The sun., 1879-01-17
MRS. WALTON'S INVENTION.
THE TOMfN VINO 0OT IHE4D OF EDT-
son HHILE NE RES TED.
Riding Out the Rear Platform Of II Car
and Observing-A Model that was Made
Of TMo AhInnIea nnh a Hnp.r of Pins.

Riding Out on the Rear Platform Of II Car
and Observinu-A Model that was Made
OF Two shingles ana ~ Paper of Pins.
One day last June, just after tho newspa-
pers had announced that Prof. Edison would
take n vacation before completing the task Of
discovering nm antidote for tine elevated railway
racket. pleasant looking gray haired woman
boarded n train ut Filty-ninth stroct and made
hcr way to the rear platform OF the Inst ear. There
she stood while the train was ratting along,
until conductor came out and said that
ho was sorry to interfere with her enjoy
ment. but he should be compelled to request
Madame to step inside. because passengers
were not allowed to ride on tho platforms. Tho
woman expressed herself ns being panied to
give him any trouble. but said that she was rid
ing there for purpose and that she should re-
main there unless he chose to carry her in. The
young man in blue cloth and gold braid looked
at the smiling face and ample form. and ro-
treated to tho other end Of the car On the pre-
vious day Edison had ridden on the road with
a stick in his mouth. trying to learn where the
sound came from and how it could be- stopped
and n man who sat Just inside tho open door
facetiousy remarked that perhaps the woman
on the rear platform was the Menlo Park wizard
in Disguise. She replied that she was not Eli
son, only his substitute while he was taking his
After riding the length OF the Metropolitan
Elevated Railway. the smiling gray -haired
woman returned 10 her house ut CD West Twelfth
street, and began whiting out with pCnknife
n model of tho structure on which the tracks
are laid Two shingles for which sh" had paid
four cents. furnished the timber. and paper
OF pins furnis shed the necessary bolts. lu tho
cellar OF her house she set up her model. and
cxperimcnted in secret behind boltcd doors.
with q device for absorbing the sound pro-
duce1 by the elevated railway trains. Late in
June she notified the Patent ONCE Of her lnten-
ton TO apply Tor lettrts patent ON device ol
that kind. and on the 3ls Of July cayeut WIS
duly filed; After doing this she went TO MIR.
Board with her plan. and arrangements were
made to have the device tested oh the llntropol-
thn llnc.-Thc result OF the test was 80 favorable
that the company bought the invention Tor slO.-
900. and agreed 90 pay her "A liberal royalty on
sales of rights to other companies. The inVen-
tion. consists simply of boxing tho rails with
times excct,t in very cold weather tho sound Is
very much dcadencd 10y this device. hut when 1t
is very cold the effect IL not nearly So favorable.
The woman who thus got ahead Of Edison while
West Twelfth street. She has already received
81 900 " the sum which the Metropolitan Ele-
vntcd Railway Company will pay her for her
This is not the first time Mrs. Walton has
brought forth an Invention. She once invented
an improved steam whistle. which pleased her
! husband 80 much that ne invited in a friend to
| src it work. which friend was SO ploased with
her out OF her right. Nor is the no,so- deadcn-
! ing device likely to be hor last invention, for
| she is now engaged ON the model of a con,riv-
nuce which. she says. will be used in every
| house IN New York before the end of two years
| She declines 10 give any hint o. its nature but
| says the apulicatiOn Tor patent Will be mado
| within n few weeks.
| MIR. $. Brisnc Of ~ Fourth avenue says that
tho boxing device IL his. and that the M"ropOii-
| tan Company refuses tn pay him Tor using a..
nvcStgaion discloses tho fact that he Is one Of
| ton different persons who have applied for pat
! cnts i'r substantially the same inv.ntlon. Each
| has been officially informed from the Patent Of
| ilre that his or her application intcrlercs with
| the others and that the COmmiss pner Will re-
cciVe evidence OF priority. Mr. Beard. who has
charge Of the matter for the Metropolitan. says
| that undoubtedly Mrs. Walton was ahead OF the
| rest in niing her papers Thors is likely to be
| considcrablr litigation before the question can
| be legally settled. So many inventors worked
| al the noiso problem. and all at the same time.
| that rival claims 10 any device selected were in
| eVitable,