The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-09-03

gent American mechanics and engineers are
not so deceived. They know, because they
cannot help knowing, that, excepting con-
trivances which have been suggested to
American inventors by necessities peculiar to
America, the mass of inventions in the United
tates have been either improvements upon
variations from foreign devices, or the pro-
uct of brains and hands experienced in
foreign establishments. In nearly all the
ontirmed arts and trades that have been
ractised for long periods in Europe and in
this country alike, the Europeans are
decidedly our superiors; and although it is
lue that in certain manufactures we have
kept even with them, we have in the race
cen oftener obliged to adopt their improve
ments than they have been to adopt ours.
Entire buildings, with their machinery and
interior arrangements, are frequently put up
in the United States after plans original in
France, Germany, or England. Even in those
processes which it might have been expected
Americans, being so peculiarly interested,
would have brought to almost absolute per-
fection-such, for instance, as the reduction
of ores-we have failed and have had to en-
ploy European skill to help us through. The
acting superintendents of paying gold, silver,
and copper mines in California, Nevada and
elsewhere are foreigners, or Americans edu-
Gated in foreign mining schools. Thousands
of tons of ores are annually despatched in
vessels from the Pacific coast to Freyburg or
Swansea, to be reduced in the celebrated
works at those places. Many of these ores
can in no wise be worked so as to yield
paying percentage of metal, in any mill or
by any process in operation on our soil.
In mining, and in most branches of manu-
facture, we lack labor technically and thor
oughly skilled. We lack educated mechanics.
Dna uyarn ~ of han In no WY daGr
Millions of dollars have been spent among us
in blind, experimental ways, for the simple
reasons that capitalists who build establish
ments do not always know what they are
| about, and that the mechanics engaged are,
in the proportion of five to seven grossly
| incapable. The cheapness of foreign mate
| rials used in some European manufactures
is one excellent reason why foreign manu-
facturers of certain articles are enabled
to compete, in the American Market SO
successfully with our own. But the per-
feet system which prevails, and the superior
artisans employed in establishments abroad,
is an equally important advantage. No
money is thrown away upon, and no time is
wasted by ignorant workmen in French, Aus
trian, Swiss, or German employ. A complete
and watchful superintendent, and a refined
aptitude among employees, insure the greatest
| skill and the strictest economy. The results
! of such a system are shown in the Paris Ex-
position to the detriment of not only the
| United States but England While some
specialties of American industry have been
noticed there, we have gained no great national
reputation at the worlds last show. And
Great Britain is declared by one of its own
| jurors, DR.. Lyon Playfair, to have manifested,
Sin the nearly unanimous opinion of those
| competent to judge, little progress in the
years intervening between 1862 and 1867"
The President of the civil engineers is quoted
as sayingthat "greater Improvements had been
made in France, Germany, Austria, and Bel
gium in the manufacture of iron than in
England;' and the words might have been
added, ethan in the United States" DR..
| Playfair goes on to explain that the zone cause
upon which there was most unanimity of con-
Viction is that France, Prussia Austria, Bel
gium, and Switzerland possess good systems
of industrial education for the masters and
managers of workshops and factories, and
that England possesses none.'' According
| to M. Dumas, the chemist, it appeared
that those establishments most remarkable for
! the excellence of the articles they displayed at
the Exhibition, were under the direction of
those who had been educated at the Ecole Cen
traie deS ArtS ct Manufactures.
No intelligent American abroad can fail to
perceive that the system of technical indus
trial education is doing wonders for the coun-
tries alluded to, where it exists or to admit,
with a previous knowledge of the disadvan-
tages suffered in this country from the lack of
such system, that its benefits here would be
incalculable. 1t would tend to foster and in
crease industry by elevating industry to a
science. 1t would render those who should
enjoy its advantages five times as capable, and
therefore more sought after and better paid,
than they are. 1t would facilitate and cheaper
and improve a large number of artl-
cles, which, under skilful direction,
would be manufactured more rapidly
and with less expense and waste, than
they now are. And by increasing the know
ledge and intelligence of mechanics, engineers,
and others, it would insure more and better
discoveries and improvements in the indus
trial arts. American colleges have given to
the learned professions their most eminent
and useful members. The Military Academy
at West Point and the Naval Academy at An
napolis have furnished the nation with its best
soldiers and sailors. The establishment of in
dustrial academies may result, in very few
years, in providing the country with a class Of
men whose influence upon and achievements
in mechanics and engineering may finally
revolutionize the loose and various systems OF
industry throughout the country, and honora-