Chapter 1

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century. This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century. Author: Edward W. Byrn Release date: December 2, 2012 [eBook #41538] Most recently updated: October 23, 2024 Language: English Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/41538 Credits: Produced by Chris Curnow, Harry Lamé and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE PROGRESS OF INVENTION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. *** Transcriber’s notes: Text pinted in italics in the original work has been transcribed as _text_, bold text as =text=. Text printed in small capitals in the original work has been transcribed in ALL-CAPITALS. Superscript texts are transcribed as ^{text}. More Transcriber’s notes have been added at the end of the text. [Illustration: STEAM AND ELECTRICITY. The 70,000 Horse-Power Station of the Metropolitan Street Railway, New York.] THE PROGRESS OF INVENTION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY BY EDWARD W. BYRN, A.M. “Δός που στω, και την γην κινἡσω.” (Give me where to stand, and I’ll move the earth.) --_Archimedes._ MUNN & CO., PUBLISHERS SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN OFFICE 361 BROADWAY, NEW YORK 1900 COPYRIGHTED, 1900, BY MUNN & CO. ENTERED AT STATIONER’S HALL LONDON, ENGLAND ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Printed in the United States of America by The Manufacturers’ and Publishers’ Printing Company, New York City. PREFACE. For a work of such scope as this, the first word of the author should be an apology for what is doubtless the too ambitious effort of a single writer. A quarter of a century in the high tide of the arts and sciences, an ardent interest in all things that make for scientific progress, and the aid and encouragement of many friends in and about the Patent Office, furnish the explanation. The work cannot claim the authority of a text-book, the fullness of a history, nor the exactness of a technical treatise. It is simply a cursory view of the century in the field of invention, intended to present the broader bird’s-eye view of progress achieved. In substantiation of the main facts reliance has been placed chiefly upon patents, which for historic development are believed to be the best of all authorities, because they carry the responsibility of the National Government as to dates, and the attested signature and oath of the inventor as to subject matter. Many difficulties and embarrassments have been encountered in the work. The fear of extending it into a too bulky volume has excluded treatment of many subjects which the author recognizes as important, and issues in dispute as to the claims of inventors have also presented themselves in perplexing conflict. A discussion of the latter has been avoided as far as possible, the paramount object being to do justice to all the worthy workers in this field, with favor to none, and only expressing such conclusions as seem to be justified by authenticated facts and the impartial verdict of reason in the clearing atmosphere of time. For sins of omission a lack of space affords a reasonable excuse, and for those of commission the great scope of the work is pleaded in extenuation. It is hoped, however, that the volume may find an accepted place in the literature of the day, as presenting in compact form some comprehensive and coherent idea of the great things in invention which the Nineteenth Century has added to the world’s wealth of ideas and material resources. In acknowledging the many obligations to friends who have aided me in the work, my thanks are due first to the Editors of the _Scientific American_ for aid rendered in the preparation of the work; also to courteous officials in the Government Departments, and to many progressive manufacturers throughout the country. E. W. B. _Washington, D. C., October, 1900._ TABLE OF CONTENTS.