Clarkson brought suit against the Superintendent, which was decided in November for the plaintiff. Railroads. The total railroad mileage operated in Kansas, according to the reports of the Railroad Commissioners, is 8,942-79; exclusive of trackage rights, 8,774-99; total for 1896, 8,812-90; decrease for the year, 3791. The following were the earnings and expenses of all the roads: Gross earnings from operation, $25.331,768.77; total operating expenses, $19,120,255.68; income from operation, $6,211,513.09. The assessors in June increased the assessments of some roads and lowered others, the net increase being $717,200. The Railroad Commissioners, claiming the right to regulate rates, asked the companies to make certain reductions which it deemed reasonable, but the companies protested that their earnings in the State would not admit of the reductions. Later there was a disagreement in reference to the basis of charges for cattle shipments. The Attorney-General asked an injunction to prevent the roads from charging by weight instead of by car load. The injunction was granted. A charter was granted in July to the Superior, Hutchinson and Little Rock Railroad Company. The capital stock of the company is $10,000,000, and its principal office is in Hutchinson. Industries and Products.-An agreement between the executive committee of the miners of the Pittsburg district and the coal operators was made, Aug. 6. It was agreed that the miners could select any grade of powder they desired and it would be furnished them at $2 a keg. The operators also promised semimonthly payments, which was the strongest demand made by the miners. But on Sept. 1 some of the Pittsburg miners went out in consequence of the failure of the company to provide such screens as had been promised, the miners complaining that the screens were so coarse as to take too great a proportion of their coal. On the same day there was a strike at Weir City because 76 miners were each docked a car of coal for sending up sulphur. The total amount taken was over 72 tons. This strike was ended Sept. 9 on the agreement of the company to dock them for only the actual amount of sulphur loaded that day, amounting to 20 tons. The product of the lead and zine district for the year is given as: Zinc, 350,408,364 tons; lead, 59,669.140 tons; value, $4,627,881. It was announced in March that an inexhaustible bed of sand such as is used in the manufacture of glass had been found along the river bank near Atchison. Tables prepared by the Board of Agriculture give the yield and values of farm products for the past ten years and the aggregate value of all except live stock on hand. The total value for the ten years was $1,362,951,818; and the value for 1897 was somewhat above the average, $136,335,268. Following are the largest items for 1897: Winter wheat, 50,040,374 bushels. $33,798,612; corn, 152,140,993 bushels, $28,555,293; live-stock products, $46.983,923; prairie grass under fence, $4,305,688: Kaffir corn, 1,358,379 tons, $4,076,217; oats, 23,431,273 bushels, $3,828,192; Irish potatoes, 4,130,021 bushels, $2,529,082; alfalfa, $3,048,934; dairy products, $5,259,752. The net increase in value of this year's agricultural productions over that of 1896 is $20,045,246, and of live stock $20,508,985. Attention has been drawn this year to the remarkable showing the State has made in the matter of paying up its mortgage indebtedness. The Topeka "Capital" published a table indicating that this indebtedness has been reduced nearly $106, 000,000 during the past seven years, a decrease of 45 per cent. Status of a Receiver.-In the case of the State vs. A. D. Hubbard, in whose account as a receiver there was a shortage of more than $7,000 the Supreme Court in December rendered a decision that a receiver could not be prosecuted under the crimes act, as a receiver is not an agent, and receivers are not mentioned in the statute with executors, guardians, and others vested with functions somewhat similar to those of receivers. The defendant had been sentenced to three years in the Penitentiary. The Liquor Law.-A citizens' mass meeting was held May 7, in Topeka, to protest against the open violation of the prohibition liquor law and to arraign the city, county, and State authorities for aiding or permitting a return to the saloon system. Vigorous resolutions were adopted and a strong organization was perfected for prosecuting violators of the law and bringing about the removal of derelict officials. The strongest statement was made by G. L. Williams, which seemed to reflect the feelings of the large audience. "If it be conclusively shown," he said, "that there is a failure of execution because the courts and the Governor and other sworn officers of the law refuse to do their duty, then, and so long as such condition exists, government does not exist, and the people are resolved once more into other elements where the law of might and not of right prevails, and if the people of this city overwhelmingly oppose the saloons, which we had reason to believe were forever banished from our midst, and are denied the arm of the law in abating and destroying this crime, then we should meet force with force, and, during the temporary suspension of the law, by our own might utterly destroy the saloons and all other institutions being run in violation of the voted laws of this State." Legislative Session.