MR. MINOR,-In the last number of your valuable Journal received here, I observe a communication from Mr. Jno. Hartman, of Virginia, in which he professes to be the "inventor of an improvement in road making, in the use of timber." Claiming myself the inventorship of that improvement, I think proper to address the public in general, and Mr. Hartman in particular, through the columns of your paper. On Road Making, with the Use of Timber. [set for the going and one for the returning||plain surface," furrows or gutters are formed. By JOHN S. WILLIAMS. To the Editor carriages. I am aware that some of the All holes bored in timber, whether filled with of the American Railroad Journal. advantages of such a track road may be spikes or trenails, and all joints or cracks gained by laying timber as above, by fur-in timber, should be carefully avoided, if we rowing, guttering, or rebating both tracks, to attend to the durability of it, particularly if guide the wheels, but I prefer to gutter or exposed to the weather. And further, gutgroove one only." ters or guides formed out of the solid will be I believe that Mr. Hartman and the pub-less liable to derangement than those formed lic will at once see that every principle of "attached cheeks or sides," and I ques. contained in his communication is also in tion if they will cost more, as laid timber the above extracts. I will go further, and may be ploughed as well as land, and in say that I not only invented the plan, but much the same way, and grooved as boards that I can prove that I invented it, in all its are grooved, and that by any sufficient mo. You had the goodness to publish a draw.parts, more than two years ago, and would tive power. ing of the improvement, and extracts from long ere this have put it to the test of expe- I hope, sir, that all those editors who have my report on the subject, made in 1831, in riment upon a large scale, had not untoward noticed Mr. Hartman's communication will your Mechanics' Magazine in April last; circumstances prevented it. The gradua-give publicity to the above, as it will be ad. will you please to do the public and me the tion and timber are nearly ready for eight ding interest to a subject of vital importance service of transferring that drawing and miles of it, and in a few days will be in pro- to the Union, and particularly those districts those extracts into the columns of the Jour-gress of laying. of it where stone is scarce and timber is nal?* I am by no means disposed to quarrel with plenty. The cheapness of the plan need not That improvement was invented by me Mr. Harman, but shall continue to grant be doubted, and the liability of good timber previous to April, 1831, in which month I rights upon terms which shall satisfy the to wear need not be feared, for more than filed a description of it in the patent office. public that individual aggrandizement was two years of service upon timber here put I reported it to the Cincinnati, Columbus, and to moving cause of my taking out a patent down, agreeably to Mr. Hartman's proposiWooster Turnpike Company, Dec. 8, 1831, therefor, cautioning all concerned against tion, convinces me of this. As to the freewho ordered one thousand copies of the re-acting under an inferior title. dom of timber from decay, where bedded in port printed, which was done. They peti- Should Mr. Hartman not be convinced earth, I cannot ask you to publish so long an tioned the Legislature of Ohio for leave to that I have a priority of right in this matter, article as the investigation of that part of the construct their road upon that plan, as it was or fail to convince me that he has, I shall subject makes in my report above mentioned; not recognized in their charter, which was propose to him a reference of the whole but I must crave the favor of you to publish granted by act of Legislature, dated Jan. 19, matter to men competent to decide between the enclosed certificate of Col. Johnston, re1832, a copy of which act I send you. An our claims, and that they meet in Washing-ceived since the report was printed. Col. account of the invention entered into many ton City sometime during the next session of Johnston was Indian Agent until within five of the newspapers of the day. Nearly one Congress. or six years, and subsequently a Canal Comthousand copies of my report, containing a As to my preference for grooving or gut-missioner in this state. He is one of the copperplate engraving of the improvement, tering one track only, it originated in my most amiable men of the west. were distributed in every state in the Union.knowing that a guide for the wheels of one Notwithstanding all which, I do not charge side of a waggon or carriage will in all ca. Mr. Hartman with a surreptitious use of my ses answer as well as a guide for the wheels discovery. "I[too] have secured a patent of each side; besides which, there is a dif right for the use of it, which I will dispose ference of about eight inches in the span of of to companies or individuals upon good axles as constructed in different states and places. This