Part 17 (1/2)

I was first inforton, then maker of the celebrated ”Lancashi+re files”

The ”P S,” or Peter Stubbs's files, were so vastly superior to other files, both in the superiority of the steel and in the perfection of the cutting, which long retained its efficiency, that every workloried in the possession and use of such durable tools

Being naturally interested in everything connected with tools and ly anxious to visit the factory where these admirable files were made I obtained an introduction to William Stubbs, then head of the firm, and was received by hiht be favoured with a sight of his factory, he replied that he had no factory, as such; and that all he had to do in supplying his large warehouse was to serve out the requisite quantities of pure cast steel as rods and bars to the worked the e workshops, principally situated in the neighbouring counties of Cheshi+re and Lancashi+re

This information surprised as well as pleased in of this peculiar systehbourhood It appears that Hugo de Lupus, William the Conqueror's Master of Arms, the first Earl of Chester, settled in North Cheshi+re shortly after the Conquest He occupied Halton Castle, and his workes of Appleton, Widnes, Prescot, and Cuerdley

There they produced coats of steel, mail armour, and steel and iron weapons, under the direct superintendence of their chief

The manufacture thus founded continued for h the use of armour was discontinued, the workers in steel and iron still continued fa chain armour and war instrue workmen made the best of files and steel tools of other kinds Their talents became hereditary, and the manufacture of wire in all its forhbourhood Mr Stubbs also informed me that most of the workmen's peculiar names for tools and implements were traceable to old Norman-French words He also stated that at Prescot a peculiar class of workreat skill in clock and watch; and that, in his opinion, they were the direct descendants of a swarinal Nor from the time of the Conquest To return to my narrative In the midst of such a habitually industrious population, it will be obvious that there was no difficulty in finding a sufficient supply of able workmen It was for the most part the most steady, respectable, and well-conducted classes of es they received, but for the sake of their own health and that of their families; for it will be res were surrounded by the fresh, free, open country

In the course of a few years the locality beca colony of skilled mechanics In order to add to the acco nuht acres, was leased from Squire Trafford on the same teres for the foremen and workmen were erected At the same time substantial brick workshops were built in accordance with eneral plan, tobusiness, until at length a large and coraving

[I by Alexander Nase of Worsley, the headquarters of the Bridgewater Canal, supplied us with a valuable set of workmen They were, in the first place, labourers; but, like all Lancashi+re men, they were naturally possessed of a quick aptitude for mechanical occupations connected with machinery Our chief e heavy castings and parts of machinery froreat care and judght not be disturbed, and that the ht proceed towards their completion without any unnecessary delay

None but those who have had practical acquaintance with the i skilful labourers to perform these apparently humble, but in reality very important functions, can form an adequate idea of the value of such services

All the requisite qualities we required were found in the Worsley labourers They had been accustomed to the heaviest class of work in connection with the Bridgewater Canal They had been thoroughly trained in the handling of all manner of ponderous objects

They perforness It was quite a treat to me to look on and observe their rapid and skilful operations in lifting and transporting ponderous portions of machinery, in which a vast amount of costly work had been eines had been finished, it was the business of the same work alongside the foundry, or to the boats at the canal wharf In all these hly depended upon

Where they showed the possession, in any special degree, of a truelabourers the est andht up all the technical arts andof these machines was extraordinary The results were entirely satisfactory to myself, as well as to the es which followed their advancerades of labour Thus I had no difficulty inetic class of Worsley labourers It is by this ”selection of the fittest” that the true source of the prosperity of every largeestablishment depends I believe that Free Trade in Ability has a much closer relation to national prosperity than even Free Trade in Commodities

But here I came into collision with another class of workmen--those who are of opinion that employers should select for promotion, not those who are the fittest and most skilful, but those who have served a seven years' apprenticeshi+p and are members of a Trades' Union

It seemed to me that this interference with the free selection and promotion of the fittest was at variance with free choice of the best men, and that it was calculated, if carried out, to strike at the root of the chief source of our prosperity If every workman of the same class went in the saes, irrespective of his natural or acquired ability, such a system would destroy the emulative spirit which forms the chief basis of manipulative efficiency and practical skill, and on which, inestablishments mainly depends But before I proceed to refer to the strike of Unionists, which for a time threatened to destroy, or at all events to impede the spirit of enterprise and the free choice of skilful workewater Foundry, I desire to say a feords about those excellent helpers, the fore fro to end

