an autobiography-第45节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
om Hugo de Lupus's original Norman hive of refined metal…workers； dating 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 mechanics who sought my employmentnot only for the good wages they received； but for the sake of their own health and that of their families； for it will be remembered that the foundry and the workmen's dwellings were surrounded by the fresh； free； open country。 In the course of a few years the locality became a thriving colony of skilled mechanics。 In order to add to the accommodation of the increasing numbers； an additional portion of land； amounting to eight acres； was leased from Squire Trafford on the same terms as before。 On this land suitable houses and cottages for the foremen and workmen were erected。 At the same time substantial brick workshops were built in accordance with my original general plan； to meet the requirements of our rapidly expanding business； until at length a large and commodious factory was erected； as shown in the annexed engraving。
＇Image＇ Bridgewater Foundry Patricroft。 From a painting by Alexander Nasmyth。
The village 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 Lancashire men； they were naturally possessed of a quick aptitude for mechanical occupations connected with machinery。 Our chief employment of these so…called labourers was in transporting heavy castings and parts of machinery from one place to another。 To do this properly required great care and judgment； in order that the parts might not be disturbed； and that the mechanics might proceed towards their completion without any unnecessary delay。 None but those who have had practical acquaintance with the importance of having 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 performed their work with energy and willingness。 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 embodied。 After the machines or engines had been finished； it was the business of the same workmen to remove them from the workshops to the railway…siding alongside the foundry； or to the boats at the canal wharf。 In all these matters the Worsley men could be thoroughly depended upon。
Where they showed the possession； in any special degree； of a true mechanical faculty； I was enabled to select from the working labourers the most effective men to take charge of the largest and most powerful machine toolssuch as planing machines； lathes； and boring machines。 The ease and rapidity with which they caught up all the technical arts and manipulations connected with the effective working of these machines was extraordinary。 The results were entirely satisfactory to myself； as well as to the men themselves； by the substantial rise in their wages which followed their advancement to higher grades of labour。 Thus I had no difficulty in manning my machine tools by drawing my recruits from this zealous and energetic class of Worsley labourers。 It is by this 〃selection of the fittest〃 that the true source of the prosperity of every large manufacturing establishment 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 workmenthose 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' apprenticeship 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 same rut； and were paid the same uniform rate of wages； 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； in my opinion； the prosperity of our manufacturing establishments 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 workmen； in which I desired to conduct the Bridgewater Foundry； I desire to say a few words about those excellent helpers； the foremen engineers； who zealously helped me in my undertaking from beginning to end。
I must place my most worthy； zealous； and faithful Archy Torry at the top of the list。 He rose from being my only workman when I first started in Manchester； to be my chief general foreman。 The energy and devotion which he brought to bear upon my interests set a high example to all in my employment。 Although he was in some respects deficient in his knowledge of the higher principles of engineering and mechanical construction； I was always ready to supply that defect。 His hearty zeal and cheerful temper； and his energetic movement when among 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 movements。 We were often called in by our neighbour manufacturers to repair a breakdown of their engines。 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 became quite famous in these cases of extreme urgency。 He never spared himself； and his example had an excellent effect upon every workman under him。
Another of my favourite workshop lieutenants was James Hutton。 He had been leading foreman to my worthy friend George Douglass； of Old Broughton； Edinburgh。 He was fully ten years my senior； and when working at Douglass's I looked up to him as a man of authority。 I had obtained from him many a valuable wrinkle in mechanical and technical construction。 After I left Edinburgh he had emigrated to the United States for the purpose of bettering his condition。 But he promised me that if disappointed in his hopes of settling there； he should be glad to come into my service if I was ever in a position to give him employment。 Shortly after my removal to Patricroft； and when everything had been got into full working order； I received a letter from him in which he said that he was anxious to return to England； and asking if there was any vacancy in our establishment that he might be employed to fill up。 It so happened that the foremanship of turners was then vacant。 I informed Hutton of the post； and on his return to England he was duly enrolled in our staff。
The situation was a very important one； and Hutton filled it admirably。 He was a sound practical man； and thoroughly knew every department of engineering 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 pass my ideas and designs through the ordeal of his judgment； in order that I might find out any lurking defect in some proposed mechanical arrangement。 Before he gave an opinion； Hutton always took a pinch of snuff to stimulate his intellect； or rather to give him a little time for consideration。 He would turn the subject over in his mind。 But I knew that I could trust his keenness of insight。 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 mechanical intelligence； Hutton was of too cautious a temperament to have acted as a general foreman or manager； otherwise he would have been elevated to that position。 A man may be admirable in details； but be wanting in width； breadth； and largeness of temperament and intellect。 The man who possesses the latter gifts becomes great in organisation； he soon ceases to be a 〃hand；〃 and becomes a 〃head；〃 and such men generally rise from the employed to be the employer。
Another of my excellent assistants was John Clerk。 He had been for a long time in the service of Fairbairn and Lillie； but having had a serious difference with one of the foremen； he
