The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-07-07

i
"May see the inventor Of the electro
scopeP'' The reporter who asked this
question stood at the door Of dingy. |
iil-ventilated workshop in the fifth
story of building occupied exclusively |
by machines and model-makers. Dust
and cobwebs obscured the windows and |
chung to the corners of the room. Here |
and there squares of translucent paper |
took the place of broken panes. The
floor and the long, rough work-benches
were covered with metal filings. Coils |
of wire, tools and strange odds and
ends of machinery were suspended
from hooks in the walls. Complicated
models, made up of screws, springs
and cog-wheels, great and small, were
to be seen on few shelves about the |
shop and on the window-sills: A
front elevation of the late G. WASH
ington," as John Phoenix would call 1t,
and ADJUST of Robert Fulton, of which
some vandal had broken the nose, were
the only works of art visible. The per-
son to whom the reporters question
was addressed stood at . bench with
a file in his hand, with which he was
shaping piece of shining brass held
firmly between the iron jaws of wise.
The cheerful melody created by the
operation so filled the air that at first
| the workman did not hear his interlOc-
utor; but when the question was re-
peated In louder tone, the machinist
suspended his labor and looked up.
He was perhaps forty-five years OF age,
but his gray hair and deep-lined feat
ures made him look much older. The
forehead was broad and high, and the
earnest gray eyes deeply set under the
.bulging brows. The prominent nose,
Isquare, bold chin and massive jaws
would have told physiognomist that
the intellect of the man was properly
balanced by patience, energy and
strength of win. A long apron, that
had probably once been whites pro-
tected the artisans clothing from the
flying dust.
Certainly, sir; look at him. was
the response to the reporters question.
s'What is your pleasure?"
c"Well, l am come to get some points
about your wonderful machine.
should like to know how big it is, how
it looks, and what it is expected to ac-
complish. said the reporter, looking
about for seat.
..Hm!'' calculated the inventor;
chats asking q great deal, and consid-
erably more than it would be policy for
me to tell The electroscope is not as
big as Jumbo, by any means. As to
how it looks, I could best answer that
by giving detailed description OF my
magnum opas."
$50 much the BETTER" said the re-
porter, whipping out his notebook and
pencil.
"But to do that" continued the in
ventor, seating himself upon the bench
and swinging his legs pensively, would
be to give some one else chance to
steal my secret, and thus deprive me Of
the fruits of my years of labor. But
(noticing moan of disappointment
from his companion} lave no objec
ton to telling you what I expect to &C
complish.' ~ s.-rf4
ssWellP''
1.-The electroscope,'' went ON the
father of that marvellous instrument
thoughtfully bending and twisting .
piece of slender copper wire, lis an ap
paratus for the transmission OF light
You knew that when you came. W.
hope" pursued the inventor, Ito bt
able to produce in New York instanta
neous photographs of scenes which ar
being enacted in-San Francisco, TO
instance. That may appear q littl'
surprising said the electrician.
ssJust trifie. - observed the reporter
"Yet it is far from impossible. W.
set up our instrument in San Francisct
! and attach it by ordinary telegraph
wires to sensitive plate here. Tn
image is transmitted over the line Il
the plate, which is developed as il
common photography. As q result, WI
, have clear, beautiful picture.
THAT is all very fine, of course, " sal,
, the reporter, picking up his book, ''bu
! of what practical good is it?''
II viii show you. Suppose Sun
I day-school Superintendent in Omah'
! robs the bank Of which he is cashier ant
/ decamps. His photographs are imme
{ diately sent to all the principal cities Q
! the Union by the electroscope, and hi
. chances of detection greatly increased
In the same way fac-similes of docu
Z ments may be transmitted. You vii
I see how valuable this will be in cases Q
/ forgery"
! sThen the electroscope viii be use
: chiefly in frustrating crime?'
eff it would do no more than that II
Q claim to high place among useful il
: ventions would, / think, be fully estaf
lished. But that is not all. When tn
: electroscope comes into vogue the in
1 aoinations of the artists on the illui
8 trated papers viii have much needle
/ rest. Photographs of distant scene
; may be wired and engraved"
: but won't that be an expensive pr
Y cessp"
: II don't know why it should be esps
cially so, and what II it isf That wi
: not deter newspapers from using i
8 Don't they spend money without stir