I must place my most worthy, zealous, and faithful Archy Torry at the top of the list He rose fro my only workeneral foreht to bear upon h exah he was in soher principles of engineering and mechanical construction, I was always ready to supply that defect His hearty zeal and cheerful te the men, had a sympathetic influence upon all about him His voice had the same sort of influence upon them as the drum and fife on a soldier's march: it quickened their hbour ines

That was always a sad disaster, as all hands were idle until the repair was effected Archy was in his glory on such occasions By his ready zeal and energy he soon got over the difficulty, repaired the engines, and set the people to work again He becaency He never spared himself, and his example had an excellent effect upon every workman under him

Another of my favourite workshop lieutenants was Ja forehton, Edinburgh He was fully ten years lass's I looked up to him as a man of authority I had obtained from him many a valuable wrinkle in h he had e his condition But he pro there, he should be glad to coive him employment Shortly after ot into full working order, I received a letter froland, and asking if there was any vacancy in our establishht be employed to fill up It so happened that the foremanshi+p of turners was then vacant I inforland he was duly enrolled in our staff

The situation was a very important one, and Hutton filled it adhly knew every depart mechanism As I had provided small separate rooms or offices for every department of the establishment for the use of the foremen, where they kept their memoranda and special tools, I had often the pleasure of conferring with Hutton as to some point of interest, or when I wished to passdefect in soave an opinion, Hutton always took a pinch of snuff to stiive him a little time for consideration He would turn the subject over in his ht He would give his verdict carefully, shrewdly, and truthfully

Hutton remained a faithful and valued servant in the concern for nearly thirty years, and died at a ripe old age Notwithstanding his ence, Hutton was of too cautious a teer, otherwise he would have been elevated to that position Ain width, breadth, and largeness of teifts becoanisation; he soon ceases to be a ”hand,” and becoenerally rise from the employed to be the employer

Another of my excellent assistants was John Clerk He had been for a long ti had a serious difference with one of the foremen, he left their service with excellent recoed hi department He was a most able ineering He had, besides, an excellent knowledge of building operations I found hi the erection of the additional workshops which were required in proportion as our business extended He inal pencil sketches, on the large floor of the pattern store, and fros He had a wonderful power of rapidity and clearness in apprehending new subjects, and the way in which he depicted thes was quite masterly

John Clerk and I spent ether on the pattern store floor, and the result of our deliberations usually was some substantial addition to the workshops of the foundry, or soe and powerful machine tool This worthyconcern in Ireland; and though he richly deserved his proret

The last of our foremen to whom I shall refer orthy Thomas Crewdson He entered our service as a sreat skill We soon noted the high order of his natural ability; promoted hie-work department In this he displayed every quality of excellence, not only in seeing to the turning out of the forge work in the highest state of perfection, but in e with such kind discretion as to maintain the most perfect harreat importance --that the foreman should inspire the workmen with his own spirit, and keep up their harmony and activity to the most productive point

Crewdson was so systematic in his use of time that we found that he was able also to undertake the fore department, in addition to that of the shly satisfactory results to all concerned

So strongly and clearly impressed is my mind with the recollection of the valuable assistance which I received during ement at Patricroft, that I feel that I cannot proceed further inthe reat good fortune to me to be associated with the the ewater Foundry There were many others, in comparatively huratitude

In all well-conducted concerns the law of ”selection of the fittest”

sooner or later comes into happy action, when a loyal and attached set of e as well as for that of their employers

It was not, however, without some difficulty that ere allowed to carry out our views as to Free Trade in Ability As the buildings were increased, more men were taken on--from Manchester, Bolton, Liverpool, as well as from more distant places We were soonto their her wages in proportion to their skill, ability, industry, and natural intelligence, was quite contrary to the views of e access of orders for machinery, which they knew had come into the foundry, to wait upon us suddenly, and to lay down their Trade Union law for our observance