Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1871-06-27
MECHANICS.
Enthusiastic Meeting Of the Mechanical
Cooperative Association Last Night.

The Mechanical Cooperative Assoeia-
ton held a very interesting meeting last
night, aud after reading and approval
Of minutes of two previous meetings, was
addressed by a number Of gentlemen il
advocacy of the establishment of various
branches of mechanical industry, the drst
speaker being Colonel Ed. B. Pickett,
who ia well-timed remarks, argued the
necessity for cooperation and union of
the laboring and capital interest of the
city, demonstrating In a highly practical
manner the precise mode OF accelerRting
the movement whereby Memphis might
advance In the scale of material and pro-
ductive Improvement, and expressed the
earnest hope thai q committee be at once
raised with power to define the
scope and objects OF the R~ssocia-
ton, and that the same be given
out to the public In order that the
working men and all others feeling inter
est in the onward march of our city may
be advised Of the real meaning of the or
ganizstion. Colonel Pickett gave some
practical illustrations in his own expert
ence connected With the Inauguration Of
manufactures in Nashville and other
places, especially with regard to the re-
port of United States Commissioners in
favor of the hickory grown on the Cum
berland river, Of its transportation TO
Massachusetts, as the altogether preferred
WODQ ust0 III bno mduulhgkuI6 u bukEH
hubs, fellOes, and spokes, and of the now
successful working of the same wood in
Nashville and furnished to Boston wheel
Wrights in manufactured condition, thus
reversing the order of things, and which
he claimed could be as readily done in
Memphis that tbs mandatory for
spokes, etc.,, at Nashville on the CO.
operative plan paid 12O per cent.
from the fourth week after starting and so
continues, and has more ordersthsn it can
fill at rates per dozen for buggy spokes far
cheaper than can be furnished at Boston.
We have wood that they cannot get at the
North, and the reason why we have not
already grasped b essential element Of
success is because we are not and have
not been united for q common destiny
and a common interest; It Is the real rea-
son why we have not at this time nan
featuring carried on In our midst.
Mr.. J. X. B. L. Vim, also addressed
the u Getting and favored the establish
ment of a Savings bank as the first meas
ure toward furnishing the means of seeur-
ing aid TO mechanical industry.
Mr.. James Flaherty advocated imme-
date publication in the newspapers Of the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Associa-
tion that the public might al once be
informed of what was projected for
the good of the whole community;
there were hundreds of men in
Memphis wholly ignorant Of the
design of the association; and he saw no
reason for delaying the matter, On mo-
ton the Committee on printing was d.
rected to contract for printing in PAM
phlet form and in the newspapers not
less than three hundred copies of the
constit utiOn and bylaws.
Several new members were elected, and
Mr.. T. B. Norment, being called upon,
also addressed the Association in favor OF
cooperation of mechanical interests and
capital, advancing the idea that this city
needed just such unity of interest from its
infancy. He had always been a worker,
and was proud to say that he had in boy
hood beer compelled to learn mechanical
work, and Memphis would vie with any
CITY on the globe II we were determined
in energetic action to build this place up
equal to the largest. Let the hard work
ing mechanic be encouraged to come for
ward and meet the moneyed men Of
Memphis, and let as nave such an inter-
change Of thought as viii develop the
industrial prowess of our people. Let US
dispense with this chronic dependence
upon cotton, and turn our attention to the
perfection Of mechanical ingenuity. Let
the brains, skill and money Of Our people
be brought together.
Col. Eldridge also Endorsed the objects
of the Association, but regretted that so
4ltbao AuEbAGsb " G5 A1AAAAOoHD0 W shO NtAh-
ingmen, the mechanics of Memphis. They
come up and aid in the consOlids-
ton Of the purposes of the Association,
and thus utilize the forces which are now
dormant.
Colonel Pickett offered a resolution,
which was adopted, directing the Board of
Trustees to report at the next meeting in
writing upon the propriety OF establish
ing some one branch of manufactures,
also a detailed plan of raising the mean
and the cost of the same, and what, in
their judgment, would be the best articles
to manufacture.
The Association was further addressed
by Messrs. F. W. Smith, John johnson,
John Wedlock and others, and adjourned
amid great enthusiasm.