The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-06-05
Manufacturing.

81 manufactures. So are we. o"'
<,,,.. z,al wants a little tempcr'ng, VIC mum
.,,. x,,,rc does for us all that we couid ASK
:, rnouc>,icnably true. But that man cou'''
,,,.c donc more, we very much doubt. Inc
,,.;,I circumstances have been adverse, ana
those have he'd 10 errors that have COST u
,,n.h ard have failed 10 effect what was
horned for in the line y! manufac'ur'hS'
We have been. save in Our small to""S'
excm>iycly AGRICULTURAL in pursuit, ana ths'
gave shape 10 our policy and our opinions.
Adac5 70 this fact. our industry was that OF
slaves. and free white labor found not en-
cou,accrea, and sympathy sufficient to give
strength. while it was averse 10 assoc"'
ion with tic community Of slaves or 10 Inc
connection with slave labor. In the absence
of an active, experienced free white iadus'
t,v manufacturing was an imposNo'!'ty.
aC,crthe war we still had the negro -'hc ne
GRO freed. bu, still the negro, and wh''e cd
ncatcd and experienced industry can Only
stick and establish itself firmly where the III
,erior negro industry is gradually beng sup
planted.
In Richmond, therefore, the educated me-
ch2nic las been slowly introduced. ihe
money and the men both have been want
ing: hnt we have needed The latter tar more
than the former. Just here our ne'ghoorS
make their mistake.
The experienced mechanic is needed
aicn who lacked information have, from
time 70 tine. gotten together, and have sub
srr,bcd money. raised large companies, gone
70 work on q large scale with president, di'
r,ctorS, &c-the principal officers WIN
large salares-apd gone TO work with I'lSh
hores. only 10 be- disappointed and plunged
INFO heavy losses. This has been nn'or'"-
nate, bu, the result was natural aud rttlscha-
be.
VIVA, we want arc small companies, man
.,,,d hv those who form them, beginning
on a small scale and expanding by degrees
Those interested should direct ard work.
This i the waT 10 success and prosperity.
Your large concerns. owned by many who
know nothing, ard managed by men who
hive no Interest in them and whose too
general plan Is 10 swindle the ignorant
owners hv leaks Of various kinds and frauds
those owners can never detect, are not the
establishments NC should embark in. They
only become c7ca, consumers Of money and
non-payers C Ciyid ndS. They ultimately
ia; and do a great deal Of injury to tie cause
OF manutac. urinS.
A great change must come over this city.
Il is steadily going on. Manufacturing is
growing and becoming more and more pro-
titable. Individual enterprise has started
nearly every successful mandatory III the
city. Large establishments have in some in
stances fallen into the bands Of skilled and
cn,erprisins men, who have pushed them to
success; but most of the large companies
conducted upon an cxtrayagaut scale have
gone the road 10 failure.
Nor is ii necessary to give public assist
ance to manufacturing. II the natural cir
cumstancts are favorable that aid is not
needed. II they are not that aid cannot
cause success. Manufacturing Is pursuit
readily undertaken where it may be favora-
bly, conducted, and requires no departure
from the regular economy OF government to
encourage or sustain it. All contributions
from public Golfers to aid in purchasing ma
chintrv, or conducting the process OF manu-
fa"ture. are at war with well regulated in
slnstrv and enterprise, and must result in
Gsa>.er and public injury.
Gentlemen need not be afraid. The time
of nourishing manufacturing enterprise IN
Richmond is coming, and that rapidly
enough 20 be safe and well conducted. We
must he patient, especially with our social
economy. which has it, bearing on the gen
eral enterprise, and which cannot be modl-
fed in day.
Especially Is it to be regretted that any
body should imagine that there is any in
compatibility between commerce and manu-
features. Let our citizens so on and man.
age al! the commerce they can command.
That will not delay manufacturing. 1hose
engaged in commerce are not fitted 10 20
NO manufacturing. They Iack the skill, and
they are not going to give their cap'lal 10 ell
crprses they know nothing ABOUT. lucy
should no.. But the manufacturer VIII
come-indced is coming-and he VIII III no
wise interfere with the merchant.
The fact is, the greatest Commercial! cities
ure the greatest manufacturing cities of the
world. New York is the greatest manulac-
turiug city in the Union. There is not the
slightest disagreement between the manufac'
iurer and the merchant. They flourish best
where they are immediate neighbors.
Therefore is it useless and idle thing to
say Richmond is Il place for manufacturing
not for commerce. She should have rs much
Of both as she has the capacity for, and that
can only he determined by actual results.
Let her go on her own way. That is best.
The idea that she is fit for one and not the
other is mere fancy of one or two small
towns, and it does not merit the considera-
ion OF intelligent persons.