Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-01-18
THE INITIATIvEOF MANUFAC-
TURING.

It has been characteristic of those
who hold and control large capital, in
all communities, and in every age,
never to become pioneers in any enter
prise. Capital is always cautious in
proportion to its magnitude. And
though it is natural enough for us all
to complain, that those of our citizens
who are financially able to establish
manufactures in this city, and thus in
augurate new era of prosperity for
GAINESVILLE. sshaye hitherto hesitated to
do so, andsrather. discouraged such at
tempts, yet nothing is more natural.
For the initiative in manufacturing, in
all parts Of the world, has been the
work of men of small, rather than
large capital. After manufacturing in
GAINESVILLE has been practically de-
monstrated o.be profitable, and not
till then, We may expect the few of
our citizens, who control large sums
of money, to invest in such enterprises.
The effort must, therefore, be made
first by those who can spare from
their regular business small sums, say
from fifty to one thousand dollars. We
propose, then, that a fund be
raised, in this way, ard the larger the
better, which fund shall be used to en-
courage manufacturing in this city, ac-
cording to the most juiicious and ex-
pedient plan that can be devised. We
wish it to be understood thatwe stand
pledged to make donation, as large
as we can afford, to this fund as soon
as the preliminary steps can be taken
to secure the proper collection and
disposition of the money. We would
be willing to-day to give $200, without
expecting any other benefit, in return,
than that which must result to every
one, doing business here, from the es-
adjustment of manufactures. Let US
suppose that furnace for smelling
iron ore is built here and put into OPP
Grafton, and that, in order do so, one
hundred citizens give, upon an average
$500 each, without expectation of re-
ceiving dividends. The furnace, if
reasonably well managed, will be sue
cessful and prove a profitable enter
prise. 1t will not long stand alone,
but will soon be powerful argument
for the erection of others. With the
successful manufacture of iron will,
in a short time, be united other indus
tries. And by this means the volume
of our trade is increased. The mer-
chant makes larger and quicker sales
the mechanic gets better wages; the
professional man has larger practice;
and the farmer finds near his own door
a profitable market. And in this way
each receives ten fold more than he
gave to bring about all this prosperi-
ty.
Our proposition is to raise fund by
subscription, and, if necessary, to make
a present of that fund to some respon-
sible party, who must, of course, give
sufficient guaranty that it shall be used
for the establishment of such manu-
factory as shall be agreed upon, and
who will also be bound to invest GER
tain sum of money himselfin the same
enterprise. 1t will be necessary to
make this arrangement with some par
ty of sufficient experience and ability
in business to insure success. There
is really nothing unusual about this
plan. 1t is merely an organized effort
to improve and increase the business
of our city. 1t is simply united eff
fort. on the part Of one or two hundred
citizens, to do what each one separate
ly tries to do, every time that he
speaks good word for GAINESVILLE, or
attempts to induce any one to locate
his home or place of business in our
midst. 1t is doing by cooperation
what every good citizen feels bound to
do individually, as far as possible.