The national Republican., 1869-06-16
Typo.setting Machines

The proposition ofthe World to raise fund
OF not less than $500, 200, TO be employed as
stimulus to invention in n perfect type-set-
ting and distributing machine, has drawn
forth from inventors some curious letters.
II Is odd to mark the confidence that marks
this correspondence. Ifinventors were not the
most sanguine of men, few important inven-
tlons would bo struck out. A walk through
the long corridors of tho Patent Ofico is one
of the saddest reallzatlons one can ever ex-
perience Of batiled hopes and wasted energies.
What time, what pains, what perseverance,
what expectations, what disappolntments
are represented In those dusty models which
I'LL all the interminable rows OF glass cases!
Men tolled and starved and gTewgray over
tho Sc cog-whecls and cranks, yet thousands
fol low were they led the way, each one of
tb Gun all quite assured ofsuccess and fortune
and fame.
OF the Worlds letter writer's, one Is "ready
TO invent such machine" as is demanded;
another writes that he Is Sable to produce
the machine;" third says, 81 have tho
machine In my braln:" fourth, who Is blind,
is planning machinery for stereotype and
electrotype moulds which he thinks will su-
percedc tho use Of single types; and so on and
so on. The only inventor who has completed
his work Is not quite suro that 1t Is perfect,
and writes to know what are the require
ments Of perfection in the mechanism.
The correspondent who has tho machine
In his brain, has also an idea In that busy
workshop that is sufficiently startling. 81
can set type by telegraph In number of
places simultaneously. The results ofsuch
revolution In journalism as this would
effect, are too momentous to DO considered
In paragraph. Think OF setting up the
same article at the same moment by the
same motive power In all the cities of the
Union! Think of publishing the great Uni
| yersal Gazette of the future In San Francisco,
| In New York, in New Orleans, with the self
same corps of editors, only distributing the
local reporters at the several points Of pub
| lication.
AS to the sum proposed as a reward, 1t Is
thought too largo by the Inventors them
selves, who would, every ono Of them, be
glad TO furnish the machine for much
smaller amount. Ono gentleman offers to
return ten thousand dollars Of the subscrip'
tlon in the event Of his own success. But the
most sensible comment that Is made on the
original proposition Is that of q practical man
in Providence, who has not yet finished O
machine, but who simply 'intends to com
pete for the prize" He doubts the wisdom
of giving to the unsuccessful competitors the
same sum, $3.50, 200, which 1t is proposed tC
offer for the machine itself. He thinks only
SO much should be allowed them as will b(
|
To offer more would be only to Invite thu
competition of mere bunglers and "sanguin'
noylces," whose failure was assured from
the beginning. The objection to paying thu
cost Of experiments is, that VIC should no
know where the expense would stopi other
wise the suggestion Of the Providence CORE
spOndGnt Is judiclous.
It is to bG noted of great inventions, how
ever, that large premiums have never availet
10 produce them. The London Times, fo
many years, has made an offer of ESQ, 900 70
Il cheap substitute for paper, equal In all re
spects to the paper manufactured from linel
rags, yet the check for the money has ncvo
been drawn. The higher efforts of geniu
are not to be forced. A great poem neve
yet was brought out by prize, and grea
invention is more apt to be made in tho or
dinary course of events than under the stim
ulus Of an immense reward. When tn
world is just ready for 1t and tho hour ha
struck, we have the improvement, the dis
7 coyery, the reform, the machine, exactly q
this appointed time, and thus 1t will probabl.
be with types, equally with their mechanical
setting and distribution rs with their fire
employment by Gutenberg and Faust.-N
, | Y. EVs,iIlD Post.