The Jasper news., 1903-07-16
GRADUATION ESSAY.
Delivered by Morgan Wilhoit OF
The Jasper Scho Is.


Among the excellent productions from
the Glass OF 1908 of the Jasper High
School, is the following -"The Achieve.
ments of the 10th Century" delivered
by MorganWilhoit, which we have been
requested TO publish:
The hundred years which have just
passed have been well called the wonder
fol century, for in its duration greater
progress has been made than in all tims
since the beginning Of the Christian
Era. Tho human mind reels when IL
attemps to grasp the advancement we
have attained, mentally. morally, and 10
every line of invention and discovery
It seems almost impossible that our
ancestors could be as undeveloped at
the beginning Of this period as they were.
Luxuries aud couve1iencies which we
deem necessary, and which we have en-.
ioyed from our birth, our grandiathers
did not dream of. One hundred years
ago, mans best means Of transportation
we're the horse and sailing vessel. Mail
was carried by stage or pony.
Fire theimost common of our necessi
ties, vas obtained, with difficulty, by
the ilint and tinder box, and preserved
in the fireplace, Matches we're un.
known, the first being invented in 1927.
Light was supplied 10y the fireplace
tallow candles. \ small amount Of steel
Of an inferior quality was produced, but
! the world could boast Of no more pins or
uendles than can to-day be found in the
common store. Agricultural imple-
nients were but little better than those
Of the ancient Egyptians. Sewing
machines, lamps, and efficient stoves
wore creations Of the future. The great
difference between these conditions and
those of today is the result in inventions
improving transportation and commune
cation Tho first and most important
two Of these are the steamboat and the
steam railway. The first steamboat, in
vented in 1907 was very crude, being
1873 feet long weighing 100 tons and max
ing put five.miles per hour Bot since
then steamboats, have been steadily i'm
proved until today, the greatest, the
4 Wisconsin is go feet long, 73 feet wide,
Sc feet deep, and it crosses the Atlantic
3l00 miles iu six days.
The first steamrailwsy opened in 1925
with SO miles of track has increased In
the U. S. alone 10 $4,000 locomotives, l,
OOJ,O0O cars and 100, 900 miles Of track
from which an income OF S3,0OO,0 900 is
derived daily. But steam railroads in
these gigautc proportions arc being
surpassed fog statistics show that nov
there are ten miles of electi failva
Uullt To one OF steam. Many other
things haze developed with railrOads
Tunnels and bridges have had almost as
great a growth. Today the greatest
bri lge, the bridge at Forth is 9O9S feet
I on1 The tunnol st. Gothaud, is 9la
miles long. Work was begun in 1872 at
each end and in.lSsl the two openings
met with a variation OF but two inches
horizontally, and thirteen inches
( llterally.
/ Ia its construction was used rock
drdl itself an invention OF this Get tury
which strikes 300 blows per minute.
Other labor saving inventions are the
linotype which casts and sets type fo1r
times as fast as can man; The
automatic machns which makes 5000
nails per minute; The steam hammer
so governed that it will strike blow of
100 tons or pick wafer from watch
without injuring the crystal, and the
giant crane which lifts 100 tons as easily
as hundred pounds. With the aid of
these slaves buildings have been con-
strucled which rival the twoor Of Babel.
The best example Of these is
known as the Flat Iron in New York, is
% stories high, In it one may satisfy
his every want for it contains all that
ay be be found in \ common city with
the possible exception Of livery stables
and feedstores. Bat our greatest claim
is the development OF electricity and