Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1880-04-16
L HI K SEN TINE |.
ROCKVILLE, MD.
Friday Morning .,..'"April 16, 1880.
WATER POWER OF THE GREAT
FALLS

ePlAitCd capitalists, vi WHICH CldlSS iiftIt are
many throughout Maryland and the Dis
trict of Columbia, have never turned their
attention to the water privileges of the Great
Falls of the Potomac? Why this great water
power has never BEEN utilized Men of large
experience and of extended observation have
pronounced the water power at this point
unsurpassed upon the Continent Niagara
has much greater volume of water, but it
does not possess sufficient advantages for its
utilization, whilst the water power at the
Great Falls is amply sufficient to drive mil
lions of spindles, and rows of manufacto-
ries could extend for several miles upon
either bank of the river.
The location is one which is most admit
rably adopted for variety of manufacto-
ries. Its central position, its proximity to
the District of Columbia and Alexandria,
the latter place having port into which
the largest vessels can ride, and the direct
avenues of transportation North and South
by water or rail, flor the Loudoun & Hamp-
shire road can be tapped at distance of
three miles, afford it almost unsurpassed ad-
vantages.
Merchant mills could be erected which
would be permanently remunerative, for the
granaries of the Valley of Virginia, extend
ing beyond the Blue Ridge, and those of
Western Maryland, together with the ad-
jacent counties of Maryland and Virginia,
instead of emptying their contents at Balti-
more or Georgetown would seek market
at this place.
Cotton mills could be established which
would yield a heavy revenue, and if upon
scale sufficiently large would divert a greater
part of the trade from the North. 1t would
be a splendid enterprise, handsome and
safe investment. When we come to reflect
that from the port of Norfolk, Va, thou
sands Of bales of cotton are shipped an
nually, that the distance between this point
and the Great Falls is but two hundred
miles, that the mode of transportation is en-
tirely by water, the cheapest mode of con
veyance, it is but reasonable to suppose
that large portion of this shipment of cot.
ton from this port would soon find its way
to the manufactures at the Great Falls, and
this is but one of the many places from
which this material is shipped.
When we come to learn that the value of
raw cotton used at the mills of Lowell is
about four hundred thousand dollars, the
value of the articles manufactured in all the
factories large and small, is about thirteen
millions of dollars per annum, the amount
of money paid out annually TO the opera
tives is one million and eight hundred thou
sand dollars, and that Lowell from little
meager village, situated on the banks Of the
Merrimac, has grown from population Of
some twenty-five or fifty to be city with
forty thousand inhabitants, with its vast
ranges Of magnificent granite and brick
factories stretching from river to river and
from street TO street, striking the stranger
with wonder, surprise and admiration, it
is not hard to surmise in this day of pro-
gress and ingenuity, what marvellous de-
velopment the erection of cotton mills alone
would produce at this point within the
space of few years. The cotton mills
which have been started in North Carolina,
South Carolina, Alabama and particularly
those of Georgia have proved to be de-
cided success and are yielding handsome
dividends. This enterprise has opened up
new era of prosperity, under the genial
climate Of these favored States, which in
vigorates the body, stimulates the intellect
and deyelopes the human system, at the
same time linking together in perpetual
amity and community of interests of widely
separated States
But this is not ALL One enterprise would
soon suggest the expediency, as well as the
harvest TO be gathered from others, and we
should soon have other factories lifting their
massive walls above the frowning rocks at
this favored spot The rapid growth of this
great and growing country, the immense
tide of foreign population which is daily
pouring in upon our borders seeking new
homes, new fields Of enterprise, better, safer
and quicker investments than the Old World
furnishes, is daily augmenting the demand
for the manufacture of raw material. With
this general demand would come other and
equally important manufactures. Shoe fac
tories and tan yards would soon he estab-
lished. Thousands of cattle are slaughtered
daily in Baltimore and the District of CO.
lumbia, the hides of which would naturally
seek the shortest and cheapest channel to
market. Paper mills would go up, and thus
afford a ready market for the number of
tons of straw which, if not wasted, is hardly
remunerative Machine shops, wagon and
carriage factories would soon assume con.
spicuous position in this grand whiriigg OF
animated trades
The magnetic glitter OF gold has attracted
to the gold fields Of our Pacific slope large
minded men from every section of the Union,
from England and France, from scotland
and Spain, whilst the Orient contributes the
!Asiatic race as hewers Of wood and draw
ers of water for their convenience, comfort
and prosperity. And, if we mistake not,
midst the universal rush of things, the day
is not far distant when foreign capitalists,
cosmopolitan IN tone, taste and habits, ex.
empi from local prejudice and angularties
of character, full of enterprise and proitse OF
hospitality, will seize hold and utilize the
splendid advantages which this great water
power Offers, and our own people slumber.
ing in indifference will only be aroused to a
realization of what they have lost when the
busy hum Of industry. the dashing of count.
less number Of spindlcs. the continuous
scream Of whistles and the roar of the
maddened water, the string and busting
crowd Of humanity will proclaim il tho
Lowell Of America.
by reason Of the reduction of govern.
mental expenses made by the recent Lcgis.
lAture. the State levy for this year will b.
about seventeen cent on the one hundred
dollars, instead Of eiglteca and hyoo ;fouriis
as heretofore, Taxpayers. aud those who