SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF PRACTICAL INFORMATION, ART, SCIENCE,
MECHANICS, CHEMISTRY, AND MANUFACTURES.

NEW YORK, MARCH 18, 1871.

Vol. XXIV.—No. 12. [NEW SERIES.]

$3 per Annum [IN ADVANCE.]

MUNN & CO., Editors and Proprietors.

PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT
NO. 37 PARK ROW (PARK BUILDING), NEW YORK.

O. D. MUNN.            S. H. WALES.            A. E. BEACH.

VOL. XXIV., NO. 12 … [New Series.] Twenty-sixth Year

NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 18, 1871.

Contents:

(Illustrated articles are marked with an
asterisk.)

THE INFLUENCE OF INTENSE COLD ON STEEL AND IRON.

[Condensed from Nature.]

There has recently been a most interesting discussion at
the Literary and Philosophical Society, Manchester, on the
above subject.

The paper which gave rise to the discussion was by Mr.
Brockbank, who detailed many experiments, and ended by
stating his opinion that iron does become much weaker, both
in its cast and wrought states, under the influence of low
temperature; but Mr. Brockbank’s paper was immediately
followed by others by Sir W. Fairbairn, Dr. Joule, and Mr.
Spence, which at once put an entirely new complexion on
the matter.

Dr. Joule says:

“As is usual in a severe frost, we have recently heard of
many severe accidents consequent upon the fracture of the
tires of the wheels of railway carriages. The common-sense
explanation of these accidents is, that the ground being
harder than usual, the metal with which it is brought into
contact is more severely tried than in ordinary circumstances.
In order apparently to excuse certain railway companies,
a pretence has been set up that iron and steel become
brittle at a low temperature. This pretence, although
put forth in defiance, not only of all we know, of the properties
of materials, but also of the experience of everyday life,
has yet obtained the credence of so many people that I
thought it would be useful to make the following simple
experiments:

“1st. A freezing mixture of salt and snow was placed on
a table. Wires of steel and of iron were stretched, so that a
part of them was in contact with the freezing mixture and
another part out of it. In every case I tried the wire broke
outside of the mixture, showing that it was weaker at 50° F.,
than at about 12° F.

“2d. I took twelve darning needles of good quality, 3 in.
long, ¹⁄24 in. thick. The ends of these were placed against
steel props, 2⅛ in. asunder. In making an experiment, a
wire was fastened to the middle of a needle, the other end
being attached to a spring weighing-machine. This was
then pulled until the needle gave way. Six of the needles,
taken at random, were tried at a temperature of 55° F., and
the remaining six in a freezing mixture which brought down
their temperature to 12° F. The results were as follow:—

“I did not notice any perceptible difference in the perfection
of elasticity in the two sets of needles. The result, as
far as it goes, is in favor of the cold metal.

“3d. The above are doubtless decisive of the question at
issue. But as it might be alleged that the violence to which
a railway wheel is subjected is more akin to a blow than a
steady pull; and as, moreover, the pretended brittleness is
attributed more to cast iron than any other description of the
metal, I have made yet another kind of experiment. I got a
quantity of cast iron garden nails, an inch and a quarter long
and ⅛ in. thick in the middle. These I weighed, and selected
such as were nearly of the same weight. I then arranged
matters so that by removing a prop I could cause the blunt
edge of a steel chisel weighted to 4lb. 2oz., to fall from a
given height upon the middle of the nail as it was supported
from each end, 1¹⁄16 in. asunder. In order to secure the absolute
fairness of the trials, the nails were taken at random,
and an experiment with a cold nail was always alternated
with one at the ordinary temperature. The nails to be cooled
were placed in a mixture of salt and snow, from which
they were removed and struck with the hammer in less than
5″.“

The collective result of the experiments, the details of
which need not be given, was that 21 cold nails broke and 20
warm ones.

Dr. Joule adds, “The experiments of Lavoisier and Laplace,
of Smeaton, of Dulong and Petit, and of Troughton, conspire
in giving a less expansion by heat to steel than iron, especially
if the former be in an untempered state; but this,
would in certain limits have the effect of strengthening
rather than of weakening an iron wheel with a tire of steel.

“The general conclusion is this: Frost does not make
either iron (cast or wrought), or steel, brittle.

Mr. Spence, in his experiments, decided on having some
lengths of cast iron made of a uniform thickness of ½ in.
square, from the same metal and the same mould.

He writes:—”Two of the four castings I got seemed to be
good ones, and I got the surface taken off, and made them as
regular a thickness as was practicable.

“I then fixed two knife-edged wedges upon the surface of
a plank, at exactly nine inches distance from each other,
with an opening in the plank in the intervening space, the
bar being laid across the wedges, a knife-edged hook was
hung in the middle of the suspended piece of the bar, and to
the hook was hung a large scale on which to place weights.

“The bar was tried first at a temperature of 60° F.; to find
the breaking weight I placed 56lb. weights one after another
on the scale, and when the ninth was put on the bar snapped.
This was the only unsatisfactory experiment, as 14 or 28lb.
might have done it, but I include it among others. I now
adopted another precaution, by placing the one end of the
plank on a fixed point and the other end on to a screw-jack,
by raising which I could, without any vibration, bring the
weight to bear upon the bar. By this means, small weights
up to 7lb. could be put on while hanging, but when these
had to be taken off and a large weight put on, the scale was
lowered to the rest, and again raised after the change was
made. I may here state that a curious circumstance occurred
twice, which seems to indicate that mere raising of the
weight, without the slightest apparent vibration, was equal
in effect to an additional weight. 3¾ cwts. were on the scale,
a 14lb. weight was added, then 7lb., then 4lb., 2lb., 1lb., and
1lb., making 4cwts. and 1lb. This was allowed to act for from
one to two minutes, and then lowered to take off the small
weights, which were replaced by a 56lb. with the intention of
adding small weights when suspended; the whole was then
raised so imperceptibly by the screw, that the only way of ascertaining
that it was suspended, was by looking under the
scale to see that it was clear of the rest. As soon as it was
half-an-inch clear it snapped, thus breaking at once with one
pound less than it resisted for nearly two minutes.

“Six experiments were carefully conducted at 60° F., the
parts of the bars being selected so as to give to each set of
experiments similar portions of both bars; the results are
marked on the pieces. My assistant now prepared a refrigerating
mixture which stood at zero, the bars were immersed
for some time in this, and we prepared for the breaking
trials to be made as quickly as could be, consistently
with accuracy; and to secure the low temperature, each bar, on
being placed in the machine, had its surface at top covered
with the freezing mixture. The bars at zero broke with
more regularity than at 60°, but instead of the results confirming
the general impression as to cold rendering iron more
brittle, they are calculated to substantiate an exactly opposite
idea, namely, that reduction of temperature, cæteris paribus,
increases the strength of cast iron. The only doubtful
experiment of the whole twelve is the first, and as it stands
much the highest, the probability is that it should be lower;
yet, even taking it as it stands, the average of the six experiments
at 60° F., gives 4cwt. 4lb. as the breaking weight of
the bar at that temperature, while the average of the six experiments
at zero gives 4cwt 20lb. as the breaking weight of
the bar at zero, being an increase of strength, from the reduction
of temperature, equal to 3.5 per cent.”

Sir W. Fairbairn states: “It has been asserted, in evidence
given at the coroner’s inquest, in a recent railway accident,
that the breaking of the steel tire was occasioned by the intensity
of the frost, which is supposed to have rendered the
metal, of which this particular tire was composed, brittle.
This is the opinion of most persons, but judging from my
own experience such is not the fact. Some years since I endeavored
to settle this question by a long and careful series
of experiments on wrought iron, from which it was proved
that the resistance to a tensile chain was as great at the temperature
of zero as it was at 60° or upwards, until it attained
a scarcely visible red heat.”

The immense number of purposes to which both iron and
steel are applied, and the changes of temperature to which
they are exposed, renders the inquiry not only interesting in
a scientific point of view, but absolutely necessary to a knowledge
of their security under the various influences of those
changes. It was for these reasons that the experiments in
question were undertaken, and the summary of results is
sufficiently conclusive to show that changes of temperature
are not always the cause of failure. Sir W. Fairbairn adds:
“The danger arising from broken tires does not, according to
my opinion, arise so much from changes of temperature as
from the practice of heating them to a dull red heat, and
shrinking them on to the rim of the wheels. This, I believe,
is the general practice, and the unequal, and in some cases,
the severe strains to which they are subject, has a direct tendency
to break the tires.”

OAK GRAINING IN OIL COLORS.

Condensed from the Building News.

There is a charm and feeling about work executed by the
hand, which gives it a value no mere machine work can possess.
Machine work, from its very nature, necessitates a repetition
of pattern, which cannot be avoided. Hand-work,
on the contrary, can imitate every variety, and follow nature
so closely that no two pieces need be alike. There is also in
hand-work a wide scope for the inventive faculty and the exercise
of good taste (both in form and color) and skillful
workmanship. As a rule, strong contrasts between the
ground and the graining color should be avoided. The figure
and grain should of course be seen clearly, but only so clearly
as to be distinct, without interfering with the general and
uniform quietness of tone necessary to fulfil the conditions
required by the laws of harmony and good taste. Violent
contrasts and gaudy coloring are always vulgar, brilliancy
and richness of color are not necessarily vulgar; it is the
absence of the guiding power of knowledge and pure taste in
their arrangement which degrades them to the rank of vulgarity.
We have before spoken of the importance of good
combing, and of the various kinds of combs used; we now
proceed to describe how the work is done. The graining
color is brushed over the work, in the ordinary manner, with
a pound-brush, care being taken not to put too much color on,
or else it is very liable to be dirty. A dry duster is now used
to stipple with, which, if properly done, will distribute the
color evenly; it is now ready for combing. In the real oak
it will be found, as a rule, that the grain is invariably coarser
on one side of the panel than on the other; this arises from
the very nature of the growth of the tree; it is, therefore,
well to imitate this pattern, and in order to do so we take
first a medium or coarse cut gutta-percha comb, and draw it
down one side of the panel; then use a finer one to complete
it. This comb will leave the marks of the grain in clear unbroken
lines from top to bottom of the panel. We now take
a fine steel comb and go over the whole of the previous
combing, moving it in a slanting or diagonal direction across
the previous grain, or with a quick and short wavy motion
or curl; both the former and the latter motion will break up
the long lines, left by the gutta-percha comb, into short bits,
which of course represent the pores or grains of the real
wood. There are several other motions of the comb having
the same end in view; and by using the gutta-percha or
cork combs, in conjunction with the fine steel, an infinite variety
of grain may be produced. Steel combs, with one or
more folds of thin rag placed over the ends of the teeth are a
style of comb which has nothing to recommend it. A natural
variation in the grain may be produced by one comb
alone, according to the manner in which it is held. For instance,
if we take a coarse or broad-toothed gutta-percha
comb, and commence at the top of a panel, with the comb,
placed at its full width: if drawn down in this position it
will leave a grain of the same width as the width of the
teeth: but if we start with the full width, and gradually
turn the comb or slightly incline it to one side—that is to
say, on its edge, we thereby graduate the grain from coarse
to fine at pleasure, and by holding the comb at a certain inclination
we may actually make very fine the coarse comb.
A very important point is the formation of the joints in the
wood, as much of the effect of otherwise good work is lost in
consequence of neglect in this respect. In looking at a real
oak door, the joints of the stiles and rails are clearly and
sharply defined, not by any defect of workmanship, but by
the difference in the run of the grain, the stiles being perpendicular,
and the rails horizontal. The rails being cut
sharp off by the stiles, show a perfectly straight line. The
light also acts differently upon the two, simply because the
grain or fibre of the wood is exposed to its influence under
different aspects. This also tends to produce a difference in
the depth of the color of rails and stiles, and panels also.
It will be evident that no imitations can be considered really
good except they include these seemingly unimportant
points.

It is a common practice for grainers to imitate a broad piece
of heart or sap of oak, upon the back rail of almost every
door they do, and many of them are not even content with
that, but daub the stiles over from top to bottom with it also.
There is nothing so vulgar or in such bad taste. It should
only be done upon those parts of the work on which it would
appear on a real oak door, namely, on the edges of the doors
and on mouldings. There is a vulgar pretentiousness about
what we may call the sappy style of work which is very undesirable.
The figures cross the grain more or less abruptly
and of course are of different shapes, sizes, and forms, a
knowledge of which can only be acquired by study of the
real wood. The figure may be wiped out with a piece of
soft rag, held tight over the thumb nail. This should have
two or three folds over the nail, the superfluous rag being
held by the other hand to prevent it hanging down and smearing
the grain; and every time a figure is wiped, the rag
should be moved slightly, so that the same part of the rag
will not be used twice, thus insuring clean work. It will
often happen that the thumb-nail will get broken, or is too
weak to stand the work; in these cases, or, in fact, in any
case, a good substitute or artificial thumb-nail may be made
of gutta-percha, thus: A piece of thin sheet gutta-percha is
put into warm water, and, while soft, is wrapped around the
end of the thumb up to the first joint. It is then pressed
with the hand, so as to fit and take the shape of the thumb
and nail. This cannot be done at one heating, but will have
to be put into the hot water again, and the end pinched and
squeezed into form to the shape of the nail, and to fit easily
upon the thumb. When this gets hard, it may be trimmed
into perfect form with a penknife. This artificial nail will
answer the purpose admirably if properly made; and even
when the natural nail is good, the gutta-percha will serve to
save it from injury. Good figuring may also be done by
using the blank end of the steel comb with a rag folded over
its edge. We have also used a piece of gutta-percha to take
out the lights. This should be square-ended, about one inch
wide, and three or four inches long, and will do successful
work of a certain class, but not of the best. Many grainers
use a piece of thin horn, in shape something like a spatula,
about three or four inches long and three quarters of an inch
wide, with rounded ends, and quite flexible. With this tool
the figure is cut or scooped out—a sort of quick, side-long
motion, very difficult to describe, and requiring a very considerable
amount of practice before it can be worked with any
success. There is, however, the same objection to this tool as
may be urged against the gutta-percha for figuring, namely,
that neither of them take the color clean away, but leave an
accumulation of color on the edge of the figure, which is
fatal to good work; and therefore we cannot honestly recommend
the use of any method but the wiping out with the
thumb-nail or its substitute. When the figure is wiped out
it will require to be softened. By softening, we mean the
imitation of those half shades seen upon and about the figures
in the real wood. Between and around the lights or
figure in oak, there is always a lighter tint of color; this is
imitated by doubling a piece of rag into a small roll, and
with the side of this the grain is partially wiped away, but
not to the extent of taking off the whole of the grain. A recent
but most admirable system of graining oak, by means
of over-combing, is worked exactly the reverse of any
of the foregoing methods; that is to say, the figure is first
wiped out, and the combing or grain is done afterwards,
when the graining color is dry, in this wise: The graining
color is mixed somewhat thinner than for ordinary graining,
and is brushed over the work sparingly, leaving it just sufficiently
strong to show a clear distinction between the ground
and the color. The light or figure is then softened by drawing
the end of a flat hog-hair fitch, or a small thin mottler, across
each figure, and slightly softening with the badger-hair softener.
The figure is broken up a little with fine lines across
it in parts, such as may be seen in the real wood; but previous
to wiping out the figure, streaks of light should be
wiped out and softened on one side of the panel or across the
stiles, in imitation of the reflective lights seen in oak. The
color should also be partially wiped off the rails or stiles at
their junction; this tends to define the joint. The color is
now let to dry hard, when it will be ready for over-combing—that
is, combing or graining over the figure (hence its
name), and this will have to be done somewhat differently to
the ordinary combing. As thus: The color is rubbed in as before,
and combed solely with the gutta-percha combs, but these
are specially cut for the purpose; they are best about 2 in.
wide. The first must be cut with teeth about three-sixteenths
of an inch in width, the next one-eighth, and the
third about one-sixteenth. The broad-toothed comb is first
used, and must be drawn down the panel, with a wavy motion,
in short or long curls; either will answer our purpose
now. The next size of comb is then drawn straight down—the
straighter the better. This has the effect of breaking
the wavy combing into short and long straight bits, similar
to the pores or grain of the real wood. Both the first and
second combing may be varied by holding the comb in a
slanting direction, and may be fine or coarse, according to the
width of the combs used; now take a soft rag folded, and
with this partially clear off the grain which runs over the
figure, leaving only a sufficient quantity crossing the light or
figure, to be just distinguished, exactly as it appears upon
the figure in real oak. The grain is also wiped off in parts
on the plain spaces between the figure, in order to break it up
and take away any formality. If this method be well and
probably done, a thoroughly deceptive imitation may be produced;
and except this end be kept in view, no really good
work will result.

KNOTS AND SPLICES.

[See Engraving on First Page.]

1. Turn used in making up ropes.

2. End tapered for the purpose of passing it readily through
a loop. To make this, we unlay the rope for the necessary
length, reducing a rope diminishing in diameter towards the
end, which is finished by interlacing the ends without cutting
them, as it would weaken the work; it is lastly “whipped”
with small twine.

3. Tapered end, covered with interlaced cordage for the
purpose of making it stronger. This is done with very small
twine attached at one end to the small eye, and at the other
to the strands of the rope, thus making a strong “webbing”
around the end.

4. Double turn used for making rope.

5. Eye splice. The strands of the cable are brought back
over themselves, and interlaced with their original turns, as
in a splice.

6. Tie for the end of a four-strand rope.

7. The same completed; the strands are tied together,
forming loops, laying one over the other.

8. Commencement for making the end by interlacing the
strands.

9. Interlacing complete, but not fastened.

10 and 11. Shell in two views used in No. 65, showing the
disposition of it at the throat. This joining is advantageous,
as it does not strain the cords, and it prevents them from cutting
each other; so that the rings pass one into the other
and are joined outside the intermediate shell.

12. Interlacing in two directions.

13. Mode of finishing the end by several turns of the twine
continued over the cable.

14. Interlacing commenced, in one direction.

15. Interlacing finished, the ends being worked under the
strands, as in a splice.

16. Pigtail commenced.

17. Interlacing fastened.

18. Pigtail with the strands taut.

19. Dead eye, shown in two views.

20. Pigtail finished. We pass the ends of the strands, one
under the other, in the same way as if we were making a
pudding splice: thus bringing it in a line with the rope, to
which it is seized fast, and the ends cut off.

21. Scull pigtail; instead of holding the ends by a tie, we
interlace them again, as in No. 16, the one under the other.

22. Pigtail, or “lark’s nest.” We make this to the “pennant”
of a cable, which has several strands, by taking the
requisite number of turns over the pudding, in such a manner
that the strands shall lay under each other. This “pigtail”
forms a knot at the end of the rope. It thus draws together
two ropes, as shown in No. 32, forming a “shroud” knot. In
these two pigtails, the strands are crossed before finishing the
ends, so that the button, a, is made with the strands, a, and
b, with those of the rope, b.

23. Slip clinch to sailors’ knot.

24. Slip clinch, secured.

25. Ordinary knot upon a double rope.

26. Bowline knot for a man to sit in at his work.

27. Called a “short splice,” as it is not of great length, and
besides, can be made quickly.

30. Long splice. This extends from a to b. We unlay the
strands of each of the ropes we intend to join, for about half
the length that the splice will be, putting each strand of the
one between two strands of the other.

31. Simple fastening on a rope.

32. A “shroud” knot.

33. The ends of the rope are prepared for making the
splice (No. 29) in the same manner as for the “shroud” knot
in No. 32. When the strands are untwisted, we put the
ends of two cords together as close as possible, and place the
ends of the one between the strands of the other, above and
below alternately, so as to interlace them as in No. 29. This
splice is not, however, very strong, and is only used when
there is not time to make a long splice, which is much the
best.

34 and 35. Marline spikes. Tools made of wood or iron,
used to open out a rope to pass the strands of another through
it.

36. Shows strands arranged as described in No. 30.

37. Fastening when a lever is used, and is employed when
hauling upon large ropes, where the strength of several men
are necessary.

38. A “pudding splice.” This is commenced, like the
others, by placing the rope end to end, the turns of the one
being passed between those of the other; having first
swelled out the yarns by a “rat’s-tail,” we put them, two by
two, one over the other, twisting them tightly, and opening
a way for them with the marlinspike. The inconvenience of
this splice is, that it is larger in diameter than the rope
itself; but when made sufficiently long, by gradually reducing
the size of the strands, it has great strength.

39. This shows two strands, a and b, of the ropes, A B,
knotted together, being drawn as tight as possible; we unlay
the strand, a’, of the rope, A, for half the length of the
splice, and twist the strand, b’, of the rope, B, strongly in its
place, tying a’ and b’ together tightly. The same process is
again gone through on the rope, B, the strand, a”, of the
rope, A, being knotted to the strand, b”, of the rope, B. When
all the strands are thus knotted together, we interlace them
with the strands of the cable. Thus the strands, a a’ a”, are
interlocked by being passed alternately above and below the
turns of the cord, B, the ends being also sometimes “whipped.”
In the same manner the strands, b b’ b”, pass alternately over
and under the strands of the rope, A, and are in like manner
“whipped.” It is important that the several interlacings
and knots should not meet at one point; we reduce the size
of the strands towards the end, so that they loose themselves
in the body of the splice, cutting off such parts as may project.
This splice is employed for joining the ends of a rope
when a chafed part has been cut out, and is quite as strong
as the rope itself.

40. Belaying-pin opened to serve as a button; these are
used where it is necessary to stop or check velocity.

41. Chain knot, or fastening.

42. Variable or regulating lashing. By laying the piece,
a f, horizontally, it can be slipped along the rope, b; by raising
or lowering this, we shall raise or depress the weight, c,
the cord, b, running over the two pulleys, d, from the piece,
a f, in the direction shown in the figure. The friction of the
cord, b, passing through the hole, e, sufficiently fixes the
piece, a f, and holds the weight, c, securely.

43. Cleet, with three ties.

44. Cleet, showing the mode of belaying the cord.

45. The piece, a f, of No. 42.

46. Fair leader.

47. Cleet to be fixed to a stay.

48. Loop for slipping other lines.

49. A “bend” which is only used for fear of the stoppers
snapping.

50. Bastard loop, made on the end of the rope, and whipped
with yarns.

51. Tie to pins: a, the pin; b, small cords fixed by a cross
tie.

52. Cleet, fixed to the “rail,” either with screws or nails,
to which the lines are belayed.

53. Waterman’s knot.

54. Fair leader.

55. Tie, or bend to pier.

56. Simple fastening to tie.

57. Fastening by a loop. This can be tied or untied without
loosening the loop itself. It is made by following, towards
the longer loop, the direction as numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
and is terminated by the loop, 6, 7, 6, finally passing it over
the head of the post, A. This knot holds itself, the turns
being in opposite directions. To untie it, we slack the turns
of the cable sufficiently to again pass the loop, 6, 7, 6, over
the post, A, and turn the ends in the contrary direction to that
in which they were made (as 5, 4, 3, 2, 1).

58. Iron “shell,” in two views.

59 and 60. “Wedding” knots; a b, eyelets; c d, the join;
e, the fastening.

61. Lark’s-head fastening to running knot.

62. A round turn; the cord, a, is passed through the bight
of the cord, b, over the button, c, where it is secured by an
ordinary knot.

63. Belaying-pin splice. The cord, b, “stops” the pin, e,
its end being spliced upon itself, and “served” with yarn;
this rope, with its pin, is passed through the spliced eye, f
of the line, g.

64. Round button.

65. Joint by a spherical shell, each loop, a and b, being
made by ties and splices, and surrounding the shell, c.

66. Belaying-pin, shown separately, before being stoppered.

67. Fastening to shears.

68. Square mooring. When the cable is round the post, A,
and the piece, c, without being crossed, it lays in the section
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and the end is fastened by tying.

69. Wooden shell in section.

70. Crossed fastening. The turns of the cable, passing in
front of the post, B, are crossed at the back of C, in the
direction 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, the end, 8, being secured to the
cable.

71. Wooden shell.

72. Double-chain fastening.

73. Lashing for “ram” block, or “dead-eye.” The ram
blocks, a and b, are strapped by the cords, e, which hold
them; the small lanyards, d, pass through the holes to make
the connection, and as they are tightened give the requisite
tension to the cordage; the ends are fastened to the main rope.
Usually one of these dead-eyes is held by an iron strap to the
point where it is required to fix and strain the cordage, which
is ordinarily a shroud.

74. Chain fastening.

1′. Simple band, showing the upper side.

2′. The same, showing the under side and the knot.

3′. Tie, with crossed ends, commenced; a turn is taken under
the strands, to hold the ends of the cord.

4′. The same, completed.

5′. Bend with crossed strands, commenced, the one end
being looped over the other.

6′. The same, completed.

7′. Necklace tie, seen on the upper side.

8′. The same, seen underneath. The greater the strain
on the cords, the tighter the knot becomes.

9′ and 10′ are similar splices to 7′ and 8′ with slight modifications.

11′ shows the commencement of 13′, the legs in elevation;
12′ being a front view. An ordinary band, made by several
turns of a small rope, is lapped round them and hauled taut,
and then interlaced at the ends. This done, the legs are
shifted into the shape of a St. Andrew’s cross. Thus the
lashing is tightened, and, for further security, we pass the
line several times over the tie and between the spars, knotting
the ends.

13′. Portuguese knot. This is a lashing for shear legs,
and must be tight enough to prevent the spars slipping on
each other; the crossing of the two legs gives a means of
securing the knot.

14′. For binding timbers; a, knot commenced. Take several
turns round the timbers, and fasten the ends by passing
them under the turns; b, knot completed. The end of a
round stick, m n, termed a packing stick, should be passed
under the knob, the cord being slack enough to allow of this.
By turning the stick, the turns can be tightened to any extent;
when tight, we fasten the longer arm of the lever to
some fixed point, by a rope, p q, so that it cannot fly back.
Care must be taken not to turn the stick too far, or the rope
may be broken. As the timber dries and shrinks, the lever
may be used to make all taut again.

The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance
Company.

The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company
makes the following report of its inspections in
January, 1871:

During the month, there were 522 visits of inspection
made, and 1,030 boilers examined—853 externally and 363
internally, while 106 have been tested by hydraulic pressure.
Number of defects in all discovered, 431, of which 163 were
regarded as dangerous. These defects were as follows: Furnaces
out of shape, 24—3 dangerous; fractures, 47—25 dangerous;
burned plates, 29—14 dangerous; blistered plates,
54—10 dangerous; cases of sediment and deposit, 97—18
dangerous; cases of incrustation and scale, 70—24 dangerous.
To show how little attention is paid to the internal
condition of boilers by incompetent engineers, we copy the
following from a letter of one of our inspectors:

“In one tubular boiler I found sediment in the back end,
eight inches deep, and extending forward more than four
feet. It seemed to be an accumulation of fine scale cemented
together, so that it was necessary to break it up with a
hammer and chisel before it could be removed. The engineer
said he had cleaned the boilers only three days before, and
objected to my making another examination. This is one of
the many cases we find, where the proprietor trusts everything
about his boilers to his engineer, supposing him to be
reliable.”

With such accumulation of sediment and deposit, is it any
wonder that sheets are burned? A careful engineer will understand,
if the feed water be impure, that he must blow
down two or three inches every day, or oftener, that the sediment
may be removed as it accumulates, and then an internal
examination once in two weeks, or once a month, will insure
a clean boiler.

