Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-02-02
conrright hy James EIverson.

greatest inventors of modern times.
ES5594IlH5St In an obscure village Of Central
Nit11 Sweden there has been for years
monument to his memory. 1t is a
strange sort of monument, being merely
nvramid of iron ore. on one side OF winch Is
the following inscription:
ain a miners hut at Langbanshyttan were
born the two brothers, Nils Ericsson Janu u
arv 81 1902 and John Ericsson, July 81,
1903, both Of whom have served and honored
their native land. Their way through work
to knowledge and lasting fame is open Tor
every Swedish youth" -,
And the other side has been used by the
thrifty Swedes US a guide post and bears the
significant inscription:
ITO the School House"
A remarkable hint as to the most probable
means by which such eminence IS to be ODD
tanned.
The bovs were the sons OF Olof Ericsson.
Swedish miner, whose relatives had lost all
their fortune in mining speculations, so that
all he had TO give his sons was this healthy
but somewhat painful inheritance OF poverty
In fact, the earliest thing John could re
member was the having all the family effects
swept off by the sheriff-so that his tather
could have q fresh start
OF Nils Ericsson we need not say much.
He rose to be Baron Ericsson, Colonel OF En-
gneers and organizer OF the S%edlsh system
great eminence, in fact-while the fame OF
lis brother grew to be worldwide.
John was an ingenious boy, playing about
Che mines and mills, and busylng himself,
after school hours, in making many models
with the inevitable single-bladed knife.
When he was years old his great effort
was saw mill. with wooden frames, Jag
ged watch spring for saw, and tin SPOOL
melted and recast. as a crank.
Before he was II he had become an expert
draughtsman, and the owner of many model
machines and philosophical instruments. all
of his own making.
Within a year came his opportunity His
father had obtained employment under Count
Platen, in making one of the Swedish canals,
and took his son with him into the depths
Of the pine woods, where much Of the timber
was to be cut.
much labor would be saved if certain pump
ing engine could be worked by wind mill,
and be set to work on the necessary plans.
He had no mathematical instruments with
him, and so he had to make what he wanted.
His compasses he cut out of brentwood, and
for the points he used broken needle.
pair of steel tweezers, filed down, made
workable drawing pen. His mothers fur
cloak gave hairs for his paint brushes.
The plans were beautifully drawn. One diff
ficulty there was which had not been provided
against. John had never seen the inside of
a wind mill, and had to invent all that part
for himself.
When he had nearly finished, it occurred to
him that his mill would only work when the
wind was in one direction. His father sug-
gested ball,and-socket Joint, and this put
matters right.
To get the authorization for the construc-
ton, the plans were shown to Count Platen,
and the little engineer was sent for.
"Well, my boy" said the count, Ego on as
you have begun, and you will one day pro-
duce something extraordinary. And mean
while we must do something for you"
And so John Ericsson, aged not quite IL,
wac appointed cadet in the corps of Swedish
engineers, and started on canal work. He
was first employed in running the levels A
queer little leveler he must have been He was
not tall enough to look through the theodo-
lite, so that man was specially told off to
carry a stool for him to stand on, and perched
on this stool. he took his observations.
In few months John was in better posi-
ton. The work was all done by soldiers, and
he had to find employment for six hundred
men all through the summer, and in the win
ter he was busy with the plans and drawings
for the work Of next year.
When he was 16 he was appointed an en-
sign in the Swedish Army, and he had to pass
an examination, in the course of which it was
discovered that he knew Euclid by heart.
Proposition after proposition was tried. and