[The Eureka: or Journal of the National Association of Inventors.]
(We had not intended to say any thing on the subject of the "Eureka" in this number, nor until the second number of the work should have been issued: but finding that a great degree of dissatisfaction exists in the minds even of those who are represented in that paper to be the supporters and conductors thereof; and having received an implied request for the insertion of the following communication, we would not refuse it, although we doubt whether the Eureka will ever reach its third number, whether its contents are subjected to public criticism or not.)
Mr. Editor: I had a little curiosity to hear what the press said of this periodical; but as yet I have not seen any notice, except the brief one in your columns. As a general rule, it is inexpedient for an association to publish a periodical. Instead of being an expression of the society, it almost unavoidably becomes the organ of a clique, and renders the patronage of an otherwise liberal organization subservient to private interest. In the columns of the "N. York Farmer" was first advocated the formation of the N. Y. State Agricultural Society. Among the first acts of this society was the issuing of an agricultural paper at twenty-five cents per annum. This was scattered over the whole country to the injury of those who had been pioneers in publishing agricultural papers. The Society could not sustain it without loss. It was sold to an individual on condition that he would publish the proceedings of the Society. The price was quadrupled. It was soon found that a periodical having a general circulation, could not devote much space to a local society, however noble and prosperous. Necessity led to the columns of the daily press, and to the issuing of a yearly volume of Transactions. This will be the result of every prosperous association. If the proceedings are worth publishing, the press will spread them over the whole face of the civilized world. A collection of the most important and well-digested papers in a yearly volume, is more in accordance with the dignity and usefulness of a national association. Besides the injustice done to other periodicals previously in existence, the association adds nothing to its reputation by the undertaking. There are three or four individuals at the American Institute who have a hankering for the control of a paper. It is very easy to see that the publishing of a weekly paper by the Institute would be a suicidal act. All the Institute has to do is to make its proceedings interesting, and the widest publicity will be given as a matter of course.
It was natural to suppose that with such an array of editors, editorial committee, and of associate professors, the "Eureka" would have done credit to the age, and claimed a rank, in point of literature, with other monthlies. But candor leads me to say, I do not recollect of having read a select journal with so many violations of correct writing. With the exception of two or three articles, the whole number abounds with school-boy violations of the English language. Redundancy and the want of appropriateness in the use of words are the most common errors. Circumlocution and want of precision are common; and in many sentences all these and other violations occur, rendering it almost impossible to guess at the meaning. Independent of "inflexibly in advance" on the cover, the first sentence in the announcement on the first page is an instance of ambiguity and careless construction. In the first article, on the same page, are several sentences indicating the same carelessness. The article describing Hoe's cylinder press is a collection of badly-constructed sentences. If your limits permitted I would give a whole column of illustrations. The following sentences have so many faults I cannot Italicise. They may serve to exercise your juvenile readers.
"We intend to pursue the publication of the list hereafter, future and past; that is in our next number will appear those of August 20, and follow for one month; also the list fur one month prior to the 21st of June."
"A material or composition, of a very cheap character, has been invented, and hard, strong and compact as flint." "From this, streets of any grade may be formed, and in such a way as to entirely to secure a permanent and level surface to its proper grade and arch".
Three fourths of the sentences forming the article on Dr. Lewis' Railroad are very faulty.
"Hutching's Propeller. It consists of forming a set of oars, and by cams upon themselves, and a foundation-plate with cams to match, cause the oars to revolve of themselves, when the main wheel, composed of these oars, revolves."
"A patent is pending for the invention of a wheel, in which Mr. Wm. Hulme, of Paterson, N. J, has made an invention."
"Russ's Pavement, There is no doubt it will make a good road in comparison with our present streets, as far as surface goes; but we must confess our incredulity of the entire success of this plan. We do not like the ideal method of getting at the water-pipes, &c. of the city."