The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-06-04

ing a machine when upon full run
Tan idea secuted by male maehinistso:
an adaptation of machines for sewing
leather, etc. This last was the inven-
ton of a practical woman machinist,
VINO tor 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; a thousand
household appliances, etc. are the fruits
OF woman's inventive genius.
TIE deep-sea telescope, invented bs
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 It's means wrecks can be inspected,
distinctions 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 Tor 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
compliment from the Commissioner OF
Patents upon its entire originality.
Most inventions are but az improve
ment upon some preceding one, She
refused 500 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 sIreet-sweeper, the in
vention of Hoboken lady, owes its
origin to the fact OF this lady's dress
having been spattered with mud by
clumsy machine one day IN New York.
Possessed of a mechanical genius, she
determined to try her hand upon a
sweeper that should do IFS work more
perfectly, Her success was great, and
. her invention vast improvement upon
all its predecessors.
The remarkable invention of Mrs.
Mary +. Walton, for deadening the
noise of elevated railroads, has occa-
stoned much comment Edison and
other inventors had for six months pG-
successfully striven 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 10 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 benefit upon mankind. Since
her noise-deadener, Mrs Walton has
taken out, both in this country and in
England, a patent for smoke-burner,
that she considers much more valuable
By this device all smoke from a fire.
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
4
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 a knowledge of physiology has
been much more widely difliIsed 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 govcrness recently Invented anew
illuminate for needle-gun cartridges,
and the Government is experimenting
| with it with a view to its purchase.
Harriet HOsmer has succeeded in pro
| ducing marble from limestone, closely
Stimulating the finest antique varieties.
This process has long been unsuccess-
fully sought by the Italian Government.
| But her most valuable invention is that
of the permanent magnet as a motive
| power. Scientific men and practical
machinists deem this one of the most
| important inventions Of the century,
and its influence upon the world is
likely to be far-reaching and extraor-
binary.
The inventions of 4 nation are close
l. connected with .he freedom of its
people. During the reign of George
| Ill the average yearly number of pat
ents taken out in Great Britain was but
fourteen. At present the average is
5000, while in the United States it is
1900 This difference is directly
traceabc to the progress of freedom
and education While many OF the
worlds most important inventions are
| dine to woman fine propartipn of teuAi.