circumstance influenced me In order to show the public and Mr. Hart. in favor of furrowing or guttering one track man that my patent covers the whole ground only, as, by the other track being left plain, assumed in his communication, I will ex-vehicles cannot be injured by binding in the tract from my specification: terms." Yours, truly, JNO. S. WILLIAMS. Cincinnati, Ohio, Aug. 10, 1833. CERTIFICATE. I came into the Indian Department in the service of the United States in Indiana and Ohio, soon after the operations of General Wayne's army had ceased, and the duties of ny office frequently led me to travel over the roads, bridges, and causeways, made by the troops and artificers to facilitate the track. Again, in turning out, when one track transportation of the munitions of war, and have invented a new and use-alone is guttered, one half the labor only is keep up the intercourse between the differful improvement in the construction of roads, necessary to overcome the obstacle. And ent stations and garrisons. It is within my whereby some of the advantages derived further, by carriages entering upon the recollection, that for upwards of twenty from railroads are extended to common car. tracks, one only will be injured, and the years after the making of those causeways, riages of burthen or pleasure that travel any jolts be less, where one gutter alone is the timbers in many of them were perfectly road so improved. * I lay dropped into. Add to all this, that one gut- sound, and I have no hesitation in saying two continuous lines of timber, or other suit-ter will only cost half the amount of two, that there were cases after a lapse of thirty able material, lengthwise on said road, such and I imagine the public will sanction the years where they were sufficiently so to sus a distance apart as to form tracks for the preference I have given. tain the weight of the heaviest laden wag. wheels of such vehicles as are in general As to tying the tracks together in the gon. JOHN JOHNSTON, use upon the road so improved. I furrow, manner of railroad sills of wood, agreeably Formerly Agent for Indian Affairs in Ohio and Indiana. gutter, or groove one of these tracks, in or-to Mr. Hartman's plan, and which is recog der to receive and guide the wheel or wheels nized in my patent, I shall not recommend Columbus, Ohio, Jan. 12, 1832. of one side of the carriage passing thereon.it until experiment shall prove the necessity Those grooves or gutters may be made in of it, not only on account of its expensive the timber or other material-or they may be ness, but because almost every man's expeformed by attaching cheeks or sides to a plain rience will convince him that at those intersurface. * * AN ACT further to amend the several acts incorporating the Cincinnati, Columbus, and Wooster Turnpike Company: sections of timber against, timber, decay the State of Ohio, that the President and Be it enacted by the General Assembly of These tracks may be bedded will commence. At present I believe that Directors of the Cincinnati, Columbus, and or laid in or upon stone, gravel, clay, or any timber well bedded in the road formation Wooster Turnpike Company, be, and they material of which the surface of the road is will be still enough and last longer, much are hereby authorised and empowered to formed, and the pieces of which they are longer, than for timber to be against timber. construct any part of their said turnpike constructed may be connected by dowels or Where timbers are spliced, dowels or clamps road on the plan of wood tracks, or timber clamps, or laid upon transverse blocks, or may be necessary to join them, and where laid lengthwise, on the principle recommendcross-pieces, which may or may not extend the substratum is likely to be soft, cross-ed by John S. Williams, Engineer of said from one to the other. blocks, of such a size as will support the Company, in his report, dated December Where there is much travel-joint, will be necessary. eighth, eighteen hundred and thirty one. ling upon a road so improved, I lay two In respect to forming the groove or gut. W. B. HUBBARD, sets, or four continuous lines of tracks, one ter in the stick or out of the solid, I prefer Speaker of the House of Representatives. it for similar reasons, as I am certain that Wm. DOHERTY, The article here referred to, together with the draw the timber will be less likely to decay than ings, v.ere published in the Railroad Journal of the 11th of where, by "attaching cheeks or sides to a' May last, page 292. January 19, 1832. Speaker of the Senate. S. Fairman's Rotary Steam Engine, Machine||exertions, and sacrifices, while the possess-and on level grades was carried at a speed of 15 miles per hour. It was twice set in motion for making Wrought Nails, &c. [Com-or of genius is left to go supperless to bed, municated for the American Railroad and his wife and children endure the want had occasion to stop to set down passengers,) on ascents of 30 feet to the mile, (on which we Journal.] of the necessaries of life. and carried up them at a rate varying from 8 to 10 