SHOEMAKER, George Washington, inventor, born near Williamsport, Pennsylvania, 14 December, 1861. He received his education at Keystone academy, Factoryville, Pennsylvania, and then entered his father's woollen-mill. Having mechanical ability, he made various improvements in the plant, and in 1886 invented a ring-machine, by which wool-spinning may be carried on continuously. With the Crompton mule, now in general use, an output of 150 pounds is obtained in ten hours with 250 spindles, while the new system, with an equal number of spindles, has given during the same time 640 pounds of yarn. It is estimated that, under favorable conditions, from 800 to 1,000 pounds of yarn can be produced in ten hours. The cost of a machine of the Shoemaker type is much less than that of the other.