To the Editor: In our March issue of the Journal, we finished our letter by presenting a few examples of the first apparatus used in connection with hydraulic power. The apparatus shown long precedes, in point of time, those shown by writers of text books on the subject of hydraulics.

As we examine the records of the past, more and more we are impressed with the words; "That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done; and there is no new thing under the sun."

A history of inventions, however, imperfectly rendered and limited in scope, as ours necessarily is, is filled with numerous instances showing that man's first production frequently embodies the principle upon which depends the ultimate success of a machine. It is a fact that the development of inventions is slow and governed by conditions, economic as well as social, only too well known to most inventors.

The steam-turbine antedated the reciprocating engine by centuries, but after the latter had been developed to its present almost perfect type, conditions changed, through the expenditure of vast sums of money in experiments and improvements, the steam-turbine is now accepted as the highest expression, at present, of the engineer's skill.

The chains now used on elevators to compensate for the variations in weight of the cables, due to the ever-changing position of the car in its travel, were anticipated and actually in use a hundred years ago.

The first known hydraulic apparatus of any importance, used as a pump, and depending on the pressure of the atmosphere for its action, was constructed by Ctesebes of Alexandria, who flourished and had his being about one hundred and twenty years before Christ, but respecting the particular construction of which, little appears to be known.

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The Persian wheel, contemporaneous with Archimedes screw, previously referred to, is herein shown. Also a cut of a "wind elevator" or pump. These inventions suggest the many types of bucket and chain pumps and lift and force pumps, which have been developed into our present magnificent triple expansion pumping engines.

Inventions and improvements in the art of drilling holes in the ground for the purpose of procuring oil, in Pennsylvania and certain other States, together with the improvements made by pipe makers in their product, made possible the installation of the plunger type of elevator in use to-day. So we see that inventions, although designed for an entirely different purpose, bring about a change of conditions which makes possible many improvements previously considered impracticable.

In our record of inventions, we are drawing near the end of a remarkable century, the eighteenth. Humanity as a whole had begun to ask questions. The individual demanded that he be heard. The prostrate position of the many had become tiresome, and the common people stood upright.

The age of legitimate competition was fast drawing to its close. Certain people had begun to see that politics was the science of production, that politicians should understand economics. In their day it seemed as though poverty was born of superabundance itself. It seems so to us at present; of course this cannot be, but why are so many in need to-day; is it because we are poor, or is it because we are dishonest housekeepers?

In the struggle for existence, where the fittest are supposed to survive, is it not understood that the conflict shall be fair? If not, what becomes of the supposed law of an all-wise Providence, which justifies the struggle because it develops the strong and destroys the weak; removes the useless and insures the continued existence of the useful and effective.

Of course mistakes were made a century ago, men, that is, some men, acted as though they were infallible, they Matelegislated God out of existence. rialism was born in Great Britain-it was seriously believed by certain writers that matter could think. The common people as ever remained stubbornly hon

March 12, 1776. John Barber. "An engine or machine for the more easy and expeditious draining of mines, turning up coals, ore and minerals from great depths, and to operate in all other mechanical movements beneficial to society."

The first part of this apparatus consists of a "steam wheel," which is mounted horizontally in a kind of case arranged above a boiler, and receives motion by the action of jets of steam directed upon "paddleboards," which are formed upon the wheel. On the upright axis of this wheel is a trundle, which turns a wheel and a horizontal shaft on which it is fixed, and by means of another trundle on this shaft, gives motion to a large spur wheel mounted upon a shaft which carries also a large

drum, two ropes being coiled in opposite directions upon the latter, and these passing over suitable carrier pulleys, and being employed to raise the coals and other materials from the shaft of a mine. The last mentioned shaft is also cranked, and so made to actuate the pumps by which the mine is drained. By opening and closing certain cocks, the engineer is able to cause the steam wheel to turn first in one direction and then in the other, whereby the ropes "will go up and down by turns to fetch minerals out of the pit."

We here present another interesting type of elevator operated by man power. (Helpers preferred). John Beaumont, May 5, 1788. "A machine for raising coals and minerals of all kinds from the pit bottom to the surface, without the

The Persian wheel, contemporaneous with Archimedes screw, previously referred to, is herein shown. Also a cut of a "wind elevator" or pump. These inventions suggest the many types of bucket and chain pumps and lift and force pumps, which have been developed into our present magnificent triple expansion pumping engines.

Inventions and improvements in the art of drilling holes in the ground for the purpose of procuring oil, in Pennsylvania and certain other States, together with the improvements made by pipe makers in their product, made possible the installation of the plunger type of elevator in use to-day. So we see that inventions, although designed for an entirely different purpose, bring about a change of conditions which makes possible many improvements previously considered impracticable.

In our record of inventions, we are drawing near the end of a remarkable century, the eighteenth. Humanity as a whole had begun to ask questions. The individual demanded that he be heard. The prostrate position of the many had become tiresome, and the common people stood upright.

The age of legitimate competition was fast drawing to its close. Certain people had begun to see that politics was the science of production, that politicians should understand economics. In their day it seemed as though poverty was born of superabundance itself. It seems so to us at present; of course this cannot be, but why are so many in need to-day; is it because we are poor, or is it because we are dishonest housekeepers?

In the struggle for existence, where the fittest are supposed to survive, is it not understood that the conflict shall be fair? If not, what becomes of the supposed law of an all-wise Providence, which justifies the struggle because it develops the strong and destroys the weak; removes the useless and insures the continued existence of the useful and effective.

Of course mistakes were made a century ago, men, that is, some men, acted as though they were infallible, they legislated God out of existence. Materialism was born in Great Britain-it was seriously believed by certain writers that matter could think. The common people as ever remained stubbornly hon

March 12, 1776. John Barber. "An engine or machine for the more easy and expeditious draining of mines, turning up coals, ore and minerals from great depths, and to operate in all other mechanical movements beneficial to society."

The first part of this apparatus consists of a "steam wheel," which is mounted horizontally in a kind of case arranged above a boiler, and receives motion by the action of jets of steam directed upon "paddleboards," which are formed upon the wheel. On the upright axis of this wheel is a trundle, which turns a wheel and a horizontal shaft on which it is fixed, and by means of another trundle on this shaft, gives motion to a large spur wheel mounted upon a shaft which carries also a large

drum, two ropes being coiled in opposite directions upon the latter, and these passing over suitable carrier pulleys, and being employed to raise the coals and other materials from the shaft of a mine. The last mentioned shaft is also cranked, and so made to actuate the pumps by which the mine is drained. By opening and closing certain cocks, the engineer is able to cause the steam wheel to turn first in one direction and then in the other, whereby the ropes "will go up and down by turns to fetch minerals out of the pit."

We here present another interesting type of elevator operated by man power. (Helpers preferred). John Beaumont, May 5, 1788. "A machine for raising coals and minerals of all kinds from the pit bottom to the surface, without the