miles the hour. LANSINGBURGH, Aug. 15, 1833. HENRY D. BIRD. Our readers may remember that, during the last winter, the Legislature ordered a survey of the Nottoway River, from its highest navigable point to its intersection with the Petersburg Railroad. We published some weeks ago the report of a party of gentlemen, who had explored the river in a large boat, and whose experiof removing all obstructions to its navigation. ment afforded proof of the entire practicability Since that period, an intelligent Engineer has been engaged, under the authority of the Board the river, to whose politeness we are indebted of Public Works, in making a critical survey of for the annexed results of his labors. Thompson has described so clearly the advantages of this improvement, and the facility with which they may be realized, that we cannot believe that the planters on the Nottoway will any longer hesitate to take the necessary steps to insure the completion of a work in which they have so deep an interest. I do not say that this is the case of my DEAR SIR,-Having witnessed, with no neighbor, to whose history and circumstan- This is the largest load which has ever been small admiration, your untiring industry and ces I am a stranger. But if he has not had, carried on the road at any single time, and zeal in helping forward to the most useful or does not have something of this kind to when we compare it with the small size of application the mental and physical resour-complain of, he will enjoy a happy exemp- the Railroad, it may well be called immense. the engine, and consider the various ascents on ces of our country, and particularly in en-tion from the common lot of his fellow ad- The Liverpool weighs about 5 tons, and has couraging and bringing before the public the venturers in the same ship, from the days of nine-inch cylinders, with a stroke of 18 inches, discoveries of mechanical genius, I take the Copernicus or the Marquis of Worcester to and drives her four wheels. Her general workliberty to invite your attention to some of this day. I will, therefore, as one advocate ing pressure is 50 pounds, ranging up to 60, at the inventions of SIMON FAIRMAN, of this of genius neglected, thank you, friend Mi- which the lock-up valve blows off. I add these village, and sending you an advertisement of nor, to lend a helping hand, to bring into technical details in order that the performance a machine for making wrought nails of differ- more general notice an inventive genius of of this engine may be justly appreciated by ent sizes, which I desire you to insert in no ordinary skill and talent, by inviting the professional men. your paper and all other suitable publica-wise and skilful to call at the above named the course of a few days we will open the road Our steamboat has arrived at Blakely, and in tions under your control. I think it is safe place in this village, and view some of the to the Roanoke. Of this desirable event we to estimate our Simon Fairman one of the productions of Fairman's inventive mind and will of course give due notice through your admost inventive mechanics now living. In skilful hand, which they will not fail to ad-vertising columns. Yours, respectfully, the above nail machine he has exceeded mire and approve, whatever they may think many who have before spent years to effect of their final results. it; but they have been years of toil unre- Yours, respectfully, F. F. W. warded, for their object was not accom- P. S.-As soon as possible you may explished. Some, whom I have known even pect a drawing of the steam engine and distinguished for their knowledge of mechan- pump. ical philosophy, have attempted and failed. But the above nail machine is by no means INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS IN VIRGINIA.-It is the most important of his inventions: the indeed gratifying to learn that the Petersburg admirers of discoveries in scientific power, Railroad, in the "Old Dominion," has really or of new applications of mechanical power, produced a spirit of enterprize amongst those are invited to call at Mr. J. Humphrey's ma- who, above all others—the planters, the owners chine shop in this viilage, and view a reci- of the soil-are most to be benefitted by such procating rotary compound steam engine, invented and put in operation in this village, works. The great success of that road, as dewhich is thought, by those who have seen it monstrated below, will unquestionably produce, and are good judges, destined to take the not only a spirit of inquiry into the immense place of all steam locomotives on land now advantages of such works to those who culti in use; also, at the same place, may be seen vate the soil, but also a spirit of action, which and purchased at a low price, the reciproca-will ultimately render the Southern States as ting rotary compound pump, a new invention, famous for their high state of cultivation as PETERSBURG, August 21, 1833. by the same man, and now in use, which they now are for the reverse. GENTLEMEN,-It is with pleasure I comply offers to the public a convenience