Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-04-18
Our Growing Manufactures.


Our Growing Manufactures.
The increase in the demand for articles
of American manufacture resulting from
the Centennial Exposition. already nota-
BILE, promises to swell to enormous proper
tions. Even Sheffield begins to fear for
the future of her trade in cutlery, now
that the excellence of the American pro
duct is becoming known, while Birming-
ham has seen immense orders for guns
and ammunit:on-the production of which
has long been one of her leading industries
awarded to our manufacturers. And they
have discovered to their dismay that our
facilities for the production of these goods
are actually superior to theirs. When
Spain during her late civil struggle want
ell 100, 900 rifles, to be delivered in one
hundred and fifty days, she found that
there was no hrm in Birmingham that
could fill it in less than year, and the
contract as stated by the Philadelphia
Transcript, was awarded to a company in
Pennsylvania. And this is not the only
American establishment capable OF turn
ing out one thousand rifles per day. The
orders now going forward from works in
Connecticut for the Turkish Government
are Of immense extent, aggregating sew
eral cargoes and several million dollars in
value. The manufacture Of railroad iron
for the American market has almost ceased
in the English iron districts, and the steel
rails produced by our own mills are pro-
nounced not only cheaper, but better than
the foreign rails; and it is stated that ex-
tensive railroad lines now being projected
In South America will be supplied not only
with rails but engines and cars, by our
manufacturers. A current item states that
an American firm is shipping lawn now
ers to England and Germany, and that the
orders are already large. We have al
ready referred to the CONSERVATION created
among the watchmakers of Switzerland
on acc cunt Of the perfection and extent
attained by that industry in this country.
Our watches are not only better, but are
afforded at rates which are ruinous to
those who adhere to the slow processes OF
manufacture current there.
A vessel has recently sailed for Italy,
laden wits samples of goods of almost ev-
cry description, with view of obtaining
orders in competition with European man
ufacturers; and several instances have
been reported of late where large manu-
featuring firms abroad are negotiating to
transfer their capital to America. Among
these Is a large Sheffield manufacturer of
edged tools, and it is stated that the pro
prietor of extensive plate-glass works at
Rothe Erde, in Belgium, has been looking
for location in this country as the only
means of retaining his American trade
Glass is one of the numerous staple COM
modlties that we have not yet produced in
sufficient quantity to supply our own
wants, but the display made at the Cen
tennal satisfied foreign exhibitors that we
only need capital to not only defy compe-
ttion, but to command foreign trade.
The manufacturers oftextile fabrics have
made quite extensive shipments abroad
during the year, with satisfactory results,
and this trade seems likely TO become of
great importance. Reference might be
made to other branches of American man
ulactures which are either finding mar.
ket abroad, or supplanting foreign pro-
duets, but these are sufficient to show the
wonderful progress that has been made in
various departments of industry, and to
strengthen the confidence that is again
taking root in business circles --Newarh
Courier.