New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-17
AMERICA FAR IN THE LEAD
BEATING EUROPEANS IN MACHINERY
AND ENGINEERING.
HOW 1T COMES TO PASS THAT MANUFACTURERS
HERE ARE GETTING BIG CONTRACTS
FROM ABROAD

FROM ABROAD.
Philadelphia April IS CspeciaD.-The superiority
OF Americans in certain lines OF manufacturing has
long been conceded yet no very definite proof OF u
has given directly or In tangible way until re-
Gently. Philadelphia is recognized as one Of the great
manufacturing centres OF the country. and IL has
remained for Philadelphia firms 10 show the whole
world that America is far In the lead when u
comes TO manufacturing machinery and In the ART
OF engineering construction. Not alone is the skin
of the American workman superior TO that OF the
Englishman and European. but the vast resources
and facilities for turning out goods In remarkably
short time By the factories and plants are astonsn-
ing to the foreigner.
Proof OF the assertion Is found In the recent
award OF contracts to Philadelphia firms for loco
motives for the Great Northern Railroad Company
OF England and for the Atbara bridge IN the
Soudan. The bridge wanted In the snort"
est time possible. English and American nrms
were asked for estimates on the work and the con-
tract was awarded TO the Pencoyd Bridge and Com
slruction Company Of this city. because IL prom
ised 10 have the bridge completed weeks ahead OF
the time specified by the English concerns as the
earliest date at which the work could be finished
THE CAUSES OF SUCCESS.
When asked II this superiority due to wages
Penccyd official laughed and said III Is no longer
a question Of wages. II is what you may sum up
In two words. American spirit IL u the use "
the latest discoveries in science. combined Win inc
most economical plant and enlightened system IN
every department In short, IT Is more Americas
methods than anything else
That Englishmen themselves are beginning 10
realize the ineffciency OF their metncis mas oeen
shown clearly by the fact that large NUMBER OK
English manufacturers and engineers have visited
this country TO investigate American plants
Two English experts on steel manufacturing nave
lately arrived In New-York for the purpose OF max
ing tour of the great ironworks OF this country.
| but it is doubtful II they will learn anything o.
! much practical value to them. or course ,hes Wi.
! be received with typical American hosp'a'tS' ou'
IL is hardly probable that their business rivals VINO
will entertain them will bestow upon the vistors' IN
addition to social hospitality. trade secrets a"eH"'
worth many thousands OF dollars
| Tho manufacturer Is rot alone when II comes 10
distributing praise for the state Of efficiency winch
| nlaces Americas factories in the lead the amer
| lean workman Is the man behind the gun Anu
II is he who has done the real work
| An Engshman in visiting the BALDWIN LOCO
motive Works. where the engines for the ureAs
! Northern Railroad are being built struck the KEY
! note of American success when he sad IL seenD
| tina, every one in America works harder IMAM !"
| England from the president OF large hrm "o~"
| 10 the office and tool boys IL Is work. "o'h' WIZ
and not mere attempt 10 put In eight or ten n"d's
a day"
| ,unior mariner of the firm. in touching upon
,ha, noint remarked that the wealth OF the Amer
| lean manufacturer is the industry ana enterprises
| Of the American workman. American "o'nne"
are maid higher wages than any IN the "o'''' w.
| their labor is cheaper in the end For instance
continued the manufacturer. here In this country
| :, ne ,,n ena way or devise a machine by which
| one man can do the work it had required TWO men
| 70 do we put man TO do tne "orN '"u ''o
other man We place somewhere else Inc A"e'0a'
,s satisfied with this arrangement. TOT ne sees sa
| vancement ahead OF him II ne apples hnisen n..n
| industry TO his work. II is as our Enshsh tr,eno
|
| aanended on how much they accomplished mo
rnarsbroan is different He will say. 1 am DONG
Nc ,,ens work, and then instead OF doing II IKE
| the American, and earning his spurs. lie ''e's''
| nuts In the allotted number OF hours
The free and general use OF machinery Is sno'her
| rsaso, why America IL ahead Of the world Amer'-
| can workmen use much more machinery thah o'ne'
workmen OF the word and the macnlnes 4, ,ns
far supe9r to fEsssn more
| and accurate than handWork
CREDIT DUE TO THE woRKMEN'
However. il Is the spirit Of the American work.
man that permits the use OF laoor-saving mdoh','-
cry and makes hnn-the highest PAID workman III
| the world-the most economical and cheapest one
| for his employer.
These reasons for Americas ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ing quality of work and time or constructon-are
given by the Baldwin people for their success IN
the building OF locomotives and for the success OK
others in other lines OF business and manufactur-
In speaking more particularly Of their own works
| and securing the contracts for so much foreign
| work which they are able 10 turn out In period
OF time astonishing in its shortness to Engasin
rivals a member of the firm said he ATTRIBUTED IL
r. oresnzation. hustle" TO a sang ex-
preston. and enterprise Then in commenting
in securing the for the Soudan bridge, he
said: Had the spirit and push been put INTO
the English bridge-b building concerns as that which
dominates not only the Pencoyd company, but all
successful American firms there is no doubt that
the Enelishmen would have been able TO complete
the bridge in the required time ~
The Baldwin Locomotive Works are situated IN
the heart OF the city. Their six acres OF ground
are comparatively small plot TO occupy, yet the
weekly output is twenty locomotives This Is az
work The Baldwins can turn out twenty locomo-
tyes a week with almost much ease as they can
one The engines which will be completed in jury
nave not yet Deen begun.