182 [Assembly 



Commercial]}' speaking, ten millions saved in our country is a 

 sum sufficiently large to keep the balance of trade in our favor; for, 

 at a time when the demands of trade shall require that amount per 

 annum more than our other exports in exchange for foreign imports, 

 the single circumstance of producing that article will be the cause 

 of preventing a ciash in the mercantile community. 



We deem it unnecessary to advert to the causes which may have 

 induced so important a branch of business to spring into existence 

 at a single bound; it is sufficient to know, other causes favoring, 

 that where a tolerable knowledge has been attained in any branch, 

 and the same is susceptible of being wrought under the physical en- 

 ergies of the steam engine, and the labor saving power of 'machinery, 

 the high order of mechanical genius and the untiring enterprise of 

 our countrymen, are sufficient for its accomplishment. 



It may be suggested that these remarks on the subject of producing 

 railroad bars by machinery, are somewhat foreign to our subject; but 

 we hope to be pardoned in the trespass, for it is entirely pertinent to 

 our subject to show the results of machinery as well as its progress. 



Before leaving this branch of our subject, improvements in the 

 means of transportation, we beg to state, that the number of loco- 

 motives now daily, and for the most part nightly in use in the Uni- 

 ted States, exceed 1,000; doing the labor of 500,000 horses. This 

 great change from horse to steam power, has seriously affected sales 

 of leather for harness purposes. » 



There are several other machines which contribute to the means of 

 transportation which must not be overlooked; also machinery for con- 

 veying intelligence of an astounding character. A machine for turn- 

 ing ships' blocks, dead eyes, &c., was invented by Mr. Thomas 

 Blanchard, some years since, and has done good service in the way 

 of ship tackle. The same has been applied to the turning of shoe- 

 lasts, gun-stocks, ox-yokes, and a variety of other articles. It acts 

 upon the principle of transferring from the shape of a model to a 

 duplicate to be turned. 



A machine for making horse-shoes has been invented, and others 

 for making horse-nails; the former invented and used to a large ex- 

 tent by Mr. Henry Burden, of Troy, to whose enterprise and inge- 

 nuity we are indebted for several useful machines in the manufacture 

 of iron and iron articles. 



