The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-04-22
'lNVENTING DOESN'T PAY
MEN WHO ORIGINATE THINGS RARE.
LY MAKE FoRTUNESI
Stevenson Re,oiutionI,ed the Industrial

tells by many examples the art of be
coming millionaire. He shows how
men have made enormous wealth
through varied nterpriSes--through
shipping. through banking through
cotton, through coal ana even through
books
But the most disappointing chapter
in his story is that dealing with the
making of money through inventions.
We hear much to-day OF those men
who have accumulated enormous
wealth by utilizing the brains Of others.
The Carnegies the Rockefellers. the
Liptons and the like all have won
their place ana have obtained magnif-
cent reward. But when we come to
the men who have originated the
things which have transformed our
modern life, the story is very different.
The Stevensons have never been
made belted earls, though there is talk
now of making Il RothSchild duke.
The ArkwrightS. whose invention Gre
ated the great cotton Industry. bore no
titles of nobility, but the Pierpont Nor
San,who organizes rather than invcnts.
spreads his net over the world.
jay Gould we are told. once invented
mouse trap. but he made nothing out
of it, and even the trap itself was
stolen. Rhodes, 1t is rumored, when
lad invented an ice-makinC machine.
but it was not until he bought up dia-
mond fields that he became a power
among men.
If we go back the same story is
repeated in former times. Hargreaves.
the inventor Of the spinning jenny,
had TO dispose OF his invention to the
Struts who made the profit
koenig, who invented the steam
printing press. saw others making their
fortunes from his ingenuity. Kaye.
who invented the ny-shuttlc was
cheated out OF his patent royalties.
James Watt nearly failed with the
steam engine.
Crompton, who invented the spin
ming mule, had a still more disappoint-
Ing time. He was Il very poor man.
and to earn the money for the mate
rails he required for his experiments.
he obtained an engagement as Il must
elan in the theatre IT Bolton, receiv-
ing thirty-siX cents night. Earning
his bread rs Il mill hand during the
day, he had to find odd moments to
carry on his greater work
His fellow laborcrs were fercely Oh
posed to any improvements, but
Crompton went on and at last perfected
spinning mule which produced Il finer
and stronger yarn than could be OBJ
tanned in any other way.
The manufacturers came around
Crompton and begged him to let the
trade have the use OF his invention.
Crompton was too poor to patent it.
and the manufacturers promised that
they would have a large public sub
scription if he would but tell them the
secret of the machine
lie trusted them. made the inven-
ton public, and after a long time the
subscription was started. 1t amounted
TO $50
One great firm. the head OF which
was father of a future Prime Minister
OF England, actually subscribed one
guinea to the Crompton fund after
saving hundreds of thousands of dol
lars because of Il.
Crompton's case was so notorious
that at last the Parliament of England
took up the matter lii was shown
that 100000 Il year was being con
tributed to the British revenue by the
mules then in operation
Mr.. Percival the Prime Minister.
was to propose a grant of 10000 to
the inventor. but as he was entering
the House of Commons TO do so he was
shot by an assassin. 4 few days later
Crompton's claim was again brought
forward. but the Government then only
awarded him $1,000 Even this sum
Cromptou lost in an unlucky business
speculation.
Little wonder that some time after
ward. when Crompton had nearly
completed another invention of great
Importance to the manufacturers. he
smashed it in n fit of anger. declaring
that The world would not steal that
from him, too.
Inventors OF to-day have in many
ways better time than their fore
fathers. Hiram Maxim. although an
American citizen. was luichtpd by fine
Queen OF England Mr. LISTER. who
perfected "a woolcombius machine. not
only created great Industry by ii.
but also secured for himself pceraee.
ana is now Lord May yham.
But Lord Mayshaur was mo-. the orig
inal discoyerrr of his wooIcambiu.
method. He bought half share i'm am
invention for 10000. aftcrWard paviuy
100000 more for the cutsc rights Th.u
ne set to- iuluroy. GO