Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1885-10-15
A NEW MACHINE.


That May I'm Time Greats Revelation II
Type-Setting But, Like the Keeiy Motor,
Its Success is Still Prospective and, To
Some Extent, Problematical
WASHINGTON, d. c., October g.
There was a meeting OF prominent news.
paper men in this city last week. The
purpose of this meeting was not gener-
ally known. These gentlemen have In.
vested large sums In type-setting ma.
chine. This machine was made In Balti-
more, and has been upon the eve OF So
called completion for number of years.
1t was originally backed by John Cla.
phane, one of the leading stenographers
here. He organized a company, which
was made up oil nearly all Of the official
stenographers OF Washington. Their
capital being limited, and the experi-
ments of the invention not reaching sue
cess within fixed period covered by
their means, other investors have been
taken In from time to time. Mr.. Hutch.
ins, the editor of the Washington Post,
appeared to think well Of the invention,
and bought its stock during the second
period OF the increase of the company.
1t Is understood that through his repre-.
sentatons Whtelaw Ried, of the New
York Tribune; Richard Smith, of the Gin.
cinnati Gazette; Mr.. Haldeman, of the
Louisville Conrier-JOurndl; William
Henry Smith, of the New York Asso-
cIated Press, and Mr.. Stone, OF the News
of Chica 20, have become investors. 1t
is said that these last named gentlemen
have invested In all $3.50, 900 in the
stock, which two years ago was at flf-
teen. 1t is now sail to be at sixty, but
it is q question whether any block of the
stock could be sold at that figure 1t
has been claimed for this machine that
1t would do away with the composition
entirely. With the keyboard of type
writer any one capable OF writing,
this last named machine would be able
to set the matter up and stereotype at
the same time the type required for the
printing of newspaper. The machine
has been inspected by a number OF ex-
perts. 1t Is very ingenious and will un.
doubtedly be used in printing book work,
circulars or in copying legal documents.
But is a very serious question among the
stockholders whether this machine will
ever be sufficient 10 meet all the require
ments of the modern newspaper publica-
tion Office The meeting of the news
paper people held here last week was for
the purpose of considering the question
OF whether til, headquarters OF the COM
pany should not be transferred to New
York, and to further consider ways
and means OF raising money for
further experimenting with this machine.
There are number OF conflicting stories
about the condition reached in the con-
struction OF this new invention. 1t Is
claimed by some OF the gentlemen inter-
ested in it that 1t Is now perfect and
ready to be used. II this is true, this
fact will be early disclosed, because the
majority of the gentlemen intereste | IN 1t
have control of publication Offices where
the use CT his machine would certainly
make great sensation. 1t has been
claimed for several years that this inven-
ton would rival the telephone In the
profits resulting from 1t, and the news
papers not in the company controlling II
would be driven to severe loss from
their inability to compete with
the Offices having it. 1t has been
claimed that this machine would
reduce the price Of composition two.
thirds. This invention has now been
under way four years. Two years ago
Abram S. Hewitt came very near invest.
ing in 1t, so as to secure the control, but
his judgment, after investigating Its
merits, led him to withhold the Invest.
ment. This invention has been the sub
jcct OF n great deal OF talk at Washing
ion. The principal Investors in it seem
to be perfectly confident that it is one Of
the greatest inventions of modern times,
and that 1t will return royal income 10
its stockholders, while there are cold
bloodcd, cynical minded people who
argue that it is the Kcely motor over
again, and that, while the machine ia
very ingenious, it never can be made
practical for the use of newspapers.