The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-22
THE sECREr OLE DIR SUCCESS.

M sE4NAEsA vi II SA01ElsSs
The reason the United states are leading
every other nation in manufacturing is
explained by Mr. Walter Dixon, a mem
Der of the institute OF Electrical Engi-
neers of Great Britain, who has just re-
turned 10 England from an inspection Of
the great manufacturing industries Of this
| country. In his report he says that he
saw so many accounts of Iabor-saving ma
chimes in use in this country-accounts
which he regarded as fairy tales, because
he knew of no such machines-that he de
cided TO visit our manufacturing establish
ments and see for himself whether the
half of what he saw in print was true.
He was amazed to find that about all that
he had read about labor-saving machines
was true. He saw machines doing the
labor of many men. and doing il better
than it could be done by workmen-ma-
chimes of which there is no knowledge
whatever in England. He didn't believe it
possible that there could be such ma
chimes. and would not have believed they
existed unless he had seen them. The ex-
tent TO which electricity is utilized in man
ufacturing amazed him.
Another thing which attracted his at
tention and afforded him food for thought
was that in about all of the great fac
tories and mills which he visited he found
young men at the head of the different
departments of them and in every in
stance he discovered that not only these
men, but the operatives, were always
striving to find some quicker and cheaper
way to reach the end aimed at The con-
sequence is, he says, there is no running
along for years in old ruts-there are new
inventions all the time and new and
quicker ways Of doing things.
Another thing which surprised him was
that each workman strove to see how
much he could do in a given time instead
of trying TO see how little he could do
This is so contrary to the rule in England
that Mr.. Dixon is not surprised that the
cost of manufacturing in this country
is a great deal less than the cost of manu-
featuring in England notwithstanding the
fact that wages are much higher here
than there. The truth probably is that
owing to labor-saving machinery and
greater skin and energy one American
workman is pretty nearly equal to two
English workmen.
One part of Mr.. Dixon's report is worth
special notice 1t is that in which he says
that the Americans appear perfectly
fearless of foreign competition, and are
staunch believers in the survival of the
fittest. They know the weakest win go
to the wall, and hence they are always
on the move to do something clever. They
do not care who sees what they are doing,
their shops being open 10 stranger and
competitor. 1t seems an inbred idea with
them is that if they cannot themselves keep
up to date. be as good If not better than
succeed"
The progress made by the American
steel and iron industry, Mr.. Dixon regards
as almost incomprehensble. He points
out that twenty years ago no one, even in
his widest dreams, would have predicted
that within that time America would not
only be competing in that industry with
England In the markets of the world, but
actually selling steel and iron products in
England herself. He doesn't regard the
outlook for England in the great manufac-
turing industries as at all hopeful unless
American methods are adopted and Eng
fish workmen become as energetic and
progressive as those of the United States.