The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-26

done by endeavoring to awaken British
engineers to the superior methods and re-
suits accomplished in the United States.
After returning from a visit to this coun-
try he writes the Times as follows:
Your most able series of articles on
Modern Engineering i'm the United States
impressed me so much that l could not do
otherwise than take your correspondent
advice and go and see for myself. After
sixty days tour I can candidly say what
ne mas written. so far as | saw, Is per-
fectly true, and he is certainly 10 be con-
graduated on placing the subject before
the public In such lucid manner L WIS.,
ited most OF the principal electric con-
struction companies, engine builders, tool
and electric power plants, and in every
case and everywhere / saw how far and
away advanced they are over US in methods
OF construction. design and magnitude one
electric power station in New York alone
has 5000 horse power, and their success
Is due to the extraordinary care and atten-
ton which are given to every minute de-
tail, not one point being missed. II was
evident that, unless radically alter and
improve our system generally, We shall be
left far behind. How many people cross
the Atlantic to see and on return produce
any tangible results? Generally, visits end
and, no matter what his calling in life,
does his very best for his employer. and
has far more interest and pride In his
work than the average Britisher. From
what / saw it is not only in engineering
we are behind: IL is the same story In many
branches of industry. They are a wonder
ful people. and there is no telling what
they VIII control in time What struck me
most was the human element. People you
meet are well educated, neatly dressed,
well spoken and reside i'm comfortable
American has an ambition before him
which always keeps him to the front. And,
again. their railway, steamboat and street.
car travelling is luxurious compared to our
old-fashioned methods of locomotion. Their
ordinary freight cars are worth notice: they
carry 100000 pounds. Everywhere you look
they save labor and consequently cheaper
production.
The writer of this letter says that wher-
ever he went in this country he was treated
with the greatest courtesy. and that Amer
lean workshops were thrown open to him
sin a way that showed they had no secrets
to keep and did not fear their supremacy.
He concludes by saying that If British
manufacturers and employees would only
admit that they are beaten and endeavor
TO reorganize and take fresh start, 81
believe we might yet hold our own and
regain much of the lost foreign trade
American manufacturers will be greatly
mistaken if they imagine that their British
brethren will become easy victims to Amer
lean supremacy. On the contrary, if they
have TO die they will die hard. John Bull
Is a hard customer to down, and still
harder to hold down. He is not as quick,
inventive and enterprising as Brother Jona-
than. but i'm the long run he is quite as
resourceful. He may be little slow in the
race. but he is long winded. and what he
lacks in speed he is apt to make up in
staying qualities. Because American man
ufactures are just now in the ascendant
American manufacturers should not con-
clude that they have won a permanent vic
tory. Eternal vigilance and effort are the
price of commercial ascendancy