ferent type, and with scarcely a sufficiency of those to set up a seven-by-nine sheet, may now be seen the beautiful Power Press, propelled by steam, with type of the most exquisite shape and finish. More is now accomplished in minutes, than used to be performed in hours! Any one who will take the trouble to visit the magnificent Printing Establishments in Rochester and Buffalo, will admit the truthfulness of this remark.—This branch of business has fully kept pace with the other improvements of the day, and added very greatly to the general, and I may add, the almost universal diffusion of knowledge and information among the people.
Now, as formerly, there is a too prevalent error among the people, or at least a certain class of them, aided more or less by the ready credulity of members of the Craft, to augment the number of Newspaper establishments. It is too often the case, that young and inexperienced members of the profession suffer themselves to be made the dupes of aspiring political demagogues, and senseless, but noisy, reformers of the ills of life, and are thus reduced to embark in the busy turmoil of the day, without any substantial basis upon which to rest their hopes of success. To this cause, no doubt, may be attributed most of the failures that have attended the establishment of the Press, in this, as well as other portions of the state. Success in such cases is scarcely to be expected, and, indeed, ought not to be desired.—Young men should be particularly cautious about embarking in such enterprises, as a first failure, generally speaking, haunts them through life,—loading them down, with hopeless debts, and damping their ardor for future combats, and a successful struggle with the enterprise of the day.
I must be permitted before closing these remarks, to bear my most unqualified approbation to the good that must inevitably result to the profession—and if to them, to the public also—in the due observance of the annual return of the natal day of their feilow-craftsman, the great, and ever-to-be-remembered, Franklin. The Printers of Rochester were the first to move in this matter, in Western New-York—nobly and generously have they carried it forward thus far. They deserve, and I doubt not, will receive, the thanks of the Craft generally. Such a gathering of the Craft—entertaining as they do, various and discordant opinions on many of the exciting topics of the day—is calculated to do good. It tends to soften the asperities of party strife—gives them better conceptions of one another, and leads to the cultivation of a personal good will, that cannot fail to exhibit itself ill the prosecution of their individual business. Let the annual return of the day, therefore, be hailed with joy and delight by the Printers of Western New-York.
NOTE.
The Committee beg to make an explanation in respect to the mechanical execution of This publication. Partly for the sake of economy, (the pamphlet being issued at the risk and expense of the Committee,) and partly for other reasons, this atyle of typography has been adopted. They trust the Craft will appreciate their efforts, and make proper allowances for unavoidable deficences.
In respect to the History, the Committee are under the utmost obligations to Mr. Follett, for the kindness with which he undertook, and the ability with which he executed, the labor they assigned him.
It is due, however, to the Committee, to the Craft, and especially to Mr. F., to say, that in many cases the sources relied on for information, have either wholly or partially failed. Nevertheless, a great amount of exceedingly interesting facts will be found embodied in this history; and the Committee indulge the hope that the present publication will prove the forerunner of future works, more extended, full, and important than it has been in their power at this time to provide.
