New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-11-03
AMERICAN INSTITUTE.

Tburdsy TIE President In the chair. After the u'uai
r utine business. Mr.. Thomas McElrath, Correspond
irg Secretary of the Institute presented report upon
the best means for eolargnR ts usefulness IL having
b, pretty well VI derstood that Mr.. McElratn wo9d
propose some radical changes the POLICY OF the ln-
sttute the members present manifested an interest
ind uneasinees, as he unfolded his manuscript Whcn
were very noticeable
The Report commences by calling the attention OF
the men bers 10 the original aim and purpose OF the
American Ipstiuie This wss no lees than to AID in
securing the adoption By Cove Dment Of rigid Pro-
tectve Tariff On the lt9h Of February, 1873, at Tam.
many Hall iD this City, held the irst meeting OF
toe American Institute, Of which there IL any om;ai
rec rd This meeting was called by number OF public
spited gentlemen who had Get together several nes
pre,i uly and discussed the subject OF toe formation
of a National Association vito view TO giving aid
ard support 10 he advocates of Protection to American
Labor A Constitution aud name were adopted, ana
the object of the Association declared to be, to pro-
mote improvements in the Mechanic Arts, TO encourage
American Industry in Agriculture, Manufactures sna
Com nercs spd to sustain soch system OF Poucy Us
wal, protect the grea. national interests OF the oouoTy
On The ii of March following la sn ADDRESS
to the Putlic" the means for accomplishing
ii. &C. laudabe ends were set forth by tne
sneoi.I Committee appointed for the purpose,
aid declared to be mainly the passage OF
Protective Tariff and " the diffusion OF more 'nor-
ouQh and intimate knowledge OF our nstions resources
agricultural oom nercal, and manufacturing
u mttee was appointed to select sutl articles IS aAa
re eIyed the least protection from the Tariff OF duties
and TO ascertain their present ae compared win ot
per prices in order TO shoT that hsh outes on 'us
foreian rival articles had unitormly reduced prices
A committee of three persons iron each WARD Vas
oso snooned to extend the subscription lsts OF such
newspapers In the city advocated the American Sys-
Tbus seeus that FMS ue proposed to render ltself
simply the ears of collecting aud disseminating sAns
tjca ard other information and OF tous creating pop
lar sentiment 10 favor OF Protective tariff va Tue
h of June 1923, however, the late Jossps Binnt
from the Executive ConUittee reported Ia isvof Oh
public fair, and it was subsequently, h.Id az MTlas
Hall j. b, oaGway and remained open TO the paDuc
thee DAYS without charge The Institute DOW oegsa
to attract much tentiOn, and gaia influence IL had
thus far been voluntary association, without
deiolte system, aud with no revenue or lncome'
In Nav 1899, chsrer Of Incorporation was pro-
cureo from the Legislature, In which its powers wero
specif. and defbed, q, che encouraging anu pro-
moiipg domestic iDdsstry in the state OF SeW-iofS
and the United States in Agriculture, Commerce,
Manufactures and the ARTS, AMI any improvements
made therein by bes,owiag rewards end otner 0enens
on those sho shall make any such improvements or
excel in any Of the said branches aud by such otnsr
way ard eat as To the eala cofpofaoh sna' sPPoa
to be u ost ex pedient
The system Of Annual Fairs was accordingly inang'
urs'ed 18th the most gratifying success, ano gave
wonderful stu illus to American lnysnnoD Bo! Ater
Will IL began TO be seen that the FAIRS alone were
not a that the public required for uoleSs some great
and permar eLt influence could be gained 6y the ins-
int by their pres ge the Fairs would dwindls Toto
mere latch penny shows Accordingly the destitute,
in doe tin e. established library, and opened reposi-
tory for the exhibition of models. Public couhdence
in the objects of he Institute thus secured and tae
contribution of important nov elites TO tue next suGceeo
ing Fair three times ereaer than 10 us predeces
sor IL ia deeply to be grttted, cont nued mr NC
Elrsih that the Repository should have been suffered
10 fall into NJ ect and the valuable modssand curious
machines 10 be scattered lost, or given away, Ine
Formers Club was then projected and established ana
! ha- been continued TO the present day. and more re-
| Gently Club Of mechanics aud manufacturers mas
bean founded uJder the title of the Mechanics Club or
| PolJtechoic Association.
