Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-19
Daily Annebet yonrnal
MANUFACTURING.

largely carried Oh, is StEuCh WIN tAC oo-
yantages which this State has over other
States for that kind Of business. When
he sees large manufacturing works abroad
driven by steam, the coal to produce
which must be taken from the mines in
distant State, transported to the seaboard
by rail, then shipped by water to Massa'
chusetts, Connecticut or Rhode Island, |
and again loaded upon the cars and
freighted over the country to the facto-
ries where it is to be used, he naturally
thinks. of the splendid water powers in
Maine that are running to waste. and of
the money that might be saved to the man.
ufacturers were they located in Maine in
stead of being in situations where they
have to depend upon coal for power. A
friend who has recently been In Connect |
cut. writes from West Meriden, in that |
State as follows
81 don't think you have much idea Of the |
extent to which manufacturing is prosecuted
In this State. In this place, with no water
power or other advantage except its being on
q railroad. great manufactures may be seen
in all directions, on hill and in valley, all op
Grated by steam power. 1t makes me think
of and have more correct estimate Of the
advantages Of Maine for manufacturing. l
think coal can be landed in Maine cheaper
than in these inland towns by rail. This
State IL traversed in all directions by rail-
=. al r:, -; I'D
towns, all supported by manufacturing. They
make almost everything and make it for all
the rest of the world. In this place shop
for making shears and razors has recently
been started, by blacksmith who has money
and proposes to Increase his pile in that way
instead Of putting it in the savings bank.
He sent to England for his workmen to begin
the business. They say it is the only manu-
factory of the kind in the country. If Maine
had the men who understood these things,
and the money, how che would grow In wealth
.snd population. This place has ten or eleven
thousand people, and three daily and weekly
papers"
II these things can be done in Connect.
cut they may be done here to greater pro-
6t. Water is cheaper than steam. But
our advantages are not appreciated. 1t
takes long while to teach the public tina,
money is running away in our streams
every day. Some enterprising manufac-
turers and capitalists have been wise
enough to see that eventually the differ
ence between the cost of steam and wa
ter power will control the business. Coal
must increase in cost while the tendency
in the use Of water power is to greater
economy. BY and by, when the margin
of profit to the manufacturer is cut down
to the minimum, the man who manufac-
lures by water can undersell and drive
from the market the man who uses steam.
The manufactures that are already estab-
lished in this State, upon good water priv
leges, are more valuable than the same
would be in Massachusetts, or Connecticut
dependent upon coal for power. Yet
there are thousands of the best water
powers, with rail and water communica-
ton to all the large markets, that are
yet unoccupied in our State.
We need capital from abroad to improve
our advantages. We have not wealth
seeking investment as in Massachusetts.
But it is doubtless true that there is money
in savings banks and bonds that might be
appropriated to manufacturing by our citi-
zens if they would. The manufactures
that make Connecticut rich are not the
large manufacturing establishments, but
the smaller and diversified kinds, demand
ing various skill and scattering their ben
e6ts more generally among the people.
Many Of these do not require great capt.
tai. They are within the means of the
private capital which scores of our towns
may command. If that capital were
probably invested in such enterprises it
would be far better than to allow it to lie
in the savings banks. While it pays six
per cent. dividend it helps bring business
for the farmer, merchant and mechanic,
and raise the value of real estate, so that it
makes a double return. 1t is to these
small manufactures that the attention of
our citizens must be directed. Many have
started amongst us within the last two
years, but there is room for more. Con-
vert the bonds into mills. Turn the water
that is running to waste into dollars. As
Maine surpasses any New England State
in natural advantages for manufacturing,
SO she is bound to excel them in the ex-
tent and greatness of her industrial en-
terprises that depend upon steam or water.
The Presidents appointment of Mr..
Richardson as Secretary of the Treasury,
was according to general expectation, also
the re-appointment of all other members
of the Cabinet. These appointments indi-
cate that there is to be no material change
in the working or policy of the admins
tration.
The reasons of Governor Dix for not in
terferiug to prevent the execution of Fos-
tor ara sensible He hcIieves that the