not liable We know, from observation, that Virginia of the survey and estimate for the contemplated with the request to furnish you with the result to be "out of order" or "frozen up," to which possesses superior advantages in the mildness improvement of the Nottoway River, from the mankind have heretofore been strangers. of her climate, great natural fertility of her soil, Great Falls to the Railroad, a distance of 66 Also, a fluting machine has been invented by and numerous rivers, affording an immense miles 613 yards: in which distance it flows said Fairman, which will greatly abridge the water power through one of the richest and most fertile secmanual labor employed in preparing an imfor manufacturing purposes, over tions of country in the State of Virginia-and portant part of the machinery used in cot-her northern neighbors; and are satisfied that from the smallness of the amount required to ton factories. This last machine was long Virginians require only to be made sensible of open a useful navigation, and afford the plantin successful and useful operation, but was the effect that an improvement of these advan-ers in that section an easy, cheap, and expedi destroyed in the late disastrous fire at Wa-tages will produce upon the value of each man's tious mode of getting their produce to market, terford. would lead to the hope that the work would be property, to step forward, with a determination immediately and vigorously commenced, the Now, sir, it is an act of justice due to such not easily to be diverted from its purpose, and advantages of which are almost incalculable, inventive geniuses, who with bold and adven. with united effort, undertake-and not only un-when compared with their present tardy mode turous canvass dare to sail in unknown dertake, but also execute-such preliminary of transportation over a wretched road, requiroceans, or with equally bold conceptions works as will naturally lead to the constructioning twenty per cent. of the actual value of the and courageous daring, venture beyond those of others. bounds which have hitherto limited, circum. scribed, confined, and hedged in, the opera The following statement of the performance of the " article to land it at market. Mr. There are 25 miles of slack-water navigation on the river, occasioned by the different milldams, which are probably rather an advantage tions of the faculties of other men, to bring satisfactory and gratifying to the friends of than an injury, as they back the water over It is a them before the public, while living under Railroads. To the Editors of the Intelligencer : GENTLEMEN,-The following account of the performance of one of our engines will, no doubt, interest you and some of your readers. many shoals and falls in that distance. The locks are supposed 60 feet long, 8 feet wide, built of wood-sustained by dry walls, where the strength of the current or other circumstances may render it necessary. They last under ordinary circumstances from 8 to 10 On Monday last the Liverpool brought in a years; when the increased amount of produce train, consisting of fifteen cars and one coach, will, no doubt, warrant a more permanent carrying 127 bales of cotton, 364 bushels of structure. The river (independent of the locks wheat, 162 bushels of corn, and about 30 per- in the different dams) will only require cleaning sons, including passengers and agents of the out, and occasionally wing dams to deepen the Company. The gross weight in motion may water on the shoals; the total cost of which is be summed up as follows: $29,406. 83,620 lbs. It is a small compensation for taking the "heir loom of the poets," and all its inconveniences and mortifications, which has almost uniformly been the scourge of discoverers in the field of science and of art, as well as in the field of fancy and imagination. It is but a small reward for being made the victim of the deceptious promises of those who possess the means of alleviating the suffer- or nearly 67 tons. The weight of produce 2000 hhds. of Tobacco, and 60,000 bushels of ings of genius, made to obtain without com- alone was upwards of 35 tons. This load was wheat. From the forks to the railroad, a dis. pensation the benefit of her superior skill, put in motion with great ease by the engine,tance of 56 miles, there is an exceedingly fertile Produce and passengers, 151,120 In a communication from gentlemen above the Forks of Nottoway, they state, that in the event of the river being made navigable, from that section of country alone they can send Your obt. servant, W. B. THOMPSON. Whilst upon the subject of the performance of Locomotive Engines, we will add one or two others equally interesting with the preceding, which must certainly convince any one who may have entertained doubts of their ultimately becoming in general use upon all railroads which are now, or may hereafter be, constructed in this country. ance. country, which would add largely to the above From the outset of the discussions and en-transportation of their business are nearly peramount-with a yearly increase on the