The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-12-21

The GENIUS OF TIE UNITED ScATBs We'll
did Mr., Fillmore observe, In his message to
Congress, that the inventive genius OF the American
people was excited to its highest pitOh, add that
nothing distinguished this country and this people
in = moro marked manner than the numerous
applications which are constantly being made
for patents for valuable improvements. The
geniu, of people is eminently practical and con.
structive. We build, and contrive, and combine,
while other nations theonse and speculate. In
France and England, eloquent essays and treatisss
on the steam engine are written every day by mon
Of loarniDgbriant performances, reaolent OF clas-
sic lore, and polished ad unguem. We, meanwhile,
with less ceremony and noise, invent cog wheel
which economies motive power, or sccclerates To-
ecMoti0n. Their poets indite splendid odes to the
"Enks oflghtnDg," which chain together distant Of
ties and States our mechanics elaborate an improve.
ment on the Morse or House instrument, and help
tho links aforesaid to little faster or moro
smoothly. Philosophers with . world wide fame
publish At Paris London magnificent dissertations
on agriculture, and show how the vilest materials
known have their proper and destiny la the COON
omy Of tho world; some Obscure farmerin New Eng.
land devises plough which beats oil former invsn-
tions hollow. Great Britain continues to boast OF
annually made to improve the dockyards and marine
nurseries at Brcst and Cherbou,g-hcrc, tia while,
some ingorious ship builder on the East River
builds yacht which outstrpa the feetsst craft on
the Channel and Eaglish merchants and It their in.
terss. to import their tea and spices In American
clippers. Enormous sums Of money are expended in
England in the erection Of palaces 1t railroad term-
ni-We content ourselves with protesting the cars
and passengers from the rain and sno r. and devote
the remainder Of our funds TO new lines In short.
without rnounciDg our claims to rival foreign M
tons in abstract science the 6ne arts, and ali that
pertains to the ornamental, we have directsd oar
energies in the first place. to surprising the rest OF
the world in practical pursuits and we may safely
consider tina. We have succeeded.
Let us compare, for netance--our space will not
afford US to allude to more than one Of the many
triunphs Of practical science-the telegraph in
America with tho telegraph in England. The whole
extent OF the wires in Englaud ia not equal 70 two
or three Of our great lines They can hardly realize
the fact that continuous Line two thousand miles
long, 10 worked ~ easily here rs q abort line
Of hfiy miles there. Thousands upon thousands Of
miles OF wire are being erected in .his country,
while our neighbors are debating On the propriety
Of Undertaking . new branch line between two
nsighboriDg cities. They are content to use tho
imperfect indicating machine Of Whsa.stons, which
keeps no register of the messages sent, and oblises
the operator 10 keep his eye constantly fixed On the
dial, to note letter after letter; while cur Morse or
House instrsments rsosivc and register message
without any assistance from the operator, and even
durilhii absence. They lack The enterprise neees-
sssy to encourage the bsaytiful adaptation of
Houses printing instrument recently patented
by Brett. 1t is snpleysd bs. in few places,
ard ON abort Urea The fault does no: lie With
To, telegraph propristors snd engineers. it lies clear
ly with the public. People in England are shary Of
their They prsf,r TIE penny post to any moro
expensive means Of nmuaioation, even thsagh IL
be more spssdy. For one message transmitted
over the lines in England, fifty are sent here
MERCHANTS In this country sct practically on the
principle tina. tinc is msnsy; in England, they
seem 10 think that shilling 10 worth more than
delay Of twenty four hours. A nc wspsp.r il con.
sdered cnterprifing ia London when it has y sum
mary Of twenty lipss Of the An,ricsn news, on the
arrival Of the steamer; here, the Nnw YoRx HERALD
lad verbssn speeches of Kossuth, two and three
columns leng, SAINT the lines, and presents IT.
readers every day With fpll sum alry of the de-
bates In Congress, by tn, Same channel
As with the telegraph, so IL ID with every otosr
practical application Of rcenco. Whatever in dy.
namcs, mechanics, hydraulics, chemistry, or sny Of
The other branches Of soionsc, may b. maas TO COZ.
tribute to the advancement Of civilization aud the
comfort OF mankind, il eagerly seized on oy Ane-
ricsps and men Of Intellect In every section OF tho
country set their minds earnestly to work TO turn
IL to account. In the year 1896 the report Of the
Secretary of tho interior inform, US taers were
1909 models In tho Patent 0i,c; in January, 1885,