-The Legislature met Jan. 12 and adjourned March 13. On joint ballot there were 92 Populists. 59 regular Republicans, 3 silver Republicans, and 11 Democrats. The new State officers were inaugurated Jan. 11. Lieut.-Gov. Harvey presided over the Senate, and M. A. Householder was president pro tem. W. D. Street was Speaker of the House, and E. C. Wellep Speaker pro tem. A successor to United States Senator William A. Peffer was to be chosen. Senator Peffer was a candidate for the nomination of his party. Other candidates were William A. Harris, Judge Dennison, John W. Breidenthal, State chairman of the People's party, E. C. Little, L. P. King, and John Madden. Mr. Harris was chosen, and was elected by the following vote: Harris, Populist, 101; J. R. Burton, Republican, 53; J. C. Caldwell, Republican, 2; King, Populist, 1. The message of Gov. Leedy was read to the Legislature, Jan. 12. One paragraph was as follows: "With a cheerful audacity that almost challenges admiration, Grub Street scribblers on a venal press, which panders to the most vicious instincts of semicivilized foreign colonies like New York city and Chicago, with semibarbaric splendor at the apex and semibarbaric squalor at the base of their social life, have offered their puny and presumptuous criticism of those whose shoestrings they are not worthy to unloose. The dogs of Egypt have barked at the pyramids unanswered for fifty centuries. When the accused Doge stood before the Venetian Council, he said: My defense is your accusation.' Let Grub Street rail on. They well know that Kansas was a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night before an oppressed people in the nation's darkest hour." In all, 1,833 bills were introduced, and fewer than 400 became laws. An antitrust act which became a law defines trusts, provides heavy penalties, including forfeiture of charter, and makes contracts violating terms of the act null and void. Another act requires a tax to be assessed on all money judgments rendered in the State courts. It is aimed at deficiency judgments where real estate has been sold under mortgage or deed of trust and fails to bring the face value of the mortgage. One of the laws that was made requires holders of mortgages to record them in counties where the security is located within six months. An "antiscrip" law requires miners' wages to be paid in lawful money. The coal operators pay in scrip redeemable in goods at the company stores. It was provided that finer screens than those in use should be furnished to the coal miners. The State Irrigation Board, created two years ago, was not continued. The Legislature of 1895 appropriated $30,000 for the work of the board. The irrigation and forestry stations are to be combined under the jurisdiction of the Forestry Commissioner. Cities of the first, second, and third classes are authorized to acquire waterworks and electric-light plants by a vote of the people upon a petition signed by two fifths of the resident taxpayers, and corporations furnishing such cities light and water must surrender all over 6 per cent. on the investment to the cities as rent for streets and benefits of franchises. A State grain department was created, and the appointment of a grain inspector was provided for. A new congressional apportionment makes slight changes in the districts, placing Shawnee County in the first, and Pottawatomie County in the fourth. A bill for uniform text-books and providing for the appointment of eight text-book commissioners, not more than three to be of the same political party, became a law. A so-called "anti-Pinkerton" bill was passed at the close of the session. It makes unlawful the bringing into the State of any person or persons or association of persons for the purpose of discharging the duties devolving upon sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, policemen, constables, or peace officers in the protection or preservation of public or private property, and provides as a penalty imprisonment for a period of not less than three months nor more than one year for each violation, or, in case of a corporation, a fine of $10,000. The