Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1883-06-07


inc petroleum in place of wood and
coal for steam-generating purposes: an
improvement in spark-arresters, to be
applied to locomotives; a danger signal
/ for street crossings on railways; plan
for heating cars without fire; q lubri-
eating felt for subduing friction (the
I last five all bearing upon railroad
! traveD; rapid change box, a marvel
of simplicity and convenience, invalua-
BILE at railway stations and ferries, the
| invention of girl of sixteen; syllable
type, with adjustable cases and appar7-
tus; machine for trimming pamphlets;
writing machine; signal rocket, used in
| the navy; deep-sea telescope; method of
deadening sound on elevated railways;
J smOke-burner: Satchel-bOttOmed bags;
| bag-fOlding machine, ETC., etc. Many
! mprOvementS in sewing machines have
+ been made by women-as, q device for
sewing sails sand heavy cloth; quilting
attachments; the magic rutf1er; thread
! inc a machine when upon q full run
! Gan idea secuted by male machinists);
an adaptation of machines for sewing
| leather, etc. This last was the inven-
/ ton of a practical woman machinist,
who for many years carried on a large
harness mandatory in New York city.
Systems for improved drainage: for
better ventilation; for forcing water to
great heights and distances; thousand
household appliances, etc, are the fruits
of woman's inventive genius.
The deep-sea telescope, invented by
Mrs. Mather, and improved by her
daughter, is unique and important in
vention, bringing the bottom of the
largest ships to view without the ex-
pense Of raising them into dry dock.
| By its means wrecks can be inspected,
Instructions to navigation removed,
torpedoes successfully sought for, and
immense sums annually saved to the
marine service.
A machine which, for its compli-
Gated mechanism and extraordinary
ingenuity, has attracted much atten-
ton both in this country and Europe,
is that for the manufacture Of satchel-
bottom paper bags. Many men Of me-
chanical genius long directed their
attention to this problem without sue
cess. Miss Maggie Knight, to whose
genius this machine is due, received a
compliment from the Commissioner of
Patents upon its entire originality.
| Most inventions are but an improve
ment upon some preceding one. She
refused $4,000 for it shortly after tax
ing out her patent. Miss Knight has
since invented machine doing the
work Of thirty persons in folding bags,
and herself superintendent the erection
of the machinery at Amherst, Mass.
The Eureka street-sweeper, the in
| YentiOn of q HObOken lady. owes its
origin to the fact of this Iady's dress
having been spattered with mud by
clumsy machine one day in New York.
Possessed of mechanical genius, she
determined to try her hand upon a
sweeper that should do its work more
perfectly. Her success was great, and
her invention vast improvement upon
all its predecessors.
The remarkable invention of Mrs.
Mary E. Walton, for deadening the
noise of elevated railroads. has occa-
stoned much comment. Edison and
other inventors had for six months I'M
successfully striyen to accomplish this
end, when Mrs. Walton brought for
ward device which was at once adopt
ed by the Metropolitan and other ele-
waited railways. The benefit to human
health and life likely to accrue from
this invention can scarcely be realized.
The evil effects of persistent noise upon
the human system are very great, and
an invention tending to lessen its force
confers a benefit upon mankind Since
her noise-deadener, Mrs. Walton has
taken out, both in this country and in
England, q patent for q smOke-burner,
! that she considers much more valuable.
i oil
furnace. or locomotive is consumed. as
also the dust caused by railway trains,
and the offensive, unhealthful odOrs
emitted from factories. gas-works, etc.
When in England, Mrs. Walton re-
ceived the congratulations of British
officials for it, as one of the greatest in
ventions of the age.
While passing WOman's discovery in
science, where the names of Hypatia,
Maria Agnesi and Caroline Herschel
shine, mention must still be made of
the aquarium, the invention of madame
Jeanette Power, one of the most emf
nent naturalists of the century. 1t was
used by her in making curious scientific
| discoveries
Medicine, even in modern times,
owes much to woman. 1t was to her
knowledge OF this art that woman
persecution for witchcraft in the middle
ages were largely due. Through Mad
anne de Caudray's invention of the
manikin knowledge of physiology has
been much more widely diffused than
would otherwise have been possible
Many delicate and important surgical
instruments owe their origin to woman,
as also the adaptation of wax for re-
cOrding medical observations.
Chemistry offers an infinite resource
to the inventor in field whose ex-
Ploration has scarcely begun. A Prus-
sian governess recently invented new
illuminate for needle-gtln cartridges,
and the Government is experimenting
with it with 4 view to its purchase.
Harriet HOsmer has succeeded in pro-
ducing marble from limestone, closely
| simulatiDo' the finest ANTIQUE varieties