Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-03-07
RDTC.TTRD .uECH.s.vsCS.

RDTC.TTRD .UECH.s.TECS.
A great want in this country is skilled
labor-the educated mind guiding the train
ed hand. Until this want is supplied, not
withstanding 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 Unlimited
quantities, valuable water-power, climate
so varied that nearly all the products of
the whole earth can be raised among US,
and population TO use manufactures in
large amounts but this lack of educated
artisans still continues, much to our incon
venience, and drawback to our more rap.
id advancement. 1t is true, that in many
of our large manufacturing establishments
there can be found highly educated me-
chanics, and these are much priced by their
employers, as they should b e but, as
general rule, not many such are to be had,
as the vast majority occupy a lower rank
in their callng-they are mostly hewers Of
wood and drawers Of water. There is no
deficiency of brain power 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 OBJ
tanning a thorough education, in a few years
we should see our manufactures advanced
to position we little dream of, and the
lear of a low tariff be deprived of its force,
as we should have the world for our mar
ket, and not our country a market for the
world.
Look for moment at our apprentices of
the present day taken from school with a
bare knowledge of the rudments, they are,
Of course, put at the simplest kind of work
at tirst, and then are advanced according
as their aptness presents itself, and they are
found capable of producing work needing
greater skill, until at length age and sup
posed experience make them full. develop
ed workmen. In many Instances, those
mechanics who have real grit in then--the
desire for knOwledge-wil use the brain
with the hand and by the aid of text
books, studied, perhaps, in hours ia ,en
from needed rest or when their fellows are
irollicking, will acquire a large amount OF
information which viii greatly aid them in
| their work, and he source of real pleasure
their life long. II we had schools where
these youths who desire to be thoroughly
educated in their profession cOull dcqlire
the requisite knowledge, vast deal OF la
| Dor would be saved them. What are sup
posed to be the higher branches of the arts
have their technical schools, and it would
be considered prescriptions for any one to
work in these arts without having studied
in one of the schools and yet our manu-
facturers of iron, wool, cotton, silk, and
wood, without 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 a complete knowl-
edge of any branch of manufactures they
may wish to engage in. Lectures are Civ
en-, with diagrams of every piece of ma
chinery used, and the manner of using
them; aud the course of training is 50 thor
ough that a graduate needs but little actual
practice to make him "a skilled work man.
We have seen copies of lectures as above
described, in the hands of foreign work
men, taken down by them at the time OF
|
detail and accuracy, it would he difficult to
excel. Such information gives an educat-
ed mechanic a broad, mental sweep ; il frees
him from narrowness and prejudice; he
looks constantly for an improved condition
in machinery, and is staggered at no re-
suits His motto is Excelsior" We are
receiving large number of these desira-
bic workmen weekly, and their influence
will, in time, be felt throughout all the
manufacturing interests of this country
We have only to make ii pleasant for them
and they will continue TO come, not as ad
venturers, but TO become solid aud respect
able citizens.
Our native mechanics have nothing tC
fear from contact with them; they are no
the lily paid, halfstarved laborers of Eu
rope, but men who command good wages
and would have their price here, standing
on the dignity of their profession, and un
willing to perform good work without it,
equivalent. 1t is owing to this kind o
, technical education that European manu-
features are so excellent. BY the large pop
, ulation, they can, indeed, have more {,
, work upon separate portion of manufacture
than we, and thus work man can acquire
through long years, certain kind Of skill
but that is not the kind of skin necessar,
, to make complete workman, which come
, only through education.
, What is there in the way of our havint
. these schools? With our wealth and i'm
) proved machinery TO experiment on, an,
5 noble-hearted manufacturers who sincere
ly desire the welfare and advancement q
e the manufacturing people as well as to hav
r our country first in every good thing, CA
we not move In this matter? great fell
4 of usefulness is open to US as a rnanulact
+ uring nation, and it may be well for us t.
r soon take advantage Of it.-Ne,O Jersey Ne
0 chdnic.