Of all the forces of nature, I should think the _wind_ contains the largest amount of _motive power_--that is, power to move things. Take any given space of the earth’s surface--for instance, Illinois; and all the power exerted by all the men, and beasts, and running-water, and steam, over and upon it, shall not equal the one hundredth part of what is exerted by the blowing of the wind over and upon the same space. And yet it has not, so far in the world’s history, become proportionably _valuable_ as a motive power. It is applied extensively, and advantageously, to sail-vessels in navigation. Add to this a few windmills, and pumps, and you have about all. That, as yet, no very successful mode of _controlling_, and _directing_ the wind, has been discovered; and that, naturally, it moves by fits and starts--now so gently as to scarcely stir a leaf, and now so roughly as to level a forest--doubtless have been the insurmountable difficulties. As yet, the wind is an _untamed_, and _unharnessed_ force; and quite possibly one of the greatest discoveries hereafter to be made, will be the taming, and harnessing of it. That the difficulties of controlling this power are very great is quite evident by the fact that they have already been perceived, and struggled with more than three thousand years; for that power was applied to sail-vessels, at least as early as the time of the prophet Isaiah. In speaking of _running streams_, as a motive power, I mean its application to mills and other machinery by means of the “_water wheel_”--a thing now well known, and extensively used; but, of which, no mention is made in the Bible, though it is thought to have been in use among the Romans. (Am. Ency.--Mill), the language of the Saviour “Two women shall be grinding at the mill, etc.” indicates that, even in the populous city of Jerusalem, at that day, mills were operated by hand--having, as yet had no other than human power applied to them. The advantageous use of _Steam-power_ is, unquestionably, a modern discovery. And yet, as much as two thousand years ago the power of steam was not only observed, but an ingenious toy was actually made and put in motion by it, at Alexandria in Egypt. What appears strange is, that neither the inventor of the toy, nor any one else, for so long a time afterwards, should perceive that steam would move _useful_ machinery as well as a toy. OF THIS BOOK 250 COPIES WERE PRINTED ON FABRIANO ITALIAN HAND-MADE PAPER AND 1000 COPIES ON AMERICAN DRAWING PAPER. THE FRONTISPIECE IS BY RAY F. COYLE. PRINTED BY THE BLAIR-MURDOCK COMPANY, SAN FRANCISCO, UNDER THE DIRECTION OF JOHN HENRY NASH, IN THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 1915 Transcriber’s Note All pages were enclosed in the decorative border shown here only on the Title page. End of Project Gutenberg's Discoveries and Inventions, by Abraham Lincoln