Australian ballot law was so amended as to increase the pay of judges and clerks of elections, fix a maximum rate for the printing of ballots, and increase the number of names necessary on a petition from 500 to 2,500. Other enactments were: Authorizing graduates of the university law school to practice without further examination. Repealing the act for the encouragement of silk culture. To prevent the blacklisting of employees. To permit public corporations and quasi and private corporations to become members of mutual insurance companies. To prevent discrimination by corporations or individuals against labor organizations. To regulate the sale and inspection of oil. To grant licenses to ex-Union soldiers to sell goods in Kansas. To provide for the listing and taxation of min eral reserves. To compel street-railway companies to place vestibules on cars for protection of motormen. To transfer the State Grand Army of the Republic reunion grounds and buildings to the Women's Relief Corps, for a home and hospital. To regulate the mining of coal at the State Penitentiary, and abolish the contract system. Empowering the Board of Education in cities of the first class to levy a tax of 12 mills for the support of common schools. Making competent the testimony of husband and wife against each other in divorce cases. Requiring every employer of more then 10 men to pay weekly wages. To provide for the safety and health of employees of coal mines. Providing for the assessment of taxes on the property of all telegraph and telephone companies. The appropriations amounted to about $3,150,000. For legislative purposes $77,000 was appropriated. For public institutions, etc., the amounts for the two years 1898-'99 were: State University, $185,000; Agricultural College, $14,170; State Normal School, $60,000; Topeka Insane Asylum (maintenance), $233,580; Topeka Insane Asylum building, $60,000; Osawatomie Insane Asylum, $313,528; School for the Blind, $40,000; School for the Deaf, $91,740; Topeka Reform School, $64,770; Industrial School for Girls, $49,050; Industrial Reformatory at Hutchinson, $125,940; State Penitentiary, 308,000; Soldiers' Home, Dodge City, $91,700; Soldiers' Orphans' Home, $60,324; Soldiers' Orphans' Home (water supply), $5,000; Horticultural Society, $3,950; per diem and mileage of State board, $30,600; conveying prisoners to Penitentiary, $16,000; maintenance of destitute insane, $45.000; Board of Agriculture, $1,800; Kansas Children's Home Society, $1,400; State printing deficiencies, $55,000; State printing, $140,000; compiling statutes of 1897, $19,000; deficiencies in salary of district judges, $7,603; forestry and irrigation, $6,640; executive and judicial departments, $593,290; Statehouse and grounds, $16,600; Agricultural College building, $16,000; bust of ex-Gov. Charles Robinson for the State University, $1,000; geological survey, $3,500, Many salaries were reduced, most of these being of clerks and stenographers; but the chancellor of the university was cut from $5,000 to $4,000, and other salaries at the institution above $1,000 were reduced 12 per cent. A bill regulating the fees and salaries of county officers will in some counties increase their compensation, but in the greater part will make a reduction of 10 to 25 per cent. Some of the bills were passed in different form from that in which they were signed by the Gov ernor. One bill that was introduced proposed to make the Ten Commandments into a statute, with penalties attached. Another bill introduced was to prohibit the wearing of hats, bonnets, or other head apparel at public entertainments. A bill to provide for a constitutional convention failed. One of the things that the Legislature was bound by party pledges to do was to pass a maximum freight-rate bill. A bill embodying the desired provisions, the Brown bill, was presented, but did not pass. Another bill was passed, but a protest was signed by nearly all the strong supporters of the Brown bill. This bill was vetoed by the Gov ernor. New Laws in Court.-The Legislature fixed new and lower rates to be charged by the Kansas City stock yards. The company protested in the form of an application by two heavy stockholders for an injunction to prevent the company from putting the law into effect. A restraining order was issued while a hearing was held to decide whether the stock could earn a fair dividend at the rates pro posed. This lasted several months, and in October United States Judge Foster decided against the stock-yards company, denying the application for an injunction and revoking the restraining order. The "scrip" and "screen" laws were resisted by the coal companies on the ground that they were unconstitutional, because the text was not properly indicated by the title, and because they applied only to mine owners and not to other employers, and were therefore class legislation. Test cases were brought, and the law sustained by a decision in December. An appeal was taken. The "antidockage" law was in May declared unconstitutional, on the ground that it interfered with the right of private contracts. The "general repeal" act, which would have taken 300 pages of redundant and inoperative statutes out of the books, was declared unconstitutional. Political.