The Morning herald., 1877-08-28
rME TIMES OUT OF JOINT.

"A l0OVSuOut ID OA INV W sA"aoPoAs SA'~
surplus population of the cities, to the
fertile lands of the West Have we sur
plus population in the cities? This is very
questionable, we have great numbers Of
idle, and unemployed people; but no more
than enough to carry on the industries Of
the various cities, at levels as to ensure
such prosperity, as will enable the various
cities to healthily sustain their educational,
charitable, and municipal institutions.
The weight Of taxation bears terribly
on every one because the production, or
capitalization of labor has shrunk 70 an
abnormal standard, Admit this to be true
and natural sequence is that municipal,
or State prosperity requires 3 greater nu'':
ber of persons employed than now work ---
and not production depleted, by quasi col.
pulsory emigration. . err'
Ii il were possible to elect men to Office
whose sole object would be the good of the
people, there would be but little trouble in
curing the present distress : but that is
hardly to be hoped for. There can be no
manner of doubt, that the ruin Of many q
freeholder whose property has gone under
the Sherif7s hammer, is a direct conse
ouence of the Statesmanship which per
mitted combined capital, to demand from
the debtor class payment in currency
more valuable, than that lent to the debt
or. The Resumption Act, was legal
threat of robDery-while the Electoral
Bill was weakened concession to fright
sned capital, and the advocates of both will
in time bs ashamed of their actions.
The paths Of improvement for the work
sss must be beaten, through the heart o;
the finance question, and not on Kansas
prairies. What would a few city men, and
women, Of the average kind do on west
ern farm-starve for certain, and staryc
away from the big hearted charities Of c-
ties. A little patience will de miracles, the
surplus population of cities will soon be a
theory Of the past-immigration has almost
ceased, what remais of it; if directed be-
yond cities. will very soon make Us desir,
Gus of halting it for our own purposes
Suppose, for moment, we had in VIII
mipgton, City Council made up of men
of broad ideas and bold policy; if such
there were in power, work for every one
would be had, and wealth would follow
How? We have at our doors unsurpassed
water power, conterminous with naviga-
tion; ,$15O,009-about as rUnch as was
wasted on the basin by politicians, would
dam 1.-THE Brandywine, erect .roushly, by
strongly hundreds Of yards of mills, Tia.
in those times of enforced economy, could
be rented ou. with power, to carpet weay-
ore, woollen,an cotton manufacturers, cut
lers, IN fact almost any business requiring
nower, at such rents as would induce man
ufscturers to swarm into our city.-attrac.ed
by its advantages The Riparian rights Of
the different mill owners, could readily be
adjusted, or incorporated into The munici,
Eal project. The profits from such an ell
terprise would give the City water free #
cost for all time to come, employ every
idle hand, increase our population in thre-
years to 10000. and add to iNe taxable
capital .of the city, in the same time,
81 900, 900. Is it not possible to send to
C,uneil, some one with brains enough tc
u,ilize this waste Of power, and render prac-
teal scheme to make Wilmington great
and prosperous city.
At our own doors lie wasted wealth, spf
fcient to call into active occupation every
idle hand in the State
Emigation to the country, is all fine OF
paper; but as practical question it i
bssh. If farmers sons can be kept Il
home, the waste places of the land viii
soon be smiling with fertility. What i
,Ae use of talking about sending Fiaqlers
Tailers, Shoemakers, SC, to till the land
when the sons of the yeomanry desert it
The creatures of corporations, and capital
isto, are in the high places, and they 0tap'
by ,beiv orde. and alscrlmina:e against il
hax. tksk " tlas N9'a t|''A