Mr. McEIrath argued that the founders Of tbs Anerl-
can Institute designed il to be progressive In its chsra
ter shaping policy in each succeeding period TO me It
the public wants and he urged that radical chang,
| should be net.nly made III its management 70 meet
the prese ut eXigeDcies IL the Instdte contented ite
| with an Idle exatye sort of existence IL would he
perfectly useless the public and be classed with
the fossils Of the past Heretofore the annual farI
have been the sole Of revenue, bat " Is 30 me
wears since an exhibition has not been actual loss in
money and labor. Some other means must be devised
| to eustsin the Insti u'e one which will rot only
pay certain profit issl bat act refectivsly upon the
Fairs and make them rs profitable as thsy were Ia
former wears TIE medals and other awards of the
Ipstitute are not valued for their pecauay WORTH bat
the moral power they carry and ths Pc ~er eepends
entirely upon the character aud reputation wnlcn toe
Institute shall Once these awards were highly
valued and of real importance, but Of late thsy nave
oet n uch of This Mr MNE rath believed that all of
the ancient prestige of the Institute could be regsnsd
and sr than this for be felt assured that could
be made thu most Influential scientific body IN America
This " Guild be brought about:
J. BY providing for itsef permanent aud central
location. Thus alone could Repository be opened,
and The Institute protected the evils OF toe Vagraat
mod of life ~iich Il had followed for the past quarter
crnury. In regard to tue proper site for location,
m at be remembered that while the vicinity OF Forueth
street will undoubtedly in tue be the center Of the
resident population, the real patrons OF the Institute
| wi always DO fouId bs.ow Grand street. The me-
L a.. n.nA Efun lie NJ ~
ark Pat srson sid jersey City AID tho strangers VS.
it'll town are the main stay OF mechanic Al scientific
exhibition such the American Institute. IL is highly
nsspe"ient TO locate far from Broadway-for that B,
and av avs will be- the great central artery OF the CITY,
By excluding from tie Fairs articles which occupy
space bus do not possess much value. and oy careful
economy of m, it possible that sp zee eq iyalens
to six or eight lots of ground may be found saf,sat
for BUSH ess purp tor the Ordinary Annual Fairs
| the Library, X postory, and Clue rooms
H. A location secured, aud proper ACCOMMODATIONS
provided, the Repository or Museum o, Arts and Ia
ventions shoulo be Immediately rel taohsoed in which
might be placed not only Inventions bat works OF
art and of natural history az they may rom time
70 time BE- collected. Besides there could be given to
criticize not the property Of the Institute space for ex-
bbition for certain monthly charge, which, OF course
would be propor6. nate to the space occupied and
mi There should be established Cabinet Of Min
erals IN which should be found specimens from every
workiI mine on this Continent with q book OF coa-
yepient Arrangement for reference containing he anal
yees Of such Specimens aud the statistics of each mine
~ 1t is the distinct province Of the insltu'e, aud
should be a. orce met, u furnish ample sccommoda-
tons and facilities TO inventors Tor ary tetng all new
Inventions by placing at their service stean-peTer
both for heavy and liz machinery, at the lowest re-
| munerstve rates.
V. The Ins,i ute needs large infusion Of learned
| and practically scientific men among its members.
! This end would be- secured by adopting the above
| me >,
vi The Institute, having proper lecture rooms could
provide weekly daily lectures for the benefit OF It's
hers and annual Of lectures for the puohc
| for which regular admission fee would be charged