Few things affected the early settler days of the American West as rapidly and as broadly as did the implementation of barbed wire fencing.
On this date in 1873, an Illinois farmer named Joseph Glidden submitted an application to the U.S. Patent Office for two-stranded barbed wire. Suddenly, farmers had affordable and practical means to protect their crops from herds of free-ranging cattle and sheep.
I love it when small inventions change the course of history. As a young boy, I fancied myself a future inventor. When I was about 10, I drew a design for a monorail train. Looking back, I had probably seen a photo somewhere, but at the time I thought it was my idea.
But there is one incredibly practical idea of mine I’d like to see one of you pick up and run with: multi-colored salt.
Every time I shake white salt onto a food and cannot tell how much, if any, is coming out … and then I end up catching some in my free hand just to test it … I think, “Someone really should invent multi-colored salt so I can see how much is hitting my food.”
What would you like to see invented?
Steve Martaindale 