Cases of external corrosion, 26—10 dangerous; cases of internal
corrosion, 17—5 dangerous; cases of internal grooving,
28—11 dangerous; water gages out of order, 50; blow-out
apparatus out of order, 15—7 dangerous; safety valves
overloaded, 40—12 dangerous; pressure gages out of order,
54—6 dangerous, varying from -15 to +8 pounds. (We have
found several gages entirely ruined from being frozen).
Boilers without gages, 4; cases of deficiency of water, 5—1
dangerous; broken braces and stays, 31—7 dangerous; boilers
condemned, 2—both dangerous.

Two engineers were found drunk on duty, and promptly
discharged. There were 9 serious explosions during the
month, by which 99 persons were killed, and 6 wounded.
Eighty-seven of the killed were passengers on the ill-fated
steamer H. R. Arthur, on the Mississippi River. Many were
drowned, and some burned, but the origin of the calamity
was the bad quality of the boilers, which a careless management
was unable to detect. The upper and fore part of the
boat was blown away by the exploded boilers, and, to add to
the horror, what remained took fire.

None of these exploded boilers were under the care of this
company.

Five ore-roasting furnaces are in full blast in Nevada.

Improved Compound Spiral Car Spring for Railway Carriages.

Our engravings illustrate an improved compound car-spring,
which appears to possess all the requisites of a first-class
spring, combining in its construction extreme simplicity
with great strength, and a feature whereby the power of the
spring increases with increase of the load, and vice versâ, so
that its flexibility remains nearly constant for all loads.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of this spring, with a portion
of the side of the case broken out to show the interior arrangement
of the spiral springs. Fig. 2 is a section of the
compressing plate. Fig. 3 is a plan view, showing the
arrangement of the tubes which enclose the springs.

POTT’S’ SPIRAL CAR SPRING FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES.

The case is cast in two pieces. Its vertical wall is cast in
a single piece, and has at the top a
flange or bead extending inwardly,
against which the compressing
plate abuts when the spring is not
compressed, as shown in Fig. 2.
A bottom plate completes the case.

The spiral components of the
spring are inclosed in tubes, as
shown in Figs. 1 and 3. It is not
deemed essential that these tubes
should be seamless, or that their
edges, brought together in bending,
should be soldered, brazed, or
welded. They act merely as guides
to compel the component springs
to expand or contract in vertical
lines, and need only be strong
enough for that purpose.

The compressing plate is formed
with concentric steps or ledges, as
shown in Fig. 2, so that with light
loads, only a portion of the component
spirals act. With a heavier
load a new series of spirals is
brought into action, and so on, till
the spring is loaded to its full capacity.
This feature is novel, and as important as novel, as
it gives the spring a far more easy and flexible carriage, with
light loads, than would be the case if all the spirals were permitted
to act.

In putting the spring together, the vertical part of the
case is inverted. The compressing plate is then placed
within the case, resting upon the inner flange of the case
above described. The tubes with their inclosed springs are
then arranged in position, as shown in the plan view, Fig. 3.
The bottom plate of the case is then placed in position,
and held to its place by lugs and rivets, as shown in Fig. 1;
the spring is then ready for use.

The employment of tubes in the manner described, enables
springs of the greatest practical length to be used, without
the sectional or division plates met with in other spiral car
springs. A greater and easier movement is therefore
obtained. These springs can, it is claimed, compete in price
with any spring in market, and are guaranteed by the manufacturers.
Patented through the Scientific American Patent
Agency, December 27, 1870, by Albert Potts, whom address
for further information, No. 490 North Third street, Philadelphia,
Pa.

PORTABLE WRITING AND COPYING CASE.

This device is the invention of A. G. Buzby, of Philadelphia,
Pa. It is a combined writing and copying case. Besides
the usual recesses or chambers for pen, ink, paper, etc.,
it is provided with a book of copying paper, in which copies
of important letters may be made, by damping the letters
in the usual way, and pressing them between the leaves of
the copying book; or the transfer paper may be used, so that
the letter will be copied as it is written, if preferred.

How Walking Sticks are made.

Sticks are manufactured both from large timber of from
two to six feet girth, and from small underwood of about the
thickness of a man’s thumb. The timber, which is chiefly
beech, is first sawed into battens of about three feet in length
and as many inches in width; and from each of these battens
two square sticks, with square heads are afterwards cut in
opposite directions, so that the middle portion is waste wood.
The corners of each are afterwards rounded off by a planing
process called “trapping,” and the square head is reduced,
by a small saw, to a curve or rectangular bend, so as to
form a handle. When the sticks are brought in this way
to the exact size and pattern, they are polished with great
care, are finely varnished, and packed in boxes or bundles
for the market. Many sawn sticks, however, are supplied
with bone and horn handles, which are fastened on with glue;
and then of course there is less wood waste, as a larger number
of them may be cut from one batten.

A very different process takes place in the manufacture
of sticks from small underwood, in which there is no sawing
required. The rough unfashioned sticks, which are generally
of hazel, ash, oak and thorn, are cut with a bill in the same
way as kidney bean sticks, and are brought to the factory in
large bavins or bundles, piled on a timber tug. There must
of course, be some little care in their selection, yet it is evident
that the woodmen are not very particular on this score,
for they have in general an ungainly appearance; and many
are so crooked and rough, that no drover or country boy
would think it worth while to polish the like of them with
his knife. Having arrived at this place, however, their numerous
excrescences are soon pruned away, and their ugliness
converted into elegance. When sufficiently seasoned
and fit for working, they are first laid to soak in wet sand,
and rendered more tough and pliable; a workman then takes
them one by one, and securing them with an iron stock,
bends them skillfully this way and that, so as to bring out
their natural crooks, and render them at last all straight
even rods. If they are not required to be knotted, they next
go to the “trapper,” who puts them through a kind of circular
plane, which takes off knots, and renders them uniformly
smooth and round. The most important process of
all is that of giving them their elegantly curved handles, for
which purpose they are passed over to the “crooker.”
Every child knows that if we bend a tough stick moderately
when the pressure is discontinued, it will soon fly back, more
or less, to its former position; and if we bend it very much,
it will break. Now the crooker professes to accomplish the
miracle of bending a stick as it might be an iron wire, so
that it shall neither break nor “backen.” To prevent the
breaking, the wood is rendered pliant by further soaking in
wet sand; and a flexible band of metal is clamped down firmly
to that portion of the stick that will form the outside of the
curve; the top end is then fitted into a grooved iron shoulder
which determines the size of the crook, the other end being
brought round so as to point in the opposite direction; the
metal band during this process binding with increasing
tightness against the stretching fibers of the wood, so that
they cannot snap or give way under the strain. The crook
having been made, the next thing is to fix it, or remove from
the fibers the reaction of elasticity, which would otherwise,
on the cessation of the bending force, cause it to backen more
or less, and undo the work. In the old process of crooking
by steam, as timber bending is effected, the stick was merely
left till it was cold to acquire a permanent set; but in the
new process, a more permanent set is given by turning the
handle about briskly over a jet of gas. The sticks being
now fashioned, it only remains to polish and stain or varnish
them; and they are sometimes scorched or burned brown,
and carved with foliage, animal heads and other devices.—Chambers’
Journal.

Flowering of the Victoria Regia in the Open
Air.—Joseph Mager, Esq., has succeeded in flowering the
Victoria lily, in his pond in England. The pond is perfectly
open, but the water is heated by hot water pipes coming
from a boiler near the pond, carefully concealed. The seeds
of the Victoria were planted in May last, and the first flower
was produced Sept. 10th. Afterwards seven other flowers
opened. The plant has eight leaves, of which the largest is
five feet two inches in diameter. Mr. Mager has also succeeded
in flowering a large number of other tropical lilies in
his pond.

Jute, a material largely used in combination with hemp,
for making cordage, sacking, mats, and carpets, is produced
in India to the extent of 300,000 tuns per annum. The scarcity
of fuel prevents its manufacture on the spot, except by
the rudest and most primitive means, so that the bulk of the
growth is sent to Great Britain.

Ventilation of the Liverpool Tunnel.

This tunnel, which forms an ascending incline of a mile
and a quarter length from the terminal station in Lime-street
London and N. W. Railroad, was worked until recently by a
rope and stationary engine, to avoid fouling the air of the
tunnel by the passage of locomotives; but the increase of
the traffic having necessitated the abandonment of the rope
and the substitution of locomotives for bringing the trains
up through the tunnel, it became requisite to provide some
efficient means of ventilation for clearing the tunnel speedily
of the smoke and steam after the passage of each train. A
large exhausting fan has been designed by Mr. John Ramsbottom
for this purpose, which works in a chamber situated
near the middle of the length of the tunnel, and draws the
air in from the tunnel, through a
cross drift; discharging it up a tapering
chimney that extends to a
considerable hight above the surface
of the ground over the tunnel.
The fan is about thirty feet diameter,
and is made with straight
radial vanes; it revolves on a horizontal
shaft at a speed of about
forty-five revolutions per minute,
within a brick casing, built concentric
with the fan for the first
half of the circumference, and afterwards
expanding gradually for
discharging into the base of the
chimney, the air from the tunnel
being drawn in at the center of
the fan at each side, and discharged
from the circumference of the fan
by the revolution of the vanes.
The engine driving the fan is
started by telegraph signal at each
departure of a train from the terminal
station, and the fan is kept
running until the discharge from
it becomes quite clear, showing
that no steam or smoke remains in the tunnel; this is
usually the case in about eight minutes after the time
of the train entering the lower end of the tunnel, the
passage of the train through the tunnel occupying about three
minutes. The fan draws air in at both ends of the tunnel
simultaneously, and begins to clear the lower end immediately
upon the train entering; the clearing of the upper end
commences as soon as the train has passed out of the tunnel,
and as the fan is situated nearer the upper end of the tunnel
than the lower, the clearing of both lengths is completed
almost simultaneously. The fan is so constructed as to allow
an uninterrupted passage through it, for the air, whilst the
fan is standing still; and the natural ventilation thus obtained
by means of the large chimney is found sufficient for
clearing the tunnel during the night and some portion of the
day, without the fan being worked at those times. This natural
ventilation is aided by the engine exhaust and the boiler
discharging into the chimney. The fan has now been in regular
operation for three-quarters of a year, and has been
found completely successful.

IMPREGNATING WOOD WITH TAR OR OTHER PRESERVING MATERIAL.

The preservation of wood is a problem which is attracting
increased attention, as year by year diminishes the material
supply of timber, and consequently gradually increases its
price. Among other methods employed, the impregnation
of wood by the vapors of tar, creosote, petroleum, etc., has
been tried, and one of the practical difficulties met with
has been the obtaining of suitable apparatus for the purpose.

The engraving annexed is an invention intended to supply
this want. The wood is inclosed, in a tank kept hot by a
steam jacket which surrounds it, as shown. A boiler at one
end is used to heat the substance with which it is desired to
impregnate the wood. An air pump is also employed to remove
the steam, generated in the heated timber, and the air
from the tank. The pores of the wood being thus rendered
vacuous, the hot liquid or vapors from the heating tank
readily penetrate the entire substance, and thoroughly impregnate
it. This apparatus is the invention of George Pustkuchen, of Hoboken, N. J.

BOARDMAN’S COMBINED TOOL.

This tool, of which our engraving is a good representation,
comprises a screw wrench, a pipe wrench, a hammer, a nail
claw, a screw-driver, and a bit handle, or socket wrench.

The bit handle is the entire tool, the square socket or
opening being made in the end of the handle, in which the
shanks of bits may be inserted.

The screw driver is formed on the end of the screw bar,
attached to the outer jaw of the wrench, and is taken out
from the hollow of the handle when required for use.

The use of the other parts of the tool will be apparent
from the engraving.

The tool is very compact, and has this advantage over the
ordinary screw wrench, that its leverage increases as it is
opened to receive nuts of larger size.

This invention is protected by two patents, dated respectively,
May 30, 1865, and July 10, 1866.

For further information address B. Boardman & Co., Norwich,
Conn.

BELT TIGHTENER.

This instrument will be
found of great service in
bringing together the ends
of belts, the weight of which
is so great that they cannot
be held together by the hand
while lacing. A strap engages
with holes made in the
belt, at the back of the holes
punched for lacing, the tightening
strap being provided
with claws or hooks, as
shown. A winch axle and
ratchet, adjusted in a frame
as shown, are then employed
to pull the ends of the belt
together and hold them
firmly till the lacing is completed.

This is the invention of
T. G. Stansberry, of Medora,
Ill. Patented in September,
1867.

Some Things I don’t want in the Building Trades.

I don’t want my house put in repair, or rather out of repair,
by a master who employs “Jacks of all Trades.”

I don’t want my foreman to tell me too much at one time
about the faults of the workmen under him, as I may forget
asking him about himself.

I don’t want a builder or carpenter to give a coat of paint
to any joinery work he may be doing for me, until I have examined
first the material and workmanship.

I don’t want any jobbing carpenter or joiner, whom I may
employ, to bring a lump of putty in his tool basket. I prefer
leave the use of putty to the painters.

I don’t want jobbing plumbers to spend three days upon
the roof, soldering up a crack in the gutter, and, when done,
leaving fresher cracks behind them. The practice is something
akin to “cut and come again.”

I don’t want a contractor to undertake a job at a price that
he knows will not pay, and then throw the fault of his
bankruptcy on “that blackguard building.”

I don’t want any more hodmen to be carrying up the
weight of themselves in their hod, as well as their bricks; I
would much prefer seeing the poor human machines tempering
the mortar or wheeling the barrow, while the donkey
engine, the hydraulic lift, or the old gray horse, worked the
pulley.

I don’t want house doors to be made badly, hung badly, or
composed of green and unseasoned timber.

I don’t want houses built first and designed afterwards, or,
rather, wedged into shape, and braced into form.

I don’t want to be compelled to pay any workman a fair
day’s wages for a half day’s work.

I don’t want an employer to act towards his workmen as
if he thought their sinews and thews were of iron, instead of
flesh and blood.

I don’t want any kind of old rubbish of brick and stone to
be bundled into walls and partitions, and then plastered
over “hurry-skurry.” Trade infamy, like murder, will out,
sooner or later.

I don’t want men to wear flesh and bone, and waste sweat
and blood, in forms of labor to which machinery can be applied,
and by which valuable human life and labor can be
better and more profitably utilized.

The Editors are not responsible for the opinions expressed by their
Correspondents.

Action of the Reciprocating Parts of Steam Engines.

Messrs. Editors:—I have hesitated about the propriety
of replying to the criticisms of your correspondent, J. E.
Hendricks, upon my paper, on the action of the reciprocating
parts of steam engines. It is not to be expected that a truth
so opposed to commonly received notions—the reception of
which requires so much to be unlearned—should at once receive
the assent of every one. Some odd fancies on the subject
are likely to be ventilated first.

But your correspondent touches the root of the matter,
and perhaps the fact questioned by him should be more clearly
placed beyond dispute.

I will dismiss the introductory part of his letter, merely
observing that his “logical inference” is quite gratuitous and
unwarranted. He says himself that its absurdity is obvious,
in which I quite agree with him.

The real question is this: What is the figure representing
the acceleration of the motion of a piston, controlled by a
crank which revolves with a uniform velocity? I stated it to
be a right-angled triangle, and indicated, as I supposed, clearly
enough, a simple method by which this could be shown.
Your correspondent claims that the calculation, according to
my own rule, gives a figure of a totally different form, and
one that shows the acceleration, as well as the motion, to be
reduced to zero at the commencement of the stroke. Let us see.
Let the straight line, AJ, in the following figure, represent
half the stroke of the piston, and let the distances, AB, AC,
etc., on this line, represent the versed sines of 10°, 20°, etc.,
up to 90°, or the motion of the piston while the crank is
moving through these arcs. At the points A, B, C, etc., erect
the perpendiculars, Aa, Bb, Cc, etc., and let the length of each
of these ordinates represent the acceleration imparted in a
given time at that point of the stroke. Then will AJ be to
Aa as IJ is to Ii, as HJ is to Hh, etc.,
showing that the straight line, aJ, connects the extremities of all
the ordinates, and that the triangle, AJa, represents the acceleration
of the motion of the piston, from the commencement to the middle of the stroke.

The following table will enable any one to make the calculations
proving the truth of the above proposition:

The method of obtaining the decimals representing the
acceleration for 1°, at any point, was fully explained in the
paper, and compared with the similar method of showing the
uniform acceleration of a body acted on by a constant force.
The ordinary tables in the hand-books, going only to five
places of decimals, are of no use for these computations.

I would suggest a practical experiment. Let any one having
an engine running at a good speed, loosen the crank pin
brasses a little, so that, at starting, it will thump heavily. Let
the engine be lightly loaded, so that only a small portion of the
boiler pressure will need to be admitted to the cylinder. As
its speed increases, the thump will die away; and, if at its
full speed, the pressure of the steam admitted is not so great
as to overcome the centrifugal strain of the reciprocating
parts on the crank, as it passes the centers, the engine will
revolve in silence. Any one can ascertain, by the rule given
in the note to the paper, just what pressure can be admitted
without causing a thump, or this can be found by a little experimenting.
I am running an engine which does not thump
with loose crank pin brasses, under eighty pounds pressure,
admitted sharply on the centers.

Charles T. Porter.

Answer to Practical Problem.

Messrs. Editors;—I submit the following solution of
“Practical Problem” on page 147:

Given AB, arm, C, arm, D, chord of half angle of oscillation
of arm, D, and angles of arms, with line AB.

To find angles, BAc’, ABb, and length of link, E.

1. As the length of arm, D, is to the chord of arc, ab, divided
by 2, so is the radius to the sine angle oscillation of arm, D, divided
by 4.

2. 360° is to the whole circumference as the angle bBa is
to the length of arc ab.

3. Now arc ab is equal to arc a’c’.

4. The whole circumference is to 360° as the length of arc
a’e’ is to the angle oscillation of C divided by 2.

5. Half angle oscillation, C, taken from angle BAa’ is equal
to angle BAc’.

6. Half angle oscillation, D, taken from angle ABa is equal
to angle ABb.

7. The diagonal of the rectangle formed by the (sum of the
sines of the angles of the arms with AB) into (AB—sum of
cosines of same) will be the length of link, E.

G. R. Nash, Civil Engineer.

North Adams, Mass.

[We have received other solutions of this problem, but as
this covers the ground in a very simple manner, we think it
will be sufficient. Those forwarding the solutions not published
will accept our thanks and assurances that it is not
because they lack merit that they are declined.—Eds.

Reciprocating Parts of Steam Engines.

Messrs. Editors:—In one of the late numbers of your
journal, you publish a paper, read by Mr. Porter before some
learned society in New York, on something about the possibility
or practicability of running a steam engine at a high
rate of speed, and claiming to give a scientific explanation of
the why and wherefore. Now, scientifically, I know nothing
about a steam engine; practically, I know how to stop and
start one. Therefore, you will understand that what I say
is not as coming from one who claims to be wise above what
is written, but as simply being a statement of the case, as it
appears to one who wants to learn, and takes this way to
draw out the truth. A scientific theory, invested with all its
sines, coefficients, and other paraphernalia, is a very pretty
thing to look at, no doubt, for those who understand it, and,
when properly applied, is invaluable; but when, as in this
case, a practical question is to be decided, by the aid of a
scientific demonstration, it will not do to throw aside the
main elements of the problem, or any, in fact, of the minor
points, no matter how trivial they may appear.

Mr. Porter’s labors were strictly of a scientific nature. He
starts out with the proposition that what he is about to explain
is very simple, and very likely it is; but, for one, I can’t
see it, and I want more light. He says that it takes a certain
number of pounds to overcome the inertia of the reciprocating
parts of a certain weight, to give it a certain speed.
What is inertia? He says, “we will not take into account the
friction of parts.” Now, my understanding of this point is,
that friction is practically one of the main elements in the
problem. How can we hope to obtain a correct solution when
he rubs out one of the terms of the equation? What is friction
doing all the time, while he is theoretically having his
reciprocating parts storing up power and then giving it out
again, just at the right time, and in the right quantity?

What an immense amount of iron has been wasted by being
cast into fly wheels, when a fraction of the amount, if only
put into cross heads, would render fly wheels unnecessary!

Mr. Porter stops short in his discussion. He should have
added a table giving the proportionate length of stroke,
weight of parts, and number of revolutions required to produce
the effect of an engine running at a high speed, without
the least fraction of inequality in the strain on the crank,
and then the sun would have fairly risen in the “dawn of a
new era for the steam engine.” But, as it is so very simple,
we can all figure it out for ourselves.

In the diagram Mr. Porter gives, to illustrate the travel of
the piston, he wets his finger and draws it over another term
in the equation (a method of elimination not taught by Hutton,
Davies, and other mathematicians). It is a quick way, but is
it correct? He says, “the distance traveled by the piston is
the versed sine of an angle formed by a line from the center
of the crank pin, in any part of its stroke to the center of
the circle described by the crank pin, leaving out of the calculation
the angular vibration of the connecting rod.” What
he means by the “angular vibration,” I do not know. He is
wrong in the statement. If he will think of it he will see it.
If he meant to say that the piston’s travel was measured by
the versed sine of the angle formed by the connecting rod and
the line of horizontal centers, he is wrong again, yet nearer
the truth than before, just as the proportion between the
length of the connecting rod and the half diameter of the
circle described by the crank pin. This can quickly be seen
by supposing the connecting rod to be detached, and allowed
to fall down on the center line, at any part of the stroke. If
he understood this (as no doubt he did), he should not ignore
the facts.

What I am aiming at is this. When a man attempts to
demonstrate a thing mathematically, he must take into his
calculation everything essentially connected with the problem,
just exactly as it is, and not as he would have it; otherwise,
he cannot, by any possibility, attain a correct result. When
he claims, as now, the practicability of running engines at a
high speed, I think he is claiming too much. Build an engine
of proper materials, make it strong, and fit everything
as it should be, balance crank and fly wheel to a nicety, keep
everything snugly in its place, and the terrors of a quick
stroke vanish.

S. W. H.

Test for White Lead.

Messrs. Editors:—I have read, with much interest, Dr.
Chandler’s colorimetric test of the purity of white lead, as
published in the Scientific American sometime ago. I enclose
another test, which, though not new, is of value to all
using white lead on account of its simplicity and effectiveness.
It has been in use here for nearly two years, and has
been found reliable. Having never seen it in print, I have
tried to put it in as simple words as possible.

Felix McArdle, Analytical Chemist.

St. Louis, Mo.

Take a piece of firm, close grained charcoal, and, near one
end of it, scoop out a cavity about half an inch in diameter
and a quarter of an inch in depth. Place in the cavity a
sample, of the lead to be tested, about the size of a small pea,
and apply to it continuously the blue or hottest part of the
flame of the blow pipe; if the sample be strictly pure, it will
in a very short time, say in two minutes, be reduced to metallic
lead, leaving no residue; but if it be adulterated to
the extent of ten per cent. only, with oxide of zinc, sulphate
of baryta, whiting or any other carbonate of lime,
(which substances are now the only adulterations used), or if
it be composed entirely of these materials, as is sometimes
the case with cheap lead, it cannot be reduced, but will remain
on the charcoal an infusible mass.

Dry white lead, (carbonate of lead) is composed of metallic
lead, oxygen and carbonic acid, and, when ground with linseed
oil, forms the white lead of commerce. When it is subjected
to the above treatment, the oil is first burned off, and
then at a certain degree of heat, the oxygen and carbonic acid
are set free, leaving only the metallic lead from which it was
manufactured. If, however, there be present in the sample
any of the above mentioned adulterations, they cannot of
course be reduced to metallic lead, and cannot be reduced,
by any heat of the blow pipe flame, to their own metallic
bases; and being intimately incorporated and ground with
the carbonate of lead, they prevent it from being reduced.

It is well, after blowing upon the sample, say for half a
minute, by which time the oil will be burned off, to loosen
the sample from the charcoal, with a knife blade or spatula,
in order that the flame may pass under as well as over and
against it. With proper care the lead will run into one button,
instead of scattering over the charcoal, and this is the
reason why the cavity above mentioned is necessary. A
common star candle or a lard oil lamp furnishes the best
flame for use of the blow pipe; a coal oil lamp should not
be used.

By the above test, after a little practice, so small an adulteration
as one or two per cent. can be detected; it is, however,
only a test of the purity or impurity of a lead, and if found
adulterated, the degree or percentage of adulteration cannot
be well ascertained by it.

Jewellers usually have all the necessary apparatus for
making the test, and any one of them can readily make it by
observing the above directions, and from them can be obtained
a blow pipe at small cost.

If you have no open package of the lead to be tested, a
sample can most easily be obtained by boring into the side
or top of a keg with a gimlet, and with it taking out the required
quantity; care should be used to free it entirely from
the borings or particles of wood, and it should not be larger
than the size mentioned; a larger quantity can be reduced,
but of course more time will be required, and the experiment
cannot be so neatly performed.

How to Build a Chimney.

Messrs. Editors:—I am satisfied that a great many fires
originate through poorly constructed chimneys; and, although
not a bricklayer by trade, I would offer a few hints how to
construct a fire-proof chimney. Let the bed be laid of brick
and mortar, iron, or stone; then the workman should take a
brick in his left hand, and with the trowel, draw the mortar
upon the end of the brick, from the under side, and not from
the outside edge, as is usual. Then, by pressing the brick
against the next one, the whole space between the two bricks
will be filled with mortar; and so he should point up the
inside as perfectly as the outside, as he proceeds.

By drawing the mortar on the edge of the brick, the space
between the ends will not always be entirely filled, and will
make (where the inside pointing is not attended to) a leaky
and unsafe chimney, which, if not kept clear of soot, will, in
burning out, stand a good chance of setting the building on
fire. The best thing that I know of, to put the fire out in a
burning chimney is salt; but the matter of first importance,
after having a chimney properly constructed, is to keep it
clean.

Austin B. Culver.

Westfield, N. Y.

Crystallized Honey.

Messrs. Editors:—Please allow me to say to the querist
who, through your columns, asks what to do with crystalline
honey, that if he will “doctor” it with almost any artificial
honey of the day, it will not become like lard in cold
weather, which change is a natural proof that it is pure.
For almost any purpose, pure honey is preferable to that
which has been adulterated, but purity is a minor consideration
with many.

Next we shall hear of some fastidious customer who objects
to pure lard, because it looks white when cold. To such
we would recommend lard oil as a great improvement, especially
for cooking purposes.

A. M. B.

Louisville, Ky.

[For the Scientific American.]

RAMBLES FOR RELICS.

NUMBER II.

At a depth of fifteen feet, we were about to suspend our
labors, supposing from the nature and uniformly dark color
of the earth, that we had reached the surface of the alluvium,
when a sign of the inevitable wood and bark layer was seen
in a crevice. An excavation, five or six feet, into the wall,
revealed the skeleton of a man laid at length, having an
extra coverlid of wooden material. Eighteen large oblong
beads, an ax of polished green stone, eleven arrow points,
and five implements of bone (to be described) were deposited
on the left side; and a few small beads, an ornamental shell
pin, two small hatchets, and a sharp-pointed flint knife or
lance, eight inches long, having a neck or projection at the
base, suitable for a handle, or for insertion in a shaft, on the
right side. The earth behind the skull being removed, three
enormous conch shells presented their open mouths. One of
my assistants started back as if the ghost of the departed
had come to claim the treasure preserved, in accordance with
superstitious notions, for its journey to the “happy lands.”
The alarm seemed to be a warning, for at the moment the
embankment, overloaded on one side, caved in, nearly burying
three workmen, myself, and a spectator. Our tools being
at the bottom of the heap, and the wall on the other side,
shaken by the falling earth, giving tokens of a change of
base, our prospects of a ready deliverance were not very
hopeful. The bystanders, however, went to work with their
hands, and we were soon relieved, not without casualty, the
spectator having the worst of it. Struggling to extricate
himself, instead of abiding his time, he dragged one leg out
of the pile shorter than the other.

