Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-11-16
rEEMEcHAN1cs INSTITUTE.

the position Of the mechanic was one OF odllT
and inferiority, and that honest labor was not
entitled to respect in the South. If such was
ever the case, ii is not so to-day in Virginia. -
Our mechanics enjoy reputation and respect
ability inferior TO none. For enterprise and eX
crtion they are provcrbia and the spirit mani
tested in their pursuits is daily gaining favor
wherever progress and improvement make
their way. In Richmond the Mechanics In
stitutc has been established permanently al
their new and comnodious hall, which in style
and execution is worthy of any cause or
place in any city. The hall is erected on 9th
street, opposite the lower corner of the capto
square, and is, therefore, in the most convent
ent and attractive locality the city affords.
The building contains two large and spacious
rooms besides the Offices The lower floor oi
basement is fitted up peculiarly for the display
of machinery and heavy manufactured articles
while the upper floor or hall is elegantly
finished and designed for the exhibition o
art, skill and display, and other purposes o.
the Institution The present fair Of the lnSti
tutc. is the fifth held by Our mechanics Their
former exhibition being held in their old hall
over the Market OH Main Street. The last was
the most attractive, and has proved successful
beyond expectation. The interest, displayed
bv the numerous visitors which have constantly
! filled the rooms of the Institute sometimes
t.I
ONLY gratifying to the exhibitors and our
citizens generally, but will also relnuncrate the
association for its lbcrality and enterprise.
1t is truly a noble institution, and one de-
serving of encouragement, since it fosters the
industrial pursuits, so essential to all growing
and thriving communities, and encourages the
arts and sciences generally. 1t brings out de-
signs and Inventions and developes the inge-
nuity of our people and secures TO ourselves a
share Of the profits and benefits that may
arise, not only from the invention and ingc-
nuity of ourselves hut the experience and
practicabilty of the world is before us, through
such displays, as are annually made at our
fairs. Richmond is essentially Il manufac-
turing city. Nature has cmincnty designed
the location as such, upon our inexhaustible
fields of COAL and beneath the power of all
ample river-with our mountains abounding
in valuable minerals and our transporting ave-
nues open to all parts Of the world Our me-
chanicS are consequently, destined TO exert
vast influence in the future, not only of Rich
rnond, but the entire State. They are as im-
portant to the prosperity Of Virginia as our
farmers and planters. 1t is not the labor alone,
or the price that VIC receive for the productions
! of our mechanics, which enricheS communities,
but the rapidity with which they multiply
their strength, or their ability to produce.
For instance, an ingenious mechanic iabri-
Gates, from the metals that surround us, with
few days labor one of those wonderful
se,riag maehines, which does the work Of twcn-
ty hands, and cost less than onc-tenth the
price of skiful colored seamstress-and
the cost of keeping is nothing Another
produces stcam-cngineS and water wheels
which takes the place of human labor
Others manufacture reapcrs and mowers
shingle-machnes, eotton-mills, gins and spin
ning-machincs, &C., &c. The labor that pro-
duccs them is multiplied over and over again,
until hundreds are able to exert the producing
power Of thousands Thus it is, the laboring
classes of England are paid better wages than
those of nearly every other portion of the
globe; and yet she is able to open her ports,
and enter into free competition with the world
1t is a fallacy, however, which attributes this
ability TO the number or cheapncss Of her Ia
borcrs. Her mechanical skill and her scientific
means, which, in connection with her capital
her experience, her coalfclds, and her iron
manufactures, have increased the productive
power of her laborers ten JoM.
We hope the present display Of mechanical
ingenuity will have an influential tendency
towards opening out new fields Of cxcrtion
and enterprise, and encourage our mechanics
in their efforts to promote so praise-worthy a
cause as that which they are engaged in. The
facility afforded them to collect information
from all sources relative to the mechanical, ar
tistical and scientific pursuits will also enable
them to disseminate the same, and infuse life
and vigor into the industrial resources Of the
State. The determined cxcrtions of few,
may promote emulation and activity among
the many. There arc numerous openings for
enterprise throughout the State, which not
only hold out the inducements Of profit, but Of
honor and usefulness Perhaps there is no
State in the Union that now holds out so many
inviting inducements to capital and experience
MS this.