The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-02
Wags the World this First Day
Of Our Lords Year 1884.

years sln-r she ms WIi:tf r > ~" 're
phone was heard ana n " i i in con-
u g
On c.u>c Of this : the ?liert ave Il
1870 vhc has done much 10 srmr!r'e
in,e tinn-. A patent can be or iued ip
thi- country for only thi,ty i.Iar~ In
England. il costs iron 500 d" 81 u0 In
fac. Ne may REASONABLY j. : n,"n 'ur
patent Office a. a public e Inc or-for in
vcntors are u en- of thou H. the me-
chanics of Amn RIGA are e. Seuflallv a read
ing. thinking pc pc, studyln. probe Us
of utility.
A boot and shoe manufacturer in
Switzerland not only purchased his ma
chinery in Massachusetts,. but was then
compelled to send for American workmen.
Both Russia and Australia send to
America for locomotives
1t is a curious fact that only among a
free people can rchapical inventor
make progress En- land was the lree>t
nation of any during the last center,
and she made the most progress. iathIs
century, we have far Outstripped her.
France. not a wit behind Egland in edr-
cation. made no inventions until after the
French Ii volution and the establish
meut # a patent law IN 1871 Germany
gives the world patient, painstaking
scientist, ard ~hi,osophers but. in spite
Of her fine school system, 80 inventors,
for her government Is a military one
AustriaUs, Ru ;>ians, Spanlaris, etc are
zone OF them inventors.
During the next fifty We rs the advance
in mechanical inventions will doubtless
far exceed that oc the last fifty years.
ELECTRICITY.
Probably the next important apilica-
ton Ct it viii be the perfecting Of the
electric light, SO hat it may be brought
into daily use. TO Professor Wheaton
of England. belongs the first honor of
this discovery, as he experimental with
it in 1910 la 1859, Professor Farmer,
then resident in Salem. Massachusetts,.
now in the employ of the government at
the Torpedo Station. Newport, lighted
his room by electricity but the cost of
the zinc used in the galvanic battery
rendered the light much more expensive
than that of gas
1t has already been demonstrated that
an electric light can be produced, which
will be equal TO 1000 feet OF gas costing
s.. so, at an expense Of only so cents.
Added to the powerful motive of ecooomy
is the fact that the electric light is steady
does not flicker, does not heat nor %vitiate
the atmosphere, has no odor. can be in
stau,ly lighted without the use of
matches, and is of superior briliiancv.
Not only will this light be used in the
cities, but small manufacturing towns,
with water power, can also be benefited,
by the simple erection of a water wheel
and generator SO hat Lowell, Manches-
ter and Lawrence may yet be lighted by
water from the Merrimac river.
Electricity will also doubtless provide
us with elevators thus doing away with
the going up and down stairs that is so
destructive to health and life in a city,
and placing, what is now the convenience
only of hotels and large buildings, in
every private house.
And this same powerful agent also
holds before us in the future another
bright promise. We NAV hope in the
neal future 10 have our houses warmed
by electricity then gas, 0 expensive,
as it can only be produced from the best
quality Of coal. lin fact. only 6 per cent
is used, the remaining "a per cent being
wasted may be MANUFACTURED for cook
ing purposes out OF the poorer quality,
and ornamental heating fixtures may be
found in parlor, bedroom and kitchen
which will not fill a room with dust, nor
%vitiate the atmosphere, as the gas will be
burned in a closed radiator, the fumes
escaping up the chimney.
Science has lately turned her attention
TO what men call important methods
,f vyorHor1 - Tho Vlatoc oF ;ron rpD.
boats have been thickcned to resist can
non balls but they, in their turn, have
received attention, aud it is now conce-
dcd that no iron clad can be built that
will withstand the ball sent forth from a
Krupp IF war should break out
between England and America, a ship
might he station seven miles from Bos-
ton, anG yet toss her shot and shell fairly
into the city.
The Torpedo boat, with dynamite
for ammunition, can speed through the
water at the rate of hall a mile in sixty
seconds. What then is the future out
look for effectual warfare that will test
the strength of nations? We may thank
science and invention hat they are
forcing nations TO settled their difficulties
in some other way than by the life
blood of their people.
Every German and Frenchman is
to spend some of the best
years of his life in the army; and the
cost OF standing armies is an immense
drain upon the finances of any nation.
Europe keeps 1000. 900 men in the field
at a cost of $1,000. 900, 900 per annum.
In this respect the United States is do
ING well. Her population nearly equals
that of any country in Europe. and her
area is vastly greater; yet her army and
her navy are insignificant when COM
pared with those of other nations.
There are So, ZOO, 900 souls in America
Ten years hence the number
will be 10000. 900. At the century.
30, 600, coo. What will it be 100 wears
hence? What, 1000 years?
In no other age has man, as an intel
and moral being, been held at
so high a value as the present time.
1t is this recognition of the worth of
human beings that arches all the future
with hope and light. Men are no long
II mere food for powder. the many
to do the bidding of the few.
The new civilization recognizes not only
he right of every mar to make the most
Of himself, but regards it as the duty
If society TO aid him.
Our growth in wealth is fabulous. Our
irst savings bank was established in
SIG, about $4,000. 600 were then on de-
,osit; in 1880. 81, 200, 600. 600.
Contemplate u railroads, manufac-
cries. mines and cities. We stand
lmazed. The world has never witness
ID such a spectacle.
A $50 BIBLICAL PRIzE.-The publish
RS OF Rutiedge's Monthly offer twelve
reward in their Monthly for
arnnr.. nnannn Mhinh Il Tho Eollauinn.