an autobiography-第51章
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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 left their service with excellent recommendations。 I soon after engaged him as foreman of the pattern…making department。 He was a most able man in some of the more important branches of mechanical engineering。 He had； besides； an excellent knowledge of building operations。 I found him of great use in superintending the erection of the additional workshops which were required in proportion as our business extended。 He made out full…sized chalk…line drawings from my original pencil sketches； on the large floor of the pattern store； and from these were formed the working drawings for the new buildings。 He had a wonderful power of rapidity and clearness in apprehending new subjects； and the way in which he depicted them in large drawings was quite masterly。 John Clerk and I spent many an hour on our knees together on the pattern store floor； and the result of our deliberations usually was some substantial addition to the workshops of the foundry； or some extra large and powerful machine tool。 This worthy man left our service to become a partner in an engineering concern in Ireland； and though he richly deserved his promotion； he left us to our very great regret。
The last of our foremen to whom I shall refer was worthy Thomas Crewdson。 He entered our service as a smith； in which pursuit he displayed great skill。 We soon noted the high order of his natural ability； promoted him from the ranks； and made him foreman of the smith's and forge…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 managing the men under his charge with such kind discretion as to maintain the most perfect harmony in the workshops。 This is always a matter of great 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 foremanship of the boiler…making department； in addition to that of the smith work； and to this he was afterwards appointed； with highly satisfactory results to all concerned。
So strongly and clearly impressed is my mind with the recollection of the valuable assistance which I received during my engineering life from those vicegerents of practical management at Patricroft； that I feel that I cannot proceed further in my narrative without thus placing the merits of these worthy men upon record。 It was a source of great good fortune to me to be associated with them； and I consider them to have been among the most important elements in the prosperity of the Bridgewater Foundry。 There were many others； in comparatively humble positions； whom I have also reason to remember with gratitude。 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 men work together harm