-Municipal elections were held April 5 and 6. The Republicans elected their ticket in four of the six first-class cities. A large percentage of the vote was polled by women. In the larger cities, where enforcement of the prohibitory laws is under the direction of the metropolitan police officers, they divided on party lines; in some of the second-class cities they made the enforcement of the law a vital issue; but in many of these, where a determined fight was made, the prohibition cause was defeated. In a majority of these cities the Populists and Democrats combined on citizens tickets, and in many they were successful. Most of the county and district elections in November were carried by the Republicans. The vote was estimated as follows: Republican, 138,470; Fusion, 129,351. KENTUCKY, a Southern State, admitted to the Union June 1, 1792; area, 40,400 square miles. The population, according to each decennial census since admission, was 220,955 in 1800; 406,511 in 1810; 564,135 in 1820; 687,917 in 1830; 779,828 in 1840; 982,405 in 1850; 1,155,684 in 1860; 1,321,011 in 1870; 1,648,690 in 1880; and 1,858,635 in 1890. Capital, Frankfort. Government.-The following were the State officers during the year: Governor, William O. Bradley; Lieutenant Governor, W. J. Worthington; Secretary of State, Charles Finley: Treasurer, G. W. Long; Auditor, Samuel H. Stone; Superintendent of Public Instruction, W. J. Davidson; Attorney-General, W. S. Taylor; Commissioner of Agriculture, Lucas Moore-all Republicans; Chief Justice of the Court of Appeals, Joseph H. Lewis, Democrat; Associate Justices, James A. Hazelrigg, Democrat, Thomas H. Paynter, Democrat, J. D. White, Democrat, B. L. D. Guffy, Republican, George Du Relle, Republican, and A. Rollins Burnam, Republican. Finances.-The report of the Treasurer for the year ending June 30, 1897, shows the total receipts to have been $3,828,163.24. The balance on hand at the beginning of that year was $201,829.02. The total amount paid was $4,018,030.36, leaving a balance of $11,961.90. The Legislature ordered an issue of $500,000 in bonds, to be applied on the warrant indebtedness. They were sold at a premium of 7-47 per cent. The total bonded indebtedness Nov. 30, 1897, was $3,483,990.86, and the floating debt past due $1,562,125.33. The resources of the sinking fund were $586,612.72, making the total net indebtedness $4,459,503.47. The educational bonds, amounting to $2,312,596.86, are not subject to redemption, but constitute a perpetual debt, the interest on which is payable semiannually. In September a judgment was given in the circuit court in favor of the Commonwealth in the WILLIAM O. BRADLEY, GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY. The management of the Blind Asylum has saved $17,000, which is being used in the construction of new buildings and remodeling the old. The institution received $23,275 from the State treasury during the year. A new building has been erected for the Institute for the Feeble-Minded, to take the place of the one that was burned. The sum of $22,765 was paid to the institution by the State in 1896-'97. Prisons.-The Governor's message says of the prisons: "The chair contract at the Frankfort Penitentiary has not realized the money which it was thought it would, and there is now a controversy between the State and Mr. Martin, in which the former claims that the latter owes the additional sum of $23,000. "Following closely upon the termination of the contract with the Frankfort Chair Company came the destruction of the workshops at Eddyville by fire. This threw out of employment a large number of convicts. After the completion of the shops at Eddyville, the State will have 1,350 convicts at work, leaving unemployed only those unable to labor." Pardons. During the term of the present Governor there have been 1,572 applications for pardons, remissions, and respites, exclusive of those for restoration of the rights of citizenship. Of this number, 302 were granted; 26 were for children under eighteen. Of 329 applications for restoration to citizenship. 159 were refused. Banks.