whole terprizes in relation to Railroads and Locomo- fect. The precision as to time with which the amount from the increased facilities of trans- tive Engines, we have been powerfully struck passengers are daily conveyed across their portation; which would seem to place beyond with the wonderful effects of which they seem-road, is matter of wonder; the variation is rareall doubt a handsome interest on the investment. ed likely to be productive. As the subject has ly, if ever, greater than five minutes-the time At the very lowest calculation the saving to the been developed in theory and practice, our at- fixed being from 55 to 60 minutes: the displanter will exceed 50 per cent. on the present tention and imagination have beeen more and tance is 161⁄2 miles. Guards are placed along cost of waggoning his tobacco, and on wheat more excited. All the new views and details the road at convenient distances, and signal in a much greater proportion. have deepened and vivified our original impres- staffs erected, by means of which information sions. We have so much confidence in Ame- can be transmitted from one end of the road to rican spirit, intelligence, and pecuniary re- the other in three minutes. This is a great sesources, that we feel an assurance that the curity as well as comfort to travellers; for it is great railroads undertaken or projected, in dif- the duty of these guards to keep all horses, catferent parts of the Union, will be duly accom- tle, &c. off the road; and in case of detention, plished, and realize the expectations of the most from any cause, the telegraphic announcement sanguine, respecting their various advantages. of it would bring immediate succor. It is be. The moral or political, as well as the physical lieved, however, that, with the exception of a benefits, to accrue from them, are incalculable. [delay caused by a snow storm, there has been In the course of the present summer we have but one instance of detention upon this road had occasion to be frequently in the immediate worthy of being mentioned, and that was when The first is from the Baltimore Gazette, and neighborhood of the Newcastle and Frenchtown the engine passed over a cow. The recurrence the other from the National Gazette. Railroad, and to observe closely the manage- of such an accident-(no injury was sustained LOCOMOTIVES ON RAILROADS.-Every friend ment of both steamboats and land convey-even then by any passenger)—is rendered almost of Internal Improvements will be gratified by cellent that it must give universal satisfaction. mentioned. It has constantly appeared to us so ex- impossible by the judicious precautions above reading the articles in this day's Gazette-one The trip to and from Newcastle is generally extracted from the National Gazette, the other effected in two and a half hours; sometimes in over this road upwards of two hundred passenA single locomotive has frequently conveyed from the Petersburg Intelligencer-giving ac- two and a quarter, or less. counts of the performance of locomotive engines breakfasted at the Brandywine Springs, be- often thirteen or fourteen in number, and the Last week we gers, with their baggage. The train of cars is We hope, however, that they will not be less Newcastle; reached Frenchtown, in the car gallant little steamer, is highly picturesque and tween six and seven o'clock; proceeded to sight of them all in motion, conducted by the gratified to learn, that a comparison highly fa-line, in less than an hour; arrived at Baltimore interesting.-[National Gazette.] vorable to American genius, talent, and industry, may be made between the performances of at a quarter past two o'clock, and were again at the springs the next day before one o'clock, imported engines and those constructed in our own country. We feel it to be proper to draw by the same route, having left Baltimore at six the attention of the American people-and more called imperceptible, except as to the positive o'clock in the morning. The journey might be especially the people of Baltimore-to this comThe volume now before us is of the arguparison, as we have often heard complaints of the steamboat is as good and as well served invention; and at p. 31, he thus describes gratifications of the passage. The fare on board mentative kind, recommending the author's as that of the principal hotels in our large cities, and every attention is constantly paid to his ideas on the subject: "The improvements venience, it must be from their own inobserv. to which these pages principally refer, is the the comfort of travellers. If they suffer incon- in the formation or construction of railways, ance of the rules of mutual accommodation and substitution of a curved or undulating, or, The information which we ca- what I denominate, a 'serpentine railway, for general ease. offer to our readers as it was set down in me-pressions upon my mind, before the trial of sually collected touching the railroad, we now the horizontal railway now in use. The im. on two of the railroads in the United States. made of the Directors