The occurrence of marine shells in a burial depository,
especially of the varieties pyrula and oliva, four or five
hundred miles from the Gulf and that portion of the Southern
coast where the mollusks exist, bears upon the question of
migration and tribal intercourse, and the commercial value
of these articles. Obtained from a distance and regarded as
precious commodities, they were used in exchange, for the
material of ornaments, and for choice utensils. Only two or
three of these shells have been found in a perfect condition,
but defective ones are frequent, with fragments, “cuttings,”
and various trinkets made out of them—such as ornamental
pins, needles, crosses, buttons, amulets, engraved plates, and
beads. From one of the specimens recovered from the
mound sepulchre, the spire and columella had been removed,
leaving a hollow utensil. It would have been suitable for a
water vessel, but for a hole in the bottom, which had furnished
a button-shaped ornament, or piece of money, which
was found with the relic, and exactly corresponded to the
orifice. The twirled end of the shell, however, had been improved
for a handle by shallow cavities, one on the inside
slanting from the middle longitudinal line, and one crossing
that line at right angles on the convex side, so as to be
fitted to the thumb and fore finger of the left hand, suggesting
a use of the implement as a shield, or a mask held before
the face. Adair speaks of large shells in use by the Indians
of his time (1735), suspended about the neck for shields, and
regarded as badges of priestly dignity.

A trench was dug on the east side of the mound, nearly
corresponding in dimensions to the one on the west side, making
the length of the whole excavation, including the central
cavity, thirty-two feet.

In the last opening, eight skeletons were exhumed; the
mode of burial was the same throughout. The only article
of value recovered was a curiously wrought pipe of stone,
having a “figure head” representing the human face, which
I have put down in a list of “articles stolen,” and which the
thief can describe better than the writer. After filling up
all the gaps, and levelling the surface to suit the taste of the
proprietor, we closed our labors on the mound in the Bent.

Of the skulls collected, it is sufficient to say that they
belong to the “short heads,” the length and breadth having
a comparative medium proportion, a common form of cranium
in the mounds of Tennessee.

Of stone implements I specify an ax of serpentine, ten
inches long, two thick, and four broad, having plain sides
and a straight edge ground down on both of the flat faces;
hatchets (“tomahawks”) of green stone, flint, and diorite,
from five to eight inches long, with rounded faces and sides,
contracted to an edge at one end, and to a flat heel at the
other; a wedge of black slate, seven inches long and half an
inch thick, of a square finish on the faces and sides and at
the heel, which was diminished two inches, as compared
with the length of the edge; hatchets with a serrated edge
at each end, plane on both sides, convex on one face and flat
on the other.

With one skeleton was deposited a “set of tools,” eight in
number, of the species of rock before mentioned, varying in
length from two to eight inches. Their peculiarity consists
in a variety of shapes—no two being precisely alike—and in
their fitness to various uses, such as carving, hacking, paring,
and grooving. The smallest of them, having a square
finish, was held by the thumb and two fingers, and is suitable
for cutting lines and figures in wood and shells. Specimens
of this art were furnished from the mound. The largest
number might serve for hatchets, chisels, and gouges.
One had been ground in the form of a cylinder five inches
long and an inch thick, and then cut an inch on two sides to
an edge, and worked into a handle with a round bead, from
the center of the elliptical faces. It might be used for chipping
wood and stone. One answered the purpose of a cold
chisel; another was somewhat similar, but had a hollow face
reduced to a curved edge for grooving. These polished instruments,
wrought with much care, seemed intended for use
by the hand rather than for insertion in a handle or socket,
or attachment to a shaft by means of a strap or withe. Only
one was perforated. The drilling through granite, quartz,
and diorite, without the use of metal, was a severe labor,
even for savage patience. A long knife of silex, with a
wrought handle, lance heads, leaf shaped, of the same material,
of beautiful workmanship, arrow points of fine finish,
furnished, with others before mentioned, an assortment of
arms. Several flint points, though only an inch long, were
curved like a cimeter, and used probably as flaying instruments.
True disks, of various mineral substances, from an
inch to five inches in diameter, having convex faces, complete
the list of stone implements. Those of bone comprise
several like hollow chisels, sharpened at one end, and pierced
through one face, near the other extremity, so as to be fastened
to a handle; these were used for dressing skins. One
was formed like a poniard, with a worked hilt. With these
may be connected arrow heads and sharp pointed weapons
of the worked antlers of the stag, and tusks of the wild boar.

Of ornaments, I noticed pins used for dressing the hair,
made of the columns of large sea shells. The head is generally
round, sometimes oval, from an eighth to a half of an
inch in diameter, retaining the diagonal groove of the pillar
from which it is made. The stems vary in length from one
to six inches. It would be tedious even to classify ornamental
beads and buttons of shell work, such as are usually
found in the mounds. These trinkets are perforated, and,
in addition to their being articles of dress, were used probably
as “wampum,” the currency of the recent Indians.

A miscellaneous collection includes a hematite stone,
wrought in the shape of a cup weighing half a pound; when
rubbed or ground it furnished the war paint of the savages;
also the extremity of a copper tube, two inches long; needles
in bone and shell, from an inch to six inches long, with
grooves round the head, to serve the purpose of eyes; and
plates of mica. The use of mica plates, which are found of
large size in some of the Western mounds, has excited some
inquiry. Of a certain thickness, they make good mirrors.
Beside their use for ornamental purposes, they were probably
looking-glasses of the beauties of the stone age. There
was also found a pipe of soap stone, having a stem five
inches long, and a bowl with a broad brim, like a Quaker’s
hat.

Of earthenware, there was an endless variety of fragments
of the usual black, grey, or red compressed clay, mixed with
pulverized shells or stones. One kind I have never seen described.
The sherds had a red coating on both sides, an eighth
of an inch in thickness, evidently not a paint or a glaze.
The red coloring might have come from the pottery being
burnt in the open air, instead of baked in a furnace, were not
the layer of uniform thickness and of homogeneous paste,
unlike the material of the vessel, which was a gray mixture
of clay and particles of shells.

I give the above memoranda to the general fund of information,
touching a subject that invites inquiry on account of
its novelty and ethnological importance. Every examination
of the monumental remains of the ancient Americans
brings to light some new feature in structure or type of
rudimental art. And since archæology has become a science,
investigators, for half a century, may be looking about for
facts to complete the system auspiciously introduced by the
antiquarians of Northern Europe, and advanced in our own
country by the researches of Caleb Atwater (Archæologia
Americana) and by those of the Smithsonian contributors
to knowledge, especially Squier and Davis. Rambler.

A Small Water Wheel.—There is in the town of Meriden,
Conn., a Leffel double turbine wheel, running under 240
feet fall and driving a manufactory. It uses only about one-half
of a square inch of water, and runs at the marvelous
speed of 3,000 revolutions per minute, or 50 revolutions per
second, which is by far the most rapid rate of motion ever
imparted to a water wheel. This is, also, beyond comparison
the greatest fall applied to the propulsion of a wheel in
America. The wheel at Meriden is of the most diminutive
size, scarcely exceeding in dimensions the old-fashioned
“turnip” watches which our grandfathers used to carry in
their capacious vest pockets. The complete success of this
wheel has attracted much attention and affords further evidence
of the wide range of adaptability of the Leffel turbine.

[For the Scientific American.]

SILK CULTURE.

BY W. V. ANDREWS.

A vague notion that silk culture ought to form one of the
industrial pursuits of the American people seems to be prevalent
enough; but it does not take practical hold upon anybody.
The nearest approach to anything practical which we
have seen, in late years—excepting, of course, what has been
done in California—occurred in New York in July last, when
a number of gentlemen pledged themselves, according to a
report given in the Tribune of July 30, “to promote the native
silk trade.”

The gentlemen present at the meeting represented the
most prominent silk manufacturing and importing houses in
this country. What these gentlemen have since done towards
promoting the native silk trade, I do not know, but, having
pledged themselves, it is presumed they have done
something.

At the meeting, of which the Tribune article is a report, dags,
and other things, manufactured from California silk, were exhibited;
and the report goes on to say that “Mr. Warren also exhibited samples
of native and foreign cocoons, and of raw and thrown silk, together
with the common Cecropia and Bombyx Cynthia, species of
silkworms which feed upon oak leaves. * * Also the Bombyx Yamamai
which feeds upon mulberry leaves; also the Bombynx Pernyi, of
which the cocoons are early as good as the cocoons of worms fed upon
mulberry leaves.”

I have given this extract, word for word, as it stands in the
columns of the Tribune, because it contains more blunders of
one kind or another than I remember ever to have seen in so
many words. Cecropia is certainly not very particular as to
its food, but it is not an oak feeder. Cynthia will thrive on
nothing except ailanthus, though it will eat one or two other
things, but not oak. The Yamamai, on the other hand, will
eat oak, indeed it is its natural food; but Mr. Warren errs
greatly when he says that it will feed on mulberry. The
last clause of the sentence, which says that cocoons of Pernyi
are nearly as good as those of worms fed on mulberry leaves,
must be a sort of entomological joke, of which the point is
not discoverable by me, so I pass it over.

I do not, however, notice this report on account of its grammatical
and entomological mistakes. It is because of the
evil effects it may, and probably will, have on amateur silk
culturists, that I notice it; for most assuredly, failure will be
the result of all attempts to produce silk cocoons by feeding
the caterpillars of the different moths on the food prescribed
by Mr. Warren. Any patriotic, money making farmer, who
believes in the Tribune, purchasing Yamamai eggs and setting
his worms to feed upon mulberry, which they refuse to
eat, and consequently, all die, will probably give up silk
culture as being nothing more or less than a humbug. And
thus the cause is injured.

For several years past, I have made some experiments in
the rearing of the silkworms, giving the result of my experience
in the first year in Vol. II., page 311, of the American
Naturalist; and of a subsequent year in the Entomologist, for
November, 1869.

The paper in the Naturalist is devoted to my experiments
with the ailanthus silkworm, Samia Cynthia (G. & R.), a naturalized
species from the East. In that paper, I have said
all that is necessary to say at present, on that species, except
perhaps that I am further convinced, from the inspection of
samples of sewing and other silks, made from the cocoons
of Cynthia, that one day it will be reared very extensively
in the United States. It is perfectly hardy, is double brooded,
and may be reared by any one possessed of a few acres of
land, which may be good enough for growing ailanthus trees,
but not good enough to grow any thing else. The labor of a
few old men, or women, or even children, is sufficient for
the purpose. The cost is therefore trifling.

The objection to the cultivation of Cynthia is that the cocoon
cannot be reeled. But it can be carded, and if the
Chinese can make excellent silk goods from it, why cannot
we? I suspect, too, that Cynthia silk can be worked in with
cotton, or, perhaps, woolen goods, adding to their beauty and
durability (for it is indestructible in wear), and thus open
up branches of manufacture hitherto unknown.

For manufacturers of coarse goods, I have no doubt that
the silk from our native silk moths, Cecropia and Polyphemus,
may be used. Indeed, I believe that M. Trouvelot is of
opinion that Polyphemus may fairly enter into competition
with Bombyx mori, the ordinary mulberry silkworm. The
worm, however, is rather difficult to rear.

In reference, however, to Bombyx mori, it is well known
that the silk crop in France and Italy has been reduced
greatly, and the price of silk goods consequently enhanced,
by prevalence of disease among the worms. So much is
this the case, that silk breeders have been obliged to look
around for some silk-producing moths whose products may,
at any rate, supplement the deficient crop. Cynthia, as already
mentioned as one of these, and two others mentioned
by Warren in the Tribune reports above adverted to, are at
present the subjects of experiment.

My article mentioned before as appearing in the American
Entomologist is mainly devoted to my experiments, and those
of my correspondents, with Yamamai, which, as I said before,
is an oak feeder. In Japan, which is its native country,
it feeds, in its wild state, on Quercus serrata. Whether that
oak be found in America, I do not know, but it is of little importance,
as the worm will feed on almost any species of oak,
although I think that it prefers white oak. The importance
of acclimatizing new species of silk moths is of so much prospective
importance, that I shall devote the remainder of this
article to the consideration of whether Yamamai and Pernyi
may not be naturalized here.
Any one, who happens to have the number of the Entomologist
containing the article above alluded to, may find it
worth while to read it, but as many persons may not be able
to obtain that number, I will here repeat the substance of
my remarks, adding as much new matter as subsequent experience
has afforded.

The silk from the Yamamai being considered
superior to that produced by any other of the substitute
silk moths, great efforts have been made in Europe
to acclimatize it; but, it must be confessed, hitherto with but
slight success. There are exceptions, however, particularly
among amateurs in Germany, sufficient to show that success
is possible. The Baron de Bretton raises about 27,000 cocoons
annually.

In this country but little has been done, or attempted, and
that little has not been very successful.

The fact is, that Yamamai is a difficult moth to rear in a
country like this, where in early spring the temperature
varies so much; but that success is possible, I am convinced.

The moth emerges from the cocoon in the latter part of
the summer, copulates, lays its eggs, and of course dies. And
now the trouble commences; that is, with eggs laid, say in
Japan, from whence we mainly get our supplies.

As soon as the egg is laid, the young larva commences its
formation, which in a short time (about one month) is perfected.
It lies in the egg in a quiescent state till early spring.
If the egg remain in the country where it is laid, and is kept
at a pretty even temperature, and free from damp, the caterpillar
emerges in a healthy condition. But if it be removed
some thousands of miles, passing in the transit from heat to
cold, and back to heat again: and if, in addition, it be closely
confined in a damp place, with little or no circulation of air,
the egg is attacked by a fungus which sometimes prevents
the worm from emerging at all; or, if it emerge, it is in a
sickly condition. That these conditions obtain in the transit
of eggs, from Japan to Europe, and thence to America, is
evident enough; and it may, therefore, require the efforts of
many persons, continued for a long time, to enable us to acclimatize
the Yamamai. But this is all that is required, and
I feel confident that ultimate success is certain.

On hatching out, the worm is of a brimstone yellow, and
thinly covered with strong hairs; after the second month it
is greenish, with black, longitudinal streaks, and the thread a
dull coral red color. After the third month it becomes of a
fine apple green, with yellow tubercles on each segment, from
which issue a few black hairs. The head and legs are chocolate
brown, the prolegs reddish, and the first segment edged
with pinkish color. The greatest care is necessary, as the
spring advances, to prevent the eggs from hatching before
the oak buds are ready for them, and the temperature must
be regulated with the greatest nicety. If the eggs can be
kept somewhere about 50 deg. Fah., it would be quite safe;
higher than that the mercury should not be allowed to rise,
till you are quite ready for the worms, and, on the other hand,
the eggs should not be allowed to freeze.

On emerging from the eggs, the worms should be allowed
either to crawl to the oak branches, or rather to sprigs obtained
for that purpose, the end of which should be placed
in a jar, or bottle, of water, or the worms may be placed on
gently with a camel-hair brush. The leaves should be well
sprinkled with clean water that the caterpillars may drink.

From some cause, not well understood, the young caterpillars
have a tendency to wander; and if care be not taken
many may be lost. To prevent this, it is well to cover the
branches with a gauze bag, tied tightly around the stems, and
close to the bottle. Care must also be taken that the caterpillars
do not find their way into the water, which they assuredly
will if they have the opportunity, committing suicide
in the most reckless manner. If the number of caterpillars
be few, it is a good plan to place them at the outset with their
food, in a wide-mouthed bottle, covering the mouth with
gauze. The branches, particularly if the weather be warm,
must still be occasionally sprinkled, so that the caterpillars
may have the opportunity of drinking. It must be remembered
that experiment is necessary in rearing Yamamai, but
one thing is ascertained, and that is, that the worms must not
be exposed to direct sunshine, at least not after seven or eight
in the morning. If the spring be warm, I am inclined to
think that a northeastern exposure is the best, and we may
sum up by saying, that comparatively cool and moist seasons
are more favorable to success that hot, dry weather. In
America the worms suffer in the early spring, from the rapid
changes of temperature, 40° at 9 a.m. increasing to 70° in the
afternoon and falling off to freezing point during the night.
The worms cannot stand this. They become torpid, refuse to
eat, and consequently die. To prevent this, if the nights be
cold, they must be placed where no such change of temperature
can occur.

It is scarcely necessary to say that an ample supply of
fresh food must be always supplied, but it may not be amiss
to say that it is well, when supplying fresh branches, to remove
the worms from the old to the new. The best way of
doing this is to clip off the branch, or leaf, on which the
worm is resting, and tie, pin, or in some way affix the same
to the new branches. If this be not done, they will continue
to eat the old leaf, even if it be withered, and this induces
disease. If the worm has fastened itself for the purpose of
moulting, the best way is to remove the entire branch, clipping
off all the dried leaves before so removing it. These
remarks apply, in general, to the treatment of all silkworms,
except Bombyx mori.

The results of numerous experiments with Yamamai go
to show that it is, as I said before, a difficult worm to rear;
but it has been reared near New York to the extent of eight
hundred cocoons out of sixteen hundred eggs, and this, although
not a remunerative result, is encouraging.

The Chinese silk moth, Aulterea Pernyi, also an oak feeder,
has been successfully raised by me and by others, for several
years. Eggs have been sold to persons in States widely separated,
and the results show that this worm is perfectly hardy.

The moth winters in the cocoon, emerges early in May, if
the weather be warm, pairs readily, and lays from 150 to 200
eggs. These hatch out in about fourteen days, and like
Yamamai, always about 5 or 6 o’clock in the morning. It is
necessary to be on the alert to catch them on hatching only,
and to remember that they are vagabonds, even to a greater
extent than Yamamai. Consequently similar precautions
must be taken.

The worm on emerging from the egg is large, and of a
chocolate-brown color. After the first month it becomes of a
yellowish green; head, pale brown; feet and prolegs of
nearly the same color. The body has numerous reddish tubercles,
from which issue a few reddish hairs. At the base of
some of the tubercles on the anterior segments are silvery
patches.

The Pernyi worm is much more easily reared than that of
Yamamai, but still great care is needed; fresh food of course
is essential, and a slight sprinkling of the branches and
worms in very warm weather is advisable; although it is not
so necessary as with Yamamai. It is remarkable that Pernyi
worms, fed in the open air, on oak trees, do not, at present,
thrive so well as those fed in-doors, but this, doubtless, is a
question of acclimation. I advise white oak (Quercus alba)
as food, if it can be readily obtained, but failing that, pin
oak (Quercus palustris) will do; and I have no doubt that they
will feed on any kind of oak. They will, indeed, feed on
birch, and on sweet gum (Liquidambar), but oak is the proper
food. It is worthy of remark that Pernyi bears a strong resemblance
to our Polyphemus, but it is more easily reared in
confinement, and double brooded; an important fact for the
silk culturist. From American reared eggs, I obtained cocoons
as early as July 4th, the perfect insect emerging on
July 31. Copulation immediately ensued, and the resulting
eggs hatched only on August 12, ten days only from the time
of laying; and as the worm feeds up in about four or five
weeks, this affords plenty of time for rearing the second
brood. It must be remembered that on the quantity and
quality of food, much depends, not only with Pernyi but
with all caterpillars. By furnishing food sparingly the
time of feeding would be much prolonged.

I have already said that both Yamamai and Pernyi should
be fed under shelter for the reasons given, but there is another
reason of less importance. The young worms are
liable to be attacked by spiders and wasps, and even after
the second month, they are not safe from these enemies. I
have seen a wasp bite a large caterpillar in two, carry off
the anterior section and return for the posterior, which had
held on by its prolegs. Did the wasp anticipate this fact, and
therefore carry off the anterior part first? As to the spiders,
they form a series of pulleys and hoist the caterpillar off its
legs, sucking its juices at leisure.

And now I must devote a few words to the advisability of
silk culture from a pecuniary point of view. Bombyx mori,
or the ordinary mulberry silkworm, is, of course, the best to
rear, if you can obtain healthy eggs. But this is the difficulty,
and thence arises the necessity of cultivating other
silk-producing species. I imagine that silk can be produced
in most of the States of the Union, and manufactured from
the cocoon at a large profit; but for the present, we will leave
the manufacture out of the question, and consider only,
whether it will not pay to rear eggs and cocoons for sale?
It must be remembered that European manufacturers are at
this moment largely dependent on foreign countries for the
supply of both eggs and cocoons; and this, because of the
general prevalence of disease among all the races of Bombyx
mori. And now, to what extent does the reader suppose this
dependence exists? Of cocoons I have no returns at hand,
but, of raw silk, European manufacturers purchase, annually,
not less than $160,000,000 worth; and of eggs (Bombyx mori)
to the value of $10,000,000. This, then, is a business of no
trifling amount. California seems to be alive to the fact,
and, I am informed, raised, this last season, $3,000,000 cocoons;
and, for sale, about 4,000 ounces of eggs, worth at least $4
per ounce, wholesale. Now, there is no earthly reason why
California should monopolize this business. Why are not
companies formed in other States for this purpose? or if
private individuals lack the enterprise or the means, why do
not the legislatures, of those States most favorably located,
do something by way of starting the business? A few thousand
dollars loaned, or even donated, may prove to be a valuable
investment for the people at large, and, even supposing
a failure, would not be a very great loss to any body.

So far as farmers are concerned, it may interest them to
know that one man in England, Capt. Mason, clears $50 per
acre by rearing silkworms (Bombyx mori in this case), and I
much doubt whether any crop raised here pays as well.

By way of commencement, then, let everybody that has
sufficient leisure set to work, and rear as many silkworms, of
the above-named species, as he possibly can; and if the process
be not remunerative in a pecuniary sense, it most assuredly
will be in the amount of pleasure and knowledge
obtained.

One caution I must give to those who cultivate Bombyx
mori. Although Yamamai requires sprinkled branches,
Bombyx mori does not; nor must the leaves be furnished to
them while wet with rain or dew.

Effect of Cold upon Iron.—The article upon this subject,
giving experiments of Fairbairn and others, referred
to in our editorial upon the same subject, in our last issue,
was crowded out by press of matter. The reader will find
it in the present number.

Universal Boring Machine.

Our readers will recollect an illustrated description of an
universal wood-working machine, published on page 79,
Vol. XIII. of the Scientific American. The machine
herewith illustrated is manufactured by the same firm, and
is a valuable addition to the many excellent wood-working
machines now in use. A boring machine, though one of
the simplest, is by no means
an unimportant adjunct to a
full outfit of wood-working machines.
The one shown in our
engraving is one of the most
complete ever brought to our
notice, and the great variety of
work it is capable of performing,
renders the name chosen
for it peculiarly applicable. It
is called the “Universal Boring
Machine” because the most
prominent feature of its construction
is its power to bore a
hole in any desired angle with
the axis of the bit.

McBETH, BENTEL, & MARGEDANT’S UNIVERSAL BORING MACHINE.

Any sized bit required is inserted
into the chuck, which is
adjustable to fit large and small
shanks. The mandrel which
carries the chuck is made to
traverse by a foot lever, so as
to bore any depth up to twelve
inches. The mandrel is driven
by belt from a cone pulley of
three faces, which gives the
proper speeds for different sized
bits.

Slots and stops upon the table
enable the work to be set at
any desired angle on the horizontal
plane, while the table
can be set on an incline to any
angle not exceeding forty-five
degrees. The table is twenty-one
inches wide, with fifteen
inches slide, and it can be raised
or lowered fifteen inches.

The countershaft rests in self-adjusting
boxes, and has a tight
and a loose pulley eight inches
in diameter. The traversing
mandrel is of the best quality
of steel, and the machine is
otherwise made of iron in a
substantial manner.

The several adjustments enable the operator to do all kinds
of light and heavy boring, with ease and with great rapidity.

This machine was awarded the first premium at the Cincinnati
Industrial Exposition, in October, 1870, and was patented
through the Scientific American Patent Agency, Aug.
16, 1870. It is manufactured by McBeth, Bentel and Margedant,
of Hamilton, Ohio, whom address for machines
rights to manufacture, or other information.

COMBINED TRUNK AND ROCKING CHAIR.

A unique invention, calculated to increase the comforts of
travellers on steamboats, ships, and in crowded rooms of
hotels, is illustrated in the engraving published herewith. It
is the invention of T. Nye, of Westbrook, Me., and was
patented by him, June 18, 1867. It is a combined trunk and
rocking chair. The rockers are made to fold into recesses,
where they are retained by suitable appliances till wanted.
The trunk being opened, as shown, forms a back to the seat,
which is held by metallic braces. When closed, the whole
presents the appearance of an ordinary trunk.

Cosmetics.

The extensive use of preparations for hiding nature’s
bloom on the human countenance, and presenting to our
view a sort of metallic plaster, suggests the inquiry, “how
are these pigments made?” Without going into an unnecessary
analysis of the “Bloom of Youth,” the “Rejuvenator,”
the “Corpse Decorator,” or the other inventions for destroying
the skin, with which the druggists’ stores abound, we
may state again the fact, always unheeded, that all the detestable
compounds are injurious. They are nearly all metallic
poisons, and, if there be any that are innocent of this
charge, they are in every instance harmful to the health.
The color and surface of the skin cannot be changed by any
application which does not close the pores; the pores, which
are so exquisitely fine that there are millions of them to the
square inch, and which must be kept open if a healthy and
cleanly body is to be preserved. There is more breathing
done through the pores of a healthy person than through
the lungs; and we need not remind our readers of a ghastly
piece of cruelty once enacted in Paris (that of gilding the
body of a child, for a triumphal procession, which killed the
subject in two hours), to show that the stoppage, in any degree,
of the natural functions of so important an organ as
the skin, is injurious. The immediate effect of the use of
such compounds is to destroy the vitality of the skin, and to
render it, in appearance, a piece of shriveled parchment.
We must warn our readers that a temporary and meretricious
“bloom” can only be attained at the cost of future
freshness and lively appearance, so that a year or two of
“looking like paint” is followed by a long period of “looking
like dilapidation.”

SMITH’S INFANT DINING CHAIR.

The accompanying engraving illustrates a convenient and
cheap infant dining chair, which can be attached to any of
the ordinary chairs in common use.

It consists of a chair without legs, suspended by the posts
of the back, as shown, on pins engaging with hooked bars,
which are placed upon the back of an ordinary chair. The
details of the device will be seen by a glance at the engraving.
The chair is adjusted in hight by placing the pins in
the proper holes in the posts made for this purpose.

For further information, address Smith, Hollenbeck & Co.,
Toledo, Ohio.

The Medicines of the Ancients.

At the recent commencement of the Homeopathic College
in this city, Mr. S. H. Wales, of the Scientific American
addressed the graduating class, and from his remarks, we
quote the following:

“Many writers of our time persist in regarding this, above
all others, as the best period in the history of our race; and,
doubtless, it is true in many important
respects. But I cannot forbear
the suggestion at this moment
that there was a time in the history
of the world when the science of
medicine was unknown, when people
lived to the incredible age of
many centuries; and, even after the
span of life had been reduced to
threescore and ten, sickness was
comparatively unknown. In ancient
times, it was looked upon as a calamity,
that had overtaken a tribe
or people, when one of its members
prematurely sickened and died.

