Scientific American magazine, Vol. 2 Issue 1

Scientific American magazine, Vol. 2 Issue 1 - The advocate of Industry and Journal of Scientific,

With our best bow, we present ourselves before our friends and the public, in a new dress, from head to foot, and though conscious of appearing rather plain and quaker-like, we can assure our friends that in this, we conform to the newest fashion, and have no doubt of being treated civilly by as large a portion of the public, as if we had appeared with more gay feathers in our cap, with starched ruffles and gilt buttons and trimmings. In this, however, we would not be understood to boast, of any peculiar evidence of taste of our own, as we have been induced in this instance, to submit wholly to that of our tailors, who it must be conceded, understand these things much better; while we have only to regard alertness and independence of movement, with a little vivacity, and intelligence of conversation.--Our general principles, and rules of self-government will continue according to our original pledge, and the policy pursued in our first volume: we shall endeavor to encourage and excite a spirit of enterprise and emulation in artists, manufactures and mechanics, while we present such instruction and useful intelligence in arts and trades, practical science and new discoveries, inventions and improvements, as will add to the facilities of enterprise, and conduce to the prosperity and independence of the working class in particular. And that we may furnish an acceptable family newspaper, we shall continue to give in a brief and condensed form, the most useful and interesting intelligence of passing events,--not omitting a small portion of serious matter, suitable for Sunday reading, but avoiding the disgusting and pernicious details of crime, with which too many of our public journals abound, and which evidently produces a deleterious effect on the morals of the community. With regard to political and sectarian subjects, however, we feel much inclined to change our style of neutrality so far as to advocate all parties, sects and denominations, each in its turn, which course may be more in accordance with our own maxim of "enlightening and pleasing," than either growling policy, or the affected indifference and cold inattention which tends to produce a reciprocity of coldness, and pleases none. On the subject of policy and rules, we might say more; but having already said twice as much as we at first intended, and finding ourselves near the bottom of the scrap on which we scribble, we have only to find some suitable form of sentence wherewith to round off this subject; and for this purpose, without wishing to be suspected of any motives of interest, we would gently and respectfully suggest to our readers the propriety of advancing the intelligence, enterprise and consequent prosperity of the community, by introducing and recommending to the patronage of all, this same Scientific American. During the month of July, 1845, when the fare between New York and Boston was reduced to the "ruinous rates" of only two dollars, the receipts on the different routes were $45,208; but during the corresponding month of the present year, with the fare up to four dollars, the receipts have been only $35,963: being nine thousand two hundred and forty-five dollars less for a single month, than when the fares were at half-price. The Covington Manufacturing Co. at their Avalon works, near Baltimore, are now delivering, under their contract, the iron for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. This iron is made exclusively of the best quality of Baltimore charcoal pig iron. The fixtures by which it is manufactured are of the most approved description, and embrace several original improvements, by means of which nearly every bar is made perfect. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 27867
Author: Various
Release Date: Jan 21, 2009
Format: eBook
Language: English

Contributors

Editor: Porter, Rufus, 1792-1884