The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-02-17
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE MOTORS;
Chief Levers of Civilization.


SrEAM.-Nature provides in everything
for man till he is able to depend upon him
SELF Her aid is designed gradually to unfold
his resources and lead him to rely upon them
Preceding motors lie foundready to his hands,
but the exigencies of advancing society made
demands which they could not meet. Prog
ress was to be arrested, or he must discover
and render available new one. In what di-
rection should he turn but to the forces which
lay sleeping in inert matter? OF the exist
ence Of some he was well aware; of their
adaptation TO his purpose he had received
many intimations, while experience, in ren-
dering available the grosser fluids, prepared
him successfully TO excite and control some
of them. His efforts were rewarded beyond
the widest of his hopes. Steam, the most
potent and liable of motors, has worked, and
is working miracles in its behalf.
Whatever may be thought OF other amelio-
rating influences, organic forces artificially
awakened, will ever be the foremost of the
civilizers-the steeds to draw societs's Car
onward; and Of them relays are assuredly
provided, so that wenever one becomes fully
used up, the most made of it, another will
be ready for the harness. We see what the
first of this class has done-adyanced us far
ther in an age than was ever before accom-
plished in a hundred. We have run where
our forefathers crept. But unparalleled as
are the effects of steam, its moral influence is
still more precious. In rousing mankind
from the listlessness of olden times, it has
opened sources of endless acquisitions; has
given us standard more elevated than was
before thought of, by which to measure ideas
and expectations of the future; raised the
screen from before prospect exceeding in
brilliance aught that had been reflected on
the mental retina; and established the great
truth on which human progress depends
"aphen man Mills, matter must Obey"
Thus it is that though few, as yet, and
making their appearance after long intervals,
the motors are the real sources and true regis
ters of civilization. Marking a regular pro
gression, each eleyates man higher in the
scale than its predecessor. In their homage
his knowledge is little more than instinct; in
the subjection of animals to labor, his intel
lect awakens, becomes inquisitive as inor-
ganic forces are realized, and since aqueous
yapor has become popular motor, the men
tai torpidity of previous epochs is in great
degree cast off and inquiry put on the alert
in every department of research That the
next which comes in will be attended with
results equally marked, there is no room to
question.
Every motor is known to add to the value
Of those that preceded it, either by leading 10
new properties in them, or by furnishing ad-
ditional means Of economizing and trans
mitting them, and thereby enlarging the area
of their operations. .-
With steam change full of promise has
come over the world, such as philosophers
and statesmen Of former times could neither
anticipate nor appreciate. Henceforth, ma
tions, aware of their true policy, will strive
with each other in conquests over nature
Her uhexplored realms will be invaded and
priority Of discovery rewarded with laurels
unstained bya tear, and such as angels might
covet.
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE.
1t is obvious that no motor less valuable
thansteom can be allowed to displace it;still,
several may excel it in otherqn qualities, though
less efficient on the whole, and these will as
suredly be admittedas aids, il not as prin-
cipals. In looking around for such as are
not confined TO places--as water, nor to times
and seasons---as winds, there is one which
costs nothing to carry about with us, and re-
quires not The removal Of machinery OF ma
terials to meet il. Where man is. il is; 60
whittier he will, he cannot leave II behind