“Other arts and sciences flourished
in Rome long before medicine
was thought of; and the historian
tells us that the first doctor who
settled in Rome, some two hundred
years before Christ, was banished
on account of his poor success and
the very severe treatment applied
to his patients; and it was a hundred
years before the next one
came. He rose to great popularity,
simply because he allowed his patients
to drink all the wine they
wanted, and to eat their favorite
dishes. Some writer on hygiene
has made the statement
that the whole code of medical
ethics presented by Moses consisted
simply in bathing, purification,
and diet. This simplicity of
life was not confined to the wandering
tribes who settled in the land
of Canaan, but was the universal
custom of all nations of which history
gives us any account. This
simple arrangement for health was
considered enough in those primitive
times, when the human system
had not been worn out and exhausted by
depletive medicines. The luxuries of public baths, athletic
sports and games were deemed ample, both to educate
the physical perceptions and to prevent disease.

“All this wisdom, which had its origin in ancient games
and sports of the field, led to the erection of extensive bath-houses,
and the adoption of other healthful luxuries to which
all the people could resort to recreate their wasted powers.”

BARNES’ VENTILATOR FOR MATTRESSES, ETC.

Many diseases are caused by the use of beds not properly
aired; and it is difficult, if not impossible, to properly air, or
ventilate, a mattress, made in the usual manner. If this could
be done more thoroughly than it generally is, much sickness
would be avoided.

To secure this object cheaply and efficiently is the design
of the invention herewith illustrated. By it a complete circulation
of air through the mattress is secured, which carries
off all dampness arising from constant use. Thus the mattress
becomes more healthy for sleeping purposes, more durable
and better fitted for the sick room. The ventilators
consist of coiled wire, covered with coarse cloth (to prevent
the stuffing closing up the tube), running through the mattress
in all directions. The ends of the coils are secured to
the ticking by means of metal thimbles, inside of which are
pieces of wire gauze, to prevent insects getting in, but which
admit air freely. The cost of the ventilators is small, and
they will last as long as any mattress. They can be applied
to any bed at small expense.

This invention was patented through the Scientific American
Patent Agency, January 10, 1871. The right to manufacture
will be disposed of in any part of the country. Further
information can be obtained by addressing the proprietors,
Barnes & Allen, Hoosick Falls, N. Y.

The third annual exhibition of the National Photographic
Association takes place at Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia,
June 6, 1871. Prof. Morton is to deliver two lectures on
Light.

A SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AWAKENING.

Our English cotemporary, Engineering, appears to have
seriously exercised itself in the perusal of our good-natured
article on “English and American Scientific and Mechanical
Engineering Journalism,” which appeared in the Scientific
American, February 4th; at least, we so judge from the
tenor of an article in response thereto, covering a full page
of that journal. The article in question is a curiosity in
literature. It deserves a much wider circulation than Engineering
can give it, and we would gladly transfer it to our
columns, but for its exceeding length—a serious fault generally,
not only with Engineering’s articles, but most other
technical journals published in England. It would scarcely
do for them to be brief in their discussions, and above all
other things, spice and piquancy must always be excluded.
Engineering evidently labors under the conviction that the
heavier it can make its discussions, the more profoundly will
it be able to impress its readers. Hence, we are equally
astonished and gratified to find a gleam of humor flashing
out from the ordinary sober-sided composition of our learned
contemporary. The article came to us just as we were laboring
under an attack of dyspepsia, and its reading fairly shook
our atrabilious corpus. We said to ourselves, “can it be
possible that Engineering is about to experience the new
birth, to undergo regeneration, and a baptism of fire?” The
article is really worth reading, and we begin to indulge the
hope that at least one English technical is going to try to
make itself not only useful, but readable and interesting.
And what is most perplexingly novel in this new manifestation,
is the display of a considerable amount of egotism,
which we had always supposed to be a sinful and naughty
thing in technical journalism. And, as if to magnify this
self-complaisance, it actually alludes to its “own extensive and
ever-increasing circulation in America.” Now to show how
small a thing can impart comfort to the soul of our cotemporary,
we venture to say that the circulation of Engineering
in this country cannot much exceed three hundred copies per
week.

It evidently amazes our English cotemporary that a journal
like the Scientific American, which, according to its own
notions, is chiefly the work of “scissors and paste,” should
circulate so widely; and it even belittles our weekly circulation
by several thousand copies, in order to give point to its
very amusing, and, we will also add, generally just criticism.

The writer in Engineering, whoever he may be, appears to
be a sort of literary Rip Van Winkle, just waking out of a
long sleep; and he cannot get the idea through his head that
it is possible that a technical journal can become a vehicle of
popular information to the mass of mankind, instead of being
the organ of a small clique of professional engineers or wealthy
manufacturers, such as seems to hold control of the columns
of Engineering, and who use it either to ventilate their own pet
schemes and theories, or to advertise, by illustration and otherwise,
in the reading columns, a repetition of lathes, axle-boxes
brakes, cars, and other trade specialities, which can lay little
or no claim to novelty. It is, furthermore, a crying sin in the
estimation of our English critic that American technical
journals do not separate their advertisements from the subject
matter; and he thinks that when Yankee editors learn that
trade announcements are out of place in the body of a journal,
they will see how to make their journals pay by making
them higher priced. Now we venture to say, without intending
to give offence, that Yankee editors understand their
business quite as well as do English editors; and it is presumable,
at least, that they know what suits their readers
on this side, much better than do English editors. We
venture to suggest—modestly, of course—that journalism in
the two countries is not the same, and should the editor of
Engineering undertake to transfer his system of intellectual
labor to this side of the Atlantic, he would not be long in
making the discovery that those wandering Bohemian engineers,
who, he tells us, are in sorrow and heaviness over the
short-comings of American technical journals, would turn
out after all to be slender props for him to lean upon. We
think it probable, however, that with a little more snap, a
journal like Engineering might possibly attain a circulation,
in this country, of 500 or 1000 copies weekly.

Why, American engineers have scarcely yet been able to
organize themselves into an association for mutual advancement
in their profession, much less to give the reading public
the benefit of their experience and labors! This fact alone
ought, of itself, to satisfy Engineering that no such journal
could profitably exist in this country. Whenever our American
engineers are ready to support such a journal, there will
be no difficulty in finding a publisher.

Engineering, in its casual reference to the various technical
journals of America, omits to name our leading scientific
monthly, but introduces with just commendation a venerable
cotemporary, now upwards of three score years of age.
Now, it is no disparagement of this really modest monthly
to say, that perhaps there are not sixty hundred people
in the States who know it, even by name; and so far as the
use of “scissors and paste” are made available in our technical
journals, we venture the assertion that the editorial
staff expenses of the Scientific American are as great, if
not greater, than those of Engineering. The question, however,
is not so much one of original outlay, but which of the
two journals gives most for the money. In this very essential
particular, and with no intention to depreciate the value
of Engineering, we assert, with becoming modesty, that the
Scientific American occupies a position which Engineering
will never be able to attain.

THE SHERMAN PROCESS.

When people boast of extraordinary successes in processes
the details of which are kept profoundly hidden from public
scrutiny, and when the evidences of success are presented in
the doubtful form of specimens which the public has no
means of tracing directly to the process, the public is apt to
be skeptical, and to express skepticism often in not very complimentary
terms.

For a considerable time, the public has been treated to
highly-colored accounts of a wonderful metallurgic process
whereby the best iron and steel were said to be made, from
the very worst materials, almost in the twinkling of an eye.
This process has been called after its assumed inventor, or
discoverer, the “Sherman Process.” The details of the process
are still withheld, but we last week gave an extract
from an English contemporary, which throws a little light
upon the subject.

The agent relied upon to effect the remarkable transformation
claimed, is iodine, used preferably in the form of iodide
of potassium, and very little of it is said to produce a most
marvellous change in the character of the metal.

A very feeble attempt at explaining the rationale of this
effect has been made, in one or two English journals, which
we opine will not prove very satisfactory to chemists and
scientific metallurgists. The Engineer has published two
three-column articles upon the subject, the first containing
very little information, and the second a great number of
unnecessary paragraphs, but which gives the proportion of
the iodide used, in the extremely scientific and accurate
formula expressed in the terms “a small quantity.”

Assertions of remarkable success have also been given.
Nothing, however, was said of remarkable failures, of which
there have doubtless been some. A series of continued successes
would, we should think, by this time, have sufficed for
the parturition of this metallurgic process, and the discovery
would ere this have been introduced to the world, had there
not been some drawbacks.

We are not prepared to deny in toto that the process is all
that is claimed for it; but the way in which it has been managed
is certainly one not likely to encourage faith in it.

The very name of “process” implies a system perfected,
and if it be still so far back in the experimental stage that
nothing definite in the way of results can be relied upon, it
is not yet a process. If, in the use of iodine, in some instances,
fine grades of iron or steel are produced, and in as
many other experiments, with the same material, failures result,
it is just as fair to attribute the failures to the iodine,
as the successes. A process worthy the name is one that
acts with approximate uniformity, and when, in its use, results
vary widely from what is usual, the variation may be
traced to important differences in the conditions of its application.

On the whole, we are inclined to believe Mr. Sherman’s
experiments have not yet developed a definite process, and we
shall receive with much allowance the glowing statements
published in regard to it, until such time as it can face the
world and defy unbelief.

The patents obtained by Mr. Sherman seem to cover the
use of iodine, rather than the manner of using it, and throw
no light upon the rationale of the process.

A patent was granted by the United States Patent Office,
Sept. 13, 1870, to J. C. Atwood, in which the inventor claims
the use of iodide of potassium in connection with the carbons
and fluxes used in making and refining iron. In his specification
he states that he uses about fifteen grains of this salt
to eighty pounds of the metal. This is about ¹⁄373 of one per
cent. He uses in connection with this exceedingly small
proportion of iodide of potassium, about two ounces of lampblack,
or charcoal, and four ounces of manganese, and asserts
that steel made with these materials will be superior in quality
to that made by the old method. These claims we are
inclined to discredit. Certainly, we see no chemical reason
why this small amount of iodide should produce such an effect,
and the specification itself throws no light upon our
darkness.

If the experiments in these so-called processes have no
better basis than is apparent from such information as at
present can be gathered respecting them, it is probable we
shall wait some time before the promised revolution in iron
and steel manufacture is accomplished through their use.

RUBBER TIRES FOR TRACTION ENGINES.

When it was first discovered that a smooth-faced driving
wheel, running on a smooth-faced rail, would “bite,” the era
of iron railways and locomotive engines may be said to have
fairly commenced. The correction of a single radical error
was, in this case, the dawn of a new system of travel, so extensive
in its growth and marvelous in its results, that even
the wildest dreamer could not, at that time, have imagined the
consequences of so simple a discovery.

A popular and somewhat similar error regarding the bite
of wheels on rough and uneven surfaces, has also prevailed.
We say popular error, because engineers have not shared it,
and it has obtained, to any notable extent, only among those
unfamiliar with mechanical science. The error in question
is, that hard-surfaced wheels will not bite on a moderately
rough surface, sufficiently to give an efficient tractile power.
It seems strange that this error should have diffused itself
very extensively, when it is remembered that a certain degree
of roughness is essential to frictional resistance. The smoothness
of the ordinary railway track is roughness compared to
that of an oiled or unctuous metallic surface; and it has been
amply demonstrated that the resistance of friction, of two
bearing surfaces depends, not upon their extent, but upon the
pressure with which they are forced together. A traction
wheel, of given weight, resting upon two square inches of
hard earth or rock, would develop the same tractile power
as though it had a bearing surface of two square feet of
similar material.

On very rough and stony ways, however, another element
practically of no importance on moderately rough ways, like
a macadam surface or a concrete road, where the prominences
are nearly of uniform hight, and so near together as
to admit between their summits only very small arcs of the
circumference of the wheel; comes into action. This element
is the constantly recurring lifting of the superincumbent
weight of the machine. Even this would not result in loss
of power, could the power developed in falling be wholly
applied to useful work in the direction of the advance of the
engine. The fact is, however, that it is not so applied, and
in any method of propulsion at present known to engineering
science, cannot be so applied. Above a certain point
where friction enough is developed to prevent slip, the more
uneven the road surface is, the greater the power demanded
for the propulsion of the locomotive. And this will hold
good for both hard and soft-tired wheels.

What then is the advantage, if any, of rubber-tired wheels?
The advantages claimed may be enumerated as follows: increased
tractile power, with a given weight, secured without
damage to roadways; ease of carriage to the supported machinery,
whereby it—the machinery—is saved from stress
and wear; and economy of the power, expended in moving
the extra weight required by rigid-tired wheels, to secure
the required frictional resistance. The last-mentioned claim
depends upon the first, and must stand or fall with it. The
saving of roadway, ease of carriage, and its favorable result
upon the machinery, are generally conceded.

A denial of the first claim has been made, by those interested
in the manufacture of rigid-tired traction engines and
others, in so far as the rubber tires are employed on comparatively
smooth surfaces; although the increased tractile power
on quite rough pavements and roads is acknowledged.

This denial is based upon results of experiments performed
on the streets of Rochester, England, between the 9th October
and the 2nd November, 1870, by a committee of the
Royal Engineers (British Army), with a view to determine
accurately the point in question.

Care was taken to make the circumstances, under which
the trials took place, exactly alike for both the rubber and
the iron tires. The experiments were performed with an
Aveling and Porter six-horse power road engine, built in
the Royal Engineers’ establishment. The weight of the engine,
without rubber tires, was 11,225 pounds; with rubber
tires, it weighed 12,025 pounds. Without rubber tires it
drew 2.813 times its own weight up a gradient of 1 in [missing];
with rubber tires, it drew up the same incline 2.763 times
the weight of engine, with the weight of rubber tires added;
showing that, although it drew a little over 2,200 pounds
more than it could do without the rubber tires, the increase
of traction was only that which might be expected from the
additional weight.

It is claimed, moreover, that the additional traction power
and superior ease of carriage on rough roads, secured with
rubber tires, is dearly bought at the very great increase in
cost, of an engine fitted with them, over one not so fitted.

This is a point we regard as not fully settled, though it will
not long remain in doubt. There are enough of both types
of wheels now in use to soon answer practically any question
there may be of durability (upon which the point of economy
hinges), so far as the interest on the increased cost due to
rubber tires, is offset against the greater wear and tear of
iron rimmed wheels. It is stated, on good authority that a
rubber tired engine, started at work in Aberdeen, Scotland,
wore out its tires between April and September, inclusive,
and when it is taken into consideration, that the cost of these
tires is about half that of other engines, made with solid iron
rimmed driving wheels, it will be seen that, unless very
much greater durability than this can be shown for the rubber,
the advantages of such tires are very nearly, if not more
than, balanced by their disadvantages.

The fact that one set of tires wore out so soon does not
prove a rule. There may have been causes at work which
do not affect such tires generally, and it would be, we think,
quite premature to form favorable or unfavorable judgment,
of relative economy from such data as have been yet furnished.

The difference in the current expenses of running the two
most prominent types of engines, with hard and soft tires,
now in use, does not affect the question of rubber tires, unless
it can be shown that these tires necessitate, per se, such
a form of engine as requires a greater consumption of fuel,
and greater cost of attendance, to perform a given amount of
work.

CENTRAL SHAFT OF THE HOOSAC TUNNEL.

As many of our readers have evinced much interest and ingenuity
on the question of the propriety of placing reliance
upon the accuracy of dropping a perpendicular from the top
to the bottom of a shaft 1,030 feet in depth, by means of an
ordinary plummet, we take the earliest opportunity of settling
the matter beyond dispute, by reporting the results
lately obtained, through a series of experiments by the engineers
in charge, for the ultimate purpose of laying down
the correct line for the tunnel.

The perpendicular line has, of course, been dropped many
times, and the main result taken. The plummet used is
made of steel, properly balanced and polished, in shape
something like a pineapple, and of about the same size,
weighing fifteen pounds. It was suspended, with the large
end downwards, by a thin copper wire, one fortieth of an
inch in diameter, immersed in water; and, after careful
steadying with the hand, occupied about an hour in assuming
its final position or motion, which, contrary to the expectation
and theories of many, resulted in a circular motion
around a fixed point, the diameter of the circle being a mean
of one quarter of an inch. The suspending wire in these
operations was not quite the entire length of the shaft, being
only 900 feet; and before the plummet had settled, the wire
had stretched nearly twenty feet.

The suspension of the plummet in water was not considered
necessary for any other reason than that water was
continually trickling down the wire, and dropping on the
plummet. The experiments so far have not been of the perfect
character it is determined to attain, when the final
alignment is made, as, until the headings east and west of
the shaft have advanced to a considerable distance, any
slight error would be of no account.

A neat and ingenious instrument has been constructed for
determining the variation of the plummet, and will be used
when great accuracy is desired; the plummet will also be
suspended in oil.

The bearing of the tunnel is about S. 81° E.; but, independently
of its near approach to the line of revolution described
by the earth, it is not considered necessary to take
into account any motion it may derive from this cause. In
fact, the opinion is, that the motion of the earth will not
practically have any effect.

On the whole, after the still imperfect experiments which
have been made, enough is established to show there is no
difficulty to be encountered, other than the accurate and delicate
manipulation of the plummet and its attachments.

The shaft headings are progressing favorably. The rock
is not so hard or varied as that met with at the west end
markings. Already nearly 300 feet have been taken out,
and with the proved energy of the contractors, this great
task will doubtless be prosecuted steadily and surely to
completion, within the contract time expiring March 1, 1874.

A MUSEUM OF ART AND NATURAL HISTORY.

Our recent articles on “Scientific Destitution in New York”
and “The Scientific Value of the Central Park,” have called
forth numerous letters from correspondents, and have been
extensively noticed by the press. We now learn that the
legislature of the State has taken the matter in hand, and
there is some prospect, with an honest administration of the
appropriations, of something being done to relieve our city
of the opprobrium that rests upon it. A bill is pending,
before the Senate, authorizing the Park Commissioners to
build, equip, and furnish, on Manhattan Square, or any
other public square or park, suitable fire-proof buildings, at
a cost not exceeding $500,000 for each corporation, for the
purpose of establishing a museum of art, by the Metropolitan
Museum of Art, and of a museum of natural history, by the
American Museum of Natural History, two societies recently
incorporated by the Legislature. This is a million dollars
to begin with, and an ample site, without cost, to the aforementioned
corporations.

Manhattan Square extends from Seventy-seventh to
Eighty-first streets, and from Eighth to Ninth avenues, and
spans about eighteen acres. Until it was set apart by
the state Board of Commissioners, for the purposes of a Zoological
Garden, it was proposed, by a number of enlightened
citizens of New York, to devote it to the uses of four of our
existing corporations, giving to each one a corner, and an
equal share in the allotment of space. The societies were,
“the Academy of Design,” for art, “the Historical Society,”
for public records and libraries, “the Lyceum of Natural
History,” for science, and “the American Institute,” for
technology. These have been incorporated for many years,
and are known to include the leading artists, men of letters,
science, and the arts, of the city, on their lists of members.
The committee went so far as to have plans of the building
drawn by competent architects; but, like many other well-meant
schemes, want of money compelled the originators of
the plan to abandon any further attempts. In the meantime,
the Legislature chartered the American Botanical and
Zoological Society, and gave the Commissioners of the Park
authority to set apart a portion of it, not exceeding sixty
acres, for the use of the Society, for the establishment of a
zoological and botanical garden. This society was duly organized
under the act, and Mr. Hamilton Fish was made its
president, and considerable sums of money were subscribed.
But, according to the sixth annual report of the Board of
Commissioners, “the society never manifested its desire for
an allotment of ground.” It appears to have died, and
made no sign. Some of our citizens, fearing that the Central
Park would go the way of every other public work in
the city, made strenuous effort to revive the Zoological
Society, for the purpose of obtaining a perpetual lease of a
suitable site, on which to establish a zoological garden, similar
to those in London, Paris, Amsterdam, and Cologne.
Their object was to remove this part of the Park beyond the
reach of political intrigue. Subsequent events have shown
that the fears of these gentlemen were well founded. The
Legislature of the State, on the 25th of March, 1862, gave
ample powers to the New York Historical Society to establish
a Museum of Antiquity and Science, and a Gallery of
Art, in the Central Park. They have submitted designs for a
building, but, for some reason, no decisive steps have been
taken towards its construction.

The Lyceum of Natural History was also negotiating with
the Commissioners, for the use of the upper rooms of the
arsenal for its collections, and there is no doubt that an
arrangement to this effect would have been made, if a fire
had not destroyed the entire collections of the Lyceum. The
Lyceum made great effort to raise money to purchase a new
collection, but without avail; and, although this is the oldest
scientific society in New York, and has inrolled in its list of
members, nearly every professional scientist of the city, it is
probably the poorest, in income and resources, of any academy
of sciences in the world. We do not know that the
Academy of Design has ever applied for a home in the
Central Park; and we cannot speak for the American Institute,
nor for the Geographical Society, in this particular. As
we stated in our former article, the old Board of Commissioners
appears to have become weary of the unsuccessful
attempts on the part of numerous societies to divide up and
apportion the Central Park, and they applied to the Legislature
for authority to conduct matters in their own way. An
act was duly passed, authorizing the Board “to erect, establish,
conduct, and maintain, on the Central Park, a Meteorological
and Astronomical Observatory, a Museum of Natural
History, and a Gallery of Art, and the buildings therefor, and
to provide the necessary instruments, furniture, and equipments
for the same.”

Here would seem to be ample power for the establishment
of museums of science and art, but nothing is said about
the manner of raising the money. One would suppose, however,
that, by means of the “Central Park Improvement
Fund,” abundant means could have been raised. The bill
now before the Legislature puts matters in a new light. If
it does not conflict with previous enactments, nor destroy
vested rights, it has the appearance of being a thoroughly
practical way of solving the question of art and science for
the city. The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American
Museum of Natural History are in the hands of the most
respectable citizens of New York. It would not be possible
to find a body of men of more unimpeachable integrity and
greater worth, than the gentlemen who have founded these
two societies. It is impossible that they should lend their
names to anything that will not bear the closest scrutiny;
hence the proposition, now before the Legislature, to put up
buildings for them, at a cost of a million dollars, must attract
unusual attention. If the State would appropriate the
money to these corporations, giving them the control of its
expenditure, we should have considerably more confidence in
its honest administration than, we are grieved to say, we can
feel under the present circumstances; and if we knew what
other institutions are to have the remaining portions of
Manhattan Square, it would be a great relief to our minds.

“We fear the Greeks bringing gifts,” but are willing to
accept the gifts, if the officers of the two organizations are
certain that it is all right.

The need of a Museum of Natural History, and of a Gallery
of Art, in New York, is so pressing that there is some danger
of our accepting the appropriations without a proper regard
to consequences. The Court House is not yet finished, and
the foundations of the Post-office are scarcely laid.

REPORT OF THE JUDGES OF GROUP 1, DEPARTMENT V.
OF THE EXHIBITION OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE
FOR 1870. THE ALLEN ENGINE.

The labors of the judges in this department were much
lighter in the last exhibition than in the preceding one, and
we are happy to say, were, in our opinion, so far as the award
of premiums is concerned, much more fairly performed. The
award of two first premiums to two competing engines could
scarcely be repeated this time, as there was in reality no
competition. The Allen engine was the only important one
entered, and of course received the first premium. The engine
is, however, one that evidently could have competed
favorably with those previously exhibited.

We are in receipt of advanced sheets of the judges’ report
pertaining to the critical examination of this engine, being
a record and account of experiments performed under the
supervision of Washington Lee, C. E. The experiments
were very comprehensive, and comprised approved tests, of
each important detail, usually made by expert engineers.

The report is too voluminous for reprint or even for condensation
in our columns. In looking it through, we are satisfied
that the experiments were accurately made, and that
the engine exhibited great working efficiency and economy.

As the engine has been recently illustrated and described
in our columns, we deem it unnecessary to dwell upon the
details of its construction. The water test of the previous
exhibition was employed, the water being this time measured,
with indisputable accuracy, in a tank, instead of by a meter
as before.

The voluminous comparison of this engine with those previously
exhibited, seems unnecessary, and we think not in
good taste in such a report, however much it may possess of
scientific interest. Moreover, the circumstances under which
the trials were respectively performed, render the comparison
difficult, if not unfair.

Mr. Lee concludes his report with a thorough endorsement
of the theory of Mr. Porter upon the action of the reciprocating
parts of engines, as set forth by the last named gentleman
in recent articles in this journal. He says:

“Under the resistance of 128.375 horse powers at the
brake, the motion of the engine was remarkably uniform;
not the least diminution of speed in passing the centers
could be detected, illustrating very satisfactorily the value,
in this respect, of the speed employed, and of the action of
the reciprocating parts of the engine in equalizing the rotative
pressure on the crank through the stroke. The governor
was, during the trials and through the exhibition, nearly
motionless, while the load remained constant, and instantaneous
in its action on changes of resistance, maintaining a
steadiness of running which left nothing to be desired.”

The judges—Prof. F. A. P. Barnard, Thos. J. Sloan, and Robert
Weir—speak in their report as follows:

“The performance of this engine has exceeded that of
the two fine engines which were on trial here last year. The
results seem to be without precedent in such engines. The
engine ran from 11 to 12 hours repeatedly without showing
a sign of a warm bearing, displaying thorough perfection in
all its parts. In all respects the engine is first-class, and
from the fact of its presenting weight with speed, as a requisite
for perfection in steam engines, it has opened a new
era in this necessary branch—its economy having been clearly
demonstrated in the careful trials, which ought to be published
in full.”

LYCEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY.

There was an unusually large attendance of members at
the meeting of the Lyceum of Natural History, on Monday
evening, the 6th inst., to listen to an address by Professor
B. Waterhouse Hawkins, on the progress of the work of the
restoration of the forms of extinct animals in the Central
Park. Mr. Hawkins gave an account of the difficulties he
encountered at the outset, in finding any skeletons of animals
in New York, with which to make comparisons, and he was
finally compelled to go to Boston and Philadelphia for this
purpose. After much study and many delays, the casts of
the Hadrosaurus were completed, and numerous smaller
skeletons prepared. At this stage of the proceedings an
entire change in the administration of the Park took place,
and the newly appointed Commissioners decided to suspend
the work upon the Palæozoic Museum, and they dismissed
Mr. Hawkins from their service.

The announcement that an end had thus been summarily
put to one of the most important educational projects ever
started in this country, was received by the Lyceum with
profound surprise. For a few minutes after the close of Mr.
Hawkins’ report, no one felt disposed to make any comment,
but as the truth of the great damage became apparent, there
was considerable disposition manifested to have the Society
give expression to its sense of the value of Mr. Hawkins’
services in the cause of education, and their regret that so
important a work should be suspended at this critical period.
Remarks were made by Dr. Newbery, Professor Joy, Mr.
Andrew H. Green, Professor Seely, Dr. Walz, Mr.
Squier, and others, and the following resolutions E. G. were unanimously
adopted:

Resolved, That the Lyceum of Natural History, in the city
of New York, has learned with deep regret of the temporary
suspension of the work of restoration of the forms of extinct
animals, as hitherto prosecuted in the Central Park, under the
able superintendence of Professor Waterhouse Hawkins.

