The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-01
.AGE OF INVENTION IS PASSING AWAY Startling Announcement of E,
 U. Adams THE PRIME OF sPLENDOa Inventive Genius Was at Its Best Be- tween the Years 1876 and 1896.
 Accomplishments of
 That Period.
THE PRIME OF SPLENDOR
Frederick Upham Adams in AppletOns

Frederick Upham Adams in Appleton's
 Magazine.
 A careful study of the history of me- chancal progress convinces me that the inventive age attained the prime of it's splendid career in the years inclusive of 1876 and 1896. and that in that wonderful period the world witnessed the eoncep- tion and practical development of larger number of valuable devices than any preceding era. also that it is decided ly improbable that any future geenraton will approach it's record. Before our op- tinistic friends scoff at this rather dis nal prediction l will ask them to name some really great invention or discovery which has been announced since 1S96 He may name scores of little devices, but if he will look into the facts he will likely find that all of them are based on the superb series of fundamental inventions and discoveries which marked 1S76-96.
 Suppose that those years were stricken out of mechanical and scientific advance ment-what would the world be denied? The telephone, electric lights, both arc and incandeScent; gas lights of high in- tensity and economy. electric railroads, wireless telegraphy duplex and multiple telegraphy, the typewriter, electric heat ing. all the innumerable forms of electric bells and signalling, automobiles, bicycles, motor cycles motor boats, typesetting machines, the phonograph, high speed el- evators, scientific cold storage and re- frlgeration, steel buildings which have revolutionized our cities-the list is far from complete, but those who are not properly impressed with this list may re- fleet that 1S76-96 also added such lesser inventions and systems cable railroads (now discarded). cameras and all sorts of photographic material suitable for popu- lar use, air brakes, safety couplings, safety <razors, smoke consumers pneu- matic tubes. electric photography. nov Ing picture machines, the wonders of modern dentistry, and the bewilderlng as- sortment of breakfast foods
 All these and many more were crowded into the 20-year period I have in mind, and again I ask those who think we are keeping up the pace then set to name a few inventions which deserve to be classed with the 30 which have been emu merated. Would it be advisable to dis card the telephone or electric lights for all that has been added to invention since 1896? How many of the recent inventions would it take to offset the electric rail way systems of the United States? Since when was there created an industry Of the extent or the automOD1le? when mas there been devised two inventions which have given so much pleasure and created So much annoyance as the photograph and the automatic piano? What inventor in the last ten years has done as much for the business man as did the perfec- ton of the typewriter? Who has con tributed to the newspaper publisher or owner an invention as valuable as the typesetting machine? What would hap pen to the world tomorrow if its storage batteries lost their efficiency? When will some inventor do as much for business architecture as did the genius who de- signed building with a steel frame and multiplied the practical height and effi- ciency of a structure by six or eight?
 It will be urged that the principles Of such inventions as the telephone, electric light, typewriter and other epoch-making devices were Known In advance of 1Sl6 Admitted, but whatA of it? We now know the principle of extracting heat and power directly from coal without com bustion and the consequent waste, but this fact will not detract from the credit of the man who solves the problem-if it ever is solved. None of the things 1 have enumerated was in practical opera fiop in 1S76