The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-17

or suggesting something that would econo-
mize the strength. n increase the pro-
ductive power Of mankind. Mr.. GURUS
calls to mind the interesting fact that
Jefferson. not long after coming OF age
set on foot an improvement OF pubic I'M
portance TO his neighborhood. The river
Rivanna. that flowed through his farm
although a considerable stream. was so
INSTRUCTED IA to be useless for navigation
He examined its channel and, perceivlnB
that II could be cleared for twenty-five
miles without great expense, collected
funds for that purpose, supervised the
work and enabled his n%eighbors to hoat
the produce OF their farms TO market at n
nominal cost, where before they had been
compelled 10 haul it in wagons Another
characteristic incident Is noted. While
grading the top of Monticello for his house,
Jefferson noted that some of the workmen
used wheelbarrows with one wheel, and
others barrows with two wheels. lie
took pencil. paper and watch IN haho 10
ascertain which was the more advantageous
He found that the efficiency OF the two-
wheeled barrows was four times greater
than that Of the others, and he ordered
them used thereafter. II was Jefferson
who sent TO the United States the hrst
announcement Of the success OF Nattss
steam engine by means of which no SAID
"a peck and a half Of coal performs as
much work al a horse in a day lie learned
OF the mechanism from Boulton, a partner
of Watts. and az soon as he could be spareu
from Paris he crossed the Channe TO London
10 see IL in operation: but, much TO nus
disappointment, he was not allowed To
make a minute examination. He spent
a great deal of time in Europe collecting
information about internal naviga-
ton, which proved particularly welcome
10 the companies formed to utilize tho
Potomac and the James. He notified
Congress OF the invention by n French
mechanic OF a machine which. "a Mr.. Curtis
reminds us. is now familiar 10 every work
shop, a machine namely. by which wheels
and other parts Of a watch OF clock can he
multiplied in duplicate, as many as are
desired. 80 exactly alike hat one can be
used in place Of another without altering
or fitting Jefferson went on to announce
that a similar machine had been made
for the purpose Of reproducing the parts
of a musket lock by hundreds or thousands.
or any number desired. SO exact hat they
can ne put tOetlItI Us H'o'y NV
as If each had been made by ham OF the
same size and pattern, 20 hat one part
can be replaced by a duplicate at Will
He predicted the great utility OF this inven-
ton in lessening the cost OF articles In
common use, and suggested hat the princi-
Pile of it should be applied to all manu-
facturers. We add that II was 20 Jefferson
that the model and drawings OF the reaping
machine invented by Robert Mill were
submitted before they were sent 10 the
Patent Office. One Of Jeferson's last
acts before leaving the Department Of State
was TO issue a patent to Eli Whitney for
the cgttOn-g gin.
Mr.. Curtis has collected proofs Of the
extent to which jefferson himself was an
inventor, although, believing in the natural
right of mankind TO share useful improve
meuts, he never applied for a patent. His
first original oontrivance was n folding
chair. whiCh he used Ia carry 20 church
in early days when the seating convent
Cncns were insufficient. He Ii also said
% have invented the revolving chair which
is how a familiar article OF furniture in
Offices and counting rooms. Al all events,
the FEEDER list newspapers used 10 call 1t
MIR. Jeferson's whirligig.- and declared
that he had devised 1t so a. TO look all
WAYS at once He also designed a light
wagon or sulky. with a comfortable sat
and two wheels. One Of his inventions
was a hemp break. which, he said, has
long been wanted by the Culuvators OF
hemp. ana. a. soon a. ! can speak Of Its
effect with certainty. ! shall describe II
ANONYMOUSLY H. the public papers, in order
to forestall the prevention OF It's use by
some interloping patent thief. IL" also
invented a peiomcter "a measure the dis
ianccs he walked. 4 great many 81 his
letters were copied 10y the Use OF a poly
graph, md, subsequently,. by a letter
pr,--s, both Instruments ~ his own invcn-
,ioa The ~polygraph or stylogrsph, ~ he
sometimes termed II. produced a perfect
fac-simile, often lndistin guishahle from
the original letter. The copying press.
now used 10y everybody, l. attributed 10
Jeferson. The fret machine was made,
aupnrently Ia hi order. IN London, and
proved 30 satisfactory that b" orderet
duplicates for Adams, Madison and other
ineudr A. a matter Of fart. however
IN early l.tter press VA far from per
feet. the greater part 81 the coplr- made
ny u are .itheF vholly 90 IN part ill'gibl".
Jercr-nn'- most important invention
Wa q plough II s-'ms that duung hr
IuruI-au tnurr BE- hal bs-n STRUCK ~ tie
wasta e power cau-d by th" had onu-
rtrlctlou e the plnughs ~ comma u-'
The part - thr plough call'i M" mould
board which g. above the shaf" aud turnr
u,.f a., earth. r'~in~i g. lim M" 'il'i
-aat - ,uuf. and 10" spent many - th'
ls-Iur nulr- ~ Dee lSi tNu yrurr boz Franc.
Boz evolving % muuld islari viIch -l'ul'
. .err no minimum 81 rr-'an'" ~" sr'
a., original irsgu a. M" l"ya' Asr'uI
tlral ralrty ~ tD" S.sn" H." GOD m''iai
vilri tho, o. hpivi iuf U M 100 followed
~. iufatHf tu Nrv lurk snd "shi"l|
,rafs later rLs as.sty eat iIm a ral"Hn.
plough Dn,alu.us bic Iuur.''m'n.'
". ops ,o Ienrra,H r.t 1uIy oil ths
30 81 rYs u.luiHi 200 vtaf 90 "Hfs N'
o.. ara I,nII HH IYF alH. UHI i
t..atIY. H % aiEr iaI' ~ uH .a' "
U ..H#l H. is.. o.
aI stIaIaH a lafH 4 D.
h. #|. ..