Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1845-04-29
From the Albany Argus.
THE PROGRESS OF THE USEFUL
ARTS In THE UNITED STATES.

ARTS In THE UNITED STATES.
Foreigners often remark that we are in
the habit Of holding ourselves up as won
derful people, yet it seems TO US that our
national vanity will be strengthened by a
perusal Of the recent report Of the Paten,
Office. At a glance, the mind can perceive
wha, stride, during even one year, the
improvements have advanced in all those
articles which add to the comforts or hap
piness of man.
The Patent Office at Washington, has
been appropriately called the visible Embo-
diment Of American character. Genius
and Liberty are clearly TO be traced in the
thousands Of rare models there gathered,
from every section Of the Union. The
history Of the arts seem TO show that i, is
an Instinct in every American TO supposc
that nothing is as il should be-that even
those things which seem The most perfect,
are susceptible Of some new and additional
improvement. The American mechanic
looks upon things as they are, not to ad-
mire, but to see some defect, il order :hat
a remedy may be added. $50 ahead"
seems 10 be his continual spur from the
cradle TO the grave. This ha. unques,on.
ably become a national Characteristic
The beauty Of usefulness, rather than the
mere beauty Of the eye, is a national pas
sion, yet it seems TO be an all-wise law.
that as Improvements are more and more
perfected, it is found that true and most
perfect taste accords with the highest use.
fitness.
The great object of the mechanic arts of
this country is TO make more beautiful
article with less and less expense. One
can see at moment the sound democ ratio
tendencies of such improvements. They
enable those in moderate circumstances,
and they must ever constitute the great
mass, 10 maintain appearances with their
more wealthy neigbors, and thus diminish
those wide distinctions which are too apt
to grow between them as our country
grows in wealth and population. Social
inequalities are undoubtedly one Of the
great causes Of alienation and distrust be-
tween the rich and the poor. A true patriot
will, therefore, hail with joy every improve
ment that cheapens the expense Of furnish
ing. while it beauties and renders more
comfortable the lowly dwelling of tho poor.
These improvements will be the bes, cemen,
10 bind together the rich and the poor.
Such thoughts naturally arise while rea-
ding the history Of patents granted during
the last year. They embrace every branch
to which mechanical ingenuity is applied f;
| from Improvements in the manufacture of
| iron. sugar, and salt, to the most trif1ing
articles.
Four hundred and ninety-eight new pa
tents have been issued during the past year.
The applications for patents exceeded one
thousand. 1t is gratifying TO perceive tina,
the patents were on subjects eminently ma
tional. or the four hundred and ninety
eight, sixty-nine, or ons-seventh Of the
whole, were for improvements in agricul-
tural implements. This speaks well for
the attention and science which is now d.
rected to the tillage Of the soil. In chem
istry. the handmade Of agriculture, twenty
seven were granted.
While we are speaking Of mechanical
ingenuity, it reminds US Of very remark
able recent invention, by an English me-
chanic. For ages past, quicksilver, COM
monty known as mercury, has been the
only coating for mirrors. A coating OF!
silver is now substituted. Ii is we'll known
that the working in mercury is extremely
unhealthy. almost poisonous. The use Of
silver renders i. a perfectly healthy trade,
while the mirrors are said to exceed in the
beauty and power Of reflection, those fin
ished with quicksilver. This discovery is
Of SO great Importance, that it is said tho
Rothschilds, who work the grea! quicksil.
Ger mines Of Mexico, have offered $780,
900 for the suppression Of The discovery.
Among the very ingenious American
inventions, during the last year, there is
one in the sticking of pins on paper, which
is thus inteligibly explained:
! "The machine for sticking pins in pa.
pers, TO which our attention was called lasl
year, although an important discovery in
this branch Of manufacturing industry, was
very imperfect, from tho circumstance tina,
the operatives had to arrange the pins with
the heads all in the same direc,ion-ths
most troublesome part of the operation,
from its excessive tediousness. But this
difficulty has since been removed and now,
by simple con,rivanee, The pins, from q
titaSS put iuto VIC HoPpOi, iou uoWH tWe
inclined planes, placed at such distance
apart as TO receive their shanks. but mo-
the head; and in this way, with the poin
down, they are delivered in the machine,
which sticks them in the papers for the
market"
This invention is Of some moment, a.
heretofore the expense Of sticking them BY
hand, almost precluded the hope Of sue
cessful composition with the European
workshops The American manufactures
is now enabled to make better article
even than can be mads in England. The
annual inpor,a,ions into this Country, have
been, previously, thousands Of dollars.
A machine, lately patented, for making
Tuscan braid, for ingenuity of mechanical
arrangement; seems almost fabulous. The
report says:
1 "Aftet The pieces OF straw have been de-
posted in a box, the whole operation e
taking each separate piece. introducing
bending it over, trimming off the surplus,
and transferring or rs-iransferirs The pin.
GERS or nipPers by which the pieces are
held, and the completed braid. delivered, is
carried on with the most beautiful regulari