Resolved, That the Society considers the proposed palæozoic
museum not only a valuable acquisition to the scientific treasures
and resources of the city, but also as a most important
adjunct and complement to our great system of public education.

WARMING AND VENTILATION OF RAILROAD CARS.

There has been enough of denunciation against the present
general method of warming and ventilating railway cars. It
produces no effect on the corporations who could, if they
would, adopt appliances that would not burn people to death
in cases of accident, nor regularly and persistently poison
them with bad air.

There is no lack of ways and means; the problem is simple
and easily solved; nay—a not very extensive search through
the Patent Office records will show that it has been solved
already; perhaps not in the most practical and perfect manner,
but still solved so well, as, were it not for corporation
cupidity, would greatly add to the comfort and safety of
passengers.

The real problem is how to compel corporations to recognize
the fact that the public has rights they are bound to
respect. It is the disregard of these rights that fills our cars
with smoke, dust, and exhalations, and puts box stoves full
of hot coals in the corners, ready to cook the human stew
whenever a frisky car shall take a notion to turn a somersault.
The invention needed is a conscience for corporations—an
invention, by the way, scarcely less difficult than
the one advertised for in our last issue, namely, a plan for
preventing the sale of intoxicating liquors and tobacco in
New Jersey.

The Railroad Gazette, imitating the English ideal of prolixity
in discussion, for which Engineering has recently
patted it on the back approvingly, treats us, in its issue of
February 11th, to a page article, to be continued, under the
title of “Warming and Ventilation of Railroad Cars.” In
this article the writer takes the ground that people in general
are ignorant of the effects of pure air, and not being
able to “see the foulness,” they “therefore do not believe it
exists.” It is quite possible they may not be able to see the
foulness, but if in the majority of railroad cars run in this
country, they are not able to feel it in gritty, grimy accumulations
on skin and linen, and smell it in suffocating stenches
which serve, with sneeze-provoking dust, to stifle anything
like comfort, their skin must be thicker, their linen more
neglected, and their noses less sensitive than those of the
majority of fellow travellers it has been our fortune to be
cooped up with for a day’s railroad journey.

The Railroad Gazette makes this wholesale charge of ignorance
and insensibility the excuse for an essay on the physiology
of respiration, mostly extracted from Huxley’s “Elementary
Lessons in Physiology,” and therefore excellent in
its way, though having a somewhat remote bearing upon the
subject as announced in the title of the article. We trust
that before this journal concludes its series of articles thus
commenced, it will tell how to breathe into the breasts of the
corporations which choke us in their human packing boxes,
something resembling the soul which they are universally
acknowledged to be destitute of. When this is done, carbonic
acid, ammoniacal smells, organic exhalations, smoke,
and dust, will be invited to shun the interiors of railway cars,
and comparative comfort will descend upon the peregrinating
public.

THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF MISSOURI.

The incalculable wealth, which lies hid in the bosom of
Mother Earth, in our vast possessions of the West, is undoubtedly
centered in the State of Missouri; and the development
of this fund of riches must add to the national prosperity,
not only by its immeasurable intrinsic value, but by
its affording occupation to armies of laborers, the latter being
the highest and most important consideration.

In 1852-3, a geological survey of the State was wisely
decided upon, and a liberal provision for its execution made.
Two valuable reports, by Professor Swallow, have been
printed, in the year 1855, but the notes of his subsequent investigations
have not been made public.

In the session of 1869-70, further action, in this important
public work, was taken by the State legislature, and arrangements
made for a still more accurate and detailed examination,
under the direction of Professor A. D. Hager, of Vermont.

The distribution of metals all over the State will be seen
in the following figures, taken from the St. Louis Journal of
Commerce, which show the number of counties in which the
various ores are found: Iron in 46 counties, lead in 43, coal
in 36, copper in 24, marble in 11, zinc in 27, fire clay in 16,
barytes in 10, nickel in 6, granite in 4, tin in 4, plumbago in
2, gypsum in 2, alum in 1, antimony in 4.

There is probably no country in the world so endowed as
this. Of iron alone, according to the State geologist’s report
for 1855, there is ore of the best quality, sufficient to furnish
200,000,000 tuns of iron; and this quantity lies in a small
space, in the vicinity of Pilot Knob and Iron Mountain, and
within 100 miles of St. Louis.

The quality of the iron is highly spoken of by the manufacturers,
and the capacity of the smelting appliances has
reached to over 150,000 tuns per annum. The coal is well
suited for reduction of ores, either by hot or cold blast treatment.
The Scotia Iron Co. commenced operations in January,
1870; and, although the materials for building blast furnaces
had to be carried 80 miles into a desert, the first furnace was
blown into blast in August, 1870. This furnace will run
about 24 tuns per day. The company procures ore from a
hill, near the furnace, in which there is an apparently inexhaustible
supply of red oxide and brown specular. This ore
yields 60 per cent of pure metal. The erection of mills for
making wrought iron is contemplated, and the high quality
and prodigious quantity of the raw material will justify and
reward any outlay of capital in this direction.

The shipment of ore to other States goes on constantly,
the last year’s account showing that 246,555 tuns were dispersed
over Indiana, Ohio, and others. The furnaces at
Kingsland, South St. Louis, Lewis Iron Co.’s Works, Carondelet,
and Maramec are all well situated as to coal and limestone,
the Maramec Works having a most valuable water-power.
These latter works also ship about 40,000 tuns red
hematite ore yearly.

SCIENTIFIC INTELLIGENCE.

According to Petermann’s Mittheilungen, the new German
empire, including Alsatia and Lorraine, will embrace 9,901
square miles, with 40,148,209 inhabitants. Russia alone will
exceed it in extent and population, for Russia in Europe has
100,285 square miles with a population of 69,379,500. France,
after the loss of Alsatia and Lorraine, will have 9,588 square
miles of territory, with 36,428,548 inhabitants. Austria will
number 35,943,592 inhabitants spread over a larger extent of
country, namely, 10,980 square miles. Great Britain and
Ireland has 5,732 square miles, with 30,838,210 inhabitants;
and Italy, including Rome, has 5,376 square miles, with 26,470,000
inhabitants. In the order of population, the Governments
will stand: Russia, Germany, France, Austria, and
England; but in military power, the first position must henceforth
be accorded to Germany.

AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING ENGINEERS.

A circular has been issued by several mining engineers,
proposing a meeting at Wilkes-Barre, some time in April or
May next, of all persons interested in the general subjects of
mining and metallurgy, for the purpose of establishing an
association, to be called “The American Institute of Mining
Engineers.” The Institute will hold meetings periodically
“in the great mining and metallurgical centers, when works
of interest, such as mines, machine shops, furnaces, and other
metallurgical works, can be inspected, and the members exchange
their views, and consult, for mutual advantage, upon
the difficulties encountered by each.” There will be the
usual publication of “Transactions” and “Proceedings.”

The idea of forming an association of persons thus mutually
interested in each other’s occupations, is an excellent
one; but it has been suggested by a number of scientific
gentlemen that the American Association for the Advancement
of Science offers every facility for the accomplishment
of the objects set forth in the circular, while it affords the
very great advantage of an assemblage of men learned in all
departments of knowledge, whose acquaintance mining engineers
would do well to make, and from whom they could
learn much, while at the same time imparting of their own
knowledge.

As a section of the American Association, the mining engineers
would have more influence before the country, and it
would perhaps be well for them to stop and consider before
establishing a separate institute.

CONSUMPTION OF SUGAR, COFFEE, AND TEA.

E. Behm gives in his geographical year book, for 1870, the
following estimate of the consumption of sugar, coffee, and
tea, per capita, in various countries:

The entire consumption of sugar in Europe has averaged,
during the last few years, three thousand four hundred and
ten million pounds (3,410,000 pounds), and for the whole
world it is set down at nearly twice that amount. It is estimated
that three fourths of the sugar is made from cane, and
one fourth from the beet.

The consumption of coffee has doubled in most countries
during the last twenty years.

Unpleasant Discovery in the Patent Office—Levying Black Mail.

“The Patent Office has been, during the past week, in a high
state of excitement, occasioned by the discovery of the operations
of E. W. W. Griffin, clerk in charge of the draftsmen’s
division, who, it appears, has been levying black mail on the
lady employés of the office, for nearly two years. During
the administration of Colonel Fisher, late Commissioner of
Patents, a large number of ladies were employed, for the
purpose of recopying drawings, when ordered by the inventors,
of patents already on file.

“These ladies were placed under charge of Griffin, with
power to retain them in office so long as their services were
satisfactory. It has been proved that Griffin hired the ladies
at regular salaries of $1,000 per annum, the most of whom he
blackmailed to the amount of $400 per year each. It is estimated
that he has made $1,000 per month for the past two
years.

“The matter was brought to the notice of Commissioner
Duncan, and an investigation ordered, which resulted in the
dismissal of Griffin.

“It is thought that there are other cases of this kind, and
the Commissioner expresses his determination to ferret
them all out, and make a clean sweep of all parties in his
department engaged in swindling operations, against the
government or against individuals.

“The Patent Office has for a long time been considered a
rich field for operations of this kind, and investigations have
often been suggested, but passed unheeded by the proper
authorities.

“It is openly stated that an investigation into the relations
existing between certain examiners of patents and certain
patent agents, would disclose a more fearful state of blackmailing
than exists in all the other government departments
combined.”

[We find the above sensational paragraph among the recent
Washington items of the Evening Mail. We are in a
position to say that “the high state of excitement”
alluded to has existed only in the brain of the newspaper
correspondent. The facts, in brief, are these: In
July, 1869, a lady, and wife of one of the clerks in the
draftsmen’s room, made application to Commissioner Fisher
for a position in the copying division of the same department;
and, upon the urgent solicitation and recommendation
of Mr. E. W. W. Griffin, chief of the division, she was appointed,
and has held the position from that time until now,
receiving as salary $1,000 per annum, which, with the full
knowledge of her husband, she has divided with Griffin, in
consideration of his services in procuring for her the appointment.
About a month ago, one of the lady’s friends
got hold of the matter, and reported it to the Court, which
resulted in an investigation and the subsequent dismissal of
Griffin. This is the only case of the kind that we have heard
of, and we have no reason to believe that there is any other,
or that corruption exists in the Examining Corps, as alleged.

—Eds.

A method of testing the purity of samples of water, by
watching the rapidity of its action on soap and similar compounds,
has been introduced by the French savants, MM.
Boutron and Boudet. The experiment tests, at the same
time, the purity of the soap. Dissolved in water in which
lime is held in solution, the soap is precipitated in hard
white flakes. If the quantity of soap put in the lime water
be noted, it will be found that the smaller the quantity producing
precipitation, the purer the soap. The Journal de
Pharmacie et de Chemie (of Paris) reports some experiments,
on this subject, by M. F. Schulze.

Louisiana State Fair.—The fifth State fair of the
Mechanics, and Agricultural Fair Association of Louisiana
will commence in the city of New Orleans, on Saturday, April
8, 1871, and continue nine days. Over $20,000 in premiums
are offered. Rules, regulations, and schedule of premiums
may be obtained of the Secretary and Treasurer, Luther
Homes, Esq., New Orleans, La.

Knitted Goods.—John Kent advertises, in this paper, valuable
machinery for the manufacture of knitted goods, to
which we invite the attention of all who are interested in
this branch of industry. Mr. Kent has devoted many years
to the perfection of these machines.

Kaolin, a white clay, used largely in the adulteration of
flour, starch, and candles, is found near Augusta, Ga., and is
sent to the Northern States in large quantities.

We are indebted to James Vick, practical florist, Rochester,
N. Y., for a choice variety of flower seeds.

NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.

A Complete Guide for Coach Painters. Translated from
the French of M. Arlot, Coach Painter, for Eleven Years
Foreman of Painting to M. Eherler, Coach Maker, Paris.
By A. A. Fesquet, Chemist and Engineer. To which is
added an Appendix, containing Information respecting
the Materials and the Practice of Coach and Car Painting
and Varnishing, in the United States and Great Britain.
Philadelphia: Henry Carey Baird, Industrial Publisher,
406 Walnut street. London: Sampson Low, Son & Marston,
Crown Buildings, 188 Fleet street. 1871. Price, by
mail, to any part of the United States, $1.25.

This is another of the large number of practical works and industrial
treatises issued from the press of Mr. Baird. It is intended as a practical
manual for the use of coach painters, and we must say, upon examination of
its contents, that we think it admirably adapted to meet the wants of that
class of artisans for which it has been prepared. There is perhaps no department
of decorative art in which there is greater room for the display of
skill and taste than in coach painting. This work, however, does not deal
with the subject of art, to any great extent. Its aim is to give information
in regard to colors, varnishes, etc., and their management in carriage painting
in the plainest manner, and in this way it thoroughly fulfils the intention
of the author.

On the Generation of Species. By St. George Mivart,
F.R.S. London: Macmillan & Co. 1871.

The Darwinian theory of the Origin of Species, has, perhaps, aroused more
attention, excited more dispute, and won more converts in a shorter time
among scientific and unscientific men, than any other of equal importance
promulgated in the 19th century. It seems to be the rule either to swallow
the theory whole, or reject it as unworthy of belief, and as conflicting with
orthodoxy. The author of the work before us has, however, taken a middle
ground, from which we opine it will be difficult to dislodge him, though it
is within full range of the batteries of both the contending parties. While
he admits the truth of Darwin’s views regarding the operation of natural
selection as a cause of the origin of species, he denies that it is the sole cause,
yet maintains that if it could be demonstrated to be the sole cause, it would
in no manner conflict with orthodox belief in the Scriptures as the revelation
of God to mankind. The perfect candor of the author is one of the marked
features of the discussion, and his style is a model of pure terse English
writing, seldom, if ever, excelled by any scientific writer. The work is an
octavo, most beautifully printed on tinted paper, and illustrated by many
fine wood engravings.

The Architect’s and Builder’s Pocket Companion and
Price Book, Consisting of a Short but Comprehensive
Epitome of Decimals, Duodecimals, Geometry and Mensuration;
with Tables of U. S. Measures, Sizes, Weights,
Strengths, etc., of Iron, Wood, Stone, and Various Other
Materials; Quantities of Materials in Given Sizes and
Dimensions of Wood, Brick, and Stone; and a Full and
Complete Bill of Prices for Carpenter’s Work; also Rules
for Computing and Valuing Brick and Brick Work,
Stone Work, Painting, Plastering, etc. By Frank W.
Vogdes Architect. Philadelphia: Henry Carey Baird,
Publisher, 406 Walnut street. Price by mail, postpaid,
$2.

This is a small work, but printed in small type, and containing a large
amount of useful matter, thoroughly indexed for reference; bound in morocco;
and provided with a clasp, so as to be conveniently carried in the
pocket.

Gas Superintendent’s Pocket Companion for the year
1871. By Harris & Brother, Gas Meter Manufacturers,
Nos. 1115 and 1117 Cherry street, Philadelphia. Philadelphia:
Henry Carey Baird, Industrial Publisher, 406
Walnut street.

We find in this pocket-book much of interest to gas consumers, as well as
to gas makers. The subject of meters is fully discussed. The work is bound
in pocket-book style, in flexible morocco binding. Price, by mail, postpaid,
$2.

The Charge for Insertion under this head is One Dollar a Line. If the Notices
exceed Four Lines, One Dollar and a Half per Line will be charged.

The paper that meets the eye of manufacturers throughout
the United States—Boston Bulletin, $4.00 a year. Advertisements 17c. a line.

Half Interest for sale in established Machinery Depot, new
and second-hand. Steam fitting connected. Small capital, with energy,
required. Address T. V. Carpenter, Advertising Agent, Box 773, New York.

See advertisement of a Woolen Mill for sale. A bargain.

I am active, have a clear record, and some capital. How can
I make some money? F. Carmill, Box 1268, Boston, Mass.

Pattern Letters for Machinists, Molders, and Inventors, to letter
patterns of castings, all sizes. Address H. W. Knight, Seneca Falls, N. Y.

Improved mode of Graining Wood, pat. July 5, ’70, by J. J. Callow,
Cleveland, O. See illustrated S. A., Dec. 17, ’70. Send stamp for circular.

Can a round, spring-steel rod be drawn to any desired length,
with a true taper to a point, with equal elasticity the whole length, and
rolled temper? What is the price per hundred pounds, and where can they
be procured? Answer “Sportsman,” Malone, N. Y.

Manufacturers of Foot Lathes and other light machinery please
address Geo. B. Kirkham, 167 E. 33d st., N. Y. city. Business of importance!

Safety Kerosene Lamps (Perkins & House’s Patent). Explosion
or breaking impossible; light equal to gas, and no odor. Families
supplied and canvassers appointed, by Montgomery & Co., 42 Barclay st.,
New York, or Cleveland, O.

All parties wanting a water wheel will learn something of interest
by addressing P. H. Wait, Sandy Hill, N. Y., for a free circular of his
Hudson River Champion Turbine.

Ashcroft’s Low Water Detector, $15; thousands in use; 17
year’s experience. Can be applied for $1. Send for circular. E. H.
Ashcroft, Boston, Mass.

Wanted.—Machines for manufacturing Pails, Tubs, and
Matches. Also, competent man to superintend construction of buildings,
and manage all parts of business when complete. Address, with descriptive
circulars, price, etc., No. 266 Lexington avenue, New York.

Turbine Water Wheels, Portable and Stationary Engines,
Gang and Circular Saw Mills, Rolling Mill Machinery, and Machinery for
Axe Manufacturers, manufactured by Wm. P. Duncan, Bellefonte, Pa.

For best Power Picket Header in use, apply to Wm. P. Duncan,
Bellefonte, Pa.

New Blind Wirer and Rod Cutter. B. C. Davis & Co., Binghamton,
N. Y.

Self-testing Steam Gage. There’s a difference between a chronometer
watch and a “bull’s eye.” Same difference between a self-tester
and common steam gage. Send for Circular. E. H. Ashcroft, Boston, Mass.

See advertisement of L. & J. W. Feuchtwanger, Chemists, N. Y.

$3.50. Stephens’ Patent Combination Rule, Level, Square,
Plumb, Bevel, etc. See advertisement in another column. Agents wanted.

American Boiler Powder Co., Box 315, Pittsburgh, Pa., make
the only safe, sure, and cheap remedy for “Scaly Boilers.” Orders solicited.

Belting that is Belting.—Always send for the Best Philadelphia
Oak-Tanned, to C. W. Arny, Manufacturer, 301 Cherry st., Phil’a.

E. Howard & Co., Boston, make the best Stem-winding Watch
in the country. Ask for it at all the dealers. Office 15 Maiden Lane, N. Y.

For mining, wrecking, pumping, drainage, and irrigating machinery,
see advertisement of Andrews’ Patents in another column.

The best place to get Working Models and parts is at T. B.
Jeffery’s, 160 South Water st., Chicago.

Brown’s Coalyard Quarry & Contractors’ Apparatus for hoisting
and conveying material by iron cable. W. D. Andrews & Bro, 414 Water st., N. Y.

Improved Foot Lathes. Many a reader of this paper has
one of them. Selling in all parts of the country, Canada, Europe, etc.
Catalogue free. N. H. Baldwin, Laconia, N. H.

Peteler Portable R. R. Co. contractors, graders. See adv’ment.

E. P. Peacock, Manufacturer of Cutting Dies, Press Work.
Patent Articles in Metals, etc. 55 Franklin st., Chicago.

Peck’s Patent Drop Press. Milo Peck & Co., New Haven, Ct.

Millstone Dressing Diamond Machine—Simple, effective, durable.
For description of the above see Scientific American, Nov. 27th,
1869. Also, Glazier’s Diamonds. John Dickinson, 64 Nassau st., N. Y.

Steel name stamps, figures, etc. E. H. Payn, M’f’r, Burlington, Vt.

Cold Rolled-Shafting, piston rods, pump rods, Collins pat. double
compression couplings, manufactured by Jones & Laughlins, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Keuffel & Esser 116 Fulton st., N. Y., the best place to get 1st-class
Drawing Materials, Swiss instruments, and Rubber Triangles and Curves.

For Solid Wrought-iron Beams, etc., see advertisement. Address
Union Iron Mills, Pittsburgh, Pa., for lithograph, etc.

For the best Self-regulating Windmill in the world, to pump
water for residences, farms, city buildings, drainage, and irrigation, address
Con. Windmill Co., 5 College Place, New York.

The Merriman Bolt Cutter—the best made. Send for circulars.
H. B. Brown & Co., Fair Haven, Conn.

Taft’s Portable Hot Air, Vapor and Shower Bathing Apparatus.
Address Portable Bath Co., Sag Harbor, N. Y. (Send for Circular.)

Glynn’s Anti-Incrustator for Steam Boilers—The only reliable
preventive. No foaming, and does not attack metals of boilers. Price 25
cents per lb. C. D. Fredricks, 587 Broadway, New York.

For Fruit-Can Tools, Presses, Dies for all Metals, apply to Bliss
& Williams, successor to May & Bliss, 118, 120, and 122 Plymouth st., Brooklyn,
N. Y. Send for catalogue.

2d-hand Worthington, Woodward and Novelty Pumps, Engines
25 to 100 H.P., 60 Horse Loc. Boiler. W. D. Andrews & Bro., 414 Water st., N. Y.

Agents wanted, to sell the Star Bevel. It supersedes the old
style. Send for Circular. Hallett & White, West Meriden, Conn.

English and American Cotton Machinery and Yarns, Beam
Warps and Machine Tools. Thos. Pray, Jr., 57 Weybosset st., Providence, R. I.

For small, soft, Gray Iron Castings, Japanned, Tinned, or
Bronzed, address Enterprise Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia.

Conklin’s Detachable Rubber Lip, for bowls, etc., works like
a charm. For Rights, address O. P. Conklin, Worcester, Mass., or A.
Daul, Philadelphia, Pa.

To Ascertain where there will be a demand for new machinery
or manufacturers’ supplies read Boston Commercial Bulletin’s Manufacturing
News of the United States. Terms $4.00 a year.

Facts for the Ladies.

In 1870, Mrs. W. made, with her Wheeler & Wilson machine, 2,255 vests, besides
doing her family sewing for six persons.

The Pittsburgh, Pa., “Leader” says:

“The firm of Geo. P. Rowell & Co. is the largest and best Advertising
Agency in the United States, and we can cheerfully recommend it to the attention
of those who desire to advertise their business scientifically and
systematically in such a way; that is, to secure the largest amount of publicity
for the least expenditure of money.”

After an exhaustive trial, at American Institute Fair for 1870,
Pratt’s Astral Oil was pronounced the safest and best.

Dyspepsia: Its Varieties, Causes, Symptoms, and Cure. By E. P.
Miller,
M.D. Paper, 50cts.; Muslin, $1. Address Miller, Haynes & Co.,
41 West Twenty-sixth st., New York city.

Vital Force: How Wasted and How Preserved; or, Abuses of the Sexual
Function, their Causes Effects and Means of Cure. By E. P. Miller
M.D. Paper, 50cts. Address Miller, Haynes & Co., 41 West
Twenty-sixth
st., New York city.

CORRESPONDENTS who expect to receive answers to their letters must, in
all cases, sign their names. We have a right to know those who seek
information from us; besides, as sometimes happens, we may prefer to
address correspondents by mail.

SPECIAL NOTE.—This column is designed for the general interest and
instruction
of our readers, not for gratuitous replies to questions of a purely
business or personal nature. We will publish such inquiries, however,
when paid for as advertisements at 1.00 a line, under the head of “Business
and Personal.”

All reference to back numbers must be by volume and page.

Mixing Metals.—All the hard gray American charcoal iron,
of which car wheels and all such work are made, requires more heat and a
longer time to melt than soft iron, especially Scotch pig, which is the
most fluid and the easiest to melt of any iron. Consequently, unless the
melter exercises good judgment in charging, the Scotch pig will melt and
run off before the car-wheel iron is melted. If G. H. P. be particular in
the quality and strength of his iron, he will make better results by using
soft American charcoal pig, with old car-wheel iron. It will make
stronger castings, mix better, and melt more uniformly; but he should
always recollect in charging his furnace that soft iron will melt before
hard in the same position, in the cupola. I also think he had better use a
larger proportion of soft pig, as every time cast iron is melted it becomes
harder, so much so that iron which can be filed and turned with ease, when
re-cast will often be found too hard to work.—J. T., of N. Y.

Hardening Tallow.—If E. H. H. will use one pound of
alum for every five pounds of tallow, his candles will be as hard and white
as wax. The alum must be dissolved in water, then put in the tallow, and
stirred until they are both melted together, and run in molds.—F. O. H.

L. L., of N. Y.—According to Ure, strass is made as follows:
8 ounces of pure rock crystal or flint, in powder, mixed with 4 ounces of
salt of tartar, are to be baked and left to cool. The mixture is then
poured into hot water, and treated with dilute nitric acid till it ceases to
effervesce, and the “frit” is then washed in water till the water comes off
tasteless. The frit is then dried, and mixed with 12 ounces of white lead,
and this last mixture reduced to fine powder, and washed with distilled
water; 1 ounce of calcined borax is now added to every 12 ounces of the
mixture, the whole rubbed together in a porcelain mortar, melted in a
clean crucible, and poured out into pure cold water. This melting and
pouring into water must be done three times, using a clean, new crucible
each time. The third frit is pulverized, five drachms of niter added, and
then melted for the last time, when a clean, beautiful white crystal mass
results.

C. M. S., of Wis.—There are no precise proportions observed
in making the coal-tar and gravel walks of which you speak. The aim is
to saturate the gravel with the hot tar without surplus. The interstices
of the gravel are simply to be filled, and the amount required to do this
depends wholly upon the coarseness or fineness of the gravel employed.

W. P. T., of Ohio.—Two teams of horses, of equal strength,
pulling against each other, by means of a rope, would create the same
tension in the rope, as one of the teams drawing against an immovable
object.

W. H. B., of Va.—Ice can be made by compressing air, and,
after it has radiated its heat, allowing it to extract the heat of water with
which it is brought into contact. The temperature of air at 59° Fah., would
be raised, by compressing the air to one fourth its original volume, to 317°
Fah; and the air would radiate and absorb again, in expanding, about 190
units of heat.

E. T. H., of Ga.—The friable sandstone, a specimen of which
you send us, may, we think, be rendered firmer by soaking it in a solution
of silicate of soda, and allowing it to stand till dry.

J. A. V., of Ohio.—The use of steam expansively, by means
of cut-off appliances, enables the expansive force of the steam to be
utilized, which cannot be done when the pressure is maintained at one
standard, and steam admitted through the fall stroke. It takes no more
power to do a given amount of work in one case than in the other, but
more boiler capacity, and more fuel, as the working power of the steam is
more economically applied when the cut-off is used.

Geo. F. R., of Ohio.—Type metal is composed of 3 parts lead
and 1 part antimony for smallest, hardest, and most brittle types; 4 of lead
and 1 of antimony for next grade; 5 of lead and 1 of antimony for medium
sizes; 6 of lead and 1 of antimony for larger types; and 7 of lead and 1 of
antimony for the largest.

E. J. M., of Texas.—The term “power of a boiler” means its
evaporating power, and in that sense is proper. If its evaporative power
be sufficient to perform a given amount of work, it is proper to estimate
that work in horse power. Water can not be pumped out of a pipe from
which atmospheric air is excluded. A pipe driven into a soil impervious
to air, can never yield water unless the water is forced up by hydraulic
power, as in the artesian system.

