The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1892-06-23
MISTAKEN INVENTORS.
Practical knowledge Necessary &c
Complete Success.
Much Mental Labor Often spent In vain
by Ambitious Persons Who Might
Have Been Successful In
Smaller Ways.

The fact that 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 subject often discussed by inventors
and those who are directly interested
in 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
heartache as among inventors. Al
though thousands OF them snnually
achieve success and enter on 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
wears, saws the New York Journal, de-
nying himself all the Injuries 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 disap-
pointment are not very numerous nor
hard to find First among them is in
sufficiency of practical knowledge on
the part of the inventor. For example,
a man who knows nothing of the prac-
teal work Of steam engineering may
invent and patent device in that line
which will appear to him, and other
non-professionals, to be a great advance
on existing methods for generating or
utilizing steam, but which will be con-
demned by the most competent judges.
In all kinds of machinery the same
cause is a prolific source of disappoint-
ment.
The thing invented may be very in
genious, may have cost n vast deal OF
mental labor and may attest the intel
lectual superiority of the inventor; but
if it be deficient in practical utility, if
its introduction will not be profitable
to those for whom it is intended, it goes
to the lumber yard of oblivion. Persons
who are utterly ignorant of gunnery
frequently invent something in that
line, but they very rarely attain success.
The same rule holds good in all the in
dustrial arts, including agriculture,
mining, manufactures, ship-building
and railroading. Brilliancy of intellect
and originality in conception are Offset
by lack of practical knowledge. Anoth-
er reason why failure is so frequently
encountered is lack of capital to per-
feet, construct and demonstrate. Many
inventions of great value are lying dor
mant because a good deal of money
would be required to show the world
what they are and what advantages
they possess.
This is especially true of inventions
that menace great interests. When q
patent threatens annihilation of vast
value, when it proposes to sweep away
plants thatrepresent millions of dollars,
capital hesitates to develop it, for its
introduction means a fight to the death
between gigantic conflicting interests.
In catering to the demands of fashion,
elegance and luxury there are many in.
ventions brought out that do not pay,
because there is not and cannot be a
large demand for them. The best ele-
ment of success in a patent is adapta.
tion to universal or general want. To
do some simple thing that is done by the
masses, and to do it cheaper and better
than before, is to succeed.
To furnish healthfuI and innocent
amusement in q new and attractive
way, and do it at small cost, is to put
money in your purse. Anything that
the people will recognize as meeting q
want tastefully and cheaply will find
purchasers. Some of the most profita
BILE patents-paying the best in proper
tion to the time and money expended
have been the simplest things, so sim
pie that almost everybody, on seeing
one of them, wonders why he or she die
not think Of it long ago