Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1858-09-29
THE Mechanical Interests.

n lille the general prosperity of any coun-
try is mainly promoted by the success of those
engaged in agricultural and commercial pur-
suits, the growth and prosperity of our in
land towns, depend almost entirely upon the
enterprise, industry and labor of mechanics
and manufacturers Where laboring men
are scarce or poorly employed in our villages
and towns, they either remain stationary or
soon decline. And is it not strange that
men Of capital and owners of town property
in our State, do not seem to be awake to
this?
We rejoice greatly at the evidences of
thrift and Improvement in the agriculture Of
of our State, and the growing prospect of an
increased commercial enterprise in our sea-
coast towns, but it is really lamentable to
witness the decline of the mechanic interests
from year to year in all our inland towns
Now and then, a little spur is given to this
branch of industry, here and there, but work
is really So scarce and the demand for me-
chanical enterprise so short-lived, chat there
is nothing to build a hope on, that this class
of producers will ever find in North Carolina
permanent assurances for success.
e Mechanics are wont to attribute this, eth
@ er to the parsimony of capitalists, or to the
IS strong proclivity in our people to encourage
re foreign labor. But an honest view of this
A. matter, viii convince 1every one, that there
is are other causes, which operate injuriously,
is than those, or at least, come in to induce par
st simony and lethargy among our capitalists.
nd One of the chief obstacles to the success of
a mechanical enterprise in the South, lies in
l. the constitution of Southern society. By
No. common consent the black race has become
,as the burden-bearers and laborers of the land.
70, To a great extent, labor is considered a dis
red grace, and hence the blacks have, from a sup
or posed necessity, been very improperly intro
the duced into every branch of mechanical indus
vas try. The effect has been to force out of the
pursuit many respectable and intelligent
zen, whites, and by consequence to place this IN
lch terest mainly in the hands of persons whC
ms, are incapable of becoming really good anC
bic accomplished mechanics. The anxiety fo
uch cheap labor has made us satisfied with very
The small labor, and the demand for cheap article
that made US content with very sorry ones.
par Another very great barrier to success
in the almost total humiliation of any well req
D all lated apprentice ship system. Boys undo
ided our present miserable policy, become, as the
You suppose, master workmen in two or thr'
we years, and at once enter into competition wi
from skilled me chanics, who served under the o
our regimen of seven years. Hence how seldo
nowadays do you find a real master-wor
man raised up in our own State. An intel
is to gent, 6rst-rate mechanic, never occupied
owed our State any other than a respectable po
last ton, but s~nob6ery in all branches of mecha
ings? cal occupation has become SO much the n
Sab instead of the exception, that no one need
i'm astonished at the low standard of southe
High; mechanics or mechanism
e was We believe q radical change is demand
j the alter and impA its psesahe or fittings as
o din mechanics themselves. Let our leading,
ok at telligent mechanics move in this matter. ]
have them form mechanics associations or clu1
liquor to effect this change, and we believe it can
morn! done.