The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1892-04-07
WHAT is SKILLED LAHORE

term skilled when used in reference
to labor is somewhat variable in its
signitication. For illustrate we
sometimes say a laborer is skillful
when he is dexterous in performing
the practical part of labor, when he
is handy in the use Of implements of
labor. On farm some men will
handle an ak, saw, hoe, fork, shovel,
spade or other instrument with much
greater dexterity and efficacy than
another and we will, probably, call
him more skillfuL But when we
speak Of that skilled labor which
commands high compensation we
have reference to that education,
that training of both mind and body
which makes q laborer thoroughly
familiar with both the science and
the art gives him dexterity in its
execution. For instance, a man
might run a locomotive by learning
to open and close the valves, to
start and stop the train, increase
and slacken the speed, but rail-
road company would not employ a
man as engineer at large salary
unless he knew the engine, through
and through, every wheel, cog,
spring. etc., and their relation to
the whole, so that he could at once
detect any defect and repair it with
the least possible delay.
We would not call a physician
skillful in his profession unless he
understood the human system, its
anatomy, its physiology, its hygien-
ic laws and the effects upon the sys-
TEN of the various chemicals used
as remedies. And so, through the
various trades, professions and oc~
cupstions, in every department Of
labor and enterprise, those who are
educated and trained to do, at least,
one thing well, better than the
average, are the ones sought for
and remunerated.
Now, to come back to the main
question SIS farming skilled lahor?'
We would say that some farmers
use great deal more thought, stu
dy, calculation, skill in their farms
ing than others, but the time has
not yet arrived when we can say
that the farmer is educated and
trained to his vocation. He under
takes to convert certain chemical
substances, existing in earth, air
and water, into food for mankind,
into the energy that is to sustain
their physical, intellectual and emo
tional activities, and build up and
repair their organic structures, yet
he knows but little of the chemical
changes constantly going on within
it. He undertakes to produce veg
etable organisms for human food,
yet is in dense ignorance of how
plants feed and grow, how they
propagate and reproduce them
selves. a.e{a .s a,.s
He undertakes to breed, rear AID
fatten animals for human food and
use, yet is ignorant of their anato.
my and physiology, the laws Of he
redity and the laws of health. And
thus we might go on through every
department of farming and show
| that the farmer is but an emriric,
seldom seeking to understand the
science of his truly abstruse calling.
Thus far he has done pretty we'll
in exhausting virgin sell but has
shown but little aptitude for hus.
banding its resources and restoring
its fertility. The time is near at
hand when there will be no more
virgin soil, in this country, to occu-
Ply and then the farmer will be fore
ed by necessity (ever the kindest
although the sternest of masters) to
study his business and then, we
think, farming will gradually be-
come skilled labor and command
the remuneration of skilled labor.