A. P. Y., of N. Y.—You will find descriptions of iron enamelling
processes, on pages 297 and 408, Vol. XII. of this journal. It can be
done in colors. See Ure’s “Dictionary of Arts and Manufactures.”

H. C., of Pa.—We do not think increasing the size of the
journals of your car axles from 2½ inches to 6 inches diameter, would
make them run lighter.

H. H. A., of N. Y.—The lining up of a beam engine, in a
vessel, is a process for which no definite mode of procedure is exclusively
applicable. It is an operation to which common sense and judgment must
be brought, and for which each engineer must be a law unto himself.

J. S., of Va.—The use of horizontal propellers to force balloons
up or down is not a new suggestion. It has been tried, but, we believe,
without much practical success.

J. T .S., of N. Y.—You will find further information on the
subject of transmitting power by compressed air, in our editorial columns
of last week.

APPLICATIONS FOR EXTENSION OF PATENTS.

Harvesters.—William T. B. Read, Chicago, Ill., has petitioned for an
extension
of the above patent. Day of hearing, May 17, 1871.

Mode of Fastening Sheet Metal on Roofs, etc.—Asa Johnson, Brooklyn,
N. Y., has petitioned for an extension of the above patent. Day of
hearing, May 3, 1871.

Method of Printing in Colors.—Rosalie Croome, Brooklyn, N. Y., has
petitioned for an extension of the above patent. Day of hearing, May 3,
1871.

Machinery for Compressing Gaseous Bodies.—William A. Royce,
Newburgh, N. Y., has petitioned for an extension of the above patent. Day
of hearing, May 10, 1871.

Plows.—John S. Hall, Pittsburgh, Pa., has petitioned for an extension
of
the above patent. Day of hearing, May 17, 1871.

Carriage Wheels.—James D. Sarven, New Haven, Conn., has petitioned
for an extension of the above patent. Day of hearing May 24, 1871.

New Patent Law of 1870.

INSTRUCTIONS

HOW TO OBTAIN

LETTERS-PATENT

FOR

New Inventions.

Information about Caveats, Extensions, Interferences,
Designs, Trade-Marks, and Foreign Patents.

or Twenty-five years, Munn & Co. have occupied the leading
position of Solicitors of American and European Patents.
During this long experience they have examined not less than
Fifty Thousand Inventions, and have prosecuted upwards of Thirty
Thousand Applications for Patents. In addition to this they
have made, at the Patent Office, Twenty-Five Thousand Special
Examinations into the novelty of various Inventions.

The important advantage of Munn & Co.‘s American and European
Patent Agency is that the practice has been tenfold
greater than that of any other agency in existence, with the additional
advantages
of having the aid of the highest professional skill in every department
and a Branch Office at Washington, that watches and supervises cases when
necessary, as they pass through Official Examination.

MUNN & CO.,

Ask Special Attention to their System of doing
Business.

Consultation and Opinions Free.

Inventors who desire to consult with Munn & Co. are invited to call at
their office 37 Park Row, or to send a sketch and description of the
invention,
which will be examined and an opinion given or sent by mail without charge.

A SPECIAL EXAMINATION

is made into the novelty of an invention by personal examination at the Patent
Office of all patented inventions bearing on the particular class. This
search is made by examiners of long experience, for which a fee of $5 is
charged. A report is given in writing.

To avoid all possible misapprehension, Munn & Co. advise generally,
that
inventors send models. But the Commissioner may at his discretion dispense
with a model—this can be arranged beforehand.

Munn & Co. take special care in preparation of drawings and
specifications.

If a case should for any cause be rejected it is investigated immediately,
and the rejection if an improper one set aside.

NO EXTRA CHARGE

is made to clients for this extra service. Munn & Co. have skillful
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in attendance to supervise cases and to press them forward when necessary.

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Munn & Co. give very special attention to the examination and
prosecution
of rejected cases filed by inventors and other attorneys. In such cases a fee
of $5 is required for special examination and report; and in case of probable
success by further prosecution and the papers are found tolerably well prepared,
Munn & Co. will take up the case and endeavor to get it through for
a reasonable fee to be agreed upon in advance of prosecution.

CAVEATS

Are desirable if an inventor is not fully prepared to apply for a Patent. A
Caveat affords protection for one year against the issue of a patent to another
for the same invention. Caveat papers should be carefully prepared.

The Government fee on filing a Caveat is $10, and Munn & Co.‘s charge
for
preparing the necessary papers is usually from $10 to $12.

REISSUES.

A patent when discovered to be defective may be reissued by the surrender
of the original patent, and the filing of amended papers. This proceeding
should be taken with great care.

DESIGNS, TRADE-MARKS, & COMPOSITIONS

Can be patented for a term of years, also new medicines or medical compounds,
and useful mixtures of all kinds.

When the invention consists of a medicine or compound, or a new article
of manufacture, or a new composition, samples of the article must be furnished,
neatly put up. There should also be forwarded a full statement of its
ingredients, proportions, mode of preparation, uses, and merits.

Canadians and all other foreigners can now obtain patents upon the same
terms as citizens.

EUROPEAN PATENTS.

Munn & Co. have solicited a larger number of European Patents than any
other agency. They have agents located at London, Paris, Brussels, Berlin,
and other chief cities. A pamphlet containing a synopsis of the Foreign
Patent Laws sent free.

Munn & Co. could refer, if necessary, to thousands of patentees who
have
had the benefit of their advice and assistance, to many of the principal
business men in this and other cities, and to members of Congress and
prominent citizens throughout the country.

All communications are treated as confidential.

Address

Under this heading we shall publish weekly notes of some of the more
prominent
home and foreign patents.

Self-Acting Shackle and Car Brake.—Lyman Alphonzo Russell,
Shrewsbury, Vt.—This invention relates to improvements in self-acting
shackles and car brakes, and consists in an improved connection of the
brakes with the shackle, for automatic operation, whereby the connection
may be readily so adjusted that the brakes will not be set in action as when
required to back up the train.

Feed Bags for Horses.—W. A. Hough, South Butler, N. Y.—This invention
relates to a new and useful improvement in feed bags for horses, and
consists in making the bag self-supplying, by means of one or more reservoirs,
the discharge orifices of which reservoirs are closed by a valve or
valves.

Truss.—Adam Hinoult, Montgomery, N. Y.—This invention has for its
object to furnish an improved truss, which shall be so constructed as to
yield freely to the various movements of the body of the wearer, while holding
the rupture securely in place.

Governor for Steam Engines.—Charles A. Conde, Indianapolis, Ind.—This
invention relates to a new method of regulating the movement of the
balls of a steam governor, with a view of adjusting the same in proportion
to the increased or diminished centrifugal force.

Circular Saw Guard.—G. W. Shipman, Ischua, N. Y.—This invention
relates to a new and useful improvement in means for protecting the operator
and others, near running circular saws, from injury, and it consists in a
movable guard, operated by means of the saw carriage, in such a manner
that, during the period of danger (when the saw is not cutting), the guard
covers the saw, and is thrown back from the saw when the latter is in actual
use.

Carpet-cleaning Machine.—J. C. Craft, Baltimore, Md.—This invention
relates to a machine, through which a carpet may be passed, and so
beaten and brushed, during its passage, as to come out of the machine thoroughly
cleansed. The invention consists in the peculiar construction and
arrangement of beaters and brushes for effecting this result.

Combined Cotton and Corn Planter.—L. A. Perrault, Natchez, Miss.—This
invention relates to improvements in machinery for planting seed, and
consists in a combination, in one machine, of a seed-dropping apparatus,
adapted for corn, and another adapted for cotton, in a manner to utilize
one running gear for the two kinds of seed, and thereby save the expense of
separate gear for each.

Lime Kiln.—T. A. Kirk, Kansas City, Mo.—This invention has for its
object
to furnish an improved lime kiln, which shall be so constructed as to
enable the kiln to be worked from the front, in firing and in drawing the
lime and ashes, which will not allow cold or unburnt rock to pass through,
and which will consume its own smoke.

Car Brake.—S. D. Tripp, Lynn, and Luther Hill, Stoneham, Mass.—This
invention relates to improvements in railroad car brakes, and consists in an
arrangement, on the locomotive or tender, of a steam cylinder and piston,
and the arrangement, on the cars, in connection with the brakes, of sliding
rods, so that the rod of the car next to the engine or tender, being moved
backwards by the piston rod of the above cylinder, will bring the brakes of
the rear wheels down upon them, as well as the brakes of the tender, and
slacken the speed thereby, so that the rear projecting end of the brake rod
will come in contact with the rod of the next car, and set its brakes in action
in like manner, and so on, throughout the train. The arrangement of the
said brake actuating rods is such that no matter which end of the car is
foremost, the wheels of one track will be acted on by the brakes.

Combined Ruler, Blotter, and Paper Cutter.—Hugh S. Ball, Spartanburgh,
S. C.—This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a
combined ruler, blotter, and paper cutter, three articles indispensable for
the desk, combined in one.

Reed for Organs and Melodeons.—Augustus Newell, Chicago, Ill.—The
object of this invention is to so construct the tongue-butts, or shanks,
of musical reeds, that the same cannot, during the vibratory motion of the
tongues, be raised from their seats.

Anti-Friction Compound.—Victory Purdy, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.—This
invention relates to a new and useful compound for lubricating railroad car
axle journals, and other journal bearings.

[We present herewith a series of inquiries embracing a variety of topics of
greater or less general interest. The questions are simple, it is true, but we
prefer to elicit practical answers from our readers, and hope to be able to
make this column of inquiries and answers a popular and useful feature of
the paper.]

1.—Emery Wheels.—Can I make emery wheels similar to
those used in a foot lathe, that will answer for sharpening fine tools, such
as gouges, rounds, and hollows, and if so, how shall I proceed?—F. W.

2.—Boiler Furnace.—I have two boilers, twenty-four feet
long and four feet in diameter each, with five ten-inch flues. The fire passes
under the boiler, and enters the flues at the back end, passes through the
flues, and enters the smoke stack at the front end. I use hard pine wood
for fuel. Will some of your many readers give me the best way of constructing
the flue under the boiler, from the end of the grate bars to where
it enters the flues at the back end, and also state the proper distance from
the back wall to the end of the boiler?—N. H.

3.—Medal Casts.—I have some medals which I should
like to copy. Having tried several times, and failed, I thought that I would
ask advice through your query columns. I do not know of what the
medals are manufactured. They are, I suppose, made to imitate bronze. I
have tried casting them in plaster of Paris molds, but have had very poor
success, as the surface of the medals was covered with small holes. The
metal used was lead and antimony, seven to one. I should like to know, if
there be any metal that I can cast them of, and bring out the bronze color
afterwards, or if there be any metal that I can cast them of, and afterwards
color by some solution. Also, of what should I make my molds?—J. E. M.

4.—Removing the Taste of Tar from Rain Water.—Will
some of your correspondents tell me if rain water, which runs off a
gravel roof, and tastes very strongly of tar, is unhealthy, and if there be
anything
that will prevent its tasting, as it is very disagreeable for cooking
purposes?—C. E. H.

5.—Sorghum Molasses.—How can I separate the molasses
from the sugar, in sorghum sugar mush, to make a dry merchantable sugar?

6.—Flux for Aluminum.—Will some of your readers tell
me, through your columns, the best flux to use in melting and mixing aluminum
and copper?

Inventions Patented in England by Americans.

[Compiled from the Commissioners of Patents’ Journal.]

APPLICATIONS FOR LETTERS PATENT.

350.—Breech-loading Fire-arms.—Eli Whitney, New Haven, Conn.
February 10, 1871.

352.—Governor.—Stilliman B. Allen, ——, Mass. February 10, 1871.

357.—Windmill.—A. P. Brown, New York city. February 11, 1871.

332.—Furniture Casters.—F. A. Gardner and H. S. Turrell, Danbury
Conn. February 8, 1871.

339.—Wire Fabrics for Mattresses.—Samuel Rogers, New York city.
February 9, 1871.

340.—Screw Propeller Canal Boats.—Thomas Main, Pierpoint, N. Y.
February 9, 1871.

362.—Flyer for Spinning Machinery.—Thomas Mayor and Geo. Chatterton,
Providence, R. I. February 14, 1871.

373.—Telegraphic Apparatus and Detectors.—W. B. Watkins, Jersey
City, N. J. February 14, 1871.

381.—Steam and other Safety Valves.—Walter Dawson Scranton, Pa.
February 15, 1871.

388.—Iron Rails and Bars, and Modes of Manufacturing the
same.—Eldridge
Wheeler, Philadelphia, Pa. February 15, 1871.

ISSUED BY THE U. S. PATENT OFFICE.

FOR THE WEEK ENDING MARCH 7, 1871.

Reported Officially for the Scientific American.

SCHEDULE OF PATENT FEES

MUNN & CO.,          

Patent Solicitors, 37 Park Row, New York.

112,309.—Hose Sprinkler.—William Anderson, San Francisco,
Cal.

112,310.—Locomotive Spark Arrester.—J. G. Armstrong,
New Brunswick, N. J.

112,311.—Tool for Carriage Makers’ Use.—George Atkinson,
San Francisco, Cal.

112,312.—Potato Probe.—John A. Beal, Waterford, N. Y.

112,313.—Hinge for Carriage Doors.—George W. Beers,
Bridgeport, Conn.

112,314.—Stove Leg.—James Birckhead, Jr., Baltimore, Md.

112,315.—Clothes Pin.—Orris A. Bishop, Chicago, Ill.

112,316.—Manufacture of Rochelle Salts and Borax.—V. G.
Bloede, Brooklyn, N. Y.

112,317.—Beehive.—Felix Brewer, Waynesville, Mo.

112,318.—Thill Coupling.—Theodore Burr (assignor to Allen
Muir and Henry Muir), Battle Creek, Mich.

112,319.—Evaporating Pan for Saccharine Liquids.—F. C.
Butler, Bellows Falls, Vt., assignor to himself and James B. Williams,
Glastonbury, Conn.

112,320.—Door Securer.—William H. Caldwell, Wheeling,
W. Va.

112,321.—Toe-calk Bar.—R. B. Caswell, Springfield, Mass.
Antedated March 2, 1871.

112,322.—Glass Flattening Furnace and Leer.—James
Clabby, Lenox, Mass.

112,323.—Spring Bed Bottom.—Alex. Cole, Manamuskin,
N. J.

112,324.—Water Wheel.—E. E. Coleman, West Cummington,
Mass.

112,325.—Toy Horse and Carriage.—John B. Cuzner,
Bridgeport, Conn.

112,326.—Mackerel-line Holder.—E. L. Decker, Southport,
Me.

112,327.—Sewing Machine.—J. William Dufour, Stratford,
Conn.

112,328.—Steam Boiler.—Edwards Evans, North Tonawanda,
N. Y.

112,329.—Medical Compound for Cure of Catarrh and
Asthma.—Erastus Field, Ostrander, Ohio.

112,330.—Machine for Grinding the Cutters of Mowers,
etc.—H. C. Fisk, Wellsville, N. Y.

112,331.—Machine for Making Hooks and Eyes.—Jeremy
T. Ford, San Francisco, Cal.

112,332.—Churn.—Thompson Freeman, Westfield, Ill.

112,333.—Attachment for Revolving Mold Boards for
Plows.—J. S. Godfrey, Leslie, Mich., assignor to himself and S. M. Loveridge,
Pittsburgh, Pa.

112,334.—Grain Cleaner and Fertilizer Sifter.—J. A.
Green, Mill Dale, Va.

112,335.—Screw Propulsion.—E. C. Gregg (assignor to A. H.
Gregg and C. P. Gregg), Trumansburg, N. Y.

112,336.—Seeding Machine.—P. M. Gundlach, Belleville,
Ill.

112,337.—Compound for Kindling Fires.—J. L. Hannum
and S. H. Stebbins, Berea, Ohio.

112,338.—Lawn Mower.—Benjamin Harnish, Lancaster, and
D. H. Harnish, Pequea, Pa.

112,339.—Composition for Pavements.—C. B. Harris, New
York city. Antedated February 25, 1870.

112,340.—Spring for Vehicles.—John R. Hiller, Woodland,
Cal.

112,341.—Harvester Rake.—S. T. Holly, (assignor to John
P. Manny), Rockford, Ill.

112,342.—Door Clamp.—Henry O. Hooper, Diamond Springs,
Cal.

112,343.—Taper Holder.—Thomas W. Houchin, Morrisania,
N. Y.

112,344.—Metallic Garter.—Henry A. House, Bridgeport,
Conn.

112,345.—Bobbin Winder.—Henry A. House, Bridgeport,
Conn.

112,346.—Method of Knitting Stockings, etc.—Henry A.
House, Bridgeport, Conn.

112,347.—Apparatus for Evaporating and concentrating
Liquids.—John Howarth, Salem, Mass. Antedated March 1, 1871.

112,348.—Apparatus for Evaporating and Concentrating
Liquids.—John Howarth, Salem, Mass. Antedated March 1, 1871.

112,349.—Apparatus for Removing Oil from Vegetable
and other Matters.—Elias S. Hutchinson, Baltimore, Md.

112,350.—Apparatus and Process for Removing Oil
from Grain, Seeds, etc.—Elias S. Hutchinson, Baltimore, Md.

112,351.—Chandelier.—Charles F. Jacobsen, New York
city.

112,352.—Culinary Vessel.—Carrie Jessup, New Haven,
Conn.

112,353.—Machine for Cutting Leather.—Aberdeen Keith,
North Bridgewater, Mass.

112,354.—Attaching Knobs to their Spindles.—John F.
Keller and Nathaniel Sehner, Hagerstown, Md.

112,355.—Miter Machine.—T. E. King, Boston, Mass.

112,356.—Take-up for Corset Looms.—Julius Kuttner,
New York city.

112,357.—Elevator and Carrier.—T. W. Lackore, Worth,
Ill.

112,358.—Apparatus for Burning Hydrocarbon Oils.—James
R. Lee, Grass Valley, Cal.

112,359.—Burglar Alarm.—Robert Lee, Cincinnati, Ohio.

112,360.—Telegraph Apparatus.—L. T. Lindsey, Jackson,
Tenn.

112,361.—Harvester.—J. P. Manny, Rockford, Ill.

112,362.—Harvester.—J. P. Manny, Rockford, Ill.

112,363.—Harvester Rake.—J. P. Manny, Rockford, Ill.

112,364.—Cheese Curd Sink.—H. C. Markham, Collinsville,
N. Y.

112,365.—Mowing Machine.—H. C. Markham and Dewitt C.
Markham, Collinsville, N. Y.

112,366.—Propeller.—Alex. J. Marshall, Warrenton, Va.
Antedated March 3, 1871.

112,367.—Oiler.—Edward McDuff and E. D. Forrow, Warwick,
R. I.

112,368.—Wash Boiler.—John McInnes, Oxford, Pa.

112,369.—Propelling Canal Boats.—H. B. Meech, Fort
Edward, N. Y. Antedated February 25, 1871.

112,370.—Water-proof Compound for Coating Cloth
Wood, Metals, etc.—Peter E. Minor, Schenectady, N. Y.

112,371.—Cooking Stove.—W. N. Moore, Neenah, Wis.

112,372.—Boring Machine.—J. H. Pardieck (assignor to himself
and S. M. Brown), Acton, Ind.

112,373.—Vapor Burner.—R. W. Park, Philadelphia, Pa.

112,374.—Machine for Pointing Blanks for Cultivator
Teeth.—John Pedder and George Abel, West Pittsburgh, Pa.

112,375.—Bale Tie.—J. E. Perkins, San Francisco, Cal.

112,376.—Lining Walls with Felt, etc.—James Phillips,
Chicago, Ill.

112,377.—Cooking Stove.—Samuel Pierce, Boston, Mass.

112,378.—Tack.—A. A. Porter, New Haven, Conn. Antedated
Feb. 25, 1871.

112,379.—Machine for Shaping and Cutting Gear Cutters.—F. A.
Pratt (assignor to the Pratt & Whitney Company), Hartford,
Conn.

112,380.—Combination Camera and Developing Box.—E. C.
Ratzell, Philadelphia, Pa.

112,381.—Punching Machine.—J. C. Rhodes, South Abington,
Mass.

112,382.—Washing Machine.—J. W. Ricker, Chelsea, Mass.

112,383.—Curtain Fixture.—Charles Robin. Chester, Conn.

112,384.—Machine for Making Printers’ Leads.—Isaac
Schoenberg, New York city.

112,385.—Slide Valve for Steam Riveting Machines.—Coleman
Sellers (assignor to William Sellers & Co.), Philadelphia, Pa.

112,386.—Machine for Polishing Thread.—Samuel Semple,
Sr., John Semple, Samuel Semple, Jr., and R. A. Semple, Mount
Holly, N. J.

112,387.—Paint Brush.—F. S. Shearer, Washington, Ill.

112,388.—Bee Hive.—S. A. Short, F. J. Short, J. B. Short,
and Jasper Kile, Decatur, Ala.

112,389.—Apparatus for Removing Oil from Vegetable
and other Matter.—Thomas Sim, Baltimore, Md.

112,390.—Retort for Producing Bisulphide of Carbon.—Thomas
Sim, Baltimore, Md.

112,391.—Utilizing the Silky Down of the Wild Cotton.
—M. H. Simpson, Boston, Mass.

112,392.—Pruning Shears.—Frank Smiley, Batavia, N. Y.

112,393.—Water-closet Valve.—A. J. Smith, San Francisco,
Cal.

112,394.—Gang Plow.—J. W. Sursa, San Leandro, Cal.

112,395.—Grinding Pan and Amalgamator.—W. H. Thoss,
West Point, Cal.

112,396.—Street Lantern.—Augustus Tufts, Malden, Mass.

112,397.—Cooking Stove.—Alvin Warren, Swanton, Ohio.

112,398.—Safety Bridle.—James Weatherhead, San José,
Cal.

112,399.—Fire Grate.—George Wellhouse, Akron, Ohio.

112,400.—Hay Knife.—G. F. Weymouth, Dresden, Me.

112,401.—Claw Bar.—Charles Winter, Chillicothe, Ohio.

112,402.—Steam Generator.—J. C. Woodhead, Pittsburgh,
Pa.

112,403.—Animal Trap.—W. D. Wrightson, Queenstown
England.

112,404.—Brush.—John Ames, Lansingburg, N. Y.

112,405.—Clod Fender.—F. L. Bailey, Freeport, Ind.

112,406.—Ruler.—H. S. Ball, Spartanburg, S. C.

112,407.—Fanning Mill.—Benjamin Barney, Time, Ill.

112,408.—Ice-cutting Machine.—Lafayett Barnum (assignor
to himself and A. R. Hale), Bridgeport, Conn.

112,409.—Manufacture of Ice.—T. J. Bigger, Kansas City,
Mo.

112,410.—Machine for Heading Bolts and Spikes.—Reinhold
Boeklen, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to himself and Henry Torstrick
New York city. Antedated Feb. 28, 1871.

112,411.—Washing Machine.—Joseph Boswell, L. M. Boswell,
Jonathan Palmer, and J. H. James (assignors to themselves and
Thomas Starbuck), Wilmington, Ohio.

112,412.—Water Wheel.—E. C. Boyles, New York city.

112,413.—Cotton Press.—R. M. Brooks, Pike county, Ga.

112,414.—Paper-cutting Machine.—Samuel Brown (assignor
to himself and C. R. Carver), Philadelphia, Pa.

112,415.—Governor for Direct-acting Engines.—A. S.
Cameron, New York city.

112,416.—Governor for Direct-acting Engines.—A. S.
Cameron, New York city.

112,417.—Butt Hinge.—J. W. Carleton (assignor to the Union
Manufacturing Co.), New Britain, Conn.

112,418.—Machine for Cutting Sheet Metal.—C. R.
Choate, East Saginaw, Mich.

112,419.—Bit Brace.—William Cleveland, Lawrence, Mass.,
assignor to himself and James Swan, Seymour, Conn.

112,420.—Steam Engine Governor.—C. A. Condé, Indianapolis,
Ind.

112,421.—Carpet-cleaning Machine.—J. C. Craft (assignor
to himself and Antonio Rosello), Baltimore, Md.

112,422.—Steam Regulator for Paper Dryers.—Daniel
Crosby, Hampden, Me.

112 423.—Metallic Piston and Valve Rod Packing.—G. M.
Cruickshank, Providence, R. I.

112,424.—Grain-thrashing and Separating Machine.—John
Culham, Grand Rapids, Mich. Antedated Feb. 25, 1871.

112,425.—Cooking Stove.—David Curtis, Mishawaka, assignor
to himself and C. B. Graham, South Bend, Ind.

112,426.—Lightning Rod.—S. D. Cushman, New Lisbon,
Ohio.

112,427.—Hose Bridge.—Patrick Daily (assignor to himself
and J. J. Kehoe), New York city.

112,428.—Cover for Openings in Sidewalks.—William
Dale, New York city.

112,429.—Rotary Pump.—F. O. Deschamps, Philadelphia,
Pa.

112,430.—Machine for Cutting Files.—James Dodge,
Manchester, England, assignor to David Blake, Spencertown, N. Y.

112,431.—Coupling for Railway Cars.—Henry Dubs and
S. G. Goodall-Copestake, Glasgow, Great Britain.

112,432.—Tobacco Pipe.—P. J. Dwyer, Elizabethport, N. J.

112,433.—Basket for House Plants.—Albert P. Eastman,
Washington, D. C.

112,434.—Sulky Plow.—Milo A. Elliott, Stratford Hollow,
N. H.

112,435.—Stretcher for Paintings.—James Fairman, New
York city.

112,436.—Body Lantern Holder.—Samuel C. Fessenden,
Stamford, Conn.

112,437.—Stove Leg.—Amon L. Finch, Sing Sing, N. Y.

112,438.—Pump Piston.—John S. Follansbee and George
Doolittle (assignors to the Forrester Manufacturing Company), Bridgeport,
Conn.

112,439.—Shoe.—Samuel W. Francis (assignor to himself
and W. H. Newton), Newport, R. I.

112,440.—Guard-Finger for Harvesters.—George Fyfe
and Chester Hard, Ottawa, Ill.

112,441.—Dining Table.—S. R. Gardner (assignor to himself
and S. M. Marquette), Independence, Iowa.

112,442.—Step Ladder.—M. Boland Geary, New York City.

112,443.—Oilcloth Printing Machinery.—Ebenezer A.
Goodes (assignor to Philadelphia Patent and Novelty Company), Philadelphia,
Pa.

112,444.—Tenoning Machine.—Lyman Gould, Norwich,
Conn.

112,445.—Printer’s Case.—Wm. H. A. Gresham, Atlanta,
Ga.

112,446.—Lamp Chimney.—Geo. W. Griswold, Factoryville,
Pa.

112,447.—Grain Separator.—Philander Griswold, Hudson,
Mich.

112,448.—Clamp for Thill Couplings.—John W. Guider
(assignor to himself and John Kiefer), St. Joseph, Mo.

112,449.—Bird Cage.—Gottlob Gunther, New York city.

112,450.—Stop Cock and Valve.—William Haas, New York
city.

112,451.—Valve for Steam Engines.—Joseph L. Harley,
Baltimore, Md., and Xaver Fendrich, Georgetown, D. C.

112,452.—Metallic Hub.—John H. Harper, Pittsburgh, Pa.