-The Court of Appeals rendered a decision, March 24, reversing a previous one in regard to taxation of banks. Hereafter banks will have to pay county and city taxes as individuals do, instead of paying 75 cents on the hundred to the State as heretofore. Under this decision the State will have to refund to the banks more than $400,000 that has been paid into the State treasury, and the banks in turn will have to pay city and county taxes amounting to more than $750,000. In January the failures were reported of the First National Bank of Newport and the German National Bank of Louisville. Arrests were made in connection with the latter. Loan Associations. A decision was given June 19 by the Appellate Court which is expected to force out or seriously cripple all the associations in the State. The court held that the remedial law of 1893, which authorized these associations to charge not exceeding 12 per cent. interest, including dues and the legal rate, is unconstitutional. It holds that all interest and dues in excess of 6 per cent. is usurious and can not be charged. It is also held that even the dues are "interest," and that the borrowers who have been paying from 12 to 17 per cent. in dues and interest are entitled to recover or be credited by all in excess of a 6 per cent. interest. Gold.-Gold has been discovered in Hardin County. An essay of the ore showed $33.07 pure gold to the ton, and $1.28 silver. The shaft was sunk about 18 feet deep in the rock, and the quartz taken out continues to increase in richness the deeper it goes in the rock. The vein is about an inch and a quarter in diameter, and is found in white granite. Ten dollars a ton will cover the expenses of extracting the gold. At another point the gold yielded $58 to the ton. Local Option. In a case before the Court of Appeals it was decided, Oct. 15, that the special "local-option " acts under which liquor selling was voted out of certain counties and towns in the State do not stand repealed by the Constitution, and that where no license has been voted the people must reverse their action before license can be granted. Lawlessness. — The destruction of toll gates was continued this year, accompanied in some instances by violence to the keepers and officers who attempted to protect the property. The State held turnpike stock in the sinking fund amounting to $400,000, but its value has been reduced by the action of the raiders to $100,000. The Governor said in his message that he was satisfied "that in numerous instances many of those who pose as good citizens have winked at this outlawry, because they supposed the result would be the depreciation in value of turnpikes, thus enabling the counties to purchase them at nominal prices, and thereby preventing in a large degree the levying of taxes. Advantage has been taken by some of the fiscal courts of this condition of affairs, and counties have become beneficiaries of crime which would not have been committed but for the worthlessness and cowardice of officials and the corruption of citizens who openly countenanced the lawbreakers. Frequently counties have voted for free turnpikes and at the same time voted against the issuance of bonds to pay for them. In other words, they declare they will have free roads without making compensation." The message says further that the raiders, encouraged by their immunity from punishment, "have undertaken to regulate the quantity of tobacco the farmer should cultivate, destroying his plants if he dared to disobey; have notified the miller that he should charge no more for flour than the price fixed by them; threatened with the shotgun and the torch farmers who had posted their lands if the boards were not taken down and they allowed to hunt without hindrance." A negro was lynched in Hancock County in open day, and without masks or even pretenses of secrecy on the part of the lynchers. Legislative Session.-The Legislature having failed to elect a successor to United States Senator Blackburn at its regular session in 1896, the Governor appointed Andrew T. Wood, in March, to fill the place until a Senator should be regularly chosen. He called a special session to begin March 13, one of the purposes named being the election of a Senator. Other objects named were a new apportionment of the legislative, senatorial, and court districts; a law against mob violence; penitentiary reforms; revision of the election laws; and an inspection of trust companies and banks. The balloting for United States Senator began March 23. The Republicans had a majority, and their caucus nominee was Dr. W. Godfrey Hunter; but six of the party refused to support him, giving their votes to St. John Boyle. This aroused indignation in the party, and the bolters were denounced by conventions held by their constituents and in other districts. Ex-Senator Blackburn was the candidate of the free-silver Democrats, and Henry L. Martin was during a part of the canvass