Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1890-02-13

Several times within the past two or
| three months there have been attempts
made to secure manufacturing establish
ments ct Clayton, but for various rea-
sons none have located here up to the
present time. Clayton Call
Manufacturing establishments which
are not located because OF some local condi-
tion or material, which is likely to make
them profitable, are not profitable
to their owners, or beneficial to the COM
munity.
There has been popular fallacy con-
corning the advantages of manufacturing
establishments which recent and univer-
sal failure has done much to dissipate.
badly located factory cannot be an
advantage TO city A factory which
has been located for no more tangible
reason than that 1t Is expected to bring
wealth TO the community will fail There
must be some local popularity, some raw
material or cheap motive power to invite
profitable factory
An Improbable factory is a curse to
the country. II must be loss to the
stockholders, or their lossesmust be made
good by a tax imposed by the general
government on all the rest Of the people
Foolish people and those, who live as
pensioners on the public, have attempted
to believe themselves, and to persuade
others to believe, that such enterprises
are beneficial But no scholar, no intelli
gent and honest man, who examines the
question, can maintain that factory
which is Improbable to its stockholders
is beneficial TO the community. It's losses
must be met by somebody.
Because Of this popular fallacy--this
commercial fad--that manufacturing es-
Establishments are under any and all con-
ditions, wealth-increasing the real
wealth Of the country, agriculture, has
been neglected
The basis and the bulk Of the wealth
Of this country must come'from agricul-
ture, 10 assist agriculture the methods
adopted OF creating an alleged ''home
market. Of bringing consumers to them,
were always foolish and costly expert.
ments. They are proving absolute and
unqualified failures.
The proper assistance is that which
enables a farmer to send his home pro
duce to the consumer. The farmer needs
good roads; cheap implements; low
freight rates; navigable rivers. The
farmer needs, he should demand, internal
improvements. A Macadam road to the
railway station is more valuable to the
farmer than factory
Hence. unless. there are natural advan.
tages, abundant raw material. or some
peculiar necessity for manufacturing
establishment, the location Of it la town
for no reason whatever, is unwise, hurt.
full and an assured failure.
Factories are only advantages when
they are profitable There are many con
ditions necessary to make them profitable
II those conditions have to be acquired,
bought or brought from distance, the
enterprise is doomed to failure.
This theory is confirmed by the failure
Of the home market" and by the hegira
among the cotton and iron industries
from the North TO the South.
Give the farmers chance now. The
manufactures have run their "fad" into
the ground and the event has proved that
taxation does not produce wealth; that
the tariff does not increase wages; that
it Is impossible to corral a profitable
''hoine market" that, waste does not
make wealth; that any advantages given
TO our manufacturers must be paid for
by the people that, robbing Peter to pay
Paul is merely costly transfer Of
wealth from the pocket Of the man who
has. TO that Of the man who wants.
Manufacturing establishments are all
very well if the conditions demand them,
otherwise they are burdens.
The farmer is an absolute necessity.
He adds to the wealth Of the country.