The Washington times., 1915-12-18
U.S.lNVENTORSLEAD
WORLD, SAYS LANE
IN ANNUAL REPORT
Secretary Of Interior Announces
Americans Produced Two
thirds EpoCh-making Devices

The people OF the United states have
produced two-thirds Of all the epocn-
making inventions of the world.
Each day an average OF 200 letters
patent are issued to American inven-
tors. and the number is increasing with
the years.
These figures were given today in the
annual report of Secretary of the in
Oerior Lane. The Secretary reviews at
great length the resources of the
United States and the needs Tor their
development. The nations needs can
be satisfied completely within its own
borders, he declares, whether THESE
needs be for war or for peace. The
United states has, he says, besides the
greatest and the most of the world s
inventive genius. every mineral that
is needed in industry, or In battlesnip
building; every needed substance to
replenish and perpetuate the soil; a
wondrous climate. and almost illimita-
bic water power, and enormous re-
sources in public lands. in men, and
children, and readily accessible nation
Al wealth.
In enumerating the latent powers
that make the country the greatest IN
the world, the Secretary declares that
national defense plans, receiving so
much attention at the moment. are not
to interfere with the internal develop
ment of the resources and wealth OF
the nation.
In his list of revolutionary and epoch
making inventions the Secretary puts
the telephone, the typewriter, the cash
register, the incandescent lamp, the
talking machine. the transparent pho
tograph film, moving pictures, air
brakes, typesetting machines, disk
plows, harvesting machines, block sig
nails, trolley cars, and sewing ma
chimes He gives for comparison list
of the important inventions of the rest
of the world. including electric steel,
dynamite. wireless, smokeless powder,
gas engines, the Diesel oil motor, gas
mantels. and the electric transformer.
In summarizing, the Secretary says the
great inventions of this country range
from the telephone and incandescent
lamp to the Wright aeroplane.
Intense Naturalization.
An intense nat,onnlizaticn has been
the marking note of the lasi year. he
SAWS
I'm presenting ali outline Of the wear s
work ! make bold to express the hore
that no other Djrlcies OF this .iov-
CrnTicnt may be allowed to stav 'he
internal development OF this country.
There Is a fear-how general 1 do
not know--that this Government will
halt in carrying out its full and needed
program Of legislation Affecting home
affairs because of the immediate need
for strengthening our national de
lenses. This apprehension arises. am
confident. out of no. lack of sympa thy
with the plan 10 increase the army
and tho navy. hut out of a feeling that
the Government in both executive and
legislative branches will be so inn
mersed in matters military and naval
a. to overlook there matters of less
dramatic and perhaps less immediate
concern.
ANY such course would. I am sure,
offend the most deep-seated instinct
Of. our people. for in the development
Of this continent. the discovery of its
resources. and their highest utilization,
there is a fascination to the American
which Is superlative. 1t IL. indeed, our
life. and has called out the most star-
lin qualities in our character. Those