North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-01-18
For the North Carolina stardard.

Ma. HOLDEN: Please excuse me for attempting TO
call your attention at this particular ,ine when law
Makers Editors and Printers are so busily engaged
with more important business, to the condition of the
Mechanic and Mechanic arts at this time in North
Carolina The Resolutions recently laid before the
General Assembly. recommending tax upon all ar
tices manufactured in, brought from non-save-
holding State, will have in my humble opinion but
very little effect in establishing the independence of
the State, or in promoting, IN general way, the
higher branches Of Mechanism. The few enterpris-
ing men, who have dared TO establish themselves as
Mechanics, have never been able to rise above ilco
cent business and the reason is very obvious. If a
gentleman wants Carriage. 1t must come from
Newark, New Haven, or Troy His Harness, Sad
dies, &c.. must also be imported. Ii plough, il
must be of Wright's, or Smiths, or Browns make,
because the handles beautifully curved, and
ornamented throughout with ''red or blue paint. "
If Mill Steam Engine is wanting. 1t IS net ne
cessary to enquire whether it can be built In this Stale,
for 1t must of necessity come from the North, and SO
with every other article in use.
On the other hand, if Carriage, Plough, or Steam
Engine &C. wants repairing, and the work Is attempt
ed by Mechanic here, he is not prepared TO do It In
good style. The consequence is he is called b0tch
and threatened with the loss of every mans patronage
who has condescended to give him job to repair,
and must be tainted with, oh, if had know this
would have cost so much and l could not have had
II done sooner than this, would have sent il 10 the
North. ! could have had it done in New York, or
Boston, somewhere else in less time, and much
les face, and what is said of him elsewhere, pre-
sumo is not more encouraging.
1t is not to be expected that man can keep shop
full OF tools and first rate Mechanics, always ready
to do job with Deatness and dispatch ;" is it
possible for him to have very heavy stock of ma
teial on hand TO this kind of pin hook ="
business. The people of North Carolina will find
that 1t Is easy matter TO establish their independ
ence; and unless the Mechanic is elevated by the
personal protection and encouragement of the wealthy
and influential citizens of the State. to higher posi-
ton than he now occupies, they never will be- indie
pendent They cannot expect 10 build up here In
lew months, what has taken years 10 establish else
where; nor can they expect enterprIsng, Intelligent
ant skIfu Mechanics TO remain amongst them, when
such strenuous efforts being made crush every
important public enterprise that presents itself. Two
years have already been wasted in discussing the
Proprlety of building the North Carolina Rail Dad,
and fear that it is very little, if any its
mencement now than it was two years ago; and I'M
less do better than this in establishing the
arts and manu- features, we had better pay the North
little longer for the privilege of furnishing US what
we want. than to lay tax to prevent us purchasing
from them. Let every man in the State use his III
fuence build up Factories and W Workshops, and
sustain them; and exalt the standard by which SUI
perior Mechanical skill be correctly estimated
and rewarded. and you will see in few years that
the Resolutions referred Unnecessary aud in
stead of bringing manufactured articles nto we can
he able to send them out of the State; our Coal and
Iron mines will be opened the wealth, and power,
and independence of the State will be fully develop
et and readily appreciated:
PRACTICAL MECHANIC.