112,453.—Composition for Lubricating Machinery.—E. Q.
Henderson (assignor to John C. Burroughs and Richard A. Springs)
Charlotte, N. C.

112,454.—Post-hole Digger.—Bryant B. Herrick, Decatur,
Mich.

112,455.—Door Check.—Levi S. Hicks (assignor to himself,
J. Perrin Johnson, and John Buell), Peoria, Ill.

112,456.—Railway-car Brake.—Luther Hill, Stoneham, and
Seth D. Tripp, Lynn, Mass.

112,457.—Truss.—Adam Hinoult, Montgomery, N. Y.

112,458.—Feed Bag for Horses.—Walter A. Hough, South
Butler, N. Y.

112,459.—Shade Holder for Lamps—Mark W. House,
Cleveland, Ohio.

112,460.—Lamp Chimney.—Mark Wiggins House (assignor
to the Cleveland Non-Explosive Lamp Company), Cleveland, Ohio.
Antedated March 1, 1871.

112,461.—Horse Hay Rake.—James Howard and E. T. Bousfield,
Bedford, England.

112,462.—Tongs for Rolling Barrels.—Mark W. Ingle,
Indianapolis, Ind.

112,463.—Pitman.—George W. Jayson, Lodi, Ohio.

112,464.—Paste for Paper Hangings.—John Jones (assignor
to himself and Henry A. Smith), New York city.

112,465.—Twine Holder.—Edward M. Judd, New Haven, Ct.

112,466.—Clothes Pin or Clasp.—Amos L. Keeports and
William Yount, Littletown, Pa.

112,467.—Putting up Hams.—Samuel Edward Kelly, Philadelphia,
Pa.

112,468.—Limn Kiln.—Thomas A. Kirk, Kansas City, Mo.

112,469.—Fastening for Seats for Wagons or Sleighs.—John
G. Knapp and John F. Robertson (assignors of one third their right
to James H. Holly), Warwick, N. Y.

112,470.—Potato Planter.—George Knowlton (assignor for
one-half his right to N. Haynes), Johnstown, Pa.

112,471.—Revolving Firearm.—Edwin S. Leaycroft, Brooklyn,
N. Y., assignor by mesne assignment, to “Colt’s Patent Firearms
Manufacturing Company,” Hartford, Conn.

112,472.—Revolving Firearm.—Edwin S. Leaycroft, Brooklyn,
N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignment, to “Colt’s Patent Firearms
Manufacturing Company,” Hartford, Conn.

112,473.—Railroad Cattle-Guard Gate.—J. H. Mallory,
La Porte, Ind.

112,474.—Back-reflecting Mirror.—Richard Mason (assignor
to himself and Matthew Ely), Newark, N. J.

112,475.—Ventilator and Chimney Top.—James McGowan
(assignor to himself and Daniel H. Waring), New York city.

112,476.—Apparatus for Rectifying and Refining
Spirits.—Frederick Measey (assignor to himself and Henry D. Fling),
Philadelphia, Pa.

112,477.—Tin Can.—John F. Merrill (assignor to himself and
Alexander Stewart), Cincinnati, Ohio.

112,478.—Take-up Mechanism for Looms.—John Michna
and Joseph Fischer, New York city.

112,479.—Combined Baker and Broiler.—Wm. H. Miller,
Brandenburg, Ky.

112,480.—Shuttle for Sewing Machines.—James D. Moore,
Grinnell, Iowa.

112,481.—Cotton Chopper and Grain Cultivator.—Daniel
Mosely, Osark, Arkansas.

112,482.—Sad and Fluting Iron.—Frederick Myers, New
York city.

112,483.—Reed for Organs and Melodeons.—Augustus
Newell, Chicago, Ill.

112,484.—Straw Cutter.—Amon Park, Germanville, Iowa.

112,485.—Apparatus for Aging Whisky and Other
Spirits.—Josiah Peiffer and Samuel Richards, Valonia, Pa.

112,486.—Combined Cotton and Corn Planter.—Louis A.
Perrault (assignor to himself and Joseph Huber), Natchez, Miss.

112,487.—Faucet.—Solomon Pfleger, Reading, assignor to
himself and J. S. Pfleger, Tamaqua, Pa.

112,488.—Treadle.—George K. Proctor, Salem, Mass.

112,489.—Lubricating Compound.—Victory Purdy, Poughkeepsie,
N. Y.

112,490.—Fertilizer and Seeding Machine.—Archibald
Putnam (assignor to Elizabeth Putnam), Owego, N. Y.

112,491.—Rotary Pump.—George W. Putnam, South Glens
Falls, N. Y.

112,492.—Hat Brush.—Robert Dunbar Radcliffe, Palmyra,
N. Y.

112,493.—Refrigerating Show Case.—Thomas L. Rankin,
Lyndon, Kansas, assignor to himself and D. W. Rockwell, Elyria, Ohio.

112,494.—Device for Starting and Stopping Cars.—Philip
Rhoads, Carlisle, Pa.

112,495.—Pipe-molding Machine.—George Richardson, Milwaukee,
Wis.

112,496.—Sulky Cultivator.—Richard B. Robbins, Adrian,
Mich.

112,497.—Hand Plow.—Nelson Rue, Harrodsburg, Ky.

112,498.—Mechanical Movement.—Edward G. Russell, Ravenna,
Ohio.

112,499.—Railway Car Brake.—Lyman Alphonzo Russell,
Shrewsbury, Vt.

112,500.—Stovepipe Cleaner.—David Sanford, Ashton, Ill.

112,501.—Twine Holder.—Joseph B. Sargent and Purmont
Bradford (assignors to Sargent & Co.), New Haven, Conn.

112,502.—Dovetailing Machine.—James M. Seymour, Newark,
N. J.

112,503.—Wooden Pavement.—Eaton Shaw, Portland, Me.

112,504.—Guard for Circular Saws.—George W. Shipman,
Ischua, N. Y.

112,505.—Breech-loading Firearm.—Dexter Smith and
Martin J. Chamberlin, Springfield, Mass.

112,506.—Spark Arrester.—James Smith, Altoona, Pa.

112,507.—Horse Hay Rake.—Solomon P. Smith, Waterford,
N. Y.

112,508.—Plow.—S. M. Stewart, New Harrisburg, Ohio.

112,509.—Medical Compound for Treating Fever and
Ague.—George E. Swan, Mount Vernon, Ohio.

112,510.—Device for Cooling Journals of Car Axles.—Henry
G. Thompson, Milford, Conn.

112,511.—Cooling Journal of Car Axles.—Henry G.
Thompson, Milford, Conn.

112,512.—Cooling Journal of Car-wheel Axles.—Henry
G. Thompson, Milford, Conn.

112,513.—Device for Cooling Journals of Railway Cars.—Henry
G. Thompson, Milford, Conn.

112,514.—Non-heating Handle for Sad Irons, etc.—William
H. Towers, Boston, Mass.

112,515.—Lubricator.—John Erst Uhl, Renovo, Pa.

112,516.—Combined Corn Planter and Cultivator.—Franklin
Underwood, South Rutland, N. Y.

112,517.—King Bolt.—Wendel Vondersaar, Indianapolis,
Ind.

112,518.—Wheat Roaster.—George W. Waitt (assignor to
himself and Robert B. Fitts), Philadelphia, Pa.

112,519.—Plaster Sower.—Thomas J. West, Alfred Center,
N. Y.

112,520.—Ticket Holder.—Henry Wexel, Providence, R. I.

112,521.—Tobacco Press.—Abraham N. Zell, Lancaster, Pa.

112,522.—Combined Bag Holder and Scales.—William
Zimmerman, Lebanon, Pa. Antedated February 25, 1871.

112,523.—Breech-loading Firearm.—James M. Mason,
Washington, D. C.

REISSUES.

4,287.—Treating Fruits to Dry, Saccharify, and Preserve
Them.—Charles Alden, Newburg, assignor of part interest to Alden
Fruit Preserving Company, New York city. Patent No. 100,835, dated
March 5, 1870; reissue No. 4,011, dated June 7, 1870.

4,288.—Device for Securing Pulleys to Shaft.—John
H. Buckman (assignor to himself and Peter W. Reinshagen), Cincinnati,
Ohio. Patent No. 98,144, dated December 21, 1839.

4,289.—Shawl Strap.—George Crouch, Westport, Conn.
Patent No. 82,606, dated September 29, 1868.

4,290.—Atmospheric Dental Plate.—Nehemiah T. Folsom,
Laconia, N. H. Patent No. 60,871, dated January 1, 1867.

4,291.—Pessary.—William R. Gardner, Leonardsville, N. Y.
Patent No. 105,191, dated July 12, 1870.

4,292.—Division A.—Skate.—James L. Plimpton, New York
city. Patent No. 37,305, dated January 6, 1863; reissue No. 3,906, dated
April 5, 1870.

4,293.—Division B.—Skate.—James L. Plimpton, New York
city. Patent No. 37,305, dated January 6, 1863; reissue No. 3,906, dated
April 5, 1870.

4,294.—Apparatus for Pitching Barrels.—Louis Schulze,
Baltimore, Md. Patent No. 106,964, dated August 30, 1870.

DESIGNS.

4,694.—Picture Frame.—John H. Bellamy, Charlestown,
Mass.

4,695.—Bell Crank and Escutcheon.—Pietro Cinquini,
West Meriden, Conn., assignor to Parker & Whipple Company.

4,696.—Pedestal for a Cake Dish.—George Gill (assignor to
Reed & Barton), Taunton, Mass.

4,697.—Table Caster.—William Parkin (assignor to Reed &
Barton), Taunton, Mass.

4,698.—Buckle Frame.—John E. Smith, Waterbury, Conn.

4,699.—Back of a Chair or Sofa.—George Unverzagt, Philadelphia,
Pa.

TRADE-MARKS.

182.—Hat.—Nathan A. Baldwin, Milford, Conn., James H.
Prentice, Brooklyn, and John R. Waller, New York city.

183.—Spool Cotton.—Lewis Coleman & Co., Boston, Mass.

184.—Salve.—Robert Dobbins, Binghamton, N. Y.

185.—Soap.—Leberman & Co., Philadelphia, Pa.

186.—Medicine.—Ridenour, Coblentz & Co., Springfield, Ohio.

187.—Paper.—Union Manufacturing Company, Springfield,
Mass.

EXTENSIONS.

Wagons.—Edgar Huson, Ithaca, N. Y. Letters Patent No.
16,648, dated February 17, 1857; reissue No. 2,500, dated March 5, 1867.

Operating Valve of Steam Engine.—Samuel R. Wilmot,
Bridgeport, Conn. Letters Patent No. 16,668, dated February 17, 1857.

Hinges.—John David Browne, Cincinnati, Ohio. Letters
Patent No. 16,678, dated February 24, 1857.

Keeper for Right and Left Hand Door Locks.—Calvin
Adams, Pittsburgh, Pa. Letters Patent No. 16,676, dated February 24,
1857.

Solar Camera.—David A. Woodward, Baltimore, Md. Letters
Patent No. 16,700, dated February 24, 1857; reissue No. 2,311, dated
July 10, 1866.

Cast Seamless Thimble Skeins for Wagons.—John Benedict,
Kenosha, Wis., administrator of Andrew Leonard, deceased. Letters
Patent No. 16,688, dated February 24, 1857; reissue No. 575, dated July
27, 1858; reissue No. 1,229, dated October 8, 1861.

Mode of Casting Seamless Skeins for Wagons.—John
Benedict, Kenosha, Wis., administrator of Andrew Leonard, deceased.
Letters Patent No. 16,688, dated February 24, 1857; reissue No. 575, dated
July 27, 1858; reissue No. 1,228, dated October 8, 1861.

Breech-loading Firearms.—William Cleveland Hicks, Summit,
N. J. Letters Patent No. 16,797, dated March 10, 1857; reissue No.
1,952, dated May 9, 1865; reissue No. 3,798, dated January 18, 1870; reissue
No. 3,860, dated March 1, 1870.

Seeding Machine.—Lewis B. Myers and Henry A. Myers,
Elmore, Ohio. Letters Patent No. 16,772, dated March 3, 1857.

DISCLAIMER.

Solar Camera.—David A. Woodward, Baltimore, Md. Letters
Patent No. 16,700, dated February 24, 1857; reissue No. 2,311, dated
July 10, 1866. Filed February 23, 1871.

