Browsing named entities in Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing). You can also browse the collection for 1886 AD or search for 1886 AD in all documents.

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Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Edison, Thomas Alva, 1847- (search)
uplex and printing telegraphy, the latter being the basis of nearly all the subsequent Gold and Stock Exchange telegraph reporting instruments. In New York he soon formed an alliance with electricians and manufacturers, and, after a few years of varied experience with partners in the laboratory and in the shop, he removed to Menlo Park, N. J., in 1876, where he established himself on an independent footing, with everything which could contribute to or facilitate invention and research. In 1886 Mr. Edison bought property in Llewellyn Park, Orange, N. J., and later removed there from Menlo Park. His inventions are many and varied. His contributions to the development of telegraphy are represented by sixty patents and caveats assigned to the Gold and Stock Telegraph Company of New York, and fifty to the Automatic Telegraphy Company. His inventions include the incandescent electric light, the carbon telegraph transmitter, the microtasimeter for the detection of small changes in the
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Edmunds, George Franklin, 1828- (search)
Edmunds, George Franklin, 1828- Statesman; born in Richmond, Vt., Feb. 1, 1828; took an early and active part in Vermont politics, serving several terms in both houses of the legislature; was speaker of the House of Representatives and president pro tem. of the Senate. In 1866 he entered the United States Senate as a Republican, and till 1891 was one of the foremost men in Congress. Towards the close of his senatorial career he was the author of the acts of 1882 and 1887 for the suppression of polygamy and the regulation of affairs in Utah, and of the anti-trust law (1890). In 1886 he framed the act for counting the electoral vote. He resigned his seat in 1891 at the conclusion of twenty-five years of uninterrupted service. In 1897 he was chosen chairman of the monetary commission George Franklin Edmunds. appointed by the Indianapolis monetary conference, which reported to Congress a scheme of currency reform.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Electricity in the nineteenth century. (search)
el railway cars by electric motors driven by currents from batteries carried on the cars. These efforts were, of course, doomed to failure, for economical reasons. The plan survives, however, in the electric automobile, best adapted to cities, where facilities for charging and caring for the batteries can be had. The modern overhead trolley, or underrunning trolley, as it is called, seems to have been first invented by Van Depoele, and used by him in practical electric railway work about 1886 and thereafter. The year 1888 may be said to mark the beginning of this work, and in that year Frank J. Sprague put into operation the electric line at Richmond, Va., using the under-running trolley. The Richmond line was the first large undertaking. It had about 13 miles of track, numerous curves, and grades of from 3 to 10 per cent. The Richmond installation, kept in operation as it was in spite of all difficulties, convinced Mr. Henry M. Whitney and the directors of the West End Street
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Engineering. (search)
is 50 per cent. stronger than iron, and can be tied in a knot when cold. The effect of improved devices and the use of steel is shown by the weights of the 400-foot Ohio River iron bridge, built in 1870, and a bridge at the same place, built in 1886. The bridge of 1870 was of iron, with a span of 400 feet. The bridge of 1886 was of steel. Its span was 550 feet. The weights of the two were nearly alike. The cantilever design, which is a revival of a very ancient type, came into use. The g1886 was of steel. Its span was 550 feet. The weights of the two were nearly alike. The cantilever design, which is a revival of a very ancient type, came into use. The great Forth Bridge, in Scotland, 1,600-foot span, is of this style, as are the 500-foot spans at Poughkeepsie, and now a new one is being designed to cross the St. Lawrence near Quebec, of 1,800-foot span. This is probably near the economic limit of cantilever construction. The suspension bridge can be extended much farther, as it carries no dead weight of compression members. The Niagara Suspension Bridge, of 810-foot span, built by Roebling, in 1852, and the Brooklyn Bridge, of 1,600 fee
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), English, Earl, 1824-1893 (search)
English, Earl, 1824-1893 Naval officer; born in Crosswicks, N. J., Feb. 18, 1824; entered the navy Feb. 25, 1840; was actively engaged during the Mexican War on the Pacific coast in Mexico and California; also served throughout the Civil War. In 1868, when the Tycoon of Japan was defeated by the Mikado's party, he found refuge on Commander English's ship Iroquois. He was promoted rear-admiral in 1884; retired in 1886. He died in Washington, D. C., July 16, 1893.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Fairchild, Lucius 1831-1896 (search)
