Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-03-29
For the Chronicle
MANUFACTURES.

Ashland City, March II. 1873.
For the Chronicle.
MANUFACTURES.
EDITORS OF CHRONICLE: A great
amount of time and paper have been
used for years past, by several enter
prising citizens of our city, in giving
expression to the advantages and ia
cilities GAINESVILLE possesses over other
places to become manufacturing city,
as every important branch of industry
might be operated here successfully.
This is apparent, according to the
Statements and opinions Of several
capitalists and manufacturers who
have been here from time to time du
ring the past ten years and endeavored
to locate with us, but from some cause,
extremely detrimental to the interest
of our town and county, were not re-
ceived nor encouraged in the right
spirit by our people. Consequently
those persons have looked up other
locations where encouragement and
assistance have been given to them
freely, and to-day, factories that might
have been in full operation in our city,
are comforting on other less favorable
locations the benefits derived from
their prosperous business. What shall
be done to allay this evil that seems
to hang over our town und people !?
Every man in our city and county
seems to be impressed with the great
necessity of doing something to stop
the course things are taking, and it
occurs to me that, as people, we have
yet left a remedy untried to change
this evil, and as matters stand now the
only one at our command. IF we only
consider it In manner becoming
people possessing the intelligence that
we do of the known advantages deri-
we'd by other places from manufactur-
ing. And as it is we'll known to the
majority of our citizens that the capt.
talists of GAINESVILLE and surrounding
country, will not invest their surplus
means in any enterprise that would be
beneficial to our city and county, as it
must be conceded that what ben
fits the town, benefits the county, as
both are identified, and l now suggest
that the people of our city and county
take the matter in their hands and i'm
mediately cooperate in the establish.
ing of manufactures in GAINESVILLE,
which they can do with great profit
and advantage to both city and
county. By the appropr alton of five
hundred thousand dollars, to be APP
piled in the following manner. viz -
Whenever any capitalist or manufac.
turing company comes to our city and
agrees to invest fifty or one hundred
thousand dollars in GAINESVILLE, for
manufacturing purposes of any kind,
the city and county to take stock equal
to that amount. This will give en-
couragement, and establish unbound
ed confidence in the future success and
prosperity of the enterprise. Also
the same encouragement should be
given to manufactures now in opera
ton in our city, which are now doing
a profitable business, and by an in
crease of capital an increase of bust
ness will naturally follow. For in
stance, increase the capital of our
foundry and machine shop, 100000 !;
our pillow factory to $4,000; offer to
invest in blast furnace 100000; in
an agricultural factory, $4,000. and
in boot and shoe factory. $4,000
If this appropriation is made and
invested as above, we will have seven
new first class manufacturing estab-
lishments. Add to these, two planning
mills, and tannery already in full
operation, and we will have total
capital of over one million dollars in
vested in increasing the prosperity of
our town and county.
1t is necessary to explain that an
appropriation of this kind does not in.
volve our city and county in any real
debt, as it is plain enough, to any reas-
enable mind, that after these estab-
lishments are in operation, they will
be more than seif-sustaining, and as
soon as dividends are declared, the
city and county stock can be readily
disposed of at a profit to our capital
lists, who at present will not invest one
dollar in any enterprise here. Sup
/ posing all this work is now done, what
| would be the increase in value of the
lands of the county and city? At the
lowest reasonable calculation, the in
crease would be fifty per cent. over its
present value, and the increase of the
population of the county and city,
over one hundred per cent. Add to
this the wealth that naturally follows
immigration, and the profits arising
from this appropriation. will be more
| than double the amount in three years,
and our prosperity will fixed fact
Can we then afford to invest the credit
of the city and county in this manner
and elevate ourselves to a position
GAINESVILLE ought to have attained
twenty years ago, or stand still medi-
tating over the blind policy that we
we have been pursuing for years? No
one can deny that we have the healthi-
est climate in the country for manu-
featuring city, and as productive farm
ing lands to sustain us as can be found
in any country. And after we man.
fest disposition to advance ourselves
in this way, new life will be given to
all branches of industry, our CONNER
cial business will be greatly increased,
and located, as we are, on first class
navigablc river and railroad, and mid
way between two of the most import
amt cities of Kentucky and Tennessee.