The Newtown bee., 1879-10-29
VIEWPOINTS STAGNATION


New Ideas Advanced on the Manu-
featuring Resources of Newtown---
The Views Of the Long Heads and
Ready Writer'S Wanted on This
Subject.
EDITOR BEE II was very much graft
article from the pen of observer" head
ed "Newtowns Stagnation, which, in
several particulars, hits the mark, and is,
without doubt, timely article, provided
that the capitalist OF this town are inter
ested in seeing Newtown a manufacture
ing town.
There is no questioning the fast that
for manufacturing purposes Newtown
presents advantages that few other towns
in this>6tate possess, and the mystery is,
that the great water power is not utilized,
and home capital not used in manufact-
uring enterprises.
Newtown ranks as high as any other
town in the State, and in this county
it is not an unusual remark for persons in
other towns adjoining to make, that the
people Of Newtown are wealthy or we'll
to-do people. OF course it is not true
that ak of the citizens of the town are
well off; but it is true that there is more
money in town than can be profitable In
vested In fact every dollar of surplus
money that can be invested out of town
goes with a WILL The investors, because
of the high rate of premium, take the
risk Of either getting a big return or
nothing. Thousands of dollars have gone
out West to remain for ages, which Ii the
owners had in hand now they would per-
haps be induced tQstart some kind of en-
terprise at home. For ages past the
custom has been to do just as our ances-
tors did, and as consequence land,
houses and bonds are kept in a GER
tain channel, and to-day Newtown is
very little different TO what it was fifty
years ago, and, in some respects, not as
prosperous now as it was twenty-five
years ago. Unfortunately for the town,
enterprise is at a discount, owing, doubt
less, to the prevailing fashion OF prefer
ring to draw large interest on money
rather than engaging in active business.
Again a large share Of the monied men
of the town are farmers and stock raisers,
and it is difficult to turn their attention
| from these pursuits and engage in manu-
featuring that they are unwilling,
but that they are not acquainted with the
details, and the chances OF lOoSing by
such investments is lluch greater than
in stock raising and farming. Our farm
ers have canvassed the milk and cheese
producing business, and at one time it
was very interesting topic of discussion,
but it died out for the want of pluck
| leader to make start
We cannot believe that the capitalists of
Newtown are Indifferent to this matter of
building up the town, yet it must be APP
parent to every stranger seeking to locate
here that there is no opening. There are
ithoroughfares best situated for business
purposes, and as long as the owners of
land will shut out buyers, or if a man
buys is compelled to pay extortionate
prices, just so long will Newtown remain
stagnant. The day will come perhaps
when more liberal spirit will prevail.
Bridgeport and all other enterprising
towns and cities owe their prosperity to
the liberality of the residents, and the
encouragement given to strangers seek
ing location for business purposes.
1t is not creditable to any town to
crush out the introduction of any
enterprise. The town as town may
not do it, but individuals doing business
will prevent other merchants from locat-
ing. Why? for no other reason that they
are afraid OF having their business in
jured II this sort of thing prevailed in
Bridgeport, Danbury, Bethel and Nor
walk, what would have became of them
Newtown has far superior advantages
for manufacturing purposes than either
Bethel or Danbury, and on the compile
ton of the n. Y and n E. Railroad still
better facilities will be had.
The question is with the people wheth-
er Newtown shall remain as she is or be-
come one of the leading manufacturing
towns Of the county. There is an album
dance of room for homes, and all that is
required to bring the laboring class here
is to start manufacturing Of some kind in
addition to what we have now. There is
no other surer way Of building up the
"waste places than willingness on
the part of land owners to sell to those
who want to locate. Our capitalists ought
to make an effort to secure good artizans,
and, if need be, induce them to come by
building factories and employing these
men in making some article that com
mands a ready sale.
Our view is that a cheese factory can
not pay in the beginning very large per-
centage, but in the course of time it
would pay and be the surest investment
Every such mandatory would add to
the value of the land suited for building
purposes, and much of the unoccupied
and poorly-tilled land in and around the
villages of NewtoNn and Sandy Hook
would find purchasers.
We cannot without trespassing too
much upon the editors columns say much
more on this important subject; yet we
trust that the matter will be agitated, and
that some Of the long-heads and ready
writer's of the town will let themselves be
heard, and Newtown benefited thereby
Yours, etc.,