The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-04-23

earnings and present labor together give
this increased value to the 75 cents worth
Of ore.
Invention renders old things obsolete
and so is destructive; but there is a force
more destructive than invention, force
that not only drives men from occupation,
bat upon the instant cOnsigus their costly
machines to Instruction. force welded
almost wholly by the female sex-the force
of fashion. power stronger than the COM
bined strength of inven ors, manufacturers
and operatives. Not long ago every wo.
man in this audience quite likely regarded
hoop skirt as necessary to make her ward
robe complete Probably not less than
p. O00. 900 were manufactured per aunum,
requiring an outlay OF many millions of
dollars for complicated machinery, fur
naces. and rolling mills for the foundation
of steel. manufactures for the weaving of
tape. employing many thousand operatives;
but suddenly the idea gained possession Of
the female mind that dress would be more
graceful and pleasing to the eye without
them, and they were upon the instant dis
cardcd, bringing about quick destruction
tathc manufactures aud loss Of Occupation
to the operatives.
Invention IS an educator. IL begins
with thought The more thought put into
bis machine by the inventor the higher
the intelligence to operate it. Mechanics
has become distinct profession, requiring
high mathematics, physics, and the power
of abstract thought Trade and commerce
recognize the new profession by Offering it
their highest peOuRiary rewards 1t is the
master m chauic, receiving his salary of
$4,000 per aunum, who is the cheapest
employc Of some corporations in this coun-
try. Fifty years ago, in 1880, the spin
dies Of the world were as follows .-Uuited
States, 100000. Europe, 1000 600;
Great Britain, 100000 To-day the
Uailed States has IL 600 goo; Europe,
1900 600; Great Britain, 10000, 600.
Ia cotton manufacture it Is estimated that
oue man to-day is able to do the work Of
/ 900 baud hborcrs, and that the cotton,
silk, aud wooden industries OF to day would
require the labor Of every human being if
prepared by hand labor.
One hundred years ago, when thread
numbered $50 by the standard set up by
syiuncrs vas considered the utmost degree
Of 6ncuezs possible by English spinaers, a
pound Of cotton spun 10 such hneness
would give a thread - miles ia length,
sufficient TO reach from Boston to Concord,
~ II The machinery Of to-day spins for
useful purposes thread numbered 6O0-
from on2 poaai thread 100 miles 10
length Aud machinery has beeu con
s,rue,ed 50 dsiicate that pound of cotton
has given thread reaching ,06i miles
farther than from Bas,oa 10 Chicago
The weaver ofmy beyhood could throw The
shuttle perhaps twenty ayc times minute,
bu, not 81 that rate through the day
Humaa muscle would break down uader
such rapid action IL 1850 Comp,oas
loom threw the shsisie fifty ,imes n mia-
ute, whrFcas - great has been the advance
II invocation, that the loom of 70 day Is
considered J slow moving mechanism It
the shuttle does nos Hy 2l0 times a mia.
ute Ne man cas sifurd TO take a. a giis
to-day cotton mandatory equipped With
the machinery o. 1860, was the remark
of the late superintendent Of the Amosksag
Milk We are breaking up the maehiu-
cry OF those days for old iron
10 some departments Of cotton mana
fas'ure a maa with the PFesspt machines
vii do cigh, times the amount Of work
which be could accomplish ia 1860 Ia
thc fnanuf4rgure 81 coarse cloth an opera
siec wi,h leo machines does twice the
sosk which he could accomplish with thiy.
teen machines before tho var There
uovcr vas q period 50 fruitful 10 discovery,
- fertile in invention As the present, aud
the reason Is msoilest The 6rss discov-
ercrs aud inventors groped ia the dark
They we're isBorznt Of natures laws. They
dld not know shat force was They had
limited comprehension of what the sin
pie mechanical powers were. There was
little accumulated wealth Of research
In contrast, The nechaoic Of to day has
all the discoveries, the experiments. as.
eer,aiaed facts, mathematics Of machinery
the laws Of force at his command He IN
herits the scientific wealth Of all the past
aEd makes Is his capital Instead Of "a
ring, IS It were, upoa old mines worked CUT,
be beholds mountain Faugcs filled with
golden ore, aud engages ia his work with
thestimulus Of the needs Of the human
race, and the ever Increasing wants Of au
advancing civilization.