Fairchild, Lucius 1831-1896 Military officer; born in Kent, O., Dec. 27, 1831; removed with his father to Wisconsin in 1846, but returned in 1855. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted, and in August, 1861, was commissioned captain in the regular army and major in the volunteers. He took part in the battle of Bull Run, and at Antietam went to the front from the hospital; he led the charge up Seminary Hill at the battle of Gettysburg, and was badly wounded, losing his left arm. He was promoted to brigadier-general in 1863, but left the service to serve as Secretary of State of Wisconsin. He was afterwards elected governor, and served six consecutive terms. In 1886 he was elected commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic. He died in Madison, Wis., May 23, 1896.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Finances, United States. (search)
ts. The silver question, and, with it, the whole financial problem, was suddenly brought prominently to the front in 1893. On June 26 of that year the British government closed the Indian mints to the free coinage of silver. As this important silver market was thus barred, the effect was to accelerate the fall in the price of that metal. At this date the value of the silver dollar was about 60 cents, and it fell below that point. The ratio of gold to silver, which in 1873 was 15+, was in 1886 20, and in 1893 25 1/2. The amount of gold in the country was greatly decreased during the same period. The gold reserve in the treasury, which had been above the $100,000,000 limit, fell in August, 1893, to $96,000,000; stood Sept. 30 at $93,000,000, and Jan. 13, 1894, had fallen to $74,000,000. Many business failures occurred during the summer. The iron trade was depressed, various cotton and woollen mills closed in New England and the Middle States, and stocks suffered. Within the fir
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Fisk, Clinton Bowen 1828-1890 (search)
Fisk, Clinton Bowen 1828-1890 Lawyer; born in Griggsville, N. Y., Dec. 8, 1828; removed with his parents to Michigan while a child, where he became a successful merchant; removed to St. Louis in 1859. In 1861 he was commissioned colonel of the 33d Missouri Regiment; in 1862 was promoted brigadier-general; and in 1865 was brevetted major-general. He was deeply interested in educational and temperance reform; was a founder of Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.; and was the Prohibition candidate for governor of New Jersey in 1886, and for President of the United States in 1888. He died in New York City, July 9, 1890.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), Gatling, Richard Jordan 1818- (search)
Gatling, Richard Jordan 1818- Inventor; born in Hertford county, N. C., Sept. 12, 1818. His first invention was a screw Richard Jordan Gatling. for propelling water-craft. Later he designed a machine for sowing rice, and, on removing to St. Louis in 1844, adapted it to sowing wheat in drills. In 1861 he conceived the idea of his revolving battery gun. This was first manufactured in 1862, at Indianapolis. Subsequently twelve were made and used on the James River, Va., by General Butler. In 1866 Gatling further improved this invention, and after satisfactory trials at Washington and Fort Monroe the Gatling gun was adopted by the United States government. It is now in use also in nearly all European countries. In 1886 he invented a new gun-metal, composed of steel and aluminum. Later Congress voted him $40,000 for proof experiments in a new method of casting cannon. He has also invented a hemp-breaking machine and a steam-plough.
Harper's Encyclopedia of United States History (ed. Benson Lossing), George, Henry 1839- (search)
r became managing editor. He was subsequently connected with the San Francisco Chronicle, the San Francisco Herald, and the Oakland Recorder. In 1872 he was a delegate to the convention which nominated. Horace Greeley for the Presidency, and in the same year he established the San Francisco Evening post, the first one-cent paper on the Pacific coast. In 1880 he removed to New York, and in the following year went to Ireland to write up the land question for several American newspapers. In 1886 he was the candidate of the United labor party (q. v.) for mayor of New York, and in the election polled 68,110 votes. In 1887 he founded The standard and with the Rev. Edward McGlynn, D. D. (q. v.), an eminent Roman Catholic priest, organized the Antipoverty Society. In the same year he was an unsuccessful candidate for secretary of state. In 1889 he went to England, and in 1890 visited Australia. In the autumn of 1897 he was nominated for mayor of Greater New York, by several organizat
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