The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-05-20
The Master Mechanic.

This is the age of conventions. There is
not religious sect or a beneficiary assocla-
ton that does not have its annual conven-
ton. and the brewers, the liquor dealers,
the prohibitionists, the trades unions, the
physicians, the manufacturers, and even the
base ball players, assemble at stated periods,
sometimes for well-delined purpose and
sometimes for mutual admiration. When the
delegates come, clothed in tinSelled regalia
and their march through the streets Is ac-
companied with the clang of sonorous
horns, the popular imagination Is excited,
and the impression goes abroad that it
must be some mighty beneiicence that can
make such demand upon the public adj
miration.
The convention of master mechanics now
in session at RAINS Hall was not opened
with flourish of trumpets. Only such OF
our citizens as carefully read the newspa-
pers Gncludng the advertisements were
aware that there was such an ASSOCIATION in
existence. much less that it was about to
hold its annual meeting in Baltimore. And
vet it is doubtful, famous as Baltimore has
been for its conventions, whether any de-
Lucrative body ever sat in any of our halls
that contained more solid practical talent.
We have had greater orators and probably
greater thinkers among us, but we do not
believe that we have ever had such a con-
vocation of shrewed, sagacious men,
thoroughly versed in the utilitarian arts of
this progressive age.
1t is worth while to spend an hour in the
convention to hear the discussions and see
the men. There are great many fine
heads, and there is not dull looking face
in the whole assembly. The best mcchani-
cal talent in the United States, possibly in
the whole world, is here. These are the
men who design and make our splendid
locomotives and railroad cars, who spend
their days and nights in solving problems in
which resistance, and friction, and heat, and
the tensile strength OF iron and steel and
the expansive power Of steam are the
factors, and who represent what
might be called the upper class OF Ameri'
can artisans. Ii there is workman in any
machine shop who excels all his co-laborers
in skill and inventive talent, the railroad
men are apt to find him out, and he is pref
ty certain to become master railway me.
chanc. All of these men have worked
their way up from the anvil. Some o
them have evidently retired from the glow
log heats of the forge, and are now more
accustomed to use the draughtsman's pen
Gil than the hammer, but others wear il
their faces the scars of the workshop.
Ii is surprising how well they talk
These master mechanics do not pretend t.
be fine speakers, but unlike many asprinl
orators, they know what they are talking
about; they have studied the subject
which they discuss, and tested theories b.
practical experience. When they adyanc
an opinion they always iortify it with
fact, or probably series Of facts, draw
from their own observation. Their opinions
and conclusions are of great interest to tn
general public. We all ride in rail
road cars, and have lively per-
sonal interest in the construction OF loco
motive boilers that will not burst, ant
driving wheels that will not leave tn
track, and brakes that will quickly stop
train. For the speed and comfort wit
which we travel, and the comparative I'm
mnnity from danger which we enjoy Will
rolling luxuriously along at the rate o
thirty or forty miles an hour, we are IN
debted to these quiet, patient, laborious
modest master mechanics.
They have met to compare views an
plans, and to bring their united skill an
Judgment to bear upon difficult problem:
We doubt not but that the travelling CON
munity will be largely benefited by thel
deliberations. We should welcome theI
as representatives Of the most extended
the most useful, the most splendid and tn
most progressive mechanical industry
the age, and as benefactors of their race
who are laboring and thinking and plal
ming, day and night, for our comfort an
Observation-Disclosures american.