Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-03-20
Educated Mechanics.

y great want in this country is skill ed la
bpr-;he educated mind guiding the trained
hand. Until this want is supplied, not
outstanding all the appliances of wealth
that we possess. we shall fail in obtaining
complete success. We have coal, iron.
and other useful minerals in almost unlim-
tied quantities. valuable water-power. a
climate so varied that nearly all the prod
ucts If the whole earth can be raised
among us, and population to use manu-
features in large amounts; but this lack of
Of educated artisans still continues, much
10 our Inconvenience, and drawback 10
cur more rapid advancement. 1t is true,
that in many Of our large manufacturing
Establishments there can be found highly
educated mechanics. and these are much
priced 10y their employers. a they should
be; but. a. general rule. not many such
are TO be had rs the vast majority occupy
q lower rank in their calling-they are
mostly hewers of wood and drawers OF wa
ter There is no deficiency of brain pow
er with Us; it only needs development and
direction. If the thousands OF youth, who
are now serving as apprentices. were put
in the way of obtaining a thorough educa-
ton. in few years We should see our
manufactures advanced 10 snch position as
We little dreamed of, and the fear of low
tariff be deprived of IL force. As We should
have the world for our market, and not
our country a market for the world.
=
the present day taken from school with
bare knowledge of the rudiments, they
are. Of course, put at the simple Kind of
work at first, and then are advanced ac-
cording as their aptness presents itself,
and they are found capable of producing
work needing greater skill. until age and
supposed experience make them full-de-
veloped woTkmen. Ia many instances.
those mechanics who have real grit in
them-the desire for knowledge-will use
the brain with the hand; and by the aid of
text, books, studied, perhaps, in hours
taken from needed rest. or when their fell
lows are frollicking. will acquire a large
amount of information which will greatly
aid them in their work. and be source of
real pleasure their lifelong. If we had
schools where these youths who desire to
be thoroughly educated in their profession
could acquire the requisite knowledge.
vast deal OF labor and time would be saved
them. What are supposed to be the high
er branches of the arts have their technical
schools. and it would be considered pre-
sumptuous for any one to work in these
arts without having studied in one of
these schools; and yet our manufacturers
of iron, wool, cotton, silk. and wood. with
out the advantages of these schools. must
advance more by chance and experiment
than by actual knowledge.
In the manufacturing districts of Europe,
many of these schools are to be found |
where young men can acquire complete |
knowledge of any branch of manufactures |
they may wish TO engage in. Lectures are |
given, with diagrams of every piece of |
machinery used, aud the manner of using |
them; and the course of training is So |
thorough that graduate needs but a little
actual practice to make him a skilled /
workman. We have seen copies of lee
lures as above described, in the hands of
foreign wol kmen, taken down by them at
the time of their delivery, which. for COM
pleteness of detail and accuracy, it would |
be difficult to excel. Such information
gives an educated mechanic broad, men,
tai sweep; it frees him from narrowness
and prejudice; he looks constantly for an
improved condition in machinery. ard is
staggered at no results. His motto is
Excelsior" We are receiving a large
number OF these desirable workmen week
ly, and their influence will, in time, be felt
all the manufacturing interests
of this country. We have only to MAKE it
pleasant for them, and they will continue