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To Manufacturers of Knitted Goods. J OHN KENT is now in England, completing arrangements so as to be able to supply his American friends with his improved Knitting Machines with greater dispatch, and with all the latest improvements. He would beg to call especial attention to The Improved Rib Top Frame, now so well known, and acknowledged to be the best rib top frame ever built, for speed and quality of goods produced. Price, delivered free in New York, $520, currency. The Improved Circular Web Frame, for drawers and shirts, built of any size and gage. Price for a 4-head set, 17 inch to 20 inch diameter, $810, currency, delivered free in New York. The Circular Stocking Frame, from 2 in. to 5½ in. diameter. These circular frames, with my last improvements, are as near perfection as possible. The Patent Full-fashioned Shirt, Drawers and Stocking Frames produce the most perfect goods ever made by steam-power machinery, and cost fifty per cent less to keep in repair than any other Knitting Machine. Built 10 to 24 gage, and from 30 to 140 inch wide, to order. The Improved Circular Looping Frame, for putting on shirt cuffs, drawers bands, clearing the top of circular shirts, &c., built to order, of any size, from 2 in. to 22 in. diameter, and of any gage. Steel Needles and Sinkers to pattern. Persons wishing to order while Mr. Kent is in England, will please address JOHN KENT, Nottingham, up to April 12th, or, if they prefer, may send through depot. Address JOHN KENT, 348 Pearl st., New York.   PUMPS.  —For Description, Price Lists etc., of the Best Centrifugal Pump ever invented, with Overwhelming Testimony in its favor, send for new illustrated pamphlet (40 pp.) to Messrs. HEALD, SISCO & CO., Baldwinsville, N. Y. BRICK PRESSES. F OR RED AND FIRE BRICK. Factory 309 S. Fifth street, Philadelphia, Pa. S. P. MILLER. ST. JOSEPH, Mo., Nov. 10, 1870. T. R. BAILEY & VAIL, Lockport, N. Y.: Gentlemen:—The Lathe you shipped me has arrived, and I have it in full operation. It works perfectly, and I think it the best lathe made in the world for Bedstead and Chair work. I would recommend it to any one desirous of obtaining such a lathe. Yours truly, H. R. BRISTOL. WOOLEN MILL FOR SALE. W ith House and 3 acres of land, Seymour, Ct., (Naugatuck Valley,) 2 miles from R. R. depot. Never-failing stream. 3 ft. fall, dam and wheel in good condition. Inquire of JAS. ORMSBEE, on the premises. Portable & Stationary Steam Engines A ND HOISTING ENGINES. A good article at low prices. Every machine warranted. Send for descriptive Price List. H. B. BIGELOW & CO.,           New Haven, Conn. PATENT BANDSAW MACHINES Of the most approved kinds, of various sizes, to saw bevel as well as square, without inclining the table, by FIRST & PRYIBIL, 452 to 456 Tenth ave., New York. Price $250, $275, $350, and $400. At present (Oct. 16), there are in operation, in this city alone, 88 of our machines. Send for circular. Manufacture, also, an improved saw-filing apparatus; price, $30. Have also on hand a large stock of best French Bandsaw Blades. L. & J. W. FEUCHTWANGER, 55 Cedar st., New York, Chemists, Manufacturers, and Importers of Specialities, Silicates, Soda and Potash, Chloride of Calcium, Peroxide of Manganese, Hydrofluoric Acid, Metallic Oxides, Steel and Glass Makers’ and Potters’ Articles, Publishers of Treatises on “Soluble Glass,” “Gems,” and “Fermented Liquors.” PIMLICO BRACES, SOMETHING NEW. THIS invention is based on a strictly scientific principle, and is a valuable improvement on old style suspenders. It is simple in construction, and combines the qualities of Brace and Suspender. They are unequaled for elegance, durability and comfort. Manufactured at the Monumental Silk Works, Baltimore. JOHN M. DAVIES & CO., Sole Agents, 384 & 386 B’d’y, N. Y. Dr. J. ARMSTRONG’S (Patent) Improved Heater, Filter, Lime Extractor, and Condenser Combined, For Steam Boilers. MANUFACTURED BY Armstrong & Starr, Toledo, Ohio. Send for Circulars. Formerly Armstrong & Welsh.   F OR SALE.—An Engine, 12×36 in. cylinder, and two Boilers, 4×15 feet, in good order, will be sold cheap. J. J. TAYLOR & CO., 68 Courtlandt st., New York.   H UNTING, Trapping and Fishing. All about it. Sent free. Address “Hunter,” Hinsdale, N. H. First Premium awarded by Am. Inst., 1870 MICROSCOPES, MAGIC LANTERNS, } Illustrated price list and catalogues free to any address. T. H. McALLISTER, Optician, 49 Nassau st., N. Y. Rare and Beautiful Flowers —AND— CHOICE VEGETABLES Can always be obtained by Sowing The Seventeenth Annual Edition of their celebrated “SEED CATALOGUE AND GUIDE TO THE FLOWER AND KITCHEN GARDEN,” is now ready for distribution. It contains Four Beautifully Colored Lithographs, and about 300 choice Engravings of favorite Flowers and Vegetables, 136 pages of closely-printed matter, and a list of Twenty-five Hundred species and varieties of Flower and Vegetable Seeds, with explicit directions for their culture, and much other useful information upon the subject of Gardening. A copy will be mailed to all applicants inclosing 25 cts. Regular customers supplied gratis. Address B. K. BLISS & SONS, Nos. 23 Park Place, and 20 Murray st., P. O. Box No. 5712. New York. Science for the Million. THE Boston Journal of Chemistry, Devoted to the Science of Home Life, the Arts, Agriculture, and Medicine. JAMES R. NICHOLS, M.D., WILLIAM A. ROLFE, A.M., } Editors. ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR. A paper which commends itself at once to Physicians, Druggists, Chemists, Teachers, Farmers, Mechanics—in short, to Professional and Practical Men of every class. The Domestic Recipes and Formulæ for Art Processes are of themselves worth many times the cost of subscription. Specimen Copies Sent Free. Address BOSTON JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY, 150 Congress st., Boston. FOOT LATHES, And all kinds of small tools. Illustrated catalogue free. GOODNOW & WIGHTMAN, 23 Cornhill, Boston, Mass.   A GENTS WANTED.—To sell Stephens’ Patent Combination Rule, which embraces a Rule, Level, Square, Plumb, Bevel, Slope Level, T Square, etc., in one compact tool. These instruments retail at $3.50 each, and energetic salesmen can make money by selling them among mechanics. We warrant them in every particular, as the construction and graduation is faultless. Send for descriptive circular, cuts, and terms. STEPHENS & CO., Riverton, Conn.   FELT.  THE BEST, CHEAPEST and MOST DURABLE non-conductor known, for sale by the Original Manufacturer, at the BOILER FELTING WORKS,   46 Courtland st., New York. Universal Wood Worker. F or Agricultural, Railroad, Car, Carriage, and Wagon Works, Planing Mill, Sash, Door and Blind, Bedstead, Cabinet and Furniture Factories. McBETH, BENTEL & MARGEDANT, Hamilton, O. Inventor’s Exchange, 245 Broadway, N. Y., “Am. Agriculturist” Building. TANGIBLE INVENTIONS NEGOTIATED. No goods received unless ordered. B. F. KEMP, Proprietor.   M ACHINISTS’ TOOLS, at greatly reduced prices. Also, some Woodworth Planers and Second-hand Tools. 97 to 113 R. R. ave., Newark, N. J. E. & R. J. GOULD, successors to Gould Machine Co.   N. B.  PATENTED Articles introduced. Also, State and County Rights sold for Inventors. STONE, PUGH & CO., 55 N. 6th st., Philadelphia.   G OLDEN HILL Seminary for young ladies, Bridgeport, Conn. Miss Emily Nelson, Principal. 1826 USE THE VEGETABLE PULMONARY BALSAM. 1870 The old standard remedy for Coughs, Colds, Consumption. “Nothing Better.” Cutler Bros. & Co., Boston.   T HE CALVERT IRON ROLLING MILLS are offered at private sale. These mills are situated in the city of Baltimore, and cover 1½ acres of ground. The Machinery is of the most approved description, for making all sizes of round and square bar iron, from ¼ in. to 3 in. diameter, and flat bars of all widths, up to 7 inches. The buildings are ample and commodious. In addition to the Rolling Mills are two brick buildings (50×125 feet and 40×90 feet), now containing an 80 H.P. Engine, and Spike Machinery, but which could be used for the manufacture of Nails, Horseshoes, or any other branch of heavy hardware. This property offers an unusual opportunity to capitalists, and will be sold at a reasonable price. For further description address MARSHALL  P. SMITH,                     P. O. Box 1158, Baltimore, Md.   B URDON IRON WORKS.—Manufacturers of Pumping Engines for Water Works, High & Low Pressure Engines, Portable Engines and Boilers, of all kinds, Sugar Mills, Screw, Lever, Drop, & Hydraulic Presses, Machinery in general. HUBBARD & WHITTAKER, 102 Front st., Brooklyn.   E NGINES AND MACHINERY FOR SALE, at a great sacrifice. Two new Steam Engines, 12 and 20 horse power; 1 Faribain’s Riveting Machine; 1 large Power Shears; 1 ditto Table Punch; 2 ditto Flange Punches; 1 set Power Bending Rolls; together with a large lot of Turning Lathes, Drilling Machines, Machinists’ and Smiths’ Hand Tools, Pulleys, Hangers, and 6 Fairbanks’ Platform Scales. Send for catalogue, or apply at the South Brooklyn Steam Engine Works, cor. Imlay and Summit sts., Brooklyn.   S HINGLE AND HEADING MACHINE— Law’s Patent with Trevor & Co.’s Improvements. The Simplest and Best in use. Also, Shingle, Heading and Stave Jointers, Equalizers, Heading Turners, Planers etc.       Address TREVOR & CO., Lockport, N. Y.   A GENTS WANTED—($225 A MONTH) by the AMERICAN KNITTING MACHINE CO. Boston, Mass., or St. Louis, Mo. THE UNITED STATES Brick Machine IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE IT MAKES THE GREATEST NUMBER,           THE BEST, and                     THE CHEAPEST BRICKS. It is the Perfection of Simplicity. It is Durable, and not likely to get out of Repair. See Scientific American, Sept. 17, 1870. For Descriptive Circular apply to F. C. WELLS, President, Room 13, 98 Madison st., CHICAGO. MACHINES can be seen in operation at the Company’s Works, Chicago; at rear 59 Ann st., New York city; and at Novelty Iron Works, corner of Delord and Peter sts., New Orleans. PREPARED Asphalte Roofing Felt. This new prepared production is ready coated, and can be applied on the roof without further trouble. It is easy of application, and does not require any repairs for a long time. It is more durable than some slates, and has been found a suitable substitute for iron or tin roofs. It has a sanded or stony surface, which renders it UNINFLAMMABLE and FIRE-PROOF. Exposed to the most intense fire, and sparks falling upon it, it will not propagate the fire. Under the influence of the sun it will not run, which makes it specially adapted to hot climates. Its easy application and pleasing appearance have made it a favorite roofing material throughout all the Indies and other colonies. Being not cumbrous for transport, it is of invaluable service to settlers and farmers in far remote districts. When used for temporary purposes it may be taken off and applied again to another construction. It replaces common Asphalting on Terraces, Lobbies, Counting-houses, Office Floors, etc.; is a great preservative against dampness and vermin, and equalizes the temperature. It is 32 inches wide, and made in rolls of 25 yards each. Send for circular to E. H. MARTIN,      70 Maiden Lane and 9 Liberty St., N. Y. J. J. H. GREGORY’S Seed Catalogue. My Annual Illustrated Catalogue, containing a list of many new and rare Vegetables, some of which are not found in any other catalogue, and all the standard vegetables of the farm and garden (over one hundred of which I grow on my three seed farms), with a carefully selected list of flower seed, will be sent free to all. All my seed is sold under three warrants: 1st. That all money sent shall reach me. 2d. That all seed ordered shall reach the purchaser. 3d. That my seeds shall be fresh and true to name. JAMES J. H. GREGORY, Marblehead, Mass. THE NEW WILSON AGENTS WANTED. Under-Feed Shuttle SEWING MACHINES! $25 cheaper than any other! For Simplicity, Durability and Beauty they stand unrivalled! For Stitching, Hemming, Tucking, Felling, Quilting, Cording, Binding, Braiding, Gathering, Gathering & sewing on gathers, they are unexcelled! For particulars address Wilson Sewing Machine Co., Cleveland, O., or St. Louis, Mo.   MACHINERY,  NEW and 2d-HAND.— Send for Circular. Chas. PLACE & CO., 60 Vesey st., New York. MACHINISTS. Illustrated Catalogue and Price List of all kinds of small Tools and Materials sent free to any address. GOODNOW & WIGHTMAN, 23 Cornhill, Boston, Mass. P. BLAISDELL & CO.   M ANUFACTURERS of the “BLAISDELL” PATENT DRILL PRESSES, with quick return motion, Agricultural Drills, Improved Engine Lathes, from 12 in. to 28 in. swing, Planers, Gear Cutters, Boring Mills, Hand Lathes, and other first-class Machinists’ Tools. Jackson st., Worcester, Mass. Patent BEDSTEAD FASTENING. The Best, Cheapest, and Strongest FASTENING ever invented. Rights for States and Territories for sale. Address JOHN DOMINGOS      and                     BENJAMIN ESSIG, Sacramento, Cal.   B ENT, GOODNOW & CO., Boston, Mass., Publishers of “PATENT STAR”, sell Patent Rights and goods of all kinds. Orders solicited. AGENTS WANTED. Send stamp for copy. TO THE WORKING CLASS.—We are now prepared to furnish all classes with constant employment at home, the whole of the time or for the spare moments. Business new, light and profitable. Persons of either sex easily earn from 50c. to $5 per evening, and a proportional sum by devoting their whole time to the business. Boys and girls earn nearly as much as men. That all who see this notice may send their address, and test the business, we make this unparalleled offer: To such as are not well satisfied, we will send $1 to pay for the trouble of writing. Full particulars, a valuable sample which will do to commence work on, and a copy of The People’s Literary Companion—one of the largest and best family newspapers published—all sent free by mail. Reader, if you want permanent, profitable work, address D. C. ALLEN & CO., Augusta, Maine. IMPORTANT   T O  MACHINISTS.—The Best Metal for all Machine Uses is the MARTIN STEEL, made by The New Jersey Steel and Iron Co., Trenton, N. J. This steel is made by an entirely different process from any other and is tougher than wrought iron. It can be turned without annealing, being entirely free from hard spots. Every one who uses it pronounces it just what they have long wanted, for a multitude of uses, such as Crank Pins, Lathe Spindles and Screws, Cotton Machinery Rollers, Saw and Fan Spindles, etc., etc. Also, particularly adapted for Firebox Plates. Prices low. Send for further information, or a sample, stating use to which it is to be applied.   OTIS’   SAFETY HOISTING Machinery. OTIS, BROS. & CO.      No. 309 BROADWAY, NEW YORK.           Union Emery Wheels. Solid and with Stone Center. UNION STONE CO., Boston, Mass. Branch Office, 93 Liberty st., N. Y. General Agents for the Am. Twist Drill Co.’s Superior Grinder and other Emery Wheel Machinery and Tools. Send for Circular. WOODBURY’S PATENT Planing and Matching and Molding Machines, Gray & Wood’s Planers, Self-oiling Saw Arbors, and other wood working machinery. S. A. WOODS, Send for Circulars. } 91 Liberty street, N. Y.; 67 Sudbury street, Boston.   R ICHARDSON, MERIAM & CO., Manufacturers of the latest improved Patent Daniels’ and Woodworth Planing Machines, Matching, Sash, and molding, Tenoning, Mortising, Boring, Shaping, Vertical, and Circular Re-sawing Machines, Saw Mills Saw Arbors, Scroll Saws, Railway, Cut-off, and Rip-saw Machines, Spoke and Wood Turning Lathes, and various other kinds of Wood-working Machinery. Catalogues and price lists sent on application. Manufactory, Worcester, Mass. Warehouse, 107 Liberty st., New York. 17 1 Reynolds’ TURBINE WATER WHEELS. The Oldest and Newest. All others only imitations of each other in their strife after complications to confuse the public. We do not boast but quietly excel them all in staunch reliable, economical power. Beautiful pamphlet free. Geo. TALLCOT, 96 Liberty st., New York. Gearing, Shafting.      Niagara Steam Pump. CHAS. B. HARDICK, Adams st., Brooklyn, N. Y.   M ODELS, PATTERNS, EXPERIMENTAL, and other machinery, Models for the Patent Office, built to order by HOLSKE MACHINE CO., Nos. 528, 530, and 532 Water st., near Jefferson. Refer to Scientific American office. 14 tf 1832. SCHENCK’S PATENT. 1870. Woodworth Planers. And Re-Sawing Machines, Wood and Iron Working Machinery, Engines, Boilers, etc. JOHN B. SCHENCK & SON, Matteawan, N. Y., and 118 Liberty st., New York. ANTED—AGENTS, $20 PER DAY, TO sell the celebrated HOME SHUTTLE SEWING MACHINE. Has the under-feed, makes the “lock stitch” alike on both sides, and is fully licensed. The best and cheapest Family Sewing Machine in the market. Address JOHNSON, CLARK & CO., Boston, Mass.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Chicago, Ill., or St. Louis, Mo. Milling Machine,   I NDEX, STANDARD, UNIVERSAL, AND HORIZONTAL.—The largest variety to be found in the country, on hand and finishing. Workmanship, Material, and Design unsurpassed. Machines on exhibition at Fair of American Institute. UNION VISE CO. OF BOSTON. Office 80 Milk st. Works at Hyde Park, Mass. Andrew’s Patents. Noiseless, Friction Grooved, Portable, and Warehouse Hoisters. Friction or Geared Mining & Quarry Hoisters. Smoke-burning Safety Boilers. Oscillating Engines, Double and Single, 1-2 to 100-Horse power. Centrifugal Pumps, 100 to 100,000 Gallons per Minute, Best Pumps in the World, pass Mud, Sand, Gravel, Coal, Grain, etc., without injury. All Light, Simple, Durable, and Economical. Send for Circulars. WM. D. ANDREWS & BRO., 414 Water street, New York.   $150  A MONTH! EMPLOYMENT! EXTRA INDUCEMENTS! A premium Horse and Wagon for Agents. We desire to employ agents for a term of seven years, to sell the Buckeye $20.00 Shuttle Sewing Machine. It makes a stitch alike on both sides, and is the best low-priced licensed machine in the world. W. A. HENDERSON & CO., Cleveland, Ohio, or St. Louis, Mo.   A LLCOTT’S LATHES, for Broom, Hoe, and  Rake Handles, for sale by L. W. POND, 98 Liberty st., New York.   U NRIVALLED Hand Saw Mill, Self-feeding, with ease. Rip 3-in. lumber; guaranteed do work of 3 men. The only hand saw machine known, does as represented. Thousands in use. Send for circular. WM. H. HOAG, Sole Manufacturer, 214 Pearl st. N. Y. Best in the World—$290. Sent on trial—See large cut and terms in Scientific American. Oct. 1st 1870. Dovetailing Machine.   W ILL MAKE 400 DRAWERS PER DAY. See Scientific American, Jan. 11, ’71. H. H. EVARTS, 93 Liberty st.; TREVOR & CO., Lockport N. Y. CIRCULAR SAW MILLS.   H AYS & NEWMAN’S PATENT DOUBLE PARALLEL EDGERS, FOSTER’S PATENT LOG-CANTING MACHINES, and Sawmill Machinery generally, manufactured by the Washington Mowing Machine Company. LEROY MOWRY, Agent, Sandy Hill, Wash. Co., N. Y. Send for Illustrated Circulars and Price Lists. To Electro-Platers.   B ATTERIES, CHEMICALS, AND MATERIALS, in sets or single, with books of instruction, manufactured and sold by THOMAS HALL, Manufacturing Electrician, 19 Bromfield street, Boston, Mass. Illustrated catalogue sent free on application.   P RIZE MEDAL SCROLL SAW.— THOS. L. CORNELL, Derby, Conn. PATENT RIGHTS SOLD ON COMMISSION. By E. E. ROBERTS & CO., Consulting Engineers, 15 Wall St., N. Y. Send Stamp for Circular. Newspaper Advertising. A Book of 125 closely printed pages, lately issued, contains a list of the best American Advertising Mediums giving the names, circulations, and full particulars concerning the leading Daily and Weekly Political and Family Newspapers, together with all those having large circulations, published in the interest of Religion, Agriculture, Literature, etc., etc. Every Advertiser, and every person who contemplates becoming such, will find this book of great value. Mailed free to any address on receipt of 25c. GEO. P. ROWELL & CO., Publishers, No. 40 Park Row, New York. The Pittsburgh (Pa.) Leader, in its issue of May 29, 1870 says: “The firm of G. P. Rowell & Co., which issues this interesting and valuable book, is the largest and best Advertising Agency in the United States, and we can cheerfully recommend it to the attention of those who desire to advertise their business SCIENTIFICALLY and SYSTEMATICALLY in such a way: that is, so as to secure the largest amount of publicity for the least expenditure of money.” THE CELEBRATED Cold-rolled Shafting.   T his Shafting is in every particular superior to any turned Shafting ever made. It is the most ECONOMICAL SHAFTING to buy, being so very much stronger than turned Shafting. Less diameter answers every purpose, causing a great saving in coupling, pulleys and hangers. It is perfectly round, and made to Whitworth Gage. All who give it a trial continue to use it exclusively. We have it in large quantities. Call and examine it, or send for price list. Address GEORGE PLACE & CO., 126 and 128 Chambers st., New York. N. Y. Machinery Depot.   G EORGE PLACE & CO., Manufacturers and Dealers in Wood and Iron Working Machinery, of every description, Stationary and Portable Engines and Boilers, Leather and Rubber Belting, and all articles needful in Machine or Railroad Repair Shops. 126 and 128 Chamber st., New York. Sturtevant Blowers.   T hese are in every particular the best and most perfect Blower ever made. A full assortment of every size on hand, ready to deliver. Address GEORGE PLACE & CO., 126 and 128 Chamber St., New York.   T he Union Iron Mills, Pittsburgh, Pa. The attention of Engineers and Architects is called to our improved Wrought-iron Beams and Girders (patented), in which the compound welds between the stem and flanges, which have proved so objectionable in the old mode of manufacturing, are entirely avoided, we are prepared to furnish all sizes at terms as favorable as can be obtained elsewhere. For descriptive lithograph address Carnegie, Kloman & Co., Union Iron Mills, Pittsburgh, Pa.   M ILL OWNERS, ATTENTION.—Our Turbine Water Wheels still ahead. No complications. Simple, compact, and durable. Prices moderate. VALENTINE & CO., Ft. Edward, N. Y.   T HE WOODWARD STEAM-PUMP MANUFACTURING COMPANY, Manufacturers of the Woodward Pat. Improved Safety Steam Pump and Fire Engine, Steam, Water, and Gas Fittings of all kinds. Also Dealers in Wrought-iron Pipe, Boiler Tubes, etc. Hotels, Churches, Factories, & Public Buildings heated by Steam. Low Pressure. Woodward Building, 76 and 78 Center st., cor. of Worth st. (formerly of 77 Beekman st., N. Y.) All parties are hereby cautioned against infringing the Pat. Right of the above Pump. G. M. WOODWARD, Pres’t.   B UERK’S WATCHMAN’S TIME DETECTOR.—Important for all large Corporations and Manufacturing concerns—capable of controlling with the utmost accuracy the motion of a watchman or patrolman, as the same reaches different stations of his beat. Send for a Circular. J. E. BUERK,      P. O. Box 1,057 Boston, Mass. N. B.—This detector is covered by two U. S. Patents. Parties using or selling these instruments without authority from me will be dealt with according to law.   P ORTABLE STEAM ENGINES, COMBINING the maximum of efficiency, durability and economy, with the minimum of weight and price. They are widely and favorably known, more than 750 being in use. All warranted satisfactory or no sale. Descriptive circulars sent on application. Address J. C. HOADLEY & CO., Lawrence, Mass. 46. Cortlandt st., New York.   $5 TO $10 PER DAY.   MEN, WOMEN, BOYS and GIRLS who engage in our new business make from $5 to $10 per day in their own localities. Full particulars and instructions sent free by mail. Those in need of permanent, profitable work, should address at once. George Stinson & Co., Portland, Maine. Agents! Read This!   W E WILL PAY AGENTS A SALARY OF $30 per week and expenses, or allow a large commission, to sell our new and wonderful inventions. Address M. WAGNER & CO., Marshall, Mich. EPILEPSY OR FITS. A sure cure for this distressing complaint is now made known in a Treatise of 48 octavo pages, on Foreign and Native Herbal Preparations, published by Dr. O. Phelps Brown. The prescription was discovered by him in such a providential manner that he cannot conscientiously refuse to make it known, as it has cured everybody who has used it for Fits, never having failed in a single case. The ingredients may be obtained from any druggist. Persons desiring a copy may address Dr. O. Phelps Brown, No. 21 Grand Street, Jersey City, N. J., and it will be sent by return mail.   W OOD-WORKING MACHINERY GENERALLY. Specialties, Woodworth Planers and Richardson’s Patent Improved Tenon Machines. Nos. 24 and 26 Central, corner Union st., Worcester, Mass. Warerooms 42 Cortlandt st., New York. WITHERBY RUGG, & RICHARDSON.   C INCINNATI BRASS WORKS.—Engineers and Steam Fitters’ Brass Work, Best Quality at very Low Prices. F. LUNKENHEIMER, Prop’r. Hinkley Knitting Machine.   T he simplest, cheapest, and best in use. Has but one needle! A child can run it! Agents Wanted in Every Town. Send for Circular and Sample Stocking to HINKLEY KNITTING MACHINE CO., Bath, Me.   L ATHE CHUCKS—HORTON’S PATENT from 4 to 36 inches. Also for car wheels. Address E. HORTON & SON, Windsor Locks, Conn.   S ILICATE OF SODA, IN ITS VARIOUS forms, manufactured as a specialty, by Philadelphia Quartz Co., 783 South 2d st. Philadelphia, Pa. Advertisements will be admitted on this page at the rate of $1.00 per line for each insertion. Engravings may head advertisements at the same rate per line, by measurement, as the letter-press. An Important Fact. MARVIN & CO.’S SPHERICAL SAFES Have never been Robbed. Hundreds are in use by Banks, Bankers, and Merchants. Warehouses, { 265 Broadway, New York. 721 Chestnut st., Philadelphia. 108 Bank st., Cleveland. 93 Main st., Buffalo. L: L: SMITH & CO., Nickel Platers, 6 HOWARD ST., New York, Between Elm and Centre. SAVE YOUR FUEL. THE ORIGINAL L. B. TUPPER’S Furnace Grate Bar. Guaranteed to make from 5 to 10 lbs. more steam, with less fuel, than any other bar. Adapted to all kinds of fuel; no alteration of furnace required. Received Silver Medal at Cincinnati Industrial Exposition, 1870; Silver Medal at Worcester Co. Mechanics’ Association, 1866; Medal and Diploma at American Institute Fair, 1870; Honorable Mention at Paris Exposition. Send for descriptive pamphlet. Now in use in 10,000 places. L. B. TUPPER, 120 West st., New York. Pyrometers.   F or Blast Furnaces, Bakers’ Ovens, Boiler Flues, Superheated Steam Oil Stills, Zinc and Lead Baths. E. BROWN, 311 Walnut st., Philadelphia. Agents Wanted.   T o sell the UNIVERSAL SASH LOCK. It is Self-Acting and Burglar-Proof. Send stamp for circulars. Carpenters and Builders can make from $10 to $20 selling them. Address G. S. LACEY, care of Patterson Brothers, No. 27 Park Row, New York city.   S PERM OIL, strictly pure, for SEWING MACHINES and fine Machinery, in bottles and bbls. Sample by mail, 25 cts. W. F. NYE, New Bedford, Mass. The Reasons Why   D OOLEY’S YEAST POWDER is preferred to any other Baking Powder in market, are owing to its perfect purity, quality, quantity, and economy. The ingredients are strictly free from deleterious substances, and hence the full strength of each is obtained, and the results are uniform every time it is used. This cannot be the case in those of ordinary manufacture, and for proof of our assertion, we ask those who have never used Dooley’s Yeast Powder to give it a trial. Your grocer keeps it. DOOLEY & BROTHER, Manufacturers, 69 New st., New York.   P ATENT CUTTERS for the Teeth of Gear Wheels, which can be sharpened by grinding, without changing their form. Cutters made on this plan will last many times as long as those of the common form, with the advantage of being always ready for use. Descriptive circular, with price list, sent per mail on application. BROWN & SHARPE M’F’G CO., Providence, R. I. A SPRING OF WATER AT THE TOP OF THE HOUSE.   H OUGHTON’S AUTOMATIC WATER ELEVATOR, patented Feb. 7, 1871, No. 111,542, delivers water from the well or cistern in the tank at the top of the house. Is operated by the fire in the kitchen range without additional fuel; is simple in construction, reliable and cheap. Reliable parties wanted to introduce them into use in all the States except New England. For drawings and full description address CHARLES HOUGHTON, 41 State St., Boston, Mass.   S HORT HAND.—150 words per minute in four weeks. Send stamp for Circular. Prof. GRAY, P. O. Box 4847, New York. WATCHES THAT ARE WATCHES. We shall be pleased to send our DESCRIPTIVE PRICE LIST of Genuine WALTHAM WATCHES, together with an Illustrated pamphlet entitled a History of Watchmaking, to all who send us their address. No matter how remote you are from New York, we can sell you a Watch at the same price as if you were here. When you write mention that you saw this notice in the Scientific Amer. HOWARD & CO., 865 Broadway, N. Y. Engines, Tools, Machinery, etc., FOR SALE AT THE Novelty Iron Works, Foot of East 12th street, New York city,   E MBRACING Engines, Planers, Lathes, Smith and Boiler Makers’ Tools, and Machinery and Patterns of the most approved kinds, etc. Also, 1 High Pressure Engine, 12-inch diameter by 30-inch stroke: 2 Stevenson’s Patent Turbine Water Wheels, 66-inch diameter, and 1 Marine Beam Engine, 60-inches by 10-feet stroke. Send for catalogue. JNO. S. SCHULTZE, RECEIVER OF THE NOVELTY IRON WORKS. New York, March 1, 1871.   F OR CIRCULAR ILLUSTRATING A NEW and greatly improved TURBINE WHEEL, believed to be the best and cheapest in the market, apply to PUSEY JONES & CO.,      Wilmington Delaware   H OTCHKISS BRICK AND TILE MACHINE.—Send for Circular to Room 7, No. 19 Cliff street, New York. PRATT’S Astral OIL: Not the cheapest, but the best Illuminating Oil ever made. Does not take fire or explode if the lamp be upset or broken. Over 100,000 families continue to use it, and no accidents of any description, directly or indirectly, have occurred from it. Oil House of Charles Pratt, Established 1770, New York. UNION Spoke Works.   S POKES, RIMS, AND PLOW HANDLES. All goods warranted seasoned, and of the best quality. JOHN G. DAVIS & SON,      Southwest cor. of Leopard and Otter sts., Philadelphia. Vertical & Horizontal CORN MILLS. 30-inch grinds 30 bus. per hour, and 20-in. 15. Price $280 and $140. EDWARD HARRISON,      New Haven, Conn. IRON STEAMSHIP BUILDERS. NEAFIE & LEVY, PENN WORKS, MARINE ENGINES, BOILERS, ETC., PHILADELPHIA, PA. Swain Turbine. “Our Low-Water Wheel from this on”   W ILL DO TEN PER CENT MORE WORK on small streams, in a dry season, than any wheel ever invented. Gave the best results, in every respect, at the Lowell Tests. For Report of tests at Lowell, with Diagrams and Tables of Power, address THE SWAIN TURBINE CO.,      North Chelmsford, Mass. UILDING PAPER OF THREE GRADES. TARRED SHEATHING, For outside of Studding, under Clapboards. A non-conductor of cold, heat, and dampness. PREPARED PLASTERING BOARD, a cheap and perfect substitute for lath and plaster; makes a smooth, warm, and substantial wall, at less than half the usual cost. DOUBLE THICK ROOFING and Quartz Cement, make a good water and fire-proof roof, for less than $3.50 per square.      Sample and Circulars sent free, by ROCK RIVER PAPER CO.,      Chicago; or, B. E. HALE,      22 & 24 Frankfort street, N. Y.   I RON PLANERS, ENGINE LATHES, Drills, and other Machinists’ Tools, of superior quality, on hand, and finishing. For sale low. For Description and Price address NEW HAVEN MANUFACTURING CO. New Haven Conn. RUMPFF & LUTZ,   I MPORTERS and Manufacturers of Aniline Colors and Dyestuffs, Colors for Paperhangers and Stainers. Reliable recipes for Dyeing and Printing on Silk, Wool, and Cotton. All new improvements in the art of Dyeing, and new Colors are transmitted to us by our friends in Europe, as soon as they appear. 42 Beaver street, New York. PAGE’S Patent Tanned Belting Runs 25 per cent more machinery, is nearly twice as strong, and wears 50 per c. longer than any other. Send for circular containing price lists and discounts. Page Brothers, Sole Manuf’rs, Franklin, N. H. From 4 to 500 horse power including Corliss Engines, Slide Valve Stationary Engines, Portable Engines, etc. Also, Circular Saw Mills, Shafting, Pulleys etc. Wheat and Corn Mills, Circular Saws, etc. Send for Price List. WOOD & MANN Steam Engine Company, WORKS—UTICA, N. Y. Principal Office—42 Cortlandt st., New York. DIAMOND POINTED STEAM DRILLS.   F OR ALL KINDS OF ROCK DRILLING, Mining, Quarrying, Tunneling, Railroad Grading, Well Boring, Prospecting, etc. Fifty to Seventy-five per cent of cost and time of hand labor saved. “Test Cores,” in form of solid cylinders of rock or mineral taken out of mines from any depth not exceeding one thousand feet, showing true value, stratification, etc. No percussion. Never require sharpening. FIRST PREMIUMS awarded in both American and Europe. Illustrated Circulars sent on application. Beware of infringements. SEVERANCE & HOLT, Proprietors and Manufacturers, Office 16 Wall st., New York. NICKEL PLATING. Beardslee Nickel and Manufacturing Co., 82 and 84 Fulton St., Brooklyn, N. Y.   R IGHTS sold for the use of, and instruction given in the best method of Nickel Plating. An experience of twelve years enables us to offer a solution and apparatus that remain practically unchanged for years, in constant use. FIRST PREMIUM AWARDED us by the American Institute in 1870. Critical examination of our work solicited. All goods sent to our Factory will meet with prompt attention. New York Office—4 Dev st., Room 2. Agents wanted.   B EST DAMPER REGULATOR for Steam Boiler. Send for Circulars. MURRILL & KEIZER, Baltimore, Md.   P AT. SOLID EMERY WHEELS AND OIL STONES, for Brass and Iron Work, Saw Mills, and Edge Tools. Northampton Emery Wheel Co., Leeds, Mass. No LIVE MECHANIC Can afford to be without some of BAIRD’S FOR PRACTICAL MEN. My new and enlarged Catalogue of PRACTICAL AND SCIENTIFIC BOOKS, 82 pages, 8vo., will be sent, free of postage, to any one who will favor me with his address. HENRY CAREY BAIRD, Industrial Publisher, 406 Walnut St., Philadelphia. THE FIFTH GRAND STATE FAIR OF THE Mechanics and Agricultural State Association of Louisiana   W ill be held on the Fair Grounds of the Association, in the city of New Orleans, commencing Saturday, April 8, 1871, and continuing nine days. Exhibitors are invited from every section of America. Railroads, steamships, and other transportation lines, as named in the Premium Catalogues, will carry exhibitors and their wares to and from the Fair at one half the usual rates. For further information see Premium Catalogue, which will be sent to any address free of charge. LUTHER HOMES, Secretary and Treasurer, New Orleans, La. WIRE ROPE. JOHN A. ROEBLING’S SONS, MANUFACTURERS, TRENTON, N. J.   F or Inclined Planes, Standing Ship Rigging, Bridges, Ferries, Stays, or Guys on Derricks & Cranes, Tiller Ropes, Sash Cords of Copper and Iron, Lightning Conductors of Copper. Special attention given to hoisting rope of all kinds for Mines and Elevators. Apply for circular, giving price and other information. Send for pamphlet on Transmission of Power by Wire Ropes. A large stock constantly on hand at New York Warehouse, No. 117 Liberty street. $732 IN 31 DAYS,   M ade by one Agent, selling Silver’s Broom. 100,000 in use. Recommended by Horace Greeley and Am. Agriculturist. One county for each Agent. Prices Reduced. C. A. CLEGG & CO., New York, or Chicago, Ill. American Saw Co., Manufacturers of And Perforated Circular and Long Saws. Also Solid Saws of all kinds. No. 1 Ferry St., cor. Gold street, New York. Branch Office for Pacific Coast, No. 606 Front street, San Francisco, Cal. MACHINE SCREWS,   F or all purposes, with square, round, and hexagon heads. A. W. GIFFORD & CO., Worcester, Mass. The fact that this Shafting has 75 per cent greater strength, a finer finish, and is truer to gage, than any other in use, renders it undoubtedly the most economical. We are also the sole manufacturers of the Celebrated Collins Pat. Coupling, and furnish Pulleys, Hangers, etc., of the most approved styles. Price Lists mailed on application to JONES & LAUGHLINS,      120 Water street, Pittsburgh, Pa. Stocks of this Shafting in store and for sale by FULLER, DANA & FITZ, Boston, Mass. GEO. PLACE & CO., 126 Chambers street, N. Y. Steam Super-Heater,   F or Saving Fuel, and supplying Dry Steam of any desired temperature. Safe, durable, easily attached. H. W. BULKLEY Engineer, 98 Liberty st., N. Y.   F OR CIRCULAR OF TREMPER’S PATENT VARIABLE CUT-OFF, for high and low pressure Steam Engines, address PUSEY JONES & CO. Wilmington Delaware. Harrison    Safety    Boiler. First-class Medal, World’s Fair, London, 1862. And American Institute Fair, New York, 1869. Over 1,000 Boilers in Use. Weston’s Patent Differential PULLEY BLOCKS. 75,000 IN USE. Address HARRISON BOILER WORKS, Philadelphia, Pa. or, JOHN A. COLEMAN, Agent,      110 Broadway, New York, and 139 Federal st., Boston. DOYLE’S PATENT DIFFERENTIAL Pulley Blocks, The celebrated Doyle Blocks have taken premiums over the differential Blocks of all other makers at every Fair where they have been exhibited at the same time. When you buy, see that the Blocks are marked J. J. DOYLE. Pat. Jan. 8, 1861. All others are infringements. SAMUEL HALL’S SON & CO., SOLE MANUFACTURERS. 229 West 10th street, New York.   HEAVY CASTINGS   For Forge and Mill Work. The M. & T. SAULT CO. Steam Engine Builders & Founders, New Haven, Conn. EMPLOYMENT.   $250  A MONTH with Stencil Dies. Samples free. Address S. M. SPENCER Brattleboro Vt. THE Tanite Emery Wheel. Does not Glaze, Gum, Heat, or Smell. Address THE TANITE CO., Stroudsburg, Monroe Co., Pa.   A. S. & J. GEAR & CO., Boston, furnish every description of Wood and Iron Working Machinery and Supplies. The best in use, regardless of maker, at lowest possible rates. Working Models And Experimental Machinery, Metal, or Wood, made to order, by J. F. WERNER 62 Center st. N. Y.   M cNAB & HARLAN, Manufacturers of Wrought Iron Pipe and Fittings, Brass Cocks, Valves, Gage Cocks, Whistles, Water Gages, and Oil Cups, Harlin’s Patent Lubricator, Plumber’s Brass Work, Getty’s Patent Pipe Cutter, Getty’s Patent Proving Pump and Gage. No. 86 John st., New York. THE Allen Engine Works, Fourth avenue and 130th and 131st sts., New York city Manufacturers of Porter’s Governor, The Allen Boiler, and Standard Straight Edges, Surface Plates, and Angle Plates. Four first premiums were awarded to us at the Fair of the American Institute, 1870. Send for our illustrated circular. L. W. Pond—New Tools. EXTRA HEAVY AND IMPROVED PATTERNS.   L ATHES, PLANERS, DRILLS, of all sizes; Vertical Boring Mills, ten feet swing, and under; Milling Machines, Gear and Bolt Cutters; Hand Punches and Shears for Iron. Office and Warerooms, 98 Liberty st., New York; Works at Worcester, Mass. A. C. STEBBINS, New York, Agent. WATER-PROOF BUILDING PAPER (No Tar), for Roofing, Sheathing, Ceilings, Oil-cloths, Shoe Stiffenings, Tags, Trunks, Cartridges, Blasting, Pass-book Covers, Grain and Flour Bins, etc., for sale by J. HUNTER, Jr., Paper Warehouse, 59 Duane st., New York. Scientific American For 1871. TWENTY-SIXTH YEAR.   E VERY NUMBER is printed on fine paper, and elegantly illustrated with original engravings representing New Inventions, Novelties in Mechanics, Manufactures, Chemistry, Photography, Architecture. Agriculture. Engineering, Science, and Art. Farmers, Mechanics, Inventors, Engineers, Chemists Manufacturers and People of all Professions or Trades will find the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN of great value and interest. The Editors are assisted by many of the ablest American and European Writers, and having access to all the leading Scientific and Mechanical Journals of the world, the columns of the Scientific American are constantly enriched with the choicest Information. An Official List of all the Patents Issued is published Weekly. The Yearly Numbers of the Scientific American make two splendid Volumes of nearly One Thousand Pages equivalent in size to FOUR THOUSAND ordinary book pages. SPECIMEN COPIES SENT FREE. Terms—$3.00 a year, $1.50 half year; Clubs of Ten Copies for one year, at $2.50 each, $25.00, With a SPLENDID PREMIUM to the person who forms the Club, consisting of a copy of the celebrated Steel Plate Engraving, “Men of Progress.” Address                     MUNN & CO., Publishers of the Scientific American. 37 Park Row, New York.        T HE “Scientific American” is printed with CHAS. ENEU JOHNSON & CO.’S INK. Tenth and Lombard sts. Philadelphia, and 59 Gold st. New York.