The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-10
RICHMOND MANUFACTURES.
Aaricultural-H. nj. Smith 4 Co.

ihSapaOity Vi hoiaeion, says Lh-
erson, els the only mortal distemper."
This is only one of a thousand Of those
curt or concise abridgments of thought,
which have made the author of the Con-
duct of Life" a philosopher in most mems
estimation. The man who would better or
ameliorate the condition of his race by
furnishing an improved agricultural or
mechanical implement Of any sort-one by
which the impediments of nature, or the
laws of mechanical force, may be more
readily overcome or effectually welded to
human advantages unquestionably the
true Hero of our time, and should rank far
above the mere abstract Spectator or
theorizer in political, social or moralistic
problems. He is the man who is sup and
doing" in the worldwide has definite
plan and purpose to accomplish in life
who sees thistle that wants EXTERN
mating here, and blade of corn
that wants ripening there, and
resolutely sets himself to the task Of doing
what the necessities of his race demand
of him as one of its Ihaster-workers.
No man has such poverty of thought or
untoughness of muscle that he cannot ex-
terminate single thistle, or rear single
blade of corn; but the roots of thistles go
deep, and the blades of corn incontinently
choke, if the labor and skill of man are not
faithfully directed to the determination of
the one and the successful culture of the
other. What is demanded of the MASTER
worker is that he should exterminate a
thousand thistles and uprear thousand
blades of corn, where the ordinary deliver
in human industry would accomplish only
a small fraction of the task. Society is a
troop of thinkers, but thinking is worth
nothing until it becomes applied thought
until the thing that is thought out is
acorked out, and becomes an effective de-
veloping agency for human advancement.
Every agricultural implement, from hand
hoe to horsepower reaper, is such piece
of applied thought; and, generally speak
ing, ithas taken the best heads among man
kind to do the thinking, and the most cum
ming of human hands to give thought that
outward expression in utility which dis
tinguishes it as applied or utilized thought.
Mr.. H. M. Smith, the senior partner of
the firm now running the "Southern Agri-
cultural Works." founded in 1929. is one
of the veteran machinists and inventors Of
our city. He commenced business here
the same year that these agricultural works
were founded, working as foreman in the
establishment, which was then under the
management of Jabez Parker, for many
years well-known manufacturer of agri-
cultural implements in this city. In 1912,
now thirty years ago, Mr.. Smith vent into
the same business for himself, or rather
became the manager of the business inau-
gurated by Mr.. Parker under his foreman
ship, and successfully continued the same
down to 1866, when the present company
was formed, consisting of Messrs. II. NJ.
Smith, l. S. Tower, and I. T. Smith, the
son. For period of foIty-three years,
then, have the manufactures of the senior
partner been before the public for appreci-
alton and approval by the farmers and
planters of Virginia. A reputation, so
long and thoroughly established, for max
ing the very best agricultural implements
in the State, has created general demand
for his goods in other states, especially the
Southern and Southwestern, and now the
company is filling orders from all the At
lantic as well as inland states of the South.
Mr.. Smith has been large and success
full inventor, as the records of the Patent
Office will show. "Smth's Virginia Horse
Power" has stood the test of sixteen years.
service, and has borne off many Agricul-
tural-Fair lauTels, in spite of the sharpest
and most spirited competition by other
successful inventors. 1t is favorite horse
power in the South, especially among
threshermen, and is adapted to the running
Of grain threshers, cleaners, cotton gins
and other portable power machines. The
Threshing Drums of II. NJ. Smiths pattern
are too well known throughout the South
to need any commentator in our columns.
For more than twenty years they have
been in successful use, and the testimony
awarded them is, that they are not only
stronger, more durable, and less liable to
get out OF order, but that they will thresh
more grain with the same power than any
other Thresher in the country. His Drums
and Straw Carriers have repeatedly taken
premiums over all others at our largest
State Fairs, which is good evidence of the
fact that the senior partner of this firm,
though an old inventor, has kept up with
the spirit of the age in improved agricul-
tural machinery. ''Smith's Gold Medal
Smut Machine, is another triumph of me.
chanical skill and well-applied thinking, in
overcoming the more provoking obstacles
to success in agriculture. No machine has
received more universal commentator than
this valuable Shutter. "Smith's Wire
Tooth Cleaner" is most valuable assist
ant in the harvest field, and will be found
to save more than its cost every day it is
used. The company have manufactured
and sold more than one thousand of these