Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-05
Invention and its Progress.

From the Chicago Times.l
A writer in scientific newspaper re-
views the last forty years, which he terms
the "age of invention and then asks,
in view of the astounding inventions OF
this period, whether we have not reached
a eliminating meeting point; whether
invention must not, of necessity, now
stand still"
Despite the enormous and numberless
improvements of the past forty years,
we believe that we stand now no more
than upon the borders of the domain of
invention. What has been done in forty
years is but the prelude to the great opus
Of the next half century.
The best method of judging what will
be accomplished is by examining what is
needed. We believe human capability to
be practically limitless; but it accom-
plishes, not in proportion to its ability,
but with reference to the demands OF the
age. Upon looking backward over the
history of invention, we shall lind that
there has always been an even rate of
progress between invention and the
necessities of the human family. The
locomotive and the electric telegraph, for
instance, came when they were wanted.
| Had either made its appearance q CEN
tury before it did, it would not have been
utilized. Sc of oil great discoveries.
| They have come when needed; and
Judging thu future by the past, there is
every reason TO believe that the rule
which has heretofore been effective will
henceforth prevail. To know what will
be, it is only necessary to know what are
our imperative necessities.
One of these necessities is that of
greater speed in locomotion. We shall
have it. Just 80 surely as the generation
have progressed from the six miles per
hour of the stagecoach to the sixty miles
per hour of the locomotive, so surely
will we 90 on from sixty miles per hour
until we get to look upon that rate OF
speed as we now look upon that of the
old stagecoach. To accomplish this re-
suit, there will be either a new motor
discovered, or else we shall navigate the
air.
We must have type-setting by ma
chinery and this must" is the strongest
possible guarantee that the machine will
soon respond to our demand. There
must be vast improvement in printing
presses, until 100, 900 sheets an hour shall
have become the ordinary accomplish
ment of single press. We must, and
soon shall, have traction machines to
take the place of horses in the drayage
and passenger transportation of the peo-
pie of our great cities. Telegrsphy must
he simplfed and cheapened, until it
subtantially takes the place of the mail
car. Our prairies must be ploughed by
steam; and travel on water and railway
be rendered as secure as rest upon ones
own couch.
The abomination of gas, kerosene, tai
low and whale oil must give way to some
thing which will turn night into day, and
render cities independent of monopolies
and the crude productions now used TO
produce artificial light. There must be
improvement in building, in medicine, in
printing, and. in fine, in every depart
ment which now involves the necessity
of human effort. In truth, inventions as
astonishing as some we have mentioned
are being developed every day. We
scarcely notice them because of their
frequency; and it is only when one looks
back over the results of year, that be
appreciates the number and value of
improvements. We have passed beyond
being surprised at anything, and hence
the otherwise astounding and continuous
results of invention excite no remark.