The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-11-13
Give Southern Boys a Chance.

OANC OO0SAcEH DOyS a OLduC0
Recently. the MORNING NEWS suggssts d
that the Central railroad could not do a
more popular thing than to enlarge its work
shops in this city and Macon, and build all
the cars il needs for the lines of its system.
Indeed, it might do more than build
cars; 1t might also build locomotives.
Years ago it built its locomotives and cars,
AMI very good ones they were-far better
in every respect than those purchased from
the northern shops.
While the Central might not be able to
build its cars and locomotives as cheaply as
it could buy them it would more than get
back the difference in the cost by the in
creased business it would get from the cities
which car shops and locomotive works
would help to build up
If the Central were to adopt the policy of
building its cars and locomotives it would
| give boys in this part of the country an ex-
cellent opportunity for becoming good me-
chanics. There are hundreds, and perhaps
thousands, of Georgia boys who have in
them the making of good mechanics All
they need is a chance. Some of them are
sons Of farmers, and others are to be
found in the towns. They are not
satisfied with their prospects for
the future, because they see no
attractive opening for making a living and
a career. They have liking for handling
tools, and would gladly accept places in the
shops of great railway company. They
would not only take an interest in the work
they would have to do, but by the time
4 1.
to earn good wages, and would at the same
time have chance to rise to positions of
great responsibility and profit.
Some of the best citizens that Savannah
now has received their training in the Cen
trails workshops. Some Of those who have
worked in those shops have been very
successful in life, and those who have been
less fortunate have made excellent citizens
Indeed, no city has better or more desirable
citizens than its mechanics. They are in
| telligent, progressive and industrious, and
their homes are models of neatness and COM
fort.
The Central aims to become the greatest
institution of its kind in the south. Several
of those who control it are southern men,
and, as is natural, they look carefully after
their own interests, but it is probable that
they would like to help the boys in the
south IL they could do so without making
too great a sacrifice. They have an op-
portunity to do more for the boys of this
state than can be done for them by the
| state in her technol ogical school,
And why shouldn't the Central build at
least the cars it needs ! The south has all
the materials which are required for car
building, and they can be obtained as
| cheaply as in the north. If the Central
were to take this step other railroad cor
porations would follow its example, and in
comparatively few years the south would
be well supplied with first-class mechanics.
The Centennial of Cotton Spinning.
Next year Pawtucket, R. l., will cele-
brate very interesting centennial-that of
the introduction in this country of cotton
spinning by machinery.
Prior to the successful operation of the
first cotton mill in America, cotton spin
ming In this country was carried on in
very crude manner. The cotton was
loosely separated by hand, and was then
applied to the breaker. The bleaching was
done on the grass, and it frequently re-
quired four weeks time. The weaving
was done by hand looms.
In 1889 Samuel Slater came to this coun-
try from England. and made unsuccessful
attempts to introduce cotton spinning by
machinery in New York and Philadelphia.
He was hampered by the rigid laws which
prevented the bringing of machinery or de-
signs from England, but he was determined
to succeed, and when he went to Pawtucket
he designed from memory a machine for
Almy & Brown, receiving for his work 81
day. The day for the first test came.
The machine did not work, and failure
seemed to stare Mr.. Slater in the face. He
meditated secret flight from the country,
for fear of being thought an impostor, but
in the nick of time his carpenter.
Sylvanus Brown, came to the rescue.
Brown had noticed that the teeth of the
hand cards used by his wife were bent in a
certain manner, and when this principle
was applied to Skaters cards. the machine
worked successfully. This was in $780, and
July IL of that year cotton spinning by
machinery was begun in this country.
The plans for the observance of the CEN
tennial include a scheme to erect monu-
ment in Pawtucket to Mr.. Slater, to be sur
mounted by his statue, the stones used in
the monument to be furnished by the diff
ferent cotton manufactures of the country.
AS soon as the size of the stones is decided
upon, each mandatory will be requested
to forward one, with it's name stamped
upon it. The unvelling of the monument
will take placs July IL, 1890
George Francis Train made his appear
ance before the Boston public in lecture
at Music hall, the night after his release
from prison. About 500 people were pres
emit. Mr.. Train spoke two hours, and
touched upon almost every conceivable