of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, for not importing locomotives from England. We found, on referring to our files of last July, that the performance of the Atlantic, steam engine, on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, will bear a most favorable comparison with the best efforts of the most celebrated English engines on any of our railroads. The Atlantic, it should be remembered, is entirely of American manufacture, both as to construction and design, and can fairly compete, in all the essentials, with the best locomotive of any other country. The following is an extract from the moranda. A Treatise on Railway Improvements. By RICHARD BADNALL, Esq. London, Sherwood & Co. 27th of February, 1832. In September, 1832, railway a greater resistance would be opposed This road has been in operation since the any experiments, were, that by an undulating locomotive engines were permanently employ to the power of steam, or any other locomotive ed on it, and the use of horses for the transpor- power, than upon level railway; that much account of her performance, published in this The first locomotive used by the Company was tiplied by active power down a descent; and tation of passengers entirely dispensed with. would be gained by the power of gravity mul. Gazette last July: The Atlantic has been running continually consecutively without losing a trip, although a called the Delaware, and was used seventy days that, consequently, a locomotive engine of any for the last three or four months, from Balti-considerable portion of the time it conveyed the power would travel at a greater speed, or drag tance of 40 miles, and back again, the a me both ways, sixty-six miles. This fact is strik- way." Such, then, is the proposition of the passengers of two lines per day across the road a greater weight, than upon a horizontal rail. day. Upon this portion of the road, 33 miles are ascending, at various grades, of from ten idea, which has obtained too generally in this will join us in expressing surprise at an ining, in as much as it confutes an erroneous author, and we do not doubt that our readers to forty feet per mile, exceeding, in the ascent, 20 feet per mile, on the average, and the whole country, that locomotive engines are frequently vention so widely differing from all precondisabled, and of course do their work at a great ceived notions. forty miles is almost a constant succession of In our early youth we were expense. The Company has imported all its more to the foot of the Inclined Planes, a dis on this road the Atlantic has drawn, on the out curves, of 400 feet radius, and upwards. UP engines from England; they are from the fac.laught that the shortest distance between two tory of the celebrated Robert Stephenson & points was a straight line; and further, as a Co., of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. There are now, continuation of the same proposition, that the and have been all this season, three of them in two sides of any triangle are greater than use on the Newcastle and Frenchtown Rail- the third. Mr. Badnall will therefore attribute road; a fourth has just arrived in the ship De- the ignorance we display, in not conforming laware, from Liverpool. to his views, to our early education, and not to prejudice of any other kind. But to return to the subject: in p. 52, the author gives an account of a first experiment, by which he attempts to prove the utility of his invention. "I had (he says) a curve made of the following proportions: from A to B was four feet, depth of curve 2 inches; a is a roller, so constructed as to move easily along the curve, and to revolve upon its axis, to each end of ward, or ascending trip, thirty tons, at the least, at the rate of seventeen miles per hour; with only 15 tons, her practical speed exceeds any safe limit on a curved road. The Atlantic has drawn 92 tons on a level, at a speed of nine miles to the hour, and has brought 72 tons from the half-way house, (six miles,) to Baltimore, The Company was a good deal annoyed, for at a rate of twelve miles to the hour, on the le-a time, by the emission of sparks from the vel parts of the road; passing two summits, of smoke-pipes of their engines; but that evil has 16 feet per mile, for a half mile each, at the been entirely overcome by the ingenuity of their rate of six miles an hour. The motion of the engineer, (of locomotive power,) Edward A. piston compared with that of the wheels, or Young, a native of Virginia, who has procured progressive motion of the engine, is as 1 to 54. a patent for his invention. Thus the great deThe fuel employed is Anthracite Coal, which sideratum in this country, of burning wood in burns without any difficulty, and it is believed locomotive engines, has been attained. with more economy and convenience than any It is estimated that one hundred and fifty thouother. The trip, of 80 miles per day, is per- sand persons have been transported across this which was attached the string s, which passes formed with one ton of it. Although this en- road since it was put in operation, to