Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-19


way when we began locomotive building
exclusively toe department FOR makins
heavy forg.ngs directly from scrap was
ly new 20 our local mechanics Men
from the North were employed 20 run
our steam hammers. but now the best
mon we have ever had on this difficult
work were raised right here
MECHANICS INSTITUTE.
'''rhe benefits which are now obtainable
by young mechanics from the Mechanics
Institute. az which many OF our boys
avail themselves. are" Mr. Bryan con-
uuuc1, $50 great that this institute de-
serves the greatest encouragement. and
should be aided in every way 90 make
30 as perfect as possible in an its appoint
Wcnts. one notable characteristic OF our
men is their readiness not only TO
accept. but invent new devices for
cNpc1iting work ard saving fbor
This is just the reverse OF the English
mechanics idea. whose aim IS 10 pursue
Ola ana obsolete methods 90 the utter
most lest pcrcharce some new plan may
cost "a man his job or shorten time.
Il have recently seen I'm our shops an
. Improvement made hy one Of our Rich
Woui boys upon "a Pratt & Whitney mill
iaE-machiue. which saves hours Of time
and much labor Of the mechanic IN al
tDrlrg the machine for different pieces
of work II is device which will be
kept for the use OF the shops. Another
/ boy the son OF an old army comrade
/ Of mine. told his foreman ne knew be
/ could. with some apparatus easily pre-
/ pared DO five or six pieces of the same
/ work where only one piece had been
/ usually done. and the apparatus was pre-
/ pared and the work has been done by
/ the improved method ever since ! only
/ cite these as illustrations Of a rule.
cone illusion that has been dispellet
/ is the dependence of cur shops upon or
/ cauizcl labor Just before the strike
/ in 1881 We had $40 men at work. Th'
! best mechanics we had belonged 70 tn,
! union. TWO hundred and hfty Of then
leff in a body. and few have ever CONF
/ back. yet we have since worked as mau'
| a. 90 men. and have never had on
[ shops ia such perfect working order n
| every respect. the new worKmen be
ing drawn from the immediate com
Wuni.y and from the country districts o
the state.
II conclude. therefore, that In this grea
/ essential Of labor the city OF Bichmon'
can command supply of mechanics 70
! hiEh-r'ass work unsurpassed In all ~
| qualities Of body. mind. and heart by an
/ others in the world. and for the improve
. u. nj Of our condition In this respect
/ am unable 10 make any suggestion
Mr. MiIihiser on Manufactures.
The next speaker presented was Nh
Custav-s Millhiser, who. after few IN
trojuctory words said:
"The subject before ms, as IT has bee
presented 10 me- is divided into tw
Iuarts-frst. Richmond as n manufacturer
city, second. what measures are mos
| ,Xpelient for the increase Of its manu-
featuring establishments. As the treat
meut OF The second division ~ this que,
ton. along the line that suggests itse
90 me will necessarily Involve som
refer nee TO the first. will. therefor
clndnr my remarks principally to Oh
second division Of the question. But b'
- | fore entering upon il / desire 10 obserN
. that the volume OF Richmond MANI
- features. tos Their with the diversity
= products. are living attestauons Of q
- fact that here must exist here come COZ
. d.tioIs favorable 90 manufacturers. l d
. sire further 60 ohserve-and this IS a
S. ,.u.cially gratifying obs rVatiOn that
10 point Of merit the products Of Richmou
. factories rank with the highest i'm Oh
. country. In some cases occupying q
s. very apex OF The pyramid Of mcrl
Merit may Justly bee considered con
| sutuent part Of stability. II hit vc'
often yields 10 the manufacturer an add
d., / tulal profit. but therein does not lie !
greatest power for good. II Is when e.
a cos sivc price-cutting has been induig
a i'm by manufacturers and from the mia
n / of the disasters self-in0cted there aris
ID condition which makes IL possible Z
' | even prices 10 obtain, then 10 IS IA
TO merit performs its most valuable functC
D., The purchaser finds before him quotatiu
I at uniform figures. Then 10 is that me
turns the scale. merit Keeps fac'o
running 20 fun time, Wh your le.
careful competitors are surrounded
%. dulucss
40 PROXIMITY AND FBElGHTS.
b.. "Mcrn is am admirable supcrstructu
d and ! hope further on I'm this Questl
1t o. find IL suitable basis upon which
m rest &c. ( viii now approach the seco
~ division OF the question. WHAT measui
"a, are mos. cNpcdicut for the increase OF e.
ne manufacturing Establishments? I'm o:'
Is, to answer this I deem IL necessary
n- ascertain what are the conditions nee
l- slry 90 the existence Of manufacture
$50 DO these conditions exist here. ana.
ly they DO how can they bee improved? G.
IL dru-ed into form to suit the present oc
sion. / would say that tn essentials
s- qulsite 90 the existence Of manufacture
~ enterprises are, FIRST supply OF ca
40 pctcut labor at normal rates: seco
| ItAt iNiif I'it'N tlilltf N' iiiN'-'.''''''
hr freight rates GO the source from WI
OF crude materials are drawn. AVID hkeW
1- favorable proximity as measured
CD fr..rnt rates 90 the fields of consumpt
and distribution.
ny You Will notice. gentlemen, that J S
.'- Tabor at normal rates This might
~. per nun lno 49, '''. nm Iii
s,uthward examining manufacturing
ciuues OF the cotton States. lured ia
he by the advertised attractions OF 1
or section. and chief amons which Is
iu ! low ratio of wages paid for labor ] h
Ter | Tint this agitation may result IA
to building OF actoH S jon that sect
NOT | many in number ana huge DID extent
ay as Co more quickly hrint a"'"l ''S
nd evitahle, when is lhe ""Iu3 '"l,"' o'
gi- pay for labor I'D 'h'l Sec'i'n 10 l'S
mp ! ml level Low rates lot 4dnoI Hl "a"
ct my nina bargains ln ""'i anu =
t.men. ten you thd' bargains IL, ''
rs. are "a menac. ~ ihe peace on our "oil
Is- ha gains lh labor gre lu' very
D. riot IN orJ.' 10 ehS'"It upon we M. '''
me Wuons oi tNIop. N,i''u'l'n' "pi,'
rcd TO u'it7lhs '" i"oos IS ~, ... -.
II s''n'I'"S ''D".S LII -,
gn over U'a' f'I' ~ '", VIM" 0'.,,., ~
M n'''H i' .,,',i 80 so.t,lis,