The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1883-12-13
LET Us HAVE MANUFACTURERS.

lime and again The STATESMAN
has urged upon the people of Austin
the necessity of making this city a
manufacturing center. 1t can do this
with more urgency now than at any
time in Austin's past history, because
our people are better prepared to make
investments in manufactures than
ever before. To-day no one can pre-
sent as an objection, that there IS no
capital which can be used in such IN
dertaking. On the other hand there
is enough capital here. if properly di-
rected, to give our community d
prominence, in an industrial sense,
above any other city IN Texas. If the
money be here to create manu-
factories, nothing remains to
be considered except pro-
| priety of investment. Points
of propriety have been so often con-
sidered and presented it would appear
supertluous to name them over and
over, but what TIE STATESMAN
hopes for is the great maternal devel-
opment of this community, and, know
ing that nothing may conduce so
much to this as manufacture, it is
ready to repeat propositions indefi-
nitely, so long as there is the faintest
hope of any substantial benefit being
the product of such consideration. In
the first place, Austin is in the midst of
are gion in which great many natural
and artificial products are at COM
mand which give food to the greatest
manufacturing Industries of the
world. Here are produced cotton at
a less expense than in any other
Southern state. The natural soils Of
Texas are peculiarly adapted to it's
growth, and bale of cotton may be
raised here twenty-five per cent
cheaper than in Georgia or South Car
DINA, where the staple is largely
grown, and where it affords material
for operating many millions of dollars
worth of machinery. Cotton is
cheaper in Texas than it is in those
states, much cheaper than in New
England, and far cheaper than in
England and in Continental Europe,
and the goods produced from cotton
are sold higher here and to the west
ward of us than in the East or in
Europe. Texas cotton is transported
over railways and by ships to these
countries, and sent back to US again,
paying freight twice, to be sold in
goods at profit of from one hundred
to two hundred per cent. No one
then, can ooubt for one moment that
more is not to be made by manufac-
turing in Texas than in new and old
England and in Europe, than in even
Georgia and South Carolina. Here in
Texas is an immense field for the sale
of manufactured goods, and in Il 4.
co, now penetrated by railway sys-
TENS having trunk lines passing
through Texas, there is soon
to be established trade
in cotton goods Of the highest
proportions. But even here the de-
mand would not cease. Texas could
sell cotton goods in New Mexico and
in Arizona, and even in California,
cheaper than they could be obtained
anywhere else on the globe. AS to
wool, here it is produced at our very
doors. The production of wool is
growing industry that is destined to
become very great in this state, and it
is demonstrated that pound of fine
wool may be grown here as cheaply
as anywhere. 1t is certain it can be
produced in middle and Western Tex
as cheaper than in any part of the
United States east of the Mississippi
river. The same advantages in
the sale of manufactured wooden
goods might be mentioned as apply to
those made of cotton. These gentle
men who always hold back, and who
always want to throw cold Ws5er On
any proposition relating to the expan-
sion of industry, are now ready to say
these things are just as THE STATES
MAN presents them, but what about
the labor? Labor for the creation of
cotton and wooden goods is here in the
greatest abundance, and can be util-
lied just as soon as the mills could
offer employment. What blessing,
in fact, would it be if such labor
wer. already provided for people
who need employment and cannot
get it, because industries suited
to all conditions of society are
not in existence. There are to-day in
Austin thousand men. women and
children who would be eager to take
employment in cotton and wooden
mills. Of course they are not edu-
Gated, but few experts could soon
convert multitude of apprentices
into accomplished workers. There
was no educated labor a few years
ago in Georgia and South Carolina.
Now it is there in quantity. Money,
| material and labor, then, are here,
and the place is admirably adapted
to the location of manufacturing
| enterprises. Great lines of rail-
ways passing through the state,
| affording channels for trade, and here
may be located one of the very best
water powers in the entire South
Competent surveyors have demon
strated the feasibility of the Colorado
river being damned above Austin so
as to convey water in the city limits,
so raised above the bed of the river at
this point as to create endless power,
to which might be attached the driv-
ing wheels of numerous mills. This
can be done cheaper than the waters
of the Savannah river are made to
drive mills at Augusta, Ga; cheaper
than those of the Cattahoochie, at
Columbus, have been made to supply
power. and cheaper, in our opinion.
than any equal power may be OBJ
tanned in Texas. Then it cannot be
denied that here is the place for the
creation of industries. Not only may
cotton and wooden mills be success
fully built and operated at Austin,
but the valuable minerals and timbers
of the state could here be converted
with profit into tools, utensils, and
into machinery of all kinds. into