National Republican., 1877-07-10
COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.

That a city 80 favorably located for COM
merce and manufactures rs Washington
should be without either is n constant source
of surprise to strangers and travellers. With
o tide-water river like the Potomac there
is no reason why this city should not have
a respectable foreign commerce. II would
not require any eXtravagant expenditure of
money to render the harbor of Washington
equal to the requirements of q commerce of
many millions annually.
1t is high time that this subject should
attract the attention of our citizens for
nothing but enterprise and the agitation of
the subject is necessary in order to initiate
the measures necessary for building up
flourishing commerce here. Congress would
no doubt readily make the necessary appro-
priations for the improvement Of our har-
b0r The importations which would he re-
ouired to supply this city alone with its
increasing population would give fair and
constantly enlarging market for importers
to begin with. But the trade of cities is
almost entirely built up and maintained by
the energy and tact Of commercial travellers
and by the skilliul use of this instrument
tality Washington would be able to COM
pete with the jObbers of any other Atlantic
city. In this connection we should not lose
sight of the fact that this city is the nearest
seaboard market which Western Virginia
and Southern Ohio can reach, since the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad now comes
directly to this point.
That we would be able to compete with
Baltimore and other cities may he shown by
reference to what Chicago is able to accom-
plish by means of enterprise. Like Cincin-
natl and st. Louis, she receives nearly all
her foreign merchandise by rail, yet she not
only successfully completes with the Atlantic
cities for the trade OF the Ohio valley, but
she sells vast quantities of goods in Ohio,
Indiana and Southern Illinois, in territory
that legitimately belongs to Cincinnati and
st. Louis. These facts show that there is no
necessity for the inactivity of Washington
upon the ground that we could not compete
| with other cities. 1t is simply matter of
pluck and enterprise.
The same observations apply to manufnc-
lures To say nothing of the superb water
power of the falls of the Potomac, which
ought to he utilized for this purpose, there
are many kinds of manufacturing which
might he profitably carried on within the
city of Washington. One essential element
Of manufacturing prosperity we possess
abmdantly Our railroads and the river
pour into our markets cheap food. 1t would
not be difficult to mention many branches
fully iOstercd here
We will only on this occasion specify one
business which might very readily he built
up here, viz: that OF printing books. 1t is
well known that an immense sum is annu-
ally expended in the United States for re,
prints of standard English authors and
other foreign hooks, besides the current
T American publications which arc protected
by the copyright laws These books could
} be manufactured just ~ Chraply at Wash
ingtOn as elsewhere. II would be II very
appropriate thing to make Washington
such special book market for America n
Leipsic is lor Germany and all Europe.
Another important consideration in con
nectiOn with this subject is that sooner %
later II great national university will he cS
tablishcd here. The book publishing buSi
ness ought to be iostcIed here, 50 that whcI
that event happens the great bulk Of thu
. book publishing in America would bc NJ
tractcd hithcr and the imprint Washington
become rs common on our books rs that o
London is on English books now.
l In conclusion We submit u practical suV
{ gcstion; Has not The day come when on
city ought to.producc all the school book
t used here? We have enlightened educator
! who are capable Of preparing books OF sucl
.. merit ns would not only make them worth,
=. ui adoption here, but it is likely that
. series OF books, indorscd by educators il
G the National Capital would he cXteusivci'
used in all parts OF ue country We hay,