The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-08-28

| struck decisive blow when he devils Il
way to employ the rolling wheel contac
connection with the track, but he en-
BANGED the value of his inventor ant
was enabled to produce system base;
Oh the correct oper l:ive theory, b. tn,
| "ital discovery of how to make a small
cause Il. e., the resistance Of the insulat
ed track joints yie;d a pronounced elcc
| trical effect in the locomotive carried Gil
| cult in a manner to conquer leakage
however great.
, With the mastery Of this great difficulty
which had baffled other inventors, thu
Buell. System becomes by reason Of this
decisive point. an important and 1t is be
lieved the controlling factor in this branch
of the signal art.
Much Of interest might be written ir
| following the line of theoretical develop
nent of the Buell. System, as it is thee.
| -,tically so simple that it lends itself ir
an unusual degree to the mental grasp OF
the popular and nontechnical investiga-
tor.
Ordinarily no one en- lay down a FORM
ula for judging the value of an invention
unless it be that the proposed invention
lessons cost or saves labor.
But in those inventions which are great
factors in the advancement of an estab-
lished art or industry. chance has no
place. IL a true advance has been made
From the brief indications of the lines
along which effective progress has been
made. as exemplified by the Buell. System
it can be readily seen that an invention
of great value has been produced.
1t Is the Practical Development Of NJ
Invention that Counts.
There Is a popular impression that all
that iS n he I'd
meritorious invention Is to obtain a
broad patent thereon, and fortune will
smile automatically on the inventor
Whatever the reward. 1t can only be
gained by that class of inventors who are
not only diligent in protecting their pat
ent rights but who are possessed Of such
vital constructive interest in the mat
ter that they will follow the course of
developing the invention to the greatest
to reach such stage of development as
to bring the invention to a state fit for
commercial adoption. and after that the
owner often finds il impossible to market
his invention until he has spent years
and a large amount of money to create
a public demand.
Mr.. Buell. began to devote his energies
in the development of his system on a
railroad nearly ten years ago, and It was
only with unremitting effort and solving
many difficulties that his apparatus has
been developed and brought to such a
state of perfection that reliance can be
placed upon It for the safeguarding Of
human lives and property.
Furthermore. Mr.. Buell. began to lay
the foundations Of his patent protection
in this art prior to that time by enlisting
the aid Of Melville E. Dayton (since de-
ceased). the then leading patent expert
of this country. and claims have been al
lowed that not only amply protect this
invention. but that give strategic patent
value in the art.
In order to start experimentation on
a railroad the invention must not only
pass under the review of railroad men
qualified by experience and study to form
a correct judgment of its merits. but one
has to be authenticated as to his ability
TO grapple with the problem and to show
the necessary physical equipment to carry
on such work and to be able to pay for
Il.
A few far-seeing men Of means were
willing to put faith in Mr.. Buell. and his
invention, and they took a chance on
its successful development
What at first seemed a daring adven-
ture as business enterprise can now be
undertaken with confidence, as the Buell.
Mr.. Alexander Stewart. the popular
and progressive Superintendent of Motive
Power and Equipment Of the Southern
Railway (since deceased believed not
only in the merits of the system. but in
Mr.. Buell's ability to put its development
through to a successful issue, and Sc
cured for him his first railroad opportu-
nifty to experiment and test out his sys-
tenn and this work was begun at Alexan-
dria, Va, and trial grounds were gener-
ously provided by the Southern Railway
at Cameron Run, Va, in 1906.
Progress OF Development.
Then followed years of struggle in the
matter OF development and the obtaining
of means for carrying 1t on which would
have dismayed any less resolute soul than
Mr.. Buell.
In such a development undertaking It
is not in the Office. laboratory or machine
shop. with thei- leisurely. operations. and
ministerings of comfort and convenience
that the arduous work Of development
has been waged in this matter, but on a
railroad, where ono is confronted with
eXacting practices and difficult conditions
While most of the work of equipment had
to be carried on in the recesses of smoky,
noisy and gas-laden round houses. and
the major part of that work has been
conducted at night. as the locomotives to
be equipped and tested were in daily
service.
Such a development has not only been
full of strenuous work, anxieties, and
hardships, but it has been interesting and
has had its adventurous side. because
there Is more or less danger connected
with II. as ones presence is frequently
required in the busy railroad yards, where
danger turks. especially at night. to those
who are not constantly visilant, while
many long daylight trips down the line
have been made where one must follow
the iron trail for many miles on loot
Mr.. Buell. states. however. that he has
never been enli-ted In q work and cause
which have given him more satisfacrfon