The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1873-03-09
Educated Mechanics.

Educated Mechanics.
A great want in this country is skilled Ia
bor-the educated mind guiding the train
witlstaudfng 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 un'
limited quantities, valuable water-power
a climate SO varied that nearly all the pro.
ducts of the whole earth can be raised
among us, and q population to use manu-.
factures in large amounts but this lack ol
educated artisans still continues, much to
our inconvenience, and is draw back to ouI
more rapid advancement. 1t Is true, that
in many Of our large manufacturing estab-
lishmeUts there can be found highly du-
Gated mechanics, and these are much priz.
ed by their employers, as they should De
but, as general rule, not many such are
to be had, as the vast majority occupy 8
lower rank in their calling-they are most
" hewers of wood and drawers of water.
There is no deficiency in brain power with
us ; it only needs development and direc'
ton. If the thousands of youth, who are
now serving as apprentices, were put IN
way of obtaining thorough education, in
e. few years we should see our manufac-
lures advanced to a position we little dream.
of. aud the fear of low tariff be deprived
Of it's force as We should have the world
for our market, and not our country q
market for the world.
Look for moment at our apprentices OF
the present day taken from school with q
bare knowledge Of the rudiments, they are
of course, put at the simplest kind OF work
at first, and then are advanced according
as their aptness presents itself, and they
are found capable of producing work need
ing greater skill, until at lenght age and
supposed experience make them fully
developed workmen. In many Instances
those mechanics who have real grit in them
the desire for kuowledge-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 frollickiug, will acquire large
amount of information which will greatly
aid them in their work and be source OF
real pleasure their lifelong. IT we hao
schools where these youtha who desire to
be thoroughly educsted in their profession
could acquire the requisite knowledge, q
vast deal OF labor aud time weuld be saved
them. What are supposed to De the hlgher
branches of the arts have their technical
schools and it would be considered pre-
sumptuous for anyone to work in these arts
without having studied in one of the
schools and yet our manufacturers 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 complete
knowledge of any branch Of manufactures
thcy may wish to engage in. Lectures
are given, with diagrams of every piece OF
machinery used, and the manner of using
them and the course of training Is SO
thorough that graduate needs but little
actual practice to make him skilled WORK
man. We have seen copies of lectures as
above described, in the hands of foreign
wo1kmen, taken down by them at the time
of their delivery which, for complete
ness of detail and accuracy, ie 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, and 's
staggard at no results. His motto is Lex
ceisiOr." We are receiving large number
of these desirable workmen weekly, and
their Influence will, in time, be felt through
out all the manufacturing interests of this
country. We have only to make it plea
SAINT for them, and they will continue to
come, not as Adventures, but to become
solid and respectable citizens.
Our native mechanics have nothing to
fear from contact with them they are not
the iiiy-paid, haif-starved laborers of Eu-
rope, but men who command good wages,
and would have their price here, standing
on the dignity of their profession, and IN
willing to perform good work without it's
equivalent. 1t is owing to this kind of
technical education that European manu-
features are SO excellent. By the large
population, they can, indeed, have more to
work upon sepeTate portions OF manafac-
ture than we, and thus workman can ac-
quire, through long years, a certain kind
of skill; but that is not the kind of skill
necessary to make complete workman,
which comes only through education.
What ia there in the way of our having
these schooIs7 With our wealth and i'm
proved machinery to experiment on, and
noble hearted man ufacturers who sincerely
desire the welfare aud advancement of the
manufacturing people as well as-to have our
country first in every good thing, can we
not move in this matter7 A great field OF
usefulness is open to us as n manufacturing
nation, and it may be we'll for us soon to
take advantage of it.-Neo Jersey Mechanic