The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-06
TAKING BRITISH TRADE.


u a.o - Ahtp -
lands Own Field.
London Daily Mail.
The American bridge competition is typi-
cal of the whole. Ten years ago England
was first in this industry; now England is
very much second. Here each engineer
makes his own patterns and endeavors 10
give his designs an individual touch which
shall be the distinctive mark of his work.
The Americans have standardized their pat
terms. Their large practice in constructing
new ways in the West has enabled them TO
perfect their plans. and the have fitted up
most elaborate bridge-building machinery.
They have reduced the work TO an exact
science. and. thanks TO Standardization. the
putting together of the greatest bridge is
like putting together the parts OF a
Waltham watch. Hence American bridges
to-day are cheaper. simpler, better de-
signed and can be much more rapidly con-
structed than any we can make.
This was first seen when contracts were
asked for the making of Atbara bridge. a
structure of 622 tons. The English wanted
twenty-six weeks for construction and
asked fifteen guineas a ton. The Ameri-
cans offered to do the work in fourteen
weeks for el0 l3s Cd a ton. Our manu-
facturers complained of favoritism when
the Americans got the contract.
For the Goktiek viaduct, in Burma. the
difference was still more striking. This
Is a much larger work. of 1882 tons. The
americans asked sl5 a ton and one year
for construction. The English wanted E2S
los a ton and three years 10 complete the
work. For the Uganda viaducts OF 1000
tons, the Americans wanted SIS a ton and
Iorty-slx weeks time, the English 81 Us
Cd and 130 weeks time. In each case the
work was given out under English engi-
neers, Sir Douglas Fox for Atbara and Sir
y. Rendel for Gokteik and Uganda. If
there had been anything like equal com
petition they and the official authorities
over them would naturally have preferred
English makers. But even patriotism must
draw the line at giving an English maker
90 per cent. more and delaying your work
two years while he does his share.
Turn to machine tools. The American
machine tool is now found in practically
every progressive English works to-day. In
Sheffield itself, the home of English tools.
the makers are now using American ap-
paratus, working from American patterns
and are paying the American inventors
heavy royalties. This should be as alarm
ing TO those who know anything of trade
conditions as is the other fact, that the
American consul at Birmingham frequently
receives local inquiries for American max
ers of such peculiarly midland articles as
rivets, cold stamped builders ironmongery
and steel butt hinges.
The engineering strike was the real COM
mencement of the introduction of Amer
lean steel goods into England; the great
cycling boom was the beginning OF the in
PRODUCTION of the American automatic tool
English firms had to increase their output.
Some of them sent 10 America for machine
tools. Others saw these tools, and their
use spread here like wildfre.
In turret lathes and ordinary lathes the
Americans have been especially successful.
In the old-time British lathe the workman
lost tir1e BY substituting one tool for an
other. In the turret lathe A full selection
of tools is fitted In the lathe, and the work
| man nv turning his fllrref brings the tool
he wants into use. To save time is TO save
money, and so, hough the Americans
royalties, and though British workmen and
masters by no means care for these new
inventions, the stress of competition has
forced them to adopt them.
Turn to printing machinery. Here the
American makers are absolute masters of
the field. No first-class daily or weekly
paper to-day, when laying down new ma
chinery, would think of having anything
gan by introducing fast automatic presses,
printing on single machines 24.0 copies an
hour. Work that had formerly taken many
presses and an army of engineers and
pressmen. layers, cutters, folders. counters.
and / know not who, all was done by one
or two. A quadruple machine, turning out
5000 papers an hour, employs perhaps half
a dozen men in feeding, minding and cart
ing away the automatically folded, bound.
stitched and counted sheets. Formerly ii
would have wanted nearly a hundred people
10 do the same work.
English employers simply had TO have
these machines. They were dear, and de-
livery took a long time. The American
printing machine works. in spite of con-
slant and enormous engagements. are full
up always for many months ahead, while
the English machines are rusting In the
store rooms of secondhand vendors. And
from giant machines the American makers
have gone on to every branch of the trade.
They brought in folding machines which
would fold from twice TO three times as
quickly as the English. And SO on through
all the minor apparatus which interests
none but those in the trade.
The same thing is true of the American
machinery in almost every business. Ii
saves time, it turns out more, and puts
money In the pocket of the man who buys
lish competitor. AS another illustration I
take a report made to an American consul
| by an English engineer. The consul made
personal inquiries and verified the facts.
Before my firm began TO use this
(American) machinery, the company had
four British machines for preparing Ma
Mia fibre for rope making. The combined
daily output of these machines did not ex-
coed three and a half tons. An American
machine was introduced costing 5000
chimes. II Is worked by two operatives of
the same class and receiving the same rate
of wages as did those who managed the
British machines. II is capable of turning
pushed, and IL actually does turn out four
tons each day. The product from the
American machine is of better quality than
from the British. When this American
machine demonstrated its utility. others
were added to the plant from time TO time"
In view of such facts as these. what is
the use Of British makers shrieking about
unfair competition? Let them set to and
better than their rivals. Then trade will
return to them.