REPORT 



OF THE COiMMITTEE ON MANUFACTUEES, SCIENCE AND ART 

 OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Committee on Manufactures, Science and Art, report : * 



That during the past year but two inventions have been sub- 

 mitted to them for examination, and each was a subject of a brief 

 report to the Institute. 



The Autumnal Fair in 18G3 afforded ample opportunity for the 

 exhibition of novelties and their examination by competent judges 

 has precluded any reference to your Committee. 



They have the satisfactiDn of reporting favorably with regard to 

 the action of the Polytechnic Association, v/hose organization and 

 interests are committed to their charge. By the re-appointment of 

 one of their own number, S. D. Tillman, Esq., as Chairman, they 

 have had the means of direct communication at all times with it. 

 A majority of your Committee have attended some of its meetings 

 during the past year, and can bear testimony to the high character 

 of its debates upon technological questions, and its impartial scru- 

 tiny of new inventions. Mr. Benjamin Garvey was appointed Secre- 

 tary in November last. A prominent object of the Polytechnic be- 

 ing to offer all classes of inventors and discoverers facilities for 

 bringing their novelties before the public, free of expense, a portion 

 of the time of each meeting is set apart for their benefit. 



It is evident that discussions, depending upon a few regular, and 

 the many casual attendants of these meetings, may sometimes be 

 devoid of original views ; there is also danger of a sameness of treat- 

 ment where subjects are committed to a comparatively small nuni' 

 ber of speakers. To guard, in some measure, against a flagging 

 interest in these meetings, and to insure the presentation of sub- 

 jects new and important, the Chairman has undertaken to prepare 

 for each meeting a summary of scientific intelligence, chiefly gleaned 

 from foreign journals, thus offering a new inducement for regular 

 attendance to those who desire to keep abreast of the progressive 

 movement. He further suggests that a report should be made of 

 the most important patents issued weekly at Washington, thus al- 

 ways ensuring a surplus of topics for discussion, and giving to the 

 Association the characteristics of a Scientific Exchange. 



The Polytechnic, during the past year, has had a competent re- 