not one of over a pulley at the opposite end, and a weight gine is the first of this peculiar construction, whom has the slightest accident occurred; and was attached to the string to propel the roller. and the first that has completely succeeded in it is a remarkable fact, that in the whole pro- The curve, it should be stated, was formed burning the Anthracite, yet-in the small gress of this work, from the commencement of amount of its repairs, and the quantity of work its construction to the present day, not a single on a solid piece of wood, so that by turning that it is capable of performing-it is believed human being has suffered the loss of life or it over it would be a horizontal surface of to be equal, if not superior, to any engine that limb. feet. has yet been made.-[Balt. Gazette.] The arrangements of this Company for the' "The following experiments were made with different weights, just sufficient to move the speed or time ought not to be noticed till obtained. The Pennsylvanian, who is our the roller along the surface when perfectly the carriage had travelled 40 or 50 feet; for authority for the assertion, says it is ascer horizontal and at different inclinations. the time of running of the carriage on the re- tained that the tenacity of good iron is inspective road should be only compared for creased by the application of any degree of the last 50 or 60 feet. In page 87, a quota- heat under 450 degrees, which is contrary Inclinations. Over the hori- Over the On a perfect level.... 24 sec.... 14 section is given from Mr. Wood's admirable to previous entertained opinions. Some Rise of 3 in. in 48 in. 3 2 "Thus showing that the greater the angle of the incline the longer was the time required in passing along the plane; whilst on the curve, the same exact weight being employed at each experiment, the speed scarcely varied, and at all times was considerably greater than upon the horizontal plane." We have taken the liberty of putting parts of this quotation in italics, because we consider they answer the proposition of the author. We grant the results to be sufficiently correct for argument, work on Railroads. The present author Tennessee iron (from the Cumberland 56+22 =39 2 It was also found that common American Mr. Badnall disputes this calculation of Mr. sistance added together and divided cannot the best American equal, and generally supeWood, and states that the two powers of re. iron was better than the best British, and show the mean resistance; he then says, "I rior, to Swedish and Russian.-[Albany Dai. the principle on which I found my improvename this, because it particularly bears upon ly Advertiser.] WONDERFUL INVENTION.-A watchmaker and we should have been surprized had they ments; for if Mr. Wood be correct, it appears of the name of Buschmann, living at Elsen. to me impossible that any advantage could ac- We finish our remarks with this last quo been much otherwise. But let us take experiment by experiment: first asking why burg, not far from Attenburg, in Saxony, has contrived a piece of machinery, which, withhe tried inclined planes against inclined out the assistance of steam, has been found planes? because his proposition is undulating tation, because it clearly expresses our opin. strong enough to move a heavily laden wag. railways in gon, placed in a fresh ploughed "field, with planes. In the first experiment, on a level ion.-[Repertory of Arts.] the greatest ease, although sixteen horses 48 inches long, the roller was by a certain PATENT TINNED Lead Pipes.-An article could not stir it. The machine may be eaweight drawn from end to end in 24 seconds, under this name is mentioned in the London sily handled, and the vehicle moved by it whilst by the same weight the same roller on papers, which seems likely to supercede the most safely managed. The inventor has been the curve was drawn 48 inches in 14 seconds, use of all other metals which hitherto have offered $200,000 for the secret; but as he it will be evident that the roller in descending been employed for conduits. To lead alone, had obtained patents from all the principal the first half of the curve would quickly get in pipes, cisterns, &c it is well known that German governments, he has refused all of up its momentum, as would also the weight, the most serious objections exist. For in-fers.-[Danville Reporter.] whilst on the level plane the length of run stance, the action of air on lead produces would not more than admit the roller to ar- oxide, which water dissolves, and thus wa NEW INVENTION.