142 [Assembly 



tiou. Their goods had been long before the people, and their 

 reputation established. But the opposition of the foreign man- 

 ufactiuer was not all. The importers of pocket cutlery were 

 almost universally opposed to the production of these goods in 

 our own country. In fact, they had deemed it almost a tiling 

 impossible, tliat with the disadvantages attending this manufac- 

 ture, it sliould be established as a permanent branch of Ameri- 

 can interest. Their project was deemed most unwise, and its 

 prosecution discouraged by many engaged in the importation of 

 pocket cutlery. 



Notwithstanding these ill omens, the ordeal has been passed, 

 and dui'ing its progress, English goods have been reduced largely 

 in price, and through the true appreciation of the actual con- 

 sumers, the wares of this company have met with a ready and 

 constantly increasing sale. 



We hail this successful experiment in a branch surrounded 

 with so many difficulties, as new evidence of the inevitable ten-' 

 dency of our own manufactures. While they give us the power 

 of supplying the liome demand, they reduce the price of the 

 article to the consumer, and each successful branch of Ameri- 

 can interests established, gives us increased honor abroad and 

 greater independence at home. 



An important fact with reference to the manufactures of the 

 Waterville company is, that their goods are produced entirely in 

 their own shop. No portion of their knives is partially manu- 

 factured abroad, but they are entirely made from the materials 

 by this company. Their motto is " Excelsior,'^ and they are de- 

 termined to spare no effort in bringing the manufacture of pocket 

 cutlery to the highest standard of excellence possible, and to so 

 adapt their goods to the wants of our country, that all the inhab- 

 itants of our wide-spread republic may demand an American 

 knife, as indispensable for the use of an American citizen. 



The facts within our reach do not admit of a precise estimate 

 of the extent or amount of this business in our country, though 

 we believe that the capital invested will reach about $200,000, 

 and the amount of goods produced annually nearly the same 



