The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-07-22

:ea+e.s,'
whom they iutrpsted, until the year 146l,
whoa, by the dispersion Of their servants in
to different countries,at the sacking OF Mentz
by the Archbishop Adolphus, the invention
was publicly divulged. Whether it was kept
Il secret from selfish motives, or through fear
of the superstition Of the people, 1T IS difficult
to determine.
What is now the condition ofthe printing
art, and what has it not accomplished Inc
time has been even IN the memory Oh our
Young men, when the practice OF the art was
comparatiyoly slow, and exceedingly laooTl-
nus. A few wears ago, pres5man could only
throw off about 1870 sheets per hour, with the
snverest labor Now, to the honor OF invent
i've Genius be it said, from 10000 to $4,000
sheets can be printed in the same time, with
the greatest ease to all engaged Half
century AGO there were about 100 serial pub
Eca+ions now there are about 1900, bearing
their daily, weekly and monthly messages to
she people of every city,village, township and
hamlet in the nation, messages OF science,
PHILOSOPHY, thought and feeling, to awaken
the whole mind Of the Republic, and raise it
nearer to the true, the good, and the great
Three centuries since, few books besides
the bible, and its commentaries, were issued
from the press; now it produces hundredSeV -
cry month, embodying the gleamlngs OF the
mind from every department OF human re-
search. 1t brings within the reach Of every
mind the most ample material for its full de-
vclopment, and, by its aid, the race has fairly
commenced the bright career of its progress
Tyrants have been made to boWto the maJes-
ty of the people, and each one begins to teel
that he is himself man! Bylts aid, all can
profit by the counsel Of the wlscst, and the best
hearts can communicate the spirit OF their
holy Dulsations to every heart Of the world OF
humanity, and thus call into active manifesto
ton that which is divine in our nature"
The writer cloquently rcvert5 to the IN
vention Of the Steam EnSlne,and the difficult
ties encountered by John Fitch, in his efforts
to convince his friends Of the feasibility OF
his plans; and observes, If he had met with
such encouragement as this Institution will
be able to afford, he could have perfected
his plans, and we should be now, at least, a
quarter of century ahead of our present
position. As carly as 1875, he conceived the
steamboat, but the first one was not launched
on the Ohio until 1911, fifteen years after his
death. As late as 1874, four keelboats, each
$40 tons, and occupying one month in going
and returning, performed all the carrying
trade between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati
These were so constructed as to be safe
AGAINST rifle or muSl;et balls, and with port
holes for firing out at the insidious Indian, Or
daring robbcr, What have we now in the
space of thirty-six years? We have 100
steamboats, on our western rivers, and the
commerce Of our lakes and rivers is estimated
at the annual value Of not less than t5300,000,-
900! Such is a partial view Of the influence
of Inventions and Discoveries on civilization,
Is not, then, the enterprise Of fostering and
encouraging the inventive genius Of the world
a noble one? 1t is doing more than all other
powers combined to work out the great prob
lem of Human Progress, and the more 1t Is
aided in its efforts, the sooner will the solu-
ton be gained"
In alIusion to Railroads, the writer Says
D." Look, too, at another branch of improve
ment which has grown out Of the same in
venton,--the railroads that comparatively
annihiIate time and space. 1t is but te "
years since the first track was laid; now we
have 5,O91 miles of railroad-more than all
England and Europe. In England, the first
locomotive travelled at the rate of six miles
per hour; in 1924, twenty miles; in 1889,
thirty-seven miles &; and now locomotives are
running forty-two miles per hour. In 1853,
it required nearly month to transmit a let
ter from Detroit to New York; now it can be
done in three days"