The morning times., 1897-01-03
WASHINGTON. D. c, JANUARY 5. 1887
washington and workingmen.


are at last waking up TO the fact that
Washington must rely upon something else
in the future besides the fact that il is
the capital OF the United States, and that
in addition TO this advantage its com
merce, manufactures and industries must
be taken hold Of and bc built up upon a
sound basis, Independent Of the transient
people. who look upon this city as win
ter watering place, and the office holding
class, who have no special interest in its
welfare, so long as the government pays
their salaries.
Washington must rely for its prosperity
IN the future upon the hone and sinew,
the Drawn and brain ofthe IahOring classes
to build it up on such a foundation that
It can stand alone and go ahead iEde
pendent Of the paternaliSIn of the general
government. Agood beginning has salready
been made. According to the last census
the capital invested in manufactures in
Washington is estimated at about S32,
600, 900; the annual value Of the product
being about $40, 100000 10 S45,CGO,C00.
Still greater strides can be- made by util-
izing its geographical location as a site
for manufactures, tie Great Falls water
power for electrical purposes and the CON
version OF all the territory available
south OF the Avenue as sites for manu-
factories Of wooden and cotton goods,
loot and shoe factories, furniture factories
and every other profitable industry. We
see little Western towns with flourishing
furniture and bicycle and tobacco manu-
factories, shipping their goods here Many
ofour supplies are made elsewhere, shipped
here and sold at profit
Under a systematic and liberal plan.
backed up 10y LAT or and capital, it is
possible in the, near future to see every
mechanic owning his own house, with
plenty Of work at good wages all the year
round, when a fun Inc Of factories, in
addition to those already here, of all sorts
IS once established. The seat Of govern
ment being here has had somewhat Of an
enervating and detilitating effect on the
enterprise and energy Of the laborng peo-
pie. They have, like every one else, fallen
too much into the habit Of relying upon
the government to maintain the volume
OF money in circulation in the way Of
salaries received and disbursed, instead OF
Upoa the more legitimate and satisfactory
source of local commerce, manufactures
and labor A large and wcll-to-do popula-
ton Of working people employed constantly
will do more for the prosperity and future
solid development OF Washington than all
the strangers and local society people
here during a brief society season would
do in a hundred years.
The rich people from elsewhere, who
have come here and built palatiaI homes
which they occupy at best only for a few
cry stable men, grocers, and wine mer-
chants But the laboring men proper, the
mechanics, getIiuIe or nothing Of the thou
sands spent in living aEd entertaining.
Here is a city OF nearly go, 900 popu-
lation, $1,000 of whom are negroes; a few
thousand are engaged in trade and busi-
ness and the professions; other thousands
are in government employ, but the great
bulk Of the population, constituting the
GLASS b.,--a r1a- a, l,a ,-,,;.
and remunerative employment winter and
summer it would have if Washington was a
larger manufacturing city. When the con-
dition Of the working men in other cities
Of the same population as Washington is
considered. it viii DE found they are often
better off in the matter Of paying and
continuous work. Now the laboring classes
OF Washington win compare favorably with
those OF any city OF the country in sobriety,
industry and skill. With an intelligent and
business like organizatAon OF industries,
even on small lines, in addition To- those
already in successful operation, Co be built
up and developed later On, rs circumstances
may permit, there is re reason why work
ingnen now idle by reason Of the lack Of
more workshops might not all find employ
PEELED to go and compete elsewhere with
local skilled labor.
zeal estate rings, resolutions, and de
pending on appropriations, have had their
day as controlling factors in the building
up OF Washington. Mere speculation will
not do it. Congress is doing its share: the
masses OF people must continue TO do theirs,
so that Washington can go ahead, ir Con
gress never apnropriaies another dollar,
by its wealth and power as n,anufactu-
ing center.
While the citizens are deprived Of the
right OF suffrage, they are not OF the
right OF organizing their capital and
labor in tie best interests Of Washington
md going to work to make themselves
and their future independent of Congres-
sionsl belp, as far as the establishment
OF other industries than those already
here, which viii give work Ia those :xhc
need it, is involved.
When The commerce. trade -anh manu-
factHres OF Washington shan have ii,.,n
patiently aud wisely luilr up rruin ti.,Ir