The Daily Nashville true Whig. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1851-1855, 1855-08-16
Mechanics, Fair and Exhibition.


will bear ia mind that the first Annual Stat
Fair of the Mechanics Institute of the Stat
of Tennessee, opens ut Odd Fellows Hal i
this city on the first day of October. The me
chanical interest of Tennessee has never befor
had an opportunity of displaying itself. Yer.
little is known in one city, town or county il
the State as to what is doing in the city, tow
or county adjoining in the way of adVancln!
and promoting this important department o
industry. The manufacturer of cotton cloth
in Middle Tennessee scarcely knows who hi
competitors are in the West, or whether o
not lac has any. The founder and manulac
turer of castings in Nashville is ignorant o
the condition of his own trade in Knoxville
and scarcely knows if lie has q competitor
there One of the great ends to be attained
by this Fair add Exhibition is to bring these
mechanics and manu- acturers together, that
they may compare notes, and receive mutual
benefit, and return to their homes imbued with
new stimulus to improve their respective
trades. and advance the standard of mechani-
cnl kill in tennessee. i not such an object
worthy of the attention of all And yer some
old fogy may shrug his shoulders, and say,
'Ohl it don't pay!" BUTT does pay, though.
The mechanic who can turn off an article
worthy TO compete with that of his neigl. Dor,
must necessarily be benefited by placing that
article alongside his neighbor's, eliciting criti-
cism, and thus bringing himself and his bust
ness to the notice of thousand or two OF
people. And ii worthy, he will get handsome
dploma. which will be of service to him in
recommending his wares during the remainder
of his life. In this view of the question there
Is no lack of inducement to secure an interest
In the exhibition. But we believe the mechan-
les and manufacturers of Tennessee, as a gen.
eral thing, will be Influenced first by higher
motive-by a desire to place themselves in
more honorable and creditable position, with
respect to their competitors in other States,
than they now occupy.
Very much has been said publicly and pri-
yately of the unfortunate fact that our natural
advantages have been turned to disadvantage
by a want of enterprise and emulation among
our citizens-our material is imported by the
thrifty mechanic of another State, and the
products of his skill sent back upon our hands,
and used by rs, at a much greater cost than
they could have been purchased had the ma
teral been near the workman's door. But
how is this evil to be remedied Most Ger
tainly by mutual coming together, and com
pairing of IDEAS and experiences, by adopting
the most approved plans and discarding the
old foggyisms which are weighing us down
from year to year. No proposition can be
clearer than this.
There is no reason why this first Fair and
Exhibition should not iIaugurate u new era in !
the history of mechanics in Tennessee. Let
those most interested come forward and par
ticipate in it; and the experience Of similar
enterprises in other States is a sufficient guar
sntee that when the second fair is announced /.
there will be no need Of appeals TO bring the
people 10 an appreciation of its advantages.
It is gratifying TO know that the prospects
Of liberal aud rich display Of the various
mechanical interests of the State at this Exhi- /
bition are daily Frightening. Letters are CON
stantly being received from all parts of this
State and from adjoining States, making en-
quiries for particulars ia regard to the time
and manner of holding the Fair. The Exhi
csfon vii! be open TO competitors for diplo'
mas or exhibitors merely from other States,
who will stand upon the same footing Of Ten
Circulars containing full particu-
lars can be obtained by addressing the Presi-
dent of the Institute, NJ. NJ. MoNouoN, Esq,
or II. X. WALKER Corresponding Secretary.