Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-07-27

| little resemblance to those OF 1ormeT years. ILL.,
stead of spending days and months in perfect
ing shield the smith is now obliged to under
stand and interpret some new design daily and
hourly, and on his knowledge of ge0metrical
forms, mechanical principles, and the strength
and properties of the materials he employs often
depend the safety OF life and the stability OF i'm
| portant structures
| Il is impossible for the engineer or superintend-
| ent always TO stand over the smiths forge TO
| instruct him in his work; and if he have a cor
rect knowledge of the properties of iron and
STEEL of the causes which affect their strength,
of their chemical constitution, of the strains
! which their materials will bear with safety, of
| the forms for greatest strength under given
strains, he will certainly prove more efficient
worker, because he will adapt his forgings with
the least waste of time and materials TO the uses
! Which they are to subserve.
once knew blacksmith to eXpend a thou
sand dollars year in applying chemical pro-
cess to desulphinize the coal used in his shop,
| believing, from representations made to him,
| that the welding qualities of his coal would
thereby be greatly improved The slightest ele-
mentary knowledge of chemistry would have
| led him to discover that the chemical reagents"
employed at so great expense could have no de-
| sulphinizing effects; and, moreover, an analysis
of the coal showed that there was no sulphur
| TO be removed. A fair degree of elementary
| knowledge of the sciences has especial impor-
lance in relation to this trade, especially where
| large masses are forged, rolled, or hammered
| into useful forms, by processes in which the
science of metallurgy becomes blended with the
principles and arts employed by the mechanic.
The latter then finds that this elementary knowl-
edge gives him an enlightened appreciation of
| his special art, and of the value and importance
of using materials to the best advantage, of
| producing forms most appropriate for strength,
and of securing with the least waste of time and
| labor, the results at which he aims.
Carpentry is another trade in which the
efficiency of the workman is increased by
knowledge of the mathematical sciences,
especially geometry, mechanics, and the art of
kinds of framing is dependent solely on the
| principles of mechanics. The direction and
amount Of the strains which are produced in
the various parts of structure, from externally
| applied forces, can only be estimated with GER
tainty through the applications of this science.
| And the composition and resolution of such
| forces involve methods of applied geometry SO
| simple that they may be solved by the square
| and compass; but these methods cannot be
learned in the shop; they belong to the intel
lectual part of good training, not to the art of
manipulation
Among the recent developments of the appli-
| cations of geometry there are none more beauti-
full and useful than the graphic solution of prob
lens which are daily metwith in the practice ofthe
art Of carpentry. The master workman cannot
always depend on the engineer or architect for the
plan of hoiSting-crane or roof-truSs. These
are geometrical and mechanical constructions
of every day occurrence, which must be adapt
ed TO resist definite strains or pressures, and for
which there are no emperical rules or precedents
suitable to every case; and the efficiency of the
workman must depend on something beyond
mere practice.
Pattern making is a trade in which the work
man also finds himself in constant need OF SCI
entihc knowledge. He is required daily to in
terpret the most complicated designs and draw
ings, and should comprehend, in order to make
tho hos nCp Of hia or the ne ninrp
which is cast from his patterns A slight error
may cause deficiency of strength on one hand,
or excessive weight and waste of material on
the other-two evils between which he must
constantly steer his course. In the construction
of patterns for gearing he finds that the delicate
curved lines, and exact proportions TO be fol-
lowed, are not the result of accident, or shop
rules; but that they are established by the geo.
metrical principles of mechanism and of mo-
ton, discovered by patient investigation, and of
sufficient importance to be made the subject of
a separate and extended treatise in scientific in
struction.
In expensive gearing these principles cannot
be violated without great loss and disadvantage.
The pattern-maker must also estimate changes
which may take place from contraction, for
which rules cannot always be established; and
in complicated forms such contractions often
cause fractures which result in loss and damage.
With all the aids of scientific preparation he
frequently encounters difficulties, which are
not easily overcome, and his art is one which
constantly requires thought and reasoning as
well as experience and practice.
Of all mechanics the machiniSt is perhaps
most to be benefited by kuowl-
edge of the principles of mechanical science.
To his vocation belong not only the shaping
of materials, but the combination of pieces of
mechanism and the erection of machines. He
must not only comprehend designs, but the
principles on which they are based; since on
his skill and judgment often rest the failure or
| success of piece of mechanism. Close and ac-
curate hitting of some parts may be essential,
| while the same attention bestowed on others
| would be waste of time and labor. In every
machine there are involved the geometrical de-
| sign for transmitting motion, and the strength
| and forms of materials best adapted to transmit
power; entire ignorance of the principles on
| which these depend leaves the machinist no
| Office to perform than that OF mere Chinese
| copyist. Drawings or designs cannot always be
made in such detail that sound judgment on the
| part Of the machinist shall not be required; on
the contrary he must often be consulted in re-
| gard to details of workmanship, and if to his
| skill as a workman be added sound knowledge
| of natural laws and principes-a knowledge
| of the properties of materials in regard to
| strength hardness elasticity-their action under
the influence of heat, the laws OF invention, of
| friction, Of the action of the mechanical powers;
| he will make use Of his tools with more
| vigor, will undertake the erection of machines
1
| and materials in imperfect workmanship. The
uses of the various parts Of the structures which
he erects will appear to HMM new light; and
| when placed in charge of the operations of a
| machine, he will have rational view of its
functions, and will be able to judge correctly of
| its performance.
| Limited in number as our scientific inStitu-
| tons now are, it is probable, however, that
| those who may have received the advantages in
instructions which they OFFER will be called TO
positions of higher responsibility than those of
| skilled workmen. Among these may be men
toned especially the position of superintendent
the mechanician, constructor or manager of
the internal affairs of industrial establishments.
| There is no class of men connected with such
/ establishments who are necessarily entrusted
| with more difficult and responsible duties The
| superintendent must not only direct the labOrs
| Of large numbers of workmen from day to day,
but he must often devise the means and methods
by which their operations are conducted; on
| his judgment, knowledge and skill, the ques-
| tons of profit and loss largely depend.
Whatever may besthe character of the enter
prise, or business whether it be the manufacture
of cotton, or paper, the making of locks, or the
| construction of machinery; the rolling of brass,
the forging of iron, or the smelling of ores, the
| superintendent, or general foreman, must have
an eye constantly on both workmen and ma
chinery; he must know the principles of special
| methods of working, and must be ready to plan
| and quick to execute. In every industrial es-
taDllShment II is necessary 10 study and practice
economy at every step, and by every available
| means
Those who have been engaged in any one of
| the industrial undertakings Of the present day,
must have observed the changes in both meth
DDS and machinery which are constantly taking
| place in order TO accomplish the important re.
| suit of economy of production, or to improve
| the quality of the products. This progress to-
ward perfection is dependent in a great degree
on the applications Of scientific knowledge, di-
rectly or indirectly, to the problems which daily
1 arise in the execution of work; to the definite,
exact, and systematic application of thought
and reasoning to these problems, which come
| from the diffusion of scientific knowledge. 1t
is easy to distinguish, at glance, an establish
ment where every new problem, whether Of me-
chanics or machinery, of chemistry or Of metal
lurgy, is at once subjected to scientific scrutiny;
where the means and appliances for work are
not only correct, but are made thus at the first,
| without experimental trials
The superintendent is thrown in daily contact
| with all these processes by which economic re
| suits are accomplished, and if he brings to the
aud Of a naturally good judgment thorough
| knowledge of the elements of the sciences which
/ lie at the foundation of his work it must be
| apparent that his own labor in directing the
| operations of others, and in employing the best
/ &ta.