12 Transactions of the American Institute. 



visitors far superior to any preceding exhibition in all essential points, 

 whether in the number, the beauty, the- utility, or the novelty of its 

 exhibits, the roominess and convenience of the circling avenues and 

 a£>proaches, or the fine effect of the decorations, the great fountain and 

 other artistic embellishments. To add to the attractions a large 

 orchestra discoursed excellent music. 



The proper limits of this report necessarily j^reclude even a sum- 

 mary of the many remarkable and useful inventions that were 

 exhibited. But some of these novelties are of sucli extraordinaiy 

 merit that the Board of Managers cannot avoid briefly mentioning 

 them. One of these is what is termed " The Sand Blast," a blast of 

 steam or air charged from a feeder with sand impelled upon the sub- 

 stance to be operated on, and cutting it away in simple or intricate 

 j:>atterns to any desired depth in such parts as are not protected by 

 rubber or other elastic material. Thus wood, glass, iron, steel, stone, 

 and even the diamond itself, was, by actual test at this exhibition, 

 shown to be incapable of withstanding the force of the sand blast. 

 The revolutions this discovery will create in architecture, in mining, 

 in wood, and stone and glass cutting, and in the iron and other trades, 

 it is impossible, at present, to estimate. It is one of those wonderful 

 inventions whose greatest capacities will develop with time and 

 occasion. To its inventor the great medal of honor of the institute 

 has been awarded. Another very remarkable invention is an appa- 

 ratus and process for compressing wood into most beautiful patterns, 

 in the highest relief, fully equaling and even tending to excel the 

 very finest carving. In the points of durability and cheapness of 

 production it promises to leave the latter very far behind. Another 

 is the great Induction Coil, made by Ritchie, of Boston, capable of 

 throwing a twenty inch spark of electricity, and reputed to be the 

 most powerful coil in the world. Another is the Great Electro - 

 Magnet, also reputed unequaled in this or an}'- other country. 

 Another, a most ingeniously constructed machine for the setting of 

 "bristles in brush frames with the firmness of a screw, turning out the 

 finished brushes more rapidly, while rendering them more durable 

 than by any other process. The improved printing presses from Mr. 

 Campbell and Messrs. Hoe & Co., the centrifugal pump, and many 

 other surprising novelties exhibited, must be passed over. But before 

 turning to other branches of this report, it may be well to say that 

 the processes of industry, as well as its products, presented several 

 very attractive features, not the least important and interesting of 



