Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-19
Experimental Apparatus.
Telegraph Instruments
Electric Light and Railway Supplies.
Bare Copper and Insulated Wires.
Applegate Burglar Alarm Mating.
Incandescent Lamps Of all makes,
clear or colored.
Lamp Sockets.

! cannot restore as much even as the
| steam engine does. A prime motor and
| direct converter of heat into electric
| ity, with efficiencies of so per cent or
| more, and using common fuel. have yet
to be invented, In the ordinary cycle,
coal is burned under boiler, and the
steam thus generated actuates an en-
gine, in its turn driving IL dynamo. In
the second conversion of mechanical into
electric energy, there Is a loss of not
over 10 or 10 per cent. But in the first
step S5 to 80 per cent Of heat energy is
lost. In overcoming this loss, by going
din ectly from heat to electricity, with
out the wasteful Instrumentation of
steam. there is ample room for inven-
tion. a primary battery that would be
economically available for heavy work
has yet to be invented. Almost all are
characterized by high resistance, eX-
pensive depolarizer, or a negative plate
of high initial cost. In the upward
battery there was genuinely new de-
parture; but it has not been extensively
introduced. The use OF zinc for the
positive element is weak point, owing
to the expense of such fuel. The
storage battery has, met with success, in
great measure, on account of its low
resistance. In the approved arrange
ment of primary batteries, one-half the
energy is expended uselessly in overcom-
ing the resistance Of the battery itself.
The field of greater achieve
ments could be gone over and
many other wants suggested. The sun s
radiant heat should be utilized; tidal
force and the movements OF the wind
should be harnessed and made to do
their part in the labors of the world.
In considering the great advance OF
natural science as regards definition
only, remembering how accurately the
extent OF achievement is stated, it is
impossible to resist the conclusion that
the world is on the verge of the reveal
ment of some OF the greatest inventions.
To know just what we have done and
what are the limits of our power in any
gwen direction, is half the battle, and
that half has been won. In inventions
of minor or less fundamental character
the field is widening rather Than mar
rowing. Since the days of Faust and
Gutenberg, all books have been set up,
letter by letter, in the most laborious
and primitive way At last fairly
successful type moulding machine, that
replaces the cOmpositor, has APP
peared. But no one can pretend
to say that it marks the limit
of achievement in this partic-
ular art. In the most numerous classes
lock nuts. there is evidently ample
region for work, as certainly the per-
feet coupler or nut has not yet been in
vented. About 1872 Robert Fulton is
said TO have invented means for bring
ing the double-ended ferry boats, which
he had designed, 10 their pontoon docks
without jar. AS the ierryboat OF the
present day reaches he pier, the ends
of two cables brought from the dock are
| hooked TO eyebolts on her deck, and the
cables are then frightened by species
of windlass 50 as to hold the boat in
place. The whole operation is executed
by hand. while several hundred people
patiently await its completion. In this
exceedingly crude contrivance il would
seem that relic OF Robert Fulton's in
| ventlon has been preserved. The in
genuity OF the constructors of steam
ships and railways ought to be adequate
TO the production of an automatic
| coupling that would hold the
boat IN place as she touches
the dock. A good instance of genuine
Improvement in field apparently
barren has been afforded during the
| last few months. The channel eye was
| one OF the first improvements in the
needle. BY placing the eye near its
point, the sewing machine became "a
| possibility. Except for these changes,
! the latter Tor specific purpose, the