The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-03-22
OUR NEW YORK LETTER.
Distinguished American InYentOrs-
Among the Washington
Market-Its Probable Removal
New Piers and Street Widening.
[From Our Special Correspondent

I728 to 1740 he taught himself Latin,
md at the age of 40 he began the
study of electricity, bringing electric
ty from the clouds by the
means of "a kite. In 1852
ne invented the lightning rod.
Eli Whitney, born in Marlborough,
in 17O5, invented the
cotton gin, the boon of the south. In
1892 he went to Georgia as teacher,
and one year later made his great in
vention. Prior to the use of the cotton
gin full days work of one person
was to clean by hand one pound of
cotton, but now one gin performs the
labor of about five thousand persons.
In 1900 he founded Whitneyville and
began the manufacture of fireaI ms by
the interchangeable system. He died
in 1925.
Robert Fulton, who invented a
in 1893, was born in Little
Britain, Pennsylvania, in 1865, and
died in 1925. He was a painter and
artist, and the inventor of submarine
He built the first steam
boat in France in 1903. and in 1907 in
this city he launched the first passen-
ger boat, the Clermont, that ever plow-
ed American waters and steamed up
the Hudson to Albany. In 1872
he began building steam ferry boats,
and in 1914 built the first steam war
vessel.
The cast iron plow was invented
and patented in 1914 by Jethro Wood,
who was born at White Creek, New
York, IVA, and died in 1884. Pre-
vious to the invention of his pillow
and for years afterwards, the pillow
was a stick of wood plated with
iron.
Thomas Blanchard, who was born
at Sutton, Massachusetts, in 1888 and
died in 1864, invented tack machines
in 1906, and in 1925 he built stern
wheel steamboats, for shallow waters.
In 1913 he invented the lathe for
turning irregular forms, now in gen.
eral use all over the world for turn
ing lasts. spokes, aX-handles, gun
stocks, hat-blOckS, tackle-blockS, fur
niture, etc.
Ross Winans. of Baltimore, bern iii
New Jersey In 1875, SIS the au-
thor of many inventions relating to
railways. He designed and patented
the pivoted, double-track, long pas
senger cars now in common use, and
his genius also assisted the develop
ment of railways in Russia. His first
patent was in 1925.
Cyrus H. Mccormick, the inventor
of the harvesting machine, was born
at Walnut Grove, Virginia, in 1909,
and in 1851 he exhibited his invention
with practical success at the worlds
fair, London. The moving of one
acre of grain or grass with the hand.
cradle or Scythe was one days mans
work, but now man with harvest
er cuts ten acres day. This patent
made Mr.. Mccormick a millionaire
Samuel F. B. Morse, inventor anC
patentee of electric telegraphy, was
born in Charlestown, Massachusetts
in 1871, and died in 1872. He exhib
tied his first drawing of a telegraphiC
instrument in 1882, and in 1885 he haC
half mile wire in successful opera
ton, and in 1874 the first telegraph
line was opened between Washington
and Baltimore, and from that begin
nidg a network of Geographic wire
has become common all over tn,
world. Mr.. Morse realized a larg
fortune.
Charles Goodyear, inventor anC
patentee of the simple mixture of rub
Der and sulphur, the basis of the pres
ent great rubber industries through
out the world, was born in New
Haven, Connecticut, in 1900. In 1885
| by the accidental mixture of bit o
rubber and sulphur on a red-ho
stove, he discovered the process o
| inflammation.
Elias Howe, inventor of the mod
ern sewing machine, was born il
Spencer, Massachusetts, in 1919, an,
died in 1867. He was a machinist
and his first patent of a sewing ma
chine was in 1916. His priority wa
contested until 1854, when there wa
a decision in the courts in his favor
when he emerged from poverty an,
realized millions.
Jas. b. Eads, author and constructo
of the great steel bridge over the Mis-
siSSippi at st. Louis and the jettie
below New Orleans, was born in 1921
His remarkable ability and energ
were shown in 1861, when he bull
and delivered, complete, to the gov
eminent, all within sixty-five day.
seven irOn-plated steamers, of 600 ton
each. Some of the most brilliant sue
cesseS of the Federal arms were du
to his extraordinary rapidity in con
structing vessels.
James Lyall, of this city, was Dor
in 1886, and in 1868 invented simpl
mixture for enameling cloth for knaI
sacks, ETC., which realized him a fol
tune. In 1868 he patented the posi-
| tiVe-mOtiOn loom, and he is the foun
der and manager of several great man
ufacturing establishments. At on
of these, on Twenty-third street, 400
hands are employed. This loom in
creases the production and lessons tn
cost of woven fabrics. a single loon
attended by one girl, turns out 81
square yards in ten hours, the fabri
being eight yards or more wide.
AMONG THE SHIPPING.
The harbor or river front of a cit
has peculiar charms for man. Tn
sailing crafts, steam ferry-bOats. tug
and floats; the dirty, crowded street
that face the piers or levee; tn
crowds of sailors and longshoremen
the smell of tar, oil, rum and molas
ses; the wrinkled old women, carry
ing baskets of eatables, that look lik
they had lived before the food-thes
sights and smells and their kindre
make up the panorama always to b
seen in the shipping district of alarg
city. paid visit yesterday to tn
shore of East river and gaZed upo
these sights, the great bridge, Fultol
market and the city of Brooklyn
across the busy stream. The finish
ing touches were being given to tn
interior of the new market, one hun
bred or more men were a
work on the bridge, floorin
and painting, and the rive
almost swarmed with craft.
while both shores were lined wit
steamers, sail vessels, canal boat:
fishing boats, etc, until it SCENE
there was hardly room for another t
squeeze in. Hundreds of canal boat
are tied up for the winter, but 500
navigation will open and they will b
on the move, and their captains vii
have something to do besides playin,
pool. No city in the world, believe
has so extensive a water front a
New York, or so varied shipping in
dustries. Her canal traffic and he
oyster and fish interests are simpl
immense, and her passenger arrival
| from foreign ports are in excess o
any city in the world. New York
trade along her water front dowI
town is increasing so rapidly that tt
make room for the business. the ole
piers have to be taken down ant
larger ones erected, not on the ole
sites, but out over the river. Thi