voted for by the gold Democrats. Dr. Hunter at times came within one or two votes of election, and twice had a majority of those present when there was a quorum; but the presiding officer ruled that the ballot should not be announced until after the absentees had been permitted to cast their votes, the so-called absentees being those who, in order to prevent a quorum, would not vote at first. During the canvass, April 10, a charge was made against Dr. Hunter and others that they had tried to secure his election by bribery; and an indictment was found against him and four others by the Franklin County grand jury April 18, charging them with conspiracy to bribe. After a long trial they were acquitted Sept. 21. On the one hundred and twelfth ballot, April 28, William J. Deboe received the support of all the Republicans, Dr. Hunter having withdrawn, and was elected by the following vote: Deboe, 71; Blackburn, 50; Martin, 13; Stone, 1. A bill concerning fusion, which was introduced by the gold Democrats, was vigorously opposed. The Legislature passed a bill allowing the State to issue bonds to the extent of $500,000, to bear interest at the rate of 4 per cent. In June a case was brought to test the validity of the law, and it was declared void, on the ground that the outstanding bonded indebtedness of the State now is more than $2,000,000; but the case was appealed and the decision reversed. The bonds were issued July 1. A bill to substitute electrocution for hanging in executions was lost, and one was passed providing that executions shall hereafter take place within the walls of the Penitentiary. The $29,000 interest due from the State since 1894 on bonds of the Agricultural and Mechanical College was appropriated to the college, and it was provided that new bonds to the amount of $165,000 be issued to replace the expired bonds, and that the interest on these bonds be appropriated, 854 per cent. to the Agricultural and Mechanical College and 14 per cent. to the Colored Normal School in Frankfort. A bill to reduce and regulate the salaries of certain officers and appointees of the State fixed the principal salaries as follows: Of the Governor, $5,000; Auditor, $3,000; Treasurer, $3,000; Attorney-General, $3,500; Commissioner of Labor, Agriculture, and Statistics, $1,000; Secretary of State, $2,500; Superintendent of Instruction, $2,500: Register of the Land Office, $1,500; Adjutant General, $1,200: State Inspector and Examiner, $1,200 and traveling expenses; Insurance Commissioners, $3,000; Inspector of Mines, $1,800 and traveling expenses; Railroad Commissioners, $1,500 and traveling expenses. Other acts were: Declaring combinations, confederacies, and conspiracies to intimidate crimes. Allowing the city of Louisville to buy property sold for taxes, and hold it for one year, to allow owners to redeem it. Imposing a penalty for interrupting public speakers. Providing that all cars bringing into the State coal mined by convict labor must be so labeled. Authorizing the organization of trust companies in counties with less than 100,000 population and permitting them to do both a banking and trust business. Political. Elections were held Nov. 2. The only State officer to be chosen was clerk of the Court of Appeals. The People's party held a convention at Louisville, April 7. The platform favored the initiative and referendum; an income and an inheritance tax; the furnishing of schoolbooks at cost; the operating of "all turnpike and other transfer systems of public utility" by the public; reduction of salaries of public officials; a law to prevent discrimination against any legal-tender money of the country; legislation against trusts and combinations; and the receiving of unpaid warrants upon the State treasury for taxes and other dues to the State. Joseph A. Parker was nominated for clerk of the Court of Appeals. The Democrats met in convention at Frankfort, June 2. The resolutions, which were adopted with but one dissenting vote, declared in favor of the Chicago platform and urged all true Democrats to stand by it. It condemned the " dishonesty, corruption, and incompetency" of the State adminis tration. Samuel J. Shackelford was the nominee. The National Democrats held a convention, July 14, at Louisville. The resolutions reaffirmed the principles of the party as declared by the Indianapolis platform, pledged the party when in power to enact tax laws for revenue only, to pay all debts without bounties, and to reform the currency laws so as to maintain the standard of the world; they denounced the movement for free coinage of silver and all attempts to fix the ratio between the metals arbitrarily by law; condemned lawlessness; and pledged themselves to use every effort to restore the supremacy of law