Year: 1876

identified with the decision, single judge has re-
fused to take the responsibility. In one instance
one of the judges wrote an award AMI three otlefs
appended their names TO it in approval but neither
was willing to assume the responsibility oil l's
authorship. As, under the rules, such an award
could not be accepted it did not go into the list VI
course under these circumstances, the awards winch
are made have a much higher value than they
otherwise could have.


Tie second most serious defect IN tue OH system
was in the mode in which the iurcs gave expression
to their decisions -Four or five degrees OF tsexcei-
lence were designated by means Of graded medals,
which gave no idea of the grounds on which the
awards were based. They declared things to be
good in a few degrees, but did not tell what they
were good for. They said that machine was
superior to others, but did not designate in what
the superiority consisted For instance, if farmer
in New England wishes TO buy moving machine
he is very likely to be gnded in his selection by
the success which different manufacturers have had
in obtaining medals at national OF international ez-
hibitiong. But the gold medal machine may be just
the one which is least fitted to do the work on his
farm, while one which was only awarded silver
medal NAV be exactly what he moods. The first
may be perfectly adapted to the broad, smooth
prairies of the West, but may be broken to pieces
in a day among the hills and rocks Of Massachusetts
Awards are made not so much for the benefit of the
manufacturer as for the information of the people
and under the old system this information is of a
very vague and meager character.


By the system adopted by the Centennial Commits
sion, a uniform bronze medal is given which, instead
of being the award, Is simply token that an award
has been made The real award is the report of the
Judge and this is discriminating not only in regard
TO the degree of merit but also to the elements Of
it, The number of degrees also is not limited, as it
is under the old system. For instance, the manu-
facturer of certain sewing machine may have re-
ccived Cross of the Legion of Honor at Vienna in
1873 but that fact does not give ahy information to
a purchaser as to the elements of merit which his
machine possesses. The award may have been for
its speed for its durability for its simplicity OF for
It's power to pierce difficult substances. The reports
of the judges under this system supply this u-
formation and will be very valuable guides TO all in
terested persons who may consult them. Many OF
the reports will be found 10 be models of concise
ness and will carry with them Che highest author
ity, az they are signed by men who stand high IN
their several departments aud are very jealous OF
their regulations.


Fortunate as the Commission has been in the
selection of udges it has been no less so in securing
the services Of Gen. +. A. Walker who, as chief OF
the Bureau of Judges, has been intrusted with the
responsible duty of putting the new system into
practical operation. Ii is doubtful If there could
have been four,f anywhere in this country man
better fitted fot this difficult position Hc brought
to the work not only scientific attainments Of high
order but frst-cass executive ability and wide eN-
perience aid to his wisely directed efforts more than
to ANYTHING else has the success of this important
experiment been due. T. l. W.