New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-08-18
INVENTIONS THAT WE HAVE AND THAT
WE WANT,


almost any reasonable difficulty. The Sewing Ma
chine was huge stride in the simplifcaton OF the
most formidable perplexties. No sooner however,
had one perfec! machine appeared, than many 9th
ers were almost Immediately presented as claimants
for the public patronage; alording another liustra
tion of the remarkable fact which great discoveries
Lave often made appareut-ibat the minds OF many
men are simultaneously at work. all over the world
seeking TO accomplish, unknown to each other, the
perfection of the same new science or apparatus.
An instance Of tie same Kind is now in litigation
before the Commissioner of Patents Some few years
ago ssy three, the engineer of the Camden and
Amboy Railroad undertook to devise measures to
abate the dust nuisance which every passenger IN the
railroad trains throughout the Intry hasso grevious
" suertd under. His plan was not 70 expe the dust
after it had found its way into the cars-as many
others Lad proposed in their attempts to remedy the
rusance--but to prevent It's ever getting into them
To sccomp sh this most desirable object the sandy
roads of Ne1.Jorsey, lie incosei the " aole of the
car from the floor down TO the top Of the rail- in a
tight jacket or curtain Of heavy canvas This const-
tut,d in reality long funnel reaching from the for
ward car TO the rear OF the train, aud in this
funnel the whole volume of dust raised from
tie ground by the rapid fight of the
train, was efectually confined until it passed
cut in a dense cloud at the rear end. Observation
had shown that the whole dust set in motion by q
rapid train, was raised up Immediately under the
cars, not from the ground outside of them. Hence
ii this dust could be kept from spreading itself be-
yond the width Of the cars until the train had passed.
there Was 10 possibility OF its rising and entering
them. Numerous experiments were required as to
the hight, length and connection of these curtains
before the inventor could satisfy himself as 10 the
most perfect arrangement Oh the whole affair
Finally he succeeded completely and after long con-
tnucd use had demonstrated the value of the improve
ment, application was made for patent. The appli-
cation vas found TO interfere with one already in
the Office for IN improvement identically the same.
This interference could only be settled By proof Of
priority If iEycntoI-roquiring in this case long
and laborous investigation OF facts, merely to fix
the date Of the nventon--to ascertain which OF the
two was the Grst inyentor-for to the first only the
law awards the patent.
The invention of the Sewing Machine filed up n
gap which had long been felt in the arts. 1t came
rapidly into use and for multitude OF useful pur-
poses. Still, one advance appears to be suggcs-
tive of another, when it came to be applied to sew
ing mp the numerous slips of which the covering for
umbrellas is composed great was the saving Of
time and labor suggestion came up for
supersedine, at least in this department, even
the Sewing Machine itself A loom should BIO con-
,tructed, in which umbrella tops may be woven with
out seam perfect and complete. ready To be secured
upon the framework. he suggestion may be vala-
BE TO some ingenious mind. Like berries growing in
the woods. umbrellas have long been held not to DO
yropy. The purchaser is held not to BE- the owner.
Ii is true they may by accident become useful to the
who poys for them, but practically they seem to
be made only to be either lost or stoen. Their con
sumption is marvellous. Like newspapers, each man
takes three or four The whole OF tue inmates of tue
Refuge for ColOrod Children. at Philadelphia. some
seventy in number, are employed, assisted by ma
chinery in manufacturing nothing but the iron stretch
ers. He therefore who can produce loom by which
he can weave umbrella top complete void Of seam,
may reasonably expect ample remuneration for bis
ingenuity and labor.
II glish mechanics sugge sting the teas Dill
ity OF supplying heat TO dwelling houses we'll q.
gas, and by the agency, that is the circulation
OF steam or hot water through metal pipes. Doubts
have been cas-. on the possibility Of using water or
steam TO this extent Condensation Of the steam il
predicted as certain to occur before il has Travelled
any distance from the boiler. Some trials, however.
seem 10 distipate these doubts. \ very satisfactory
Illustration OF its feasibility seen at the Pennsylya-
Ma Insane Hospital near Philadelphia and the pro-
priotor Of an extensive steam sawHill at Burlington,
/ jersey, has successfully conducted the waste
steam from his engine through metal pipes laid under
ground, distance OF some 900 feet into bis dwelling
kOuse, where il performs al the important parts Of
washing boiling, and difusirg gentle and equable
temperature in every room into whch tie pipes are
Introduced. An objection is found, however, TO the
unseatly appearance presented by succession Of
dark eolored pipes extending round the walls of par
lor, for which suitable remedy presents Itself a.
heating pipes to be seryiceable, must necessarily be
exposed. True. tie figure Of the pipe might be
changed, aid iat tube substituted thus presenting
greater radiating surface and to some extent re.
senlbling the ordinary wash-board. TIE experiment
would be worth trying. Great blocks of houses oc.
curing frequently in our large cities, offer the
most favorable opportunity for testing its value In
deed the probability is that single block could be
sdvantageOusy heated from single boiler thus SAVING
large outlay for fire in ch house. besides the rsS
AID danger, and some portion of the presen. high
charges for insurance.
The supply OF Gas Tor our large cities i. now yortI
locking into. 10 London the quantity consumed il
iour billions Of cubic feet annually. Quality, how
ever. NOT o1'F there bat in !he Uaied States, dcet