| 9˘ MARYLAND HISTORICAL MAGAZINE
flourish lands rise, as they decay lands fall " and, therefore, it
was to a landholder's own interest to promote manufacturing."
When newspaper essayists described specifically what should
be attempted and what should not be manufactured, most usu-
ally advised that Maryland should manufacture from its own
natural resources and agricultural products, instead of export-
ing them in an unfinished state and buying back finished prod-
ucts at a higher price.15 Specific raw materials that Maryland-
ers could turn into manufactured articles (some right in their
own homes) were wine from Maryland grapes, linen from lo-
cal flax,," silk cloth from raw silk,17 and duck and cordage
from hemp."" It was thought, by some writers, that with spe-
cial care cotton could be grown in most parts of Maryland.-
Machinery for making cotton and wool cloth could then be
set up in Maryland without much expense - in comparison
with its great utility - using water for power instead of the
coal tile English wool and cotton manufacturers used .2o
" A Friend to Agriculture and Manufactures " wrote of
progress in utilizing Maryland's great iron resources and abun-
dant energy (water power and wood) to convert the raw ore
into pig and bar iron. But, he wrote, as of 1792 there was only
one factory in the state manufacturing machines or tools for
farming and shipbuilding. Most of the ore extracted was ex-
ported to New England for manufacture, and Marylanders had
to buy back castings, farm tools, and bolts at higher prices 21
" A Merchant of Maryland "cautioned the General Assem-
bly that " Manufactures of fine and highly polished goods
would at this time be a vain attempt; the great price of labour,
the scarcity of workmen, and the spirit of freedom which pre-
vails, defeat every endeavor to success." 22 Simple manufac-
1' Ibid.
16Ibid, A. Md. Gaz. Nov. 22. 1792, p. 2.
1811. Md. Gaz., Jan. 9, 1787 p. 3, " An Enthusiast in Trade."
1° A. Md. Gaz., Nov. 29, 1792, " A Friend to Agriculture and Manufactures."
Is Ibid., Nov. 22, 1792, p. 2.
2° Md. J., Apr. 21, 1794; A. Md. Gaz, Mar. 4, 1802, " Highly important to
American Faring and Planting "; ibid, Nov. 22, 1792, " A Friend to Agricul-
ture and Manufactures."
$° Ibid., Dec. 6, 1792, p. 2.
g' Ibid, Nov. 22, 1792, p. 2; B. Md. Gaz., Jan. 9, 1787, " An Enthusiast in
Trade," mentions abundance of iron ore.
••Ibid., Nov. 28, 1788, "A Merchant of Maryland."
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