San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-10-13
WONDERS IN INVENTIONS.
Important Discoveries Of the Last Deeade-Wha'
Gsniua has Accomplished IN the Fields
or Science and Art.
Prom the New York Star.


Of Science and Art.
Prom the New York Star.
The last ten years in the history o
American inventions have been won
derfully prolific in important results
To say nothing OF telephone, the pho
nograph, the electric light and the sys
tenn of automatic and quadruplex tele
graphy, all of which have been so full.
described that their principles are per
fectly familiar to the general public
there have been numerous discoveries
and improvements which, in their way
have brought about revolutions in the
arts and sciences. The agent said
among the most important OF recent
discoveries are improvements in the
manufacture Of vulcanized India rub
Der in its various applications, which
have resulted in making it the best and
cheapest material for superior and high
Iy finished combs. These combs, in
Aexibility and durability, are equal to
the best horn and shell, and are now
extensively manufactured. The princi-
pal factories for the making OF rubber
combs are located in Connecticut"
The next invention of any impor'
lance was n papging machine. Pegged
shoes made by hand were manufactured
in large quantities long time before
the invention of this machine; but the
manufacture was, and is, confined
chiefly to mems boots and shoes, and
to the coarser kinds of ladies' shoes.
Lynn, the great center OF the manu-
facture of ladies' shoes, was never en-
gagged to any extent in the manufacture
of pegged shoes. The introduction OF
this machine largely increased the pro-
duction, and of course diminished the
cost of the product. There have been
many improvements in the stitching
machine, the product originally OF the
mechanical genius of Elias Howe. This
machine was first perfected in 1S45, and
patented in 1916. Prior to this Won
derful invention, ladies' shoes were
"bound," as it was called, by hand. Its
introduction speedily revolutionized
this department of industry. A single
operator with one of these machines
can do the work of nearly score work
ing by the old process with needle and
thread, rendering possible the produc-
ton of the deliberately stitched boots
of the present day at moderate cost.
These inventions, and many others OF
minor Importance, have revolutionized
the shoe manufacturing industry, SO
that to-day the machinery employed in
the prosecution represents an amount
of individual labor which it would be
difficult exactly to compute.
A process has recently been patented
in the United States by which shot is
made at low elevation, by forcing
strong current of air upon it as it falls
into the water. Another important use
to which lead is put is the preparation
of oxide of lead, or white lead, as a
pigment. In this branch of the lead
industry this country takes a prominent,
and probably the leading, position, as
the practice of painting dwelling
houses is more common than any other
country.
The safety drum, another new inven-
ton, is a safety device which guards
against accidents arising from some de-
rangement in elevator machinery, OF
some obstruction in the hatchway,
whereby the ropes may be uncoiled
from the main drum of the engine while
the car remains temporarily lodged at a
greater or less distance from the bot
tom. It is also perfect safeguard
against the too rapid descent of the car,
in case the belt or any part of the gear
ing connected with the engine should
give way, or if run too fast by the care
lessness of the operator. The safety
drum takes the place of the ordinary
sheever wheels, and acts as the medium
through which motion is communicated
from the engine to the car. All ropes
connecting from the engine to the car
are arranged &c act upon this drum in
such manner that any arrangement in
their bearings, or change in their action,
or increase of their speed beyond that
prescribed as the regular working rate,