Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-11-05

almost wholly used in pumping the water
OUT OF ueep MINES and the bulk o. tne
populatlon knew no more OF them, or W.
rived any more direct benefit from them,
than II they had not existed.
great 'nn nd centnry w rne that
results of extending our knowledge Of the
universe anu giving possibilities OF Iu.ure
knowledge not yet exhausted, may rank
with spectrum analysis III our own era
me barometer and Thermometer are MI
nor discoveries. In the sixteenth century
we have no invention of the first. rank,
but in the fifteenth we have printing |
The mariners compass was invented
Of great Importance in rendering ocean
navigation possible and thus facilitating
the discovery of America. Then, back |
ward to the dawn of HISTORY. or rather 10 |
prehistoric times. we have the two great |
engines of Arabic numerals leading 70 |
arithmetic and algebra and, more remote
still, the invention of alphabetical writ |
! ing.
Summing these up we find only five in
ventions OF the first rank In all preceding
| time--the telescope, the printing press, |
the mariners compass. Arabic numerals, |
and alphabetical writing. to which we
may add the steam engine and the ba-
| rometer, making seven in all, as against
| thirteen in our single century.
! Coming now to the theoretical discov-
cries, of our time, which have extended
| our knowledge or widened our concep-
tons of the universe, we found them to
be about equal in number, as follows:
1.-The discrimination Of the mechanical
equivalent of heat, leading to the great
principle OF the conversation OF energy.
2-The molecular theory of gases.
3-The mode Of direct measurement of
| the velocity of light and the experiment
tai proof of the earth's rotation. These
are put together, because hardly sufIi-
cient alone.
4-The discovery of the function Of dust
in nature.
5-The theory Of definite and multiple
proportions III chemistry.
6-The nature of meteors and comets,
lead to the neteoritic theory of the uni
verse.
THE proof of the glacial epoch, its
vast extent and its effect upon the
earth's surface.
SThe proof OF the great antiquity Of
man
9-The establishment of the theory OF
organic evolution.
10-The cell theory and the recapitula-
ton theory in embryology.
1.-THE germ theory of the zymotic dis
eases.
l2II,he discovery of the nature and
function of the white blood corpuscles
Turning to the past in the eighteenth
century We may perhaps claim two
groups of discoveries.
1.-The foundation of modern chemistry
by Black, CaVendish, Priestly and Lavoa-
2-The foundation of electrical science
by Franklin, Galvani and Volta.
The seventeenth century is richer in
epoch making discoveries, since We have:
SIhc theory of gravitation established,
THE discovery Of Kepler's laws,
The invention Of fluxions ana the diff
ferential calculus.
6-Harvey's proof of the circulation Of
the Blood.
7-Roemer's proof of finite velocity Of
light by Jupiter's satellites.
Then. going backward. we can find
nothing of the first rank except Euclid
wonderful system of geometry. derived
from earlier Greek and Egyptian sources.
and perhaps the most remarkable mental
product of the earliest civilizations; to
which we may add the introduction Of
Arabic numerals and the use of the al
phabet: Thus in all past history we find
dent to the nineteenth century. as com
| pared with twelve during that century.
, 1T will be well now tosgive comparative
lists of the great inventions and diSCov-
cries of the two eras. adding 4 few 9th
4 crs to those above enumerated,
or NINETEENTH CENTURY.
Railways.
Steamships
Eecrric telegraphS.
: The telephone.
| J.ucifer matches.
: Gas illumination.
i Electric Lighting. ~
81 Photography.
. The phonograph.
Roentgen rays.
I AnacSthetics.
: AntiSeptic surgery.
. | Conservation of energy.
| Molecular theory of gases.
Velocity of light directly measured. and
2 earths rotation experimentally shown.
. | The uses of dust.
y Chemistry, definite proportions.
I Meteors and meteOric theory.
: The glacial epoch.
- The antiquity of man.
: Organic evolution established.
n Cell theory and embryology.
= Germ theory of disease and the func-
i ton of the leucocytes.
!. OF ALL PRECEDING AGES.
The mariners compass.
- The steam engine.
( The telescope.
t The barometer and thermometer.
a Printing.
Arabic numerals.
o Alphabetical writing
y Modern chemistry founded.
q Electric science founded.
- Gravitation established.
Z kepler's laws.
II The differential calculus
"a The circulation of the blood.
Light proved to have finite velocity.
y The development Of geometry.
l. Of course these numbers are not abso-
is lutte. Either series may be increased OF
- diminished by taking account of other
u discoveries as of equal importance, or by
l. striking out Some which may be consid
Y cred as below the grade of an importaul
or epoch-making step in science or civil
zation. But the difference between the
= two lists is so large, that probably NJ
competent judge would bring them to al
| equality. Again, it is noteworthy thai
nothing like a regular graduation is per
cepllDle during the last three or -FOUR cen
ed turtles. The eighteenth century, instead
of showing some approximation to tht
wealth of discovery in our own age. Is
less remarkable than the seventeenth
having only about half the number Of
+ really great advances.
l. Ii appears then that to get any ade
Va quate comparison with the nineteenth
~ century we must take not any preceding
y century or group of centuries, but rather
he the whole preceding epoch of human his
- tory. And if we take into consideration
~ the change effected in science. in the
N arts, in all the possibilities of human III
n tercourse. and in the extension OF our
"a knowledge. both of our earth and of tht
WHOLE visible universe, the difference
$, shown by the mere numbers of these ad.
e. vances will have to be considerably in.
creased on account of the marvellous
character and vast possibilities of further
"a development of many of our recent dis.
Il coveries. Both as regards the numbel
and the quality of its onward advances
lie the age in which we live fully merits the
Is title / have ventured to give it of-tht
OF Wonderful Century.
10 | Gentry county Kan, which boosted
ie the record of having taken more premi.
-, unls at the Worlds Fair than any othe,
X single county in the United States, is
"a again d subject for congratulate hav-
a ing captured a large number of the best