and to punish lawbreakers. James R. Hindman was made the nominee. On Aug. 10 the Republican State Convention was held at Louisville. The resolutions, after declaring allegiance to the principles of the party and commending the national and State administrations, continued: 66 We are opposed to a system of civil service that builds up an official class, practically a life tenure, in almost all branches of the public service, and we demand that the civil service be so amended as to limit the terms of service to four years, with the privilege of reappointment or promotion subject to such restrictions as will secure competent officials and to every section of the country its proper portion of them. "We favor the passage of a law that will protect the laborers of Kentucky from the competition of convict labor, and, if necessary to accomplish such results, an amendment to the Constitution permitting such legislation." James G. Bailey was nominated. The Prohibitionists nominated O. T. Wallace. The campaign was very spirited and in some places violent. The question of free coinage was the chief topic of discussion in the State at large. In some of the local contests the Republicans and On election day a bloody encounter took place in Frankfort, resulting in the death of 3 men and the wounding of 2 more. There was also a disturbance at Mount Vernon, and a shooting affray between the rioters and the sheriff and his deputies. Three of the deputies were killed. The vote stood: Shackelford, Democrat, 187,482; Bailey, Republican, 169,678; Parker, Populist, 7,274; Hindman, National Democrat, 9,562; Wallace, Prohibitionist, 1,734; Democratic plurality, 17,804. The Legislature for 1898 stands on joint ballot: Democrats, 99; Republicans, 38; Populists, 1; National Democrats, 2. KINETOSCOPIC Thomas A. Edison brought out his kinetograph and kinetoscope, and a year later he gave out some description of his kineto-phonograph and phono-kinetoscope. The two first-named mechanisms have to do with the reproduction of moving scenes, and the two last-named with the simultaneous production of moving scenes and accompanying sounds. The kinetograph and kinetoscope had been introduced to the public but a short time, when other inventors brought out the biograph, cinematograph, eidoscope, eidoloscope, mutoscope, vitascope, and numerous other mechanisms similarly named, each adapted for the display of kinetoscopic pictures to be viewed through a peephole, or to be thrown on a screen in enlarged form by a magic lantern, so as to be visible by a large number of people, as in a public hall. These productions have been termed biographic pictures, cinematographs, etc., until in many cases the fact has been lost sight of that they are all kinetoscopic pictures, presented by slightly different mechanism. The kinematic idea, as devised by Mr. Edison and perfected with the assistance and under the immediate direction of W. K. L. Dickson, was borrowed from two old toys, the phenakistoscope and the zeotrope. In each of these a series of coarse pictures representing continuous phases of motion was presented in rapid routine, in the effort to reproduce to the eye the effects of continuous movement. When instantaneous photography became known through the discoveries of Maddox, and Muybridge, Marey, and others gave to the world continuous pictures of the motion of the horse, the dog, etc., it occurred to Mr. Edison that it would be interesting to produce a better apparatus for properly exhibiting these modern photographs. After six years of patient labor the mechanism was perfected and the manufacture of kinetoscopic films was placed on a commercial basis. In order to deceive the human eye into an impression of continuity, it was found necessary to present to view 46 separate, distinct, and perfect pictures every second, and to keep each of these stationary for nine tenths of that forty-sixth of a second, while the entire set of pictures was advanced in position one degree during the remaining four hundred and sixtieth part of a second; and this intensely rapid alternation of stops and starts had to be carried on with almost perfect absence of vibration. Nor was this all. In order to reproduce the pictures at this speed and in this manner, it was essential that they should be photographed in the same manner, in order that the motions reproduced should be given in the proper time. None of the methods of photography then in use were available. Previous takers of instantaneous photographs had used batteries of at least 24 cameras, but here the conditions permitted the use of but a single camera. Bromideof-silver haloids were tried, but produced coarse effects at every effort to enlarge the views. Success was at last attained with sensitized celluloid |