DISCOVERIES OF THE AGE
Some of the most wonderful results of human intellect have been witnessed in the last fifty years. It is remarkable how the mind of the world has run into scientific investigation, and what achievements it has effected in that short period.
Fulton launched the first steamboat in 1807; now there are three thousand steamboats traversing the waters of America alone.
In 1825 the first railroad was put into operation in Massachusetts.
In 1800 there was not a single railroad in the world. In the United States alone there are now twenty-four thousand five hundred miles of railroad; in Europe, twenty-four thousand two hundred and three; and in the whole world, fifty-one thousand two hundred and sixty-six.
The electric telegraph had its beginning in 1843.
The electro-magnet was discovered in 1821; and electrotyping is a later invention.
Hoe’s printing press, capable of printing 10,000 copies an hour, is a very recent discover.
Gas light was unknown in 1800; now every city and town of any pretense is lighted with it, and we have the announcement of a still greater discovery, by which light, heat, motive power, may all be produced from water, with scarcely any cost.
Daguerre communicated to the world his beautiful invention in 1839.
Gun-cotton and chloroform are discoveries but a few years old.
Astronomy has added a number of new planets to the solar system.