Lincoln telegraph., 1839-10-10
IMPORTANT INVENTION.

About eight years ago, Mr. Joseph Dix
oh, formerly of Salem, and recently of this
city, Engraver, discovered. or rather inren-
It'd, process of transferring manuscript
or printing of any kind to stone, and thence
multiplying copies TO any extent whatever,
after the process Of common ithography.
His Excellency Gov. Everett, Gen. Dear
born, and several other gentlemen, by in
vi,aton ofthe inventor, have recently visit
ed the press for the purpose of testing the
experiment, We were present, aud were
equally gra,fed at the wonderful invention.
1t is applicable alike to recently written or
printed copy, and to old books, with this
difference. recent copy may be place on the
stone without previous preparation, but old
copy must be exposed, for a few minutes,t to
chemical solution, to render it capable Of
being impressed on the stone.
A leaf of an old work, in Hebrew char
ter, printed 60 years ago, after being ex-
posed to the solution for ten minutes, was
placed on the stone: in five minutes it was
passed under the press, and distinct ver-
sion inherited, was impressed on the stone
as efectually, as though it had been engra-
we'd by laboreous process The stone
was then prepared for multiplying copies
admfnit,nn We saw several copies struck
off, and each was an exac, fac simlle of the
original Hebrew printed copy. In short a
stereotype plate was thus off hand prepared
for striking off thousands Of copies.
A part OF a newspaper, containing adver-
tisements, with figures of houses, ships,
&c, was next exposed to a similar process,
and Immediately transferred inverted, to the
stone, with the same capacity for being
multiplied.
A certificate Of the opinion of those pres
ent of the success of the art was then
drawn up, and placed on the stone prepar-
ed to receive it, In few minutes it was
transferred as before, and the stone thus
contained an impression, capable of being
struck off in any numbers
Indeed, this important invention results
in this. Any kind of manuscript, any kind
of printing or engraving, in course of a
few minutes, can be transferred to stone.
This stone serves photographic type or
plate from which copies TO an unlimited
extent may be taken. For example, Mr.
Dixon could take a copy of the Presidents
Message, and, in the course IF a few min
utes transfer it precisely to stone, and then
he would have his type all set up, 'cithout
eren haUing to read his proof, and could
make impressions for the public. Such an
art has tendency to produce revolution
in the art of printing.
The secret of the art consists of some
chemical process discovered by the inven-
tor, which of course he reserves to himself,
and all that we have seen are the results,
which are open to the public inspection.
We stated in the outset that Mr. Dixon
invented this process some eight years ago.
The question arises, why has he kept it so
long in reserve? Like many other ngen-
ious men, he has lacked the means of an
extensive application of his art, and proba-
bly, too, like some other discoverers, he
has neglected to make the best use of his
art. He has, however, abundant proofs,
tha, he applied it successfully seven years
ago, and some account was given of it in
a Salem paper of 1882. Since that period
it has reapsed almost into oblivion.
But his attention has been quickened IN
to new activity, by recent account in {
Paris paper, of similar invention ii
france. 1t was examined by the King