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England〃 are rapidly becoming reconstructed of iron。 In short； we are
in the midst of what Mr。 Worsaae has characterized as the Age of
Iron。
At the celebration of the opening of the North Wales Railway at
Bangor； almost within sight of his iron bridge across the Straits of
Menai； Robert Stephenson said； 〃We are daily producing from the
bowels of the earth a raw material； in its crude state apparently of
no worth； but which； when converted into a locomotive engine； flies
over bridges of the same material； with a speed exceeding that of the
bird； advancing wealth and comfort throughout the country。 Such are
the powers of that all…civilizing instrument； Iron。〃
Iron indeed plays a highly important part in modem civilization。 Out
of it are formed alike the sword and the ploughshare； the cannon and
the printing…press； and while civilization continues partial and
half…developed； as it still is； our liberties and our industry must
necessarily in a great measure depend for their protection upon the
excellence of our weapons of war as well as on the superiority of our
instruments of peace。 Hence the skill and ingenuity displayed in the
invention of rifled guns and artillery； and iron…sided ships and
batteries； the fabrication of which would be impossible but for the
extraordinary development of the iron…manufacture； and the marvellous
power and precision of our tool…making machines； as described in
preceding chapters。
〃Our strength； wealth； and commerce；〃 said Mr。 Cobden in the course
of a recent debate in the House of Commons； 〃grow out of the skilled
labour of the men working in metals。 They are at the foundation of
our manufacturing greatness； and in case you were attacked； they
would at once be available； with their hard hands and skilled brains；
to manufacture your muskets and your cannon； your shot and your
shell。 What has given us our Armstrongs； Whitworths； and Fairbairns；
but the free industry of this country？ If you can build three times
more steam…engines than any other country； and have threefold the
force of mechanics； to whom and to what do you owe that； but to the
men who have trained them； and to those principles of commerce out of
which the wealth of the country has grown？ We who have some hand in
doing that； are not ignorant that we have been and are increasing the
strength of the country in proportion as we are raising up skilled
artisans。〃*
＇footnote。。。
House of Commons Debate； 7th July； 1862。
。。。＇
The reader who has followed us up to this point will have observed
that handicraft labour was the first stage of the development of
human power； and that machinery has been its last and highest。 The
uncivilized man began with a stone for a hammer； and a splinter of
flint for a chisel； each stage of his progress being marked by an
improvement in his tools。 Every machine calculated to save labour or
increase production was a substantial addition to his power over the
material resources of nature； enabling him to subjugate them more
effectually to his wants and uses； and every extension of machinery
has served to introduce new classes of the population to the
enjoyment of its benefits。 In early times the products of skilled
industry were for the most part luxuries intended for the few；
whereas now the most exquisite tools and engines are employed in
producing articles of ordinary consumption for the great mass of the
community。 Machines with millions of fingers work for millions of
purchasersfor the poor as well as the rich； and while the machinery
thus used enriches its owners； it no less enriches the public with
its products。
Much of the progress to which we have adverted has been the result of
the skill and industry of our own time。 〃Indeed；〃 says Mr。 Fairbairn；
〃the mechanical operations of the present day could not have been
accomplished at any cost thirty years ago； and what was then
considered impossible is now performed with an exactitude that never
fails to accomplish the end in view。〃 For this we are mainly indebted
to the almost creative power of modern machine…tools； and the
facilities which they present for the production and reproduction of
other machines。 We also owe much to the mechanical agencies employed
to drive them。 Early inventors yoked wind and water to sails and
wheels； and made them work machinery of various kinds； but modern
inventors have availed themselves of the far more swift and powerful；
yet docile force of steam； which has now laid upon it the heaviest
share of the burden of toil； and indeed become the universal drudge。
Coal； water； and a little oil； are all that the steam…engine； with
its bowels of iron and heart of fire； needs to enable it to go on
working night and day； without rest or sleep。 Yoked to machinery of
almost infinite variety； the results of vast ingenuity and labour；
the Steam…engine pumps water； drives spindles； thrashes corn； prints
books； hammers iron； ploughs land； saws timber； drives piles； impels
ships； works railways； excavates docks； and； in a word； asserts an
almost unbounded supremacy over the materials which enter into the
daily use of mankind； for clothing； for labour； for defence； for
household purposes； for locomotion； for food； or for instruction。
End