Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-06-20
ST. LOUIS As A MANUFACTURING
CITY

MI. n. ". lnOlpSOnJ WHO mas evil
IDENTIFY studied the elements of mechan-
zeal and manufacturing industry, fur
nishes a three column article to the
RUrdI World, going much into detail of
the branches of mineral, textile, leather,
wood, chemical, glassware, and many
other fabrics which invite capital and
skilled labor to that growing and en-
terprising city. In the matter of coal,
iron, copper, cotton, wool, cheap bread
stuffs and provisions, low rents and
mild climate, st. Louis has no ad-
vantage over Nashville. Mr.. Thomp-
son concludes his instructive essay in
these words:
Little over a hundred miles only,
upon our southern border, the most gi-
gantic poplar, oak, ash, walnut, cypress,
gum and hickory are growing upon
| thousands of acres. This is the natur-
al market for all the cotton grown in
Northern Arkansas, Indian Territory,
Northern Louisiana and Texas. The
millions OF pounds of wool grown in
New Mexico and the Southwest, is ours
| for manufacture. The hides from the
immense herds of cattle each year
slaughtered; the peltries of the trapper
and hunter, should not seek market fur
Their eastman our own. This is thenatural
stopping place, or halfway house across
! the continent.
st. Louis can be all we have written,
and have all the furnaces, mills, foun-
dries. manufactures and industries we
have named; but to secure them, the
hand of progress viii have to strangle
the old fogyism, that sits ike demon
of delay and desOlation in our most
public places of trust and responsible
".
Whether "old fogyism" obstructst the
wheels of progress in the capital of
Tennessee, it is not necessary that we
express an opinion, for the cases are
rare in which common or chronic
grumbling does any good. Persons
who feel and cherish the inspiration of
enterprise and improvement needno
additional stimulants to excite them
into action, while those that care not
whether Nashville rises or falls in the
future, will not mend their ways by
any public censure or reproaeh. Men
whose sands of life have nearly run out
cannot &c back to tie bright hopes and
expectations of youth if they would.
1t is for the young to come to the front,
take the inviting, productive elements
of nature by the f6reiock, and utilize
the grand force of growth, both in city
and country, in a thousand different
forms. The young mind, brain. muscle
and bone all grow, and naturally SYM
pathize with the visible developments
of active and successful industry.
Children are born constructive, like
ants and bees, if they construct only
cob-houses and mud mill-dams.
The schools of Nashville contain not
a little cultivated intellect, noble ambi-
ton, and genuine business energy. hap
PLY free from all old fogy feeling. En-
courage this home growth of the best
possible capital, labor, skill, and
healthy expansion. 1t has a soundness
of constitution and depth of vitality
which rarely if ever deceive. Our fruit
full State wants the best sort of men
and women, IN considerable numbers,
for industrial and business purposes,
and her true policy is to raise them on
Tennessee soil Thirty years ago there
were many thousands of able-bodied
men and women in ireland and En-
gland who were public paupers.
To support these was an onerous tax
on capital and tie labor which was so
fortunate as to find remunerating en-
ployment Nautilus, John and james
Mill and other writer's on political econ
omy, including the London Times, were
earnest in devising ways and means to
check the too rapid increase of the hu-
man family beyond any reasonable de-
mand for human industry, or the exls-
tence of food and raiment to supply
their pressing wants. 1t is wonderful
how much the condition of laboring
people on the British Islands has
changed in three decades. Such has
become the demand for the services Of
not only artisans and skilled operatives,
but miners and farm laborers that all
strike for higher wages, and when their
demands are granted, strike again and
again in few months or years, with
equal success. In our own country
mechanics who were glad to get two
dollars day twenty years ago struck
first for $3.50 wages, then for S., then
they demand 81; and in few cities
bricklayers have asked and received
S. day for ten hours labor or less. 1t
would fill a volume to do justice to this
interesting subject Of the increased
value of the human brain, bone and
muscle as a producing power in the
world. Twenty years ago one hundred