The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-06-15
LOCAL MATTERS.

MECHANICS ISsrITuTE.-We ask the
special attention of Master Mechanics to the call for
a meeting at Metropolitan Hall, Saturday night
next The notice alluded to is written by practi.
cal mechanic and manufacturer, who feels the inn
portancc OF establishing Association for the men
tai culture of the working portion of our citizens
| and with the aid of number of other gentlemen,
ia determined to spare no efforts to carry out the
object Of the call.
1t cannot be necessary for US to urge upon our
master mechanics the Importance of establishing an
institution for the advancement of mechanical arts
and the general improvement of mechanism for
there s not single branch of trade in the city that
is not borne down by the competition of Northern
manufacturers. Take the boot and shoe business
the tailoring, hatters, cabinet manufacturers
| or that OF coach, buggy, harness and saddle bust
ness-indeed, every thing, from the manufacture OF
a horse shoe nail to a locomotive and Virginia is
mainly dependent on the North for her supplies
We are the greatest people ia the world for
solving paper, and the bare mention OF the de-
pcndence ofthc South, starts the public into high
| fever and produces any amount OF talk, but when
the gas has been let off and the well bored
| with windy defamation, our people quietly settle
down in their old tracks, and the dawn of another
day finds them the beaten track, podding along
| AS they have always been accustomed TO doing
WHY is this Ia it because the mechanics OF the
South have less capacity than those Of the North to
keep pace with the improvements OF the age, and
| them by Providence Certainly not. But simply
because they have become accustomed to being led
bv professional men, and because their leaders have
| not gone into their workshops and dragged them
to form associations for their mental Improvement
| Having 10 confidence in their own ability, they
have remained stationary while all The rest of the
world are moving on. II is time break into these
strongholds of old Fogyism,' to brush off the
| cobwebs that distigure the temple of mechanism
! and to start the working on the road to "pro
| gressiveness for themselves. Let the mechanics
| OF Richmond, then, wake up. Let them become
men, and resolving to act for themselves, attend the
meeting ext Saturday night. and take the initiate
| ~ steps for commencing that which they should
| have done years ago. 1t is in their power to be
| come great as manufacturers if they choose to do
| soto WELD important influence in society-and
to become the stay and support of their State and
| the South, for all time to come.
| Let us then establish firm basis Mechanics
| Institute embracing in it library of useful books,
| and cabinet OF natural and mechanical curioses.
Let Us arrange for public lectures and then get up
| a good night school for the education of apprent
ces All this can be readily done ii the mechanics
| themselves will move in the matter and il they
fail to do so they deserve to fill the posts OF menials,
| and be looked upon with scorn and contempt for
revealing in their ignorance rather than to become
| wise