, il at this time
about ten per cent. only. Taking the present
price Of god (l4), increases the difference to
about "a per cent. TIE falling of in the price
OF gold, which il so generally expected, together
with the advance Of labor in Great Britain, and
the consequent advance in the price Of iron there
will soon bring the cost nearly equal In both
countries. Indeed il our ship-builders would
now use the light and inferior iron in their ships
that il used OH the Clyde the cost would not
now materially dlffsr. This will not be done.
however, for reasons that are too evident to need
stating and bv waiting until the prices have
adjusted them ewes naturally and permanently, a
more lasting aud desirable prosperity will be gain
ed There seems 10 be tlien, no cause for anxiety
or alarm in tue outlook just at this moment. On
tue contrary, 1t seems highly probable that this
crisis oboe pat. the seat OF power for building
iron vessels Gin which the carrying trade of the
worl is soOn to be dOne) will transfer itself ma.
turaly from the old to the new world. There is
much to encourage US Ia this. not only as Will
mingtoniaDs but ~ Amsriaana for it is only au
indication Of the advancing power Of our free
Republic only smother demonstration OF
the extent and valne OF oar natural resources.
Situated nearer the great iron and coal producing
districts Of Penney vlnia than any other CITY
on tide waer-and vet away from the danger of
storms aud tides, Wilmington ha- lively inter-
est IN this coming power Whether we reap the
benefits OF it's coming or not, IL for us to say
Nature has done her share. Shall We do ouls ?
RAILROAD CARS AND CAR WHEELS
This business has grown to immense proper
tions in our uidst. During the past year.
another large and enterprlring hrm has beeu
established. and has already sent away some
very elegant work. This addition, beyond all
doubt entities Wilmington to the leading posi-
tion in this county, IN the line OF car building.
This branch of ma iufacture Is also in very
DIT sperUus con liion, with every propect Of sti
further exteurion aud growth. Wilmington
built carr may be found in all pats Of this
country the West Indi b, Mexico aud South
America.
Thus bu ,inpss has many peculiarites, which
entities it to the good wishes and encourage
ment OF our ctiz ihs, among them may he
mentioned the fact that the labor employed IL
necessarI Of y huparior quality, and the well
paid and skilfn nachsnic ID generally intelli-
gent and useful citlze1 and without Wishing or
intending in speak al all dispsragiugly Of other
elias es ol mechaAics the presence in this branch
of manufacture Of 80 large a number OF highly
skilIsd wOrkmen Is worthy of notice. With this
class uf m-u rerts In great degree the reputa-
tion of our city in the future, both al
to the quality uf the work. and character OF
our city a. place of residence; and our
business men owe it to themselves that they are
encouraged to become permanently interested
in our CITY and to feel apruper share OF pub
lie responsibility ~ this and Wilmington eau af'
| ford to, and should Al once provide for the u
| of all our mech inica and oitizens FREQ Public
Library, whish Is ali tat IL needed to supple
meDt an ex 'sllent public school system that the
ao ult popnt IN may not be lett to depend on theil
own limit ed ueans for VIII itever information
they Way de 'ira ~ tnl tic This my seem "a
be dlgT, aahIn fr IN tue purpose aud object oil
this report bnt il certainly has direct bearing
on the NJ 1qterniAl iltsre4ts OF the city, inasmuch
| AZ il involves tH considerable eltsut the per
manaey aud ya.le Of our skilled labor.
Tue manufacture Of car wheels is also one OF
| great extent and interest here. Over S0U
wheels per dsv ara tlrned out, aud the business
constantly increasing.
MOROCCO.
The past year has not been as profitable Al
usual. owing to the high price OF stock, but not
| Withstand as. the production has been fully ri
| large, aud probably larger than any proceeding
| wear. There have been some ohAnReh in the ol'
1
/ chanioal farllines for Misunderstanding morocco
| has been large il crea ed, and great deal o
| work III It h y heretofo'e been done entirely b.
| hand, /, nov perform vi by m lchinery. TLis
branch of manufacture already occupies YER
| prominent portion in our city, and. judginI
| from its pasy hi tory. aud present condition, i
| is destined TO extend aud enlarge very greatly
| The value of mJroc 30 manufactured this year
| will not be less than two millions Of dollars
The number OF pc sons employed ia about 6O0
and tb. amount of apt Al employed, about $3.50
600.
CARRIAGES.
THIS branch ~ IN mInufacture has been uncom
monty active during the past year. Several ne'
firms have been organized, aud all the old one
employed to tho e1teI Of their capacity. The bus
ineas has been pushed with degree OF QnteFplls
highly ci iudit aUo ~ the trade &; and few year
more Uf siliilar enmt must place our city on a
eqnal iOt ting with any Place in the country Oh
fact connected with this branch OF manufactur
il gor hy OF notice. That is that all the firm
engaged in il are composed of young men an
while com letltiDn 10 lively between the hrm
the whole trade derives the hepaht OF the VlBol
| ops prosecution OF the blsiuess. Ihe HGrpe PEI
| sisteuce and energy practloed in the future as
| the past Will aouh develop an interest second {
none but iron in our ei y.
eteps are beirg taken, we observe, to form q
association OF carriage manufacturers, Tor mt
tual protection AMI profit, and while We woul
, not la ANY way discourage this We would ca
nesty urge the gentlemen engaged IN TINS trae
TO add their influence al labor TO ours, for IL
r purpOses of developing all the business ente
prises Of the city til Oush the Bolrd OF Trade
also as an effeotual means Of advancing perm
pently their own interests. We would refer
tha tabe of Atatistics amended TO this report 4