The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-14
MECHANICAL SKILL.
Short Talk on the Wonders of
the Crafts.
SOME VERY WONDERFUL CLOCKS
The Earliest Applications Of Human Gen
ius-The Most Colossal Monuments
in the World.

Mechanical science, strictly speak
ing. is that which treats of the nature
of forces and of their action on bodies
either directly or by the agency of
machinery. This article will outline
the history and trace the development
of mechanics. The purpose rather is to
indicate some of the more remarkable
triumphs of the science. and TO specify
some of its peculiar developments.
/ Mechanics, in practice, it is safe to
say, is as old as the race. Men were
mechanics long ages before there was
what could be called mechanical sci
ence, just as they used Language long be-
fore there was a science of speech.
There were good builders before
the food and in the years that imme-
diately followed there were Tubal-
Gains as well as Nimrods-men who
could work in brass and iron and wood
as we'll as mighty hunters.
Practical experience soon becomes
knowledge; and knowledge we'll
founded soon becomes science. One has
no reason to doubt, therefore, that at
very early age of the worlds history
some of the principles of mechanical
science were we'll understood.
One of the earlist applications of
human genius would naturally be in
the direction of building. Men re-
quired homes and they built for them
selves houses. They requird protection,
and they congregated in great multi
tudes, and built for themselves walled
cities. They had to hunt for living,
and they bad to fight and protect
themselves against the enemy; and they
made for themselves swords and spears
and other weapons of destruction.
They needed clothing, and the produc-
tions of the loom gradually took the
place Of the skins of the wild animals.
And so it was that experience led to
knowledge, and knowledge to science.
The pyramids of Egypt, for long
and to this day included among the
worlds wonders, are to be regarded as
marvellous triumphs of mechanical
skill. OF these there are many scat
tered over the Nile valley, some sof
brick, some of stone and of varied
height. The two largest are in the
neighborhood of Cairo. They are,
and have been for thousands of years,
the most colossal monuments in the
world. The largest, that of Cheops,
in its original state is said to have
been 800 feet high and the length OF
its base ON each side the same. 1t is
built of huge stone ranging from two
to. four feet in height. 1t is now rug.
ged and has the character as well as the
appearance of four-sided great stair.
way. The hollows between the steps
are believed to have been filled in with
white marble, which would shine like
snow under the bright Egyptian sun.
The pyramid is now much reduced in
height, not being more than 500 feet
1t is generally admitted that the pyra
mids were built for tombs and on certain
astronomical principles. There is al
inner chamber where the sarcophagus
was placed. When monarch began
to reign he commenced to build his
tomb. When he died his body was
placed in the sacred chamber prepared
for it, and the opening which led to il
was closed. The pyramid was ther
completed. If the monarch reign was
long, the pyramid was large. II
short, the pyramid was small.
How those great structures were
reared-how the huge masses were
brought together and put in their places
lis question which has never beer
satisfactorily answered. OF mechani
cal forces some Of the early people
seem to have had much more knowl.
edge than there is any direct record of.
1t was Archimedes who made the
first contributions to mechanics as 9
science. The world owes to him the
lever and the screw, and it was he who
discovered that body immersed in
fluid loses as much of its weight as il
equal to the fluid it displaces-.a prin
ciple which has much to do with tn,
floating levithans of the deep.
When one thinks of the discoverie
and applications Of modern times tn,
discoveries Of the great Syracusan sinl
into insignificance. 1t is unnecessary
to refer to the steam engine and it,
numerous applications - application
which are being multiplied every day
One exception must be made. Ma
smyth' steam hammer is an invention
OF comparatively recent date. 1t il
really something wonderful to behold
this mighty hammer come down will
gentleness enough to crack nut, o.
with force enough to forge huge an
Choir. By means Of this instrument
in the matter Of driving piles into tn,
ground, the work Of twelve hours cal
be reduced to four; and if large enough
it is capable of welding by one strok,
into solid mass whole tons of scrap.
The Strasburg clock has often beer
described. The original clock wa.
really wonderful continuance. 1
was constructed in 1870. On its plat,
was celestial globe with the motions
OF suns, moon and planets. The phases
OF the moon were presented, and there
was perpetual almanac, the day O
the month being indicated by statue
Every quarter was struck the first by
child with an apple; the second by
youth with an arrow; the third by
man with the tip of his staff. and the
last by an old man with his crutch
The hOur xyos str,,ov -. -. u..--r =,