Mary Jane Dowd, msa_sc5330_23_8, Image No: 3   Enlarge and print image (54K)          << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
clear space clear space clear space white space


 

Mary Jane Dowd, msa_sc5330_23_8, Image No: 3   Enlarge and print image (54K)          << PREVIOUS  NEXT >>
THE STATE IN THE MARYLAND ECONOMY, 1776-1807 91 the subject of what could be done to encourage progress and growth in agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce; wisely, little appeal was made on the basis of sectional interests. Rath- er they tried to show the benefits of such encouragements as they proposed to the whole state and even the ultimate bene- fit to the Union. Since agriculture and shipping were well established in Maryland, publicists considered programs for their aid and encouragement less often in newspapers. Much of their effort in this direction was to try to convince Mary- land farmers to lessen their dependence on tobacco and grains as money crops by planting crops not previously grown in the state and to advocate the growth of agricultural products which could serve as raw materials for Maryland manfacturing. Of much more prominence in the newspapers of this pe- riod than aid to agricultural or commerce was the topic of encouragement to manufacturing in the United States and especially in Maryland. John Hayes, the editor of the Balti- more Maryland Gazette, who by the number of articles and editorials he wrote on the subject -proclaimed himself a true friend of manufacturing, saw that ". . . our real independence must consist in the exertions of ingenuity and labour in the establishment of American manufactures." 2 Encouraging the growth of new products and establishing new industries, it was thought, would add wealth to the state and bring skilled immigrants into the state, thus increasing its population and, therefore, its strength.3 The Chesapeake Bay accorded Mary= zette; or the Baltimore Advertiser (1788-1792) , Maryland Journal and Baltimore Advertiser (1792-1794), Federal Intelligencer and Baltimore Daily Gazette (1795). There were few editorials in newspapers at this time, but this deficiency is some- what alleviated by the numerous essays on popular questions by the papers' readers. Newspapers from other sections of the state were unavailable for vari- ous reasons. There were several Easton papers but none established until late in the period under consideration, and only scattered issues are now in existence. Frederick had quite a few newspapers, several in German, and the rest with only scattered issues known. Cumberland had no newspapers until 1808. However Baltimore, where interest in commerce and manufacturing was most intense, had many newspapers although some were short-lived. 'Maryland Gazette; or the Baltimore General Advertiser, Apr. 17, 1787, p. 3. (editorial) . Hereafter cited as B. Md. Gaz. e lbid, Sept. 26, 1786, " Citizen of Maryland"; John Frederick Amelung, Re- marks on Manufactures, Principally on the Near Established Glass House near Frederick-town in the State of Maryland (n. p., 1787) p. 7; Maryland Gazette, (Annapolis), Nov. 20, 1794, " By-Slander," pp. 2-3. Hereafter cited as A. Md. Gaz.