New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-17

He was, like many other active men, devoted
entirely 10 his work. He declined to make new
acquaintaDccs, and refused TO see visitors, except
upon rare OCCASIONS and then for the briefcst time
only, because he realized that he had much which
had not been finished, and felt that he could not
spare single moment from the work
upon which his heart was set. What
better evidence Of devotion 10 his work
Is needed than a reference TO the time when
he built the Monitor? When he signed the con-
tact with Secretary OF the Navy Wcllcs to build
this vessel, scarcely week before laying the
keel plates. he had completed only a small por
ton OF the working drawings The contract
stipulated that she must be ready for delivery TO
the Government in 90 working days and he
completed his plans, gave daily supervision to
the work. and had the vessel ready in time.
Another condition of the contract was that the
entire structure should prove successful in prac-
teal operation before the final payment should be
made and in case Of failure he and his associates
should he liable to the Government for the entire
amount advanced to them Ills associates were
Thomas F. Rowland. who built her, and John a.
Griswod j. +. Winslow, and g. ). Bushnell,
who furnished the capital. plates, bars riyctS and
other materials OF construction.
An INTERESTING INCIDENT
4 little anccdotc in connection with the building
If this vessel and representing the ecccnricities.
il they may be so called, told 10 the writer
by Mr. Rowland a few months ago: Ericsson
sent for Rowland just after the contract for the
Monitor was signed. on October %, 1851 when
the young man was ushered into the presence OF
the inventor, Ericsson with head and body Dent
over his drawing board, and surrounded by his
papers and professional implements just raised his
tl,n and
the door 10 recognize who the visitor was, SAID
"Tom. nv boy, what are you going 20 charge
me 10 build my iron ship%
Mine cents a pound responded Tom Row
land.
Tut. tut, Tom,7 said Ericsson, his brains ana
hands still working at the angles and curves ana
circles on his board it must re done for seven ana
q half cents" And the bargain was at once cioSen
AT that figure SO the Monitor was put aioA'
100 DAYS later by Ericsson the inventor. Griswod'
Win,low and Bushnell, who furnished the ma
tcrials. and young Rowland, the builder
HOW TITLES WERE REGARDED.
John Ericsson was always addressed as zap
tain He had many other titles. ana hohoreu o1cs
too. but he preferred the one when he recciHo"
! from the Swedish Government to all others Ills
| native country gave ii 70 him. ana nc was more
proud Of it than of the many honorary degrees
liancntary bodies from time 10 time. lie never
made any display of the honors and the ribbons
| that he received. aud when asked one time what
| titles should accompany his name III the dedlc'-
| finn of a great engineering work 10 him, he re-
| nlicd: CAPTAIN, and LII. D." lie was proud oil
| the latter because it was degree bestowed as IA
| recognition Of his contributions To science.
CAPTAIN Ericsson was not born In abIect poverty
as has been gratuitousy published III some REFER
| cnccs 10 him. Ills father, Olaf Ericsson, was a
mining proprietor, and his mother was the daughter
NJ an ironmastcr. II will thus be seen that ne
was endowed with a mechanical brain. lie had
| learned by observation the use OF drawing IN
| struncnts at the age OF nine years, ana yea"
ln,er h,. began the career OF designer ana con
| e,rurtor which ended Only with his death. IFS
| first instruments were pair OF compasS's whlch
| nc made from brentwood, with needles III the
! ends of tine legs, and ruling pen cVNc 49,
,ron, n nnir of twcczcrs With these he drew
| thc plans for windmill ana Il P"nP'ns,
engine of his own DESIGNING t re- co hn'rs
rho drawings with brushes mace from h'iis
| nulled from his mothers sable CLOAK: lie hhaiiS
puiit and set up his machines, and his work com
| In" 10 the notice OF Count Platen, theh plcsi-
GS ricss ", made Cadet of Mechanical Engineers
| At tho age Of fourteen, Ericsson nae cn"IHc VI -"
new railroad section 2t the mead Oh ooU icn nn am
| n,hirh he stood 10 bring his eye to the heigh'
| of the dwelling Instrument
WHAT uE ACCOMPLISHED IN ENGLAND
In 1soo Ericsson obtained commission rs
"cusign" in the Swedish Army, ana soon rose u
the rank of lieutenant. Later he received al up
nointmcnt. by competitive examination, on sur
,,ev of Northern Sweden, and while on thiS "oi"
| IA. invented and made machine Tor line chS'''-
ipg hv means of which in a few months III COM
pIcted a large number of coppcr-plate ehsI"N lns,
M suuerior merit In 1926 he went 10 EHsiohu
81, I.avc of absence in order to Introduce HIS
. flame engine" tine forerunner OF his c"ioIc
. i,a The flame engine had worked success
,,IIy with the shavings OF Swedish pine, but wa:
49,, '.don,cd u. the use of English coal, lehcc, u
did not achieve commercI"l SUCCESS; w =, -
ing his leave he became tecnhcaHy na"i taDorce
,.a1noItcs of dcscrtion but through the ihnuc''.'
J., :. friends AT Court" he escaped punishment,
Wor did he resign his commission, as mas ol"u
hecn stated but Inc was promoted 10 tfe rum W
c,ntain and received indefinite leave VI "o1'" ~,
! ~ antain Ericsson remained IN Eng i"h" W.
,Lir,don veors during which time he prOducco
nearlv forty different machines ana iiiNcn'iono
ali of high merit, and some oil great iIpI '''n, ,
Among these deepsca souhuns ien -; u s,,r
rccentIv uscd all over The world n murine 1ui
,co Condenser a machine for cutting mes, I'm
nrnvcmrnts in tubular boilers, the cehtrii"s"i a
! blower for producing aftiHclal "l"t. I'M, th,
| only twrnty-siX years ol age "Hrl Nv h'';I th,
49, stcon, fire engine: and planned anu p",i' Wv
"ar,o vcor n locomotive of original ana c"g""
J,-si.yu which attained the phenonichai sP.teu W
| rc,riv Gfty miles an hour. Ihcsc IVY " nnn3,,
alone woud have mace 'hc 49, a tho fothci
@omous I'm France ne is recognlzeI as the l" t
nf screw propulsion: not that ne hfSt cocrtf ~ :,
tho idea hut to him. more IMAM 10 Any c "ea,'
man is due its practical commerce. 80 81
W,hers snent their best cndcavors 10 oplllh w
.o'u;eitc Velocity Of rotation 10y means OF 9carlh-
| hut no discarded all of these complcat0.s aI''
councd his engines directly To the shait Inui'5
that his efforts were not appreciated I'D E"sia"'