Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-05-20
! MISTAKEN INVENTORS.
Practical knowledge Necessary to
Complete Success.
Much Mental Labor Often Spent In Vain
by Ambitious Persons Who Might
Have Been Successful In
Smaller Ways.

The fact that a very large proportion
of patented inventions are disappoint-
ment to their originatorS because of
their failure to yield profitable return
for time and money expended on them
Is n subject often discussed by inventors
and those who are directly interested
III their work. 1t is probable that in no
other field of human effort are there so
many bitter disappointments, so many
crushed hopes and SO much of genuine
Ecartache as among inventors. Al
though thousands of them annually
achieve success and enter on n career of
Prosperity, other thousands find little
or no reward; the devices from which
they confidently expected affluence have
only added to their poverty.
Many an intelligent man tolls for
years, says the New York Journal, de-
rying himself all the luXuries and most
Of the comforts of life to bring out an
invention seemingly full of promise,
but destined to utter failure. The
reasons for this extended area of dlisap-
pOintmcnt are not very numerous nor
hard to find. First among them is in
s,lfficiency of practical knowledge on
q man who knows nothing of the prac-
teal work of steam engineering may
invent,and patent Il device in that line
which will appear to him, and other
non-profcsSiOnalS, to be Il great advance
on existing methods for generating or
utiliZil steam, but which will be con-
dcrnncd by the most competent judges.
In all kinds of machinery the same
cause is prolific source of disappoint-
mant.
The thing invented may be very in
gcniouS. may have cost vast deal Of
mental labor and may attest the intel
l"c:tuai superiority of the inventor: Int
if it be deficient III practical utility. if
It's Introduction win not be profitable
e. those for whom it is intended. il goes
(" the lumber yard of oblivion. Persons
who are utterly ignorant of Gunncry
frequently invent Something in that
line. but they very r,.rcly attain success.
The same rule holds good in all the in
hustrial arts, including agriculture,
mining. manufactures, ship-buildirI
and railroad;ng. Briliiancy of intclI2c;
and originality in conception are offset
by lac!: Of practical knowledge. Anoth-
CT reason why failure is so Frequently
Cn"oInt red is lack of capital to per
feet, C instruct and demonstrate. Many
Inventions Of great valur are lying dor
-! 1t because a good deal of money
=. aid be required to show the world
'':iat they arc and what advantages
:cy possess.
This is especially true of inventions
that menace great interests. When q
rrt"nt threatens anniililaCiOn of vast
r;.iUc. when it proposes to sweep away
plants that represent millions Of dollars,
capital hCsitutcs to develop ii. for it's
introduction means u fight to the death
between gigantic conflicting interests.
II catering To the demands of fashion.
e,1gnnrc and luxury there arc many in
C,utiOnS brought out that do not pay,
because there is not and cannot be "a
urge demand for them. The best elc-
ncnt of success in patent is adapta-
ton to Il universal or general want. To
- some simple thing that is done by the
rlasSe>. and TO do it cheaper and better
than before, is to succeed.
TO furnish hcalthful and innocent
amusement in n now and attractive
wy, and do it ut small cost. is to put
oucy IL your purse. Anything that
10 people will recognize as meeting a
liant tastefully and chcaply will find
purchasers. Some of the most proiita-
tlc Notwithstanding the best in proper
ton to the time and money expended
Lave been tho simplest things, so sim
rjc that almost everybody, on seeing
GO II them, wonders why he or she did
not vnfnlS of it long ago
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