New-York tribune., 1880-02-29

A JAPANESE NVENTOP.

SIMPLIFYING The WORK OF SURVEYORS.
INSTRUMENTS FOR GETTING AT RESULTS MORE
QUICKLY AND RAsLY THAN by Tue OLD
METHoDs-rREATIsE on THE HIGHER MATH-
EMATICs.
nRlhe first japanese inventor in this country,
TIA. MRssdaira. a clvl engineer, is aboct
tron the Patent Office patents for several inventions
witch. r ia believed, Will simplify greatly the work OF
surveyors and civil engineers. Mr.. Natsdara came to
this country from Toxic. japan, in 1870. lie
had previously studied the Japanese system cf mah-
emates. but was fond chemistry and intended devot
ing his attention to IL. He found. however, that work
in laboratory impaired health. and he turned his
attention To mathematics He pursued his studies In
several colleges and completed them 1877. He then
began practice civil engiDeerihg for which he had
fitted himself For more than he has been OF
the engineering party engaged IN the work OF
laying out the foundations and arranging FOR the
structure of the METROPOLITAN Elevated Road In Eighth
ave. above One-huLdredandtenthst and First
and Secondaves. The East Side, THIS city, under
the direction OF Chief Engineer skunk. During his III
eryas Of rest Mr. Masdara mas gwen much OF his time
invention, and has perfected tho Instruments which.
It is believed viii do away with much of the calculations
heretofore required 10 ascertain results Ia engneeriug
The system of angulation used b. surveyors and
civil engineers is abstruse and the calculations
tedious. Mr. Masdairas first invention is designed to
direct results His instrument consists OF steel
scale Of ten is fastened AT end so arranged as to
slide upon this bar to any position, Is a semi-crcuar
plate with It's rcumference divided into dcgees, u-
utes and seconds. At the other end Is sliaiiar
plate, quadrant in form. AT the centre OF
these u movable bar is arrar ged TO turn Ike a
pointer and indicate the angle. Each is graduated to
the same scale the first bar. To fnd the required
element OF triangle 1t is only necessary revove the
seml-crcular plate II the angle Is obtuse and
the quadrant II is acute, until the proper angie
indicated with the other bar the given side Is placed
so that a triangle similar to the one 10 Oe solved Is
shown and ten the required angle eau be read Oh
from the plate. This Is applicable whether one
side and the adjacent angles, angle and the ada
cent sdes or angle and the opposite sides OF tr
nge are given The result is obtlned at glance ana
IN few seconds while the OF common trigonomei-
real ca cuaons By slnes and cosnes involves the use
OF tables and takes much time. II the instrument
made with the accuracy attainable Ia the construe-
on Of scientific apparatus. the result the inventor
claims, VIII be uDquesuOnably correct
II WAS iu perfecting this that Mr. Masdaira ht upon
stil more important device for securing ngineerng
results with little trouble. III all surveying an ex
tended ana accurately measured base line has been
needed Sometimes the Dature OF the ground this
has been difficult Especially has this been
so upon batteelds where to ascertain the distance OF
tho enemy, in order that artillery may be ehec-
lively used It has often been required 10 meas
ure a base line directly under heavy fire lOm the
invention,
away with tns, ana enable distance to De accurately
measured without moving from tue place vi ere mo
tripod supporting the instrument stands Ihe simpc-
ity o. the means used by Masdaira striking. 1nc
instrument consists or hncly graduated brass OF sr
the centre and movable support which
n telescope IS attached, which may be firmly
fixed by "A tnumbscreW II, for instance, the distance
of an object across lake IS sought the instrument
which bas yo spirit levels TO secure perfect accuracy IS
object ana ny TN @ e ~ m tb @ thsr End Of me plate
..,,I rtf.fha ii.
nayea tml3 byyrE 20 us nrS. position and turned
r fniS s~cond OBJECT cen through IT, The vnr
alton from line Of its first direction gives an angie
of triangle at the other two angles OF which are tho
two objects. BY means OF The first ment Oned sru-
mcnt the second angle and sides OF the triangle are
measured and hence the distance OF the hrst Occ' Is
another device for finding The distance Of an object in
a different way slso described by Ar. N0tsdara Inc
nlate two feet in length has fixed telescope at one
end At the other end, upon the arc ot acrcc whose
sectous feet, ANOTHER telescope moves ana mas
pointer which directs graduated scale at tangent
to the arc When the telescopes are Don directed
the distant object the pointer indicates eerta nu JUL
ber ON the scale. which divided down. 80 oi an men
A table accurately prepared shows TO What dlslanec
these numbers refer aud by looking on II the distance Is
ascer aimed.
no.arr" By sliding rect angular bar upon straight
one tue fourth term OF any simple proposition Is Ddl-
Gated. BY simple formulas compound proportions can
Mr. MSisdaira has been Engaged for three years years
upon II mathematical work which he hOpcs
To have completed 10 Apgil; IL consls's ISIS a. @ y.
three volumes OF the higher mathemaiies; Inc thre9
volumes afe called Plane Loci LOci III Hia,e, anu
The Calculus OF variations. seItS OF ouneuls & Gu.
gipeeriDg and scientific problems viii be put IN mo
work Professor syvestre. Professor Oney and Pro-
fcssOr Bowman, and other eminent matueIlatI-
oans whom Mr.. Malsdara has consulted,
speak in the hghest terms of his works. In addition
he hos recently completed calcula'ion OF the moons
orbit every point of which can be demonstrated. The
errors Of computation have al been corrected Dy inc
system OF least squares Mr.. Matscara desires to sub
mis- this t. Professor Proctor and other ASTRONOMERS
before publishing II. - -
I'm addition TO bis mathematical knowledge Mr. Mats
dalra can read eleven derent languages or these he
fla laftla
learn He is apparently about thirty years OF and
l. modest ana unassumlng demeJnOr. He has
souare, intellectual forehead and FACE when I'M
pres ses one 10y It's intelligence.