Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1844-05-24

From the New York Tribune
Progress of Science and improvements in the
Useful Arts.
Tho Annual Report Of the Commissioner of
Patents Henry l.. ELLSWORTH has just been laid
on the desks OF the House. 1t is document of
335 large pages, ombodying a large amount OF
most valuable information with regard to recent
improvements in Agricultural processes. imple
ments, machinery, &C, and in the Uset2l Arts
generally. 1t is document which should be IN
the hands of every farmer. manufacturer and
mechanic in the land, though Of course It will
como very short OF it. 1t IS full OF Agricultural
Statistics also, among wich is a statement of the
duties lowed Agricultural Products by the
different nations of the civilized world. learn
from it that Canada. which has long boon open
market for Cattle, has recently excluded them
by duty equivalent to fifty per cent A tul ac-
count IS given of a-process, hitherto secret, by
which butter be kept for years fresh and
sweet in any climate. There is also full des-
cription Of the mode Of making "Bommer's Pa
tent Manure which has been claimed and sup
posed to be patented here, and for which citizens
have paid handsome sums. Accounts given
Of MANY now Ito us) and valuable Plants, and I'M
proved varieties of Grains, Grasses, &c. already
known, which our farmers ought to be made ia
miIiar with. Mr.. Ellsworth estimates tho agri-
cultural products Of country for 1913 fol-
lows:
+ Il
Corn, do 49i,6iS, 1906, Tobacco, lbs 1878 ,554
Oats. do 1922 96GICotton, do ~ 1909
Rye, do 2l,2So 27l Rice, do 69,s79,I45
Barley, do 3.220,72l silk, do 2l5.o65
Bnckvhea,. 7,959.4o Sugar. do G6.4003lo
Potatoes, Do lo5,756. 1873 Vine, gallons 1920
Estimated present population, L. S. 10. 49,
oS3.-Thcro were granted during 1913 no less
than 33I Patonts while Is expired during
tho same period. There wero $40 applications.
| The wolc number Of patents issued by the Gov
crnment is 1898. The receipts of tho Patent
Office during 1913 were @35,3l5; the expendl-
lures S24.759; returned to claimants of whose
claims to Patents wore denied, S5,O26. For re-
storing tho Models, &c. destroyed by tho burning
of tho old Patent Office, Si,5:}S.
The following passages from tho report enlbody
q summary Of tho moro important improvements
and inventions of the past year:
''ln tho operation of the new furnaces in the
Patont Office. curious effect IS produced by par
ticuar ventilation, and deserves remark. Ncnti-
aton IS often obtained through the ceiling only;
bat, far as it respects rooms heated by hot air
furnaces only. this method is an incorrect one
Let an aperture be made at the top of room. and
tho warm air instantly escapes but if opening
Is made near tho floor. the cold air within tho
| room passes ont and the air dosccnts TO
fill the space
An experiment. pro, ing This, was tried in dry
ing clothes IN room without ventilation. heated
by air furnaces; the clothes that were in the upper
part of tho room dried well, whic those IN the
lower part of the room still continued moist. rs
soon. however. rs an aperture made for Ven
tiIation below. drauglt given 10 the furnace.
the cold air expelled. and the clothes dried rapid
~. The public viii thus sec how easily sori-
difficulty IN heating rooms may be overcome.
In my last report. count was given of
mode of constructing cheap cottages of unburnt
brick. The numerous experiments of similar
kind since attempted in the United States, and tho
satisfaction there experienced, together with tho
mark that from accounts of tho similar Of
such bricks IN Egypt. 1t Is proved that they have
been found undccayed and sound III arches which
have even stood the lapse of 1900 years. The
/ cottage erected by myself on Massachusetts,
nue., iii full sight of tho Capitol, and which Is two
| stories III height stands we'll. and appears
handsome the best brick houses; and being
warm in w inter, and cool in Summer, iustiiies
me fully IN recommending a similar mode of
building, especially where clay is abundant and
timber scarce.
Some have doubted the policy of erecting such
houses in cold climates; but 1t NAV be remarked
that in Canada these buildings have been SUCCESS
| fully proved.
BY means of preparation. by cxhausting tho
air. and thon infusing sulphate of iron other
substances into tho pores of the wood for rail-
roads. it Is said tho wood has been rendered so
hard that the iron wheel Of tho leaves trace
! after more than years use of this '.metallic'
wood.
By valuable machine, with ten woke of oxen
and five hands. q ditch Of suitable depth for drain
ing lands. Ii inches deep. and 80 inches wide at
/ the top.l ten miles NAV be oxcavated in one dav.
at expense, by contract. of not moro than ,
cents per rod. A larger machine, with a greater
number of oxen. will cxcavate Il ditch three feet
deep. The great importance of such an instru-
nlent on the praries of the West will at once be
seen and acknowledged.
The rapid improv ements of the arts may help
10 account for the reduction Of price to many
articles of manufacture, and especially in some
/ that usually ranked among the ncccssaries of