The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-03-02
C. C. COLUMBIAN CIRCLE.
Prize Papers and Prize Offers of G
Epoch.

Prize Papers and Prize Offers of q Great
Epoch.
Prizes are offered for the best papers on topics
announced; also, for papers any general topics
bearing upon the series Contributors will say
whether they prefer books c. c. badges or novel
ties. All contributors should mail papers at least
two weeks in advance Of the dates assigned for
publication TO Kate b. Sherwood Canton o. To-
day is the ninth paper OF the series Coming topics
Hre as follows:
TENTH PAPER, MARCH 9.
l. What countries have promised to send exhib-
its 10 the Worlds Fair?
2 Tell something of the exhibits by countries,
and what they viii probably be.
ELEVENTH PAPER, MARCH I6.
j. In what particular will the coming Worlds
Fair differ from that Of any other? This refers TO
the Woman's Exhibit.
TWELFTH PAPER, MARCH %.
i. When and where was petroleum first discov.
cred and used?
q Tell of its discovery. history, and products in
America.
THIRTEENTH PAPER. MARCH 30.
1. What is electricity. and when, where, and by
whom discovered?
2. What are the great American electrical inven-
tons?
3. Who are the greatest American electricians,
living and dead?
4. What viii be the extent Of the electrical ex-
hibits at the Worlds Fair?
FOURTEENTH PAPER, APRIL G.
]. What is paper, when and where first made.
and for what purpose?
2. What articles are made from paper,
NINTH PAPER AND PRIZES.
The beautiful Columbian puzzle illustrative OF
the Worlds Fair at Chicago, has been awarded ia
Burt Stone Lu Verne. Iowa for best paper on
American inventions at The Worlds Fair; also, to
Mary Godward, Atlantic. Wyo., for best general
paper. same series. As these papers only partially
cover the ground. they preceded by summary
Of great American inventions and inventors by the
Editor.
AMERICAN INVENTIONS AND INVENTORS.
j. The first patent granted by the National Pat
ent Office for cast-iron pillow but the ventor
who did most to perfect il was Jethro Wood OF
New York, 1919. Its uses to American agriculture
be estimated from th fact that il would require
100000 plowmen, working with the Colonial
pillow every day in the year. prepare the soil now
annually under cultivation in the United States
Specimens Of the clumsy, oId-fashioned piows
through all grades TO the fine steam plow will be
on exhibit al the Worlds Fair.
2. The invention Of the cotton gin. by Eli Whit.
ney a century ago. coincident with the evolution OF
the plow. was OF no less importance to American
! Industries When IL was introduced, IL took one
man three months 10 work up bali OF cotton into
/ lint. Whney's gin did the same work in six days
In its original form the gin did the work of Is men
/ improved and steam driven, ii does the work O
900 men. Simply 10 have picked out the seeds oil
the cotton crop Of 1871 would have kept the entire
working population of the United States busy fol
month. Coiion-gins will be at the Worlds Fair
3. one OF the first United States patents was Is
sued for an improved thresher. and Washington
tried sort Of threshing- machine early as 1888
but the fail held the field until about ls52 wher
| horsepower was introduced. Up TO 1850 over 2o
| patents had been granted, and the number is now
| up la the thousands. The application of steam
| power 10 threshing-m has raised the ont
! put from about 900 bushels day 10 6000 or 7 oe
| for single machine. In trial tests America ha
| led the world by three to Ia speed and per
lection in tlrcshing- ,nachines. The hum of Ameri
can threshers will eniiyen the Worlds Fair en-
yirons.
4 Reapng by machinery is as old as the Christian
era, but 10 inventors like Hussey and Mccormick
who co years ago took out patents for reapers apc
| mowers whose principles form the necessary basi
| for all similar inventions. the awards OF homo
| must be given.
The American reapers and mowers won thei
first great victory the first Worlds Fair at TIN
| Crystal Palace London, ia ls5j tile American nj