The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-08

market. " j mere are ChOuSaNus OF IneSe
establishments, he said, with capital
amounting to 1926, 900, 600, already pro-
ducing to the amount of $31 900, 600 an
nuallv. The export of cheese was 49,
DOC, 600 pounds in 1868 and 96,000,000
pounds in 1874. The export of butter
has grown to $4,000 pounds year.
The competition is getting formidable,
for the manufacture of cheese has been
so perfected in America that, unless we
look out it will be utterly impossible for
US to compete with it."
A very large dealer in leather, NJ. Bally,
declares that the same is true of this article.
" Europeans no longer control the leather
market. Prices are now set by America.
Every little tannery feels the influence
of the importations from America; our
own expectation to the New World has
dwindled almost to nothing"
At first thought it was supposed that
the superior advantages of the American
manufacturer arose from his use of ma
chinery for operations that continue in
the Old World to be wrought out by
hand.work If this were all, or nearly
all, it would be an easy matter to import
or to initiate the machinery--there are
no patent laws in SwitZerland-and,b by
combining capital in. great establish
ments, to 90 on with their business with
the double advantage of the low wages
and abundant skilled labor of the Old
World and the organization and appli-
ances of the New.
| One eminent American house, how
ever, with ample capital had made this
hopeful but expensive experiment. The
| finest business edifice in Geneva was
built, three or four years ago, by Ameri-
cans, and stocked with the best Ameri-
can matchmaking machinery. The most
skilled Geneva watch-makers were sought
for at high wagcs-high, that is, for
| Switzerland, but low for America-and
the world looked for splendid success.
But the beautiful building is now let out
in lodgings, and the machines are adver-
tised for sale. Evidently the secret of
American success lay in something else.
l have followed the conjectures and
proposals of the Swiss newspapers on
this point with great interest. They de-
mand patent laws for the encouragement
of invention, schools of technical in
struction for artisans, relief from the in
terruption of work by militia service,
and other governmental palliat1ves; but
they do not touch the main point of the
superiority of the American manufacto-
ries, and that is the personal superiority
Of the Anaerican wOrkman.
The secret is revealed in an extraor-
binary pamphlet by NJ. Bally, whom
we have already quoted, and who is the
proprietor of the great boot and shoe
| factoru of Snhnapanwartb in
Switzerland. The pamphlet is printed
both in German and in French, and has
made profound impression abroad. 1t
gives, l will not say the impressions, but
the shrewd and careful observations of
a practical man on his visit to the United
States during the Centennial year. q
title is sensational-Gdrde a.
{" Look Out for Yourselves'1
matter of it is solid.
Our travellers first wond6
is to see hoo much is made
a business point of view.
stage on Broadway, "the
thoroughfare in the world,
| by the continuance of fare-box@
strap, which enables one man to DO
business of three on a Paris line. In
horse-car he admires the bell-punch,
which saves the company the salary of
cOntrOleur, and does his work more effect
ually. On a railroad train he is amazed
to find only one conductor, and nothing
of the army of watchmen who on Euro
pean roads stand guard at every curve and
crossing. He recalls the starting of aSwiss
train: each one of series OF conductors
cries successfully Fertigr' then the chef
de train calls: "Fort" then he whistles;
finally the train starts. In America the
conductor surveys the whole train. When
all is ready, he makes sign to the engi-
neer, and off she goes. 1t is the travel
er's business to know the time of starting.
and if he gets left once he is likely to
take better care another time.
All this by way of showing how every
where in America, each mans labor is
made to go as far as possible. You find the
same distinction between the manufacto-
ries of the Old World and those of the
New. In Europe, as business increases,
the proprietor enlarges his establishment;
in dull times he contracts it. When
competition compels, he improves his
machinery, so far as he is driven to. If
wages are too high, he moves his concern
into the country, or to some region where
manufactures do not abound. The Amer
lean pursues another course. He con-
trlves to increase the amount of produc-
ton. His question is how to get the ut
most out of his hands and his machinery.
He does not delay improving his tools
until he is driven to it, if the improve
ment is going to save time and money.
If wages are high, he compensates him
self by means of improved arrangements.
1t is not the mere machine that gives the
American his advantage both in quantity
and in quality, it is the way he uses it,"
Leonard Bacon, IN Harper's Magazine
for September.