The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-25
-. Greet Weed o. Mechanics 'nsti.
rror the Dispa,ch.I


wrv Il n that we hear nothing more OF the
rechsnics' lnstitutcf Is this subject so
soon to be droppeds About the time the
.rmorv on Seventh and Marshall streets
was being finished saw In your Columns
several very lively articles referring 10 an
institution Tor the education OF mechanics.
Djd not every one on reading those arti-
cles admit that such an institution was
much needed, IL not an absolute neces-
sityy
f9,e welfare Of manufacturing town
s,cyruds in a great measure upon she quail
IT, Of the articles manufactured In pro-
vs.rt;on as the finish Of an article OF n given
rrade. with regard 10 The price, becomes
fucr. The demand for 1t becomes greater.
The quality Of manufactured article de-
pcpds-first, upon the artisan; and sec
ondly, upon the implement used in its
manufacture. The second OF these condt-
tious il directly under the control OF the
manufacturer; the first cannot be, ior u
thu factory be located in community IA
xrb;cb there are very few skilled work
men compared with the work to be done, 1t
becomes necessary either to import work
men or employ those less skilled In the arts
OF the manufacture.
To import worklnen the employer has TO
offer such an advance on the wages pald
by their former employer to induce Them
n leave their homes as would necessitate
nm advance in the price grade OF the artacie
manufactured. or, in other words, we
abandon the veIyobject we seek TO auan-
the manufacture of articles OF the same
Drice grade, hut of finer quality grade as
compared with those OF other manu1ae-
furers. To employ the unskilled portion
of the native wOrkmen Is but to err on the
other side, or produce articles OF inferior
quality, while the prce remains the same
ms with other manufacturers. The mini
mum prce being determined by the cost
OF production, any advance OF market value
OF the article on this least price at
which its production would be pro-
fitable is determined by the excess OF the
demand over the productive capacIty OF the
mandatory. Now, since the stability OF
an establishment depends upon the market
value Of its products, we see also that its
stability is directly determined by the de-
gree OF skill possessed by its employees.
But what are the essential conditions to
the obtainment Of this ability, so much de-
sired by all manufacturing towns? Arc
they more than two, and could they be
more patent!
H..
have natural advantages over other towns
rs to clreapness Of motive power, means OF
obtaining crude material, and direct COM
municafion with markets for the products
OF its factories.
I'd. Workmen equally skilled and OBJ
fainable at no greater cost than those OF
competing towns
The advantages requisite in accordance
he 81 h
mond (none will deny possesses in high
degree. But can we claim that here, too,
we find the second condition fulfilled? |
think not; for as we have seen above, to
fulfil this condition we must have the re-
aIuisite number of skilled workmen re-
siding i'm the community. Let htm who
would claim that we have these spend a
little time in Investigation. He will, OF
course, acknowledge that to be skilled in
an art or profession one must understand
the principles upon which that art or pro-
fession is based. Now, the laws of me-
chanics are only the laws OF natural phi
losophy uisler different guise mathemati-
cally expressed, or in some way modified to
suit special application. Walk into ma
and ask abe young machinist
some question relative1o any of the princi-
pies Of science involved i'm his business.
See how limdted his knowledge, even
should he chance to knew anything about
hem. Il it not go with the carpenter Go
zee how many iourneymen you can ind
Who can point out to you even the salient
POINTS Of difference in the prime ipal styles
! architecture. La it not so in every
rade?
Can these men ever hop, to become
killed workmen, chiefs in their art ;, with
ut knowing these fundamental prin. :iplesS
We all know the answer, and yet We do
lot provide for them the means Of &C COM
'lishing those things Of which povert or
ther circumstances has heretofore 7 re
ented their becoming masters, and in T. his
allure we are forgetful OF the fact that y 'e
10 ourselves injury in the neglect show
ur workmen.
A mechanics institute is what we need,
nd cannot some one Of experience in such
matters propose plan by which some such
Institution can be founded that will possess
II these desired qualltiesf Will not then
ONE OF our influential businessmen take
interest enough in it to start some such
Ian for this much-needed institution?
We had such an institution before the
var, at which young mechanics could re-
Give nightly instruction, which had its
machinery hall and its museum. Are we
ess able now than then to support such an
or are we not less apprecia-
ivef s. L. c.