The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-09-04
LOCAL MArTHlEs.

VIRGINIA MEcHArIcs' IEsT1TuTK.-This.
A.~ciaiion wsll hold regular meesins 90 nixht q
o I'd F.ilows' Hail. when Il II hoped and expected
,hat every Mechanic In the city viii be present, 10
give their aid and countenance to the efforts now
being made to build up an institution that has Tor
In object the good OF all the working mea ~ We'll
the interests Ct large Of the city ana Siate The
geographical position of Richmond, her vast water
power and the easy access to her from all quarters
Of the South, 60 to prove that she must eventually
become the Southern centre OF manufactures and
mechanism; and the time has arrived when her
people should combine together IN one common
brotherhood to push her forward in the road to
terprise Even now we have mechanics and man
ufacturers In our midst who will compare favora-
BILE with those of any other city 10 the Union and
also have abundance OF capital 10 carry on works
extensively but we need union and concert OF nc.
iion to ensure success These can only be secured
by supporting Institute that will bring the vari
ous trades together, and establishing q free and
friendly intercourse with master workmen and jour
neymen.
since the organization of the Institute. on the
of July, some few gentlemen have devoted their
leisure moments to securing members, and they
have succeeded beyond their expectations; but
there are vet hundreds of mechanics who have
stood aloof from the good work, some declaring
that the enterprise was bound to be failure, and
o,hers-particularly journeymen-that they could
not be benefited by its success.
To those who predict failure, we beg to say that
they were never more mistaken in their lives. The
men who have gone In to this work, have done 80
with their eyes open, and with determination not
to fail They know the difficulties they are to en-.
counter, and are prepared to meet aud overcome
them. SO that gentlemen who are holding off to
the result OF the may set aside their
fears and enroll their names as members.
To the journeymen who wish to know the advan-
tages they are to derive, we have q few words to
say. First then, you are to have the advantages of
a good hbr airy and good reading ROOM supplied
with useful books, and the best newspapers In the
| country, where you can spend your idle hours in
improving your mind and gaining general Informs
tion Next. you are to have the advantages of a
School Of Design. And last. though not least, you
will have the privilege of attending useful and sci
ent6c lectures during the winter months. II these
are not Interests worth possessing, We confess we
do not know what can influence journeymen me-
chanics to become members of any association that
human wisdom can conceive.
Bat the classes we have enumerated are not tn
only persons interested in the of the Insti-
tute. Every merchant, hotel keeper and profess
sional man, well agricuitursts and traders,
have direct interest in the prosperity of the me-
chani"s, for upon them they must rely in great
measure to purchase their goods to give them prac
tice, and to furnish them improved implements for
tiing the soil and carrying their trades. In ad.
dion to these things they all have the benefits of
the reading room, library, public lectures and fairs
which will trebly compensate for the small outlay
they are annually required to make to become
members. Let every man, them hand in his name
at once and let the people of Richmond immediate.
~ declare that the permanent establishment of the
Institute is fixed fact