The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1875-04-11
A HONE ENTERPRISE.
Southern Industry Can Compete
With Northern Labor.
What Energy and Perseverance
Have Effected.

Have Effected.
The absence of manufactures has been the
bane of the South. Volumes have been written
in calculation of the proposition, yet there mas
been made but an Insignificant effort to remedy
the evil. People were content before the war to
say, tive are strictly an agricultural people"
and to purchase with the proceeds Of their agri-
npltural products the various necessities arising
GS|der tho head of manufactured articles, all Of
we're brought from the North. Since the
,e doctrine of "living within ourselves
Y anu en- widely preached, but there has been q
monotonous cry that capital necessary to the in
auguration of the various industries suggested
is wanting.
This is mistaken idea, and although reluctant
to make the acknowledgement, yet We are con-
strained to say that the prime necessity lies in
the want of proper spirit Of enterprise. There
is a slow awakening, however, to the importance
Of utilizing our resources, and ere the lapse ct
many years, when politics shall have ceased to
occupy so large portion Of the peoples atten-
ton and time, and there shall follow good govern
ment, and universal quiet, We may begin to
It has peen claimed that labor was high here
so ouch higher in fact than IN the manufactur-
ing cities and centers North, as to preclude the
possibility Of competing with them in any line
whatever. II this was the case heretofore, that
difficulty certainly does not exist at present.
Take our city, for instance, and note the number
of idle men alone, who are willing and anxious
to work for little more than will procure the bare
necessities of life. Note the number OF boys,
who, for the want of employment, are growing
AVID hat ofNOr
is not availa BILE, unskilled it may be, but it is
the requisite material, to be had for q song and
susceptible of being made equal to all require
ments.
To instance the practical working Of our propo,
sitiOn and to illustrate the fact that successful
enterprise here should DO commenced on small
scale: that it is altogether useless to think Of
stepping from comparatively nothing to grand
.splay, and at on evenly and successfully with
| the tide OF Time. we would call attention to the
manufacturing establishment Of Messrs. Horter.
Peterson Il Fenner: No. Magazine street. This
| firm il engaged in the wholesale saddlery and
harness business. 1t was established in 1872
and has been conducted successfully under differ
ent names until the present time. All articles
in their especial line were manufactured at their
establishment ON Decatur street. Philadelphia,
until about ten years ago, when they determined,
after mature deber tiOn, to transfer that part
ment to this city, believing not only that success
would attend the change, but that there was
economy in the move. How far this has been at
tanned and what impetus has been given to other
enterprises, even by this small beginning, We
propose to show.
The same alleged difficulties, the high price Of
labor. the scarcity OF skilled labor, which could
be procured alone 1t the North, and the advanced
price of material, confronted these gentlemen,
but it appears that they had examined closely
| into every detail and became convinced that the
drawbacks were decidedly more mythical than
real, or at least that they were not so grave as
alleged. They argued that their house here was
merely distributing agency for the mandatory
in Philadelphia and that the profits realized on
money expended in the make up, the freight,
insurance and other expenses, were distributed
| in Philadelphia.
The goods brought here amounted to $751; 600
| or $4,000 monthly, hence the money in
volved in the manufacture and transfer was con-
siderable, all Of which was appropriated to the
benefit Of remote community. This money,
they argued, might just as we'll be appropriated
here, when, after mature deliberation, it was as
certained that equal, not greater, profits could
be realized, and accordingly their mandatory
in the Quaker City was closed and trans eIred to
this place.
They did not deem it necessary to engage labor
at the North, for there was abundance to be
found here among the multitude OF youths and
boys who, after few months instruction, could.
| it was thought, be made to answer all require
ments. Inxuguratng their work with small
force, they have constantly made additions, until
1
to eighty hands, and 80 encouraging have been
the results of the enterprise that they cOntem-
pate doubling their force within few months.
Touching the question of labor here as COM
pared to that North it is found for such purposes
as applied in this instance really cheaper here,
for the reason that there does not exist any OF
those trade unions, which under guise of pro-
lection are really institutions having for their
object extortion Not only in this particular have
these enterprisrg gentlemen received merited
encouragement, but guaranteeing to supply
| al ticles in demand at rates that compete with
Northern prices, they have secured the custom
of all the large Wholesale establishments in this
and adjacent cities.
That they have given eminent satisfaction is
proven bv the increased demand made upon them.
The firm ls now prepared to farDlsh as line and
finished work as can be secured elsewhere, a
visit 10 their mandatory being quite sufficient
to convince one Of the fact.
The necessities or requirements Of one branch
OF business give encouragement to others, on
which it is more or les dependent, and thus
/ there is extended an incalculable amount OF
work. which, unle's taken into careful consider
ation is wholly lost sight of. Take for instance,
the msnufactory established by Messrs. Horter,
Peterson Il Fenner.
Quite an amount Of the hardware used by them
is prepared now in this city, and upon their ss-
| surance Of patronage two tanneries have beer
established. Ana thus it will be with every en-
terpree that may be successfully inaugurated
Their requirements will encourage others, and
although commenced on an unpretending scale,
they will attain magnitude in time.
All ladies need Smiths paper patterns. Go tC
Berry's, 1870 Canal street, and get them cheap.
The annual election for President, Vice Presi-
ldent and nine Directors OF the Life Association
of America, Louisiana department, will be he Id
at the Office of the company, on Monday, the
| 18th inst.
CHOICE Fruit. Those Of cur readers who