. The pictorial sketch-book of Pennsylvania, or, Its scenery, internal improvements, resources, and agriculture, populary described . ts. Some of these establishments are among theoldest in the United States, having been commenced in 1819, uponthe completion of the canal, and when the present site of the placewas overgrown with trees and wild bushes. At that time, Mana-yunk, with some other points lower down, was an excellent spot forshad-fishing;—but since the erection of the dams in the Schuylkill,this splendid fish has ceased its periodical visits to these waters, andthe business, once very
. The pictorial sketch-book of Pennsylvania, or, Its scenery, internal improvements, resources, and agriculture, populary described . ts. Some of these establishments are among theoldest in the United States, having been commenced in 1819, uponthe completion of the canal, and when the present site of the placewas overgrown with trees and wild bushes. At that time, Mana-yunk, with some other points lower down, was an excellent spot forshad-fishing;—but since the erection of the dams in the Schuylkill,this splendid fish has ceased its periodical visits to these waters, andthe business, once very considerable, is now entirely discontinued. The present population of Manayunk is probably about seventhousand—almost every person, of both sexes, being engaged in theindustrial interest of the place. It was our desire to have presenteda view of the interior of a cotton factory, and for that purpose, incompany with our artist, we waited on one of the principal factorsin that place. Without deigning to see us, he refused to give us admis-sion, and the refusal was couched in terms so sharp and contemptu- M A X A Y r N K . 43. MANAYUNK. ous, that it naturally suggested a few thoughts as to the moral andsocial tendencies of the factory system in our country. We neverbefore realized to the extent we did on this occasion, the haughtyand austere manner, the cold, biting dignity, which a commandingposition over two or three hundred poor operatives, is calculated toimpress on some individuals. While we are free to admit tho ad-vantages which those establishments are capable of conferring, it isnot to be disguised that, in the hands of some men, they may be con-verted into engines of great social oppression. The spirit of enter-prise which induces our citizens to make large investments in theindustrial pursuits, cannot be too highly admired and extolled ; butthe motives which subsequently turn some of them into uncouth andselfish nabobs, are altogether unworthy the character of a ge
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade, booksubjectminesandmineralresources