-A gum elastic cloak, rive at its velocity; consequently this was ter becomes poisonous. Similar deleterious lined with silk, has been invented in Baltiby no means a fair trial. If the author had effects are caused by leaden pipes in beer more. It is intended to be thrown over the made a rail of 48 inches long, commencing engines. It was to remedy these evils that shoulders in wet weather, and will effectu with an inclination for the first 24 inches, the new process of tinning lead pipes was ally shield the person and clothes of the wear. the extent of rise being 2 inches, and then a brought to perfection, and Messrs. J. & R. er. When not wanted, it can be folded up descent of another 24 inches-this, if his Warner, the patentees, affirm that the addi- into a very small bulk, and, on this account, proposition has any thing in it, would have tional cost for the improved article is very must be found very useful and convenient. been a more fair trial; the weight would trifling. We mean to have one ordered on for our own use, so as to be ready for the next fall elections.-[Cin. Rep.] AMERICAN IRON.-It has been a study much attended to of late, to know the cha racter of American and foreign iron, com. pared with each other. cause the roller first to ascend 24 inches and descend the next 24 inches; and if, with such an arrangement, it had been discovered that the space of 48 inches was travelled in a CUT FLOWERS. To more conveniently less time than on a horizontal plane, we should be really inclined to look more seriously into enjoy the sight of flowers, they are often The consumption of iron in the shape of plucked and placed in jars of water in the the subject. Again, it will be seen in the boiler plates, and cast rails, is becoming dwelling. By changing the water, or ad. second experiment, that of raising the level enormous. The tenacity and character of plane 3 inches at one end, which would pro- the metal are yet to be thoroughly under: petuated without fading for many days, even ding alkalies every day, they may be perduce an inclined plane of 3 inches in 48, whilst, stood. The Baltimore iron is considered to the period of falling from the parent stem. on the other hand, in raising the curved sur- the best in the world for steamboats. As Lime, magnesia, or soda, may be used in moface 3 inches, the first half of the run would yet we do not fabricate wrought iron rails, derate quantities, such as to give natural susbe very nearly on a level plane, and thus but probably very soon shall, as machinery tenance to the detached shoots in preservaenable the roller to get up a momentum to will be contrived to equalize the difference tion. They may be made a luxuriant and meet the other half of the run, which would between the prices of American and Eng- appropriate ornament to the drawing-room be an inclined plane of about 5 inches in 24; lish iron. Cast iron rails have been made and such may be said of the other experi- with success at our own furnaces. ments of raising one end 4, 5, and 6 inches. The American iron being melted by the It may be said of all the experiments descri- heat of charcoal is allowed to be more tebed, that the length of the level plane is in no nacious than the English, which is melted by instance of sufficient length for the carriage coke. or roller to get up its velocity till nearly to the To put the matter completely at rest, how-mus.] end, whilst the carriage on the undulating road ever, very interesting experiments have been would get up its velocity by descending the made at the apartments of the Franklin In- NEW PADDLE WHEEL.-A model of a newly first inclination. In making experiments stitute, under the direction of Mr. Johnson, invented paddle wheel for boats, which avoids either with a carriage or with boats, it is a scientific gentleman. The Secretary of the lifting of water, as in ordinary paddles, is usual to commence marking time considera. the Treasury was authorized some years now to be seen in the Hall of the Franklin Inbly after the same has started, so that it may since, by an act of Congress, to expend a stitute, Philadelphia. The inventors say that be fairly considered to have got up its velo. certain amount in constructing machines to these paddles are brought into the water less city; and had such a course been pursued make experiments on the tenacity of iron obliquely than the common kind, and from the in these experiments, very different results and other metals used in steam boilers. It time they are vertical with the axis of the wheel would undoubtedly have taken place. Thus, was so constructed as to admit any degree out of the water. This result is alleged to be retain a perpendicular position, until they are for instance, if the undulating road be 100 of temperature up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. the effect of a simple contrivance. The machine feet, and the horizontal plane be 100 feet, Some interesting results have thus been may be constructed of any requisite strength. or parlor; and in the more humble dwelling ON THE DIVISION OF MENTAL LABOR. Babbage on the Economy of Manufactures. ||crumbling. 5. On comparing the time occu-bles logarithmiques et trigonometriques, qui, [Continued from page 504.] pied by the machine with that stated in the an- non seulement ne laissassent rien a desirer 181. Some farther reflections are suggested alysis, we find, except in the process of head-quant a l'exactitude, mais qui formassent le by the preceding analysis; but it may be con- ing, if time alone is considered, that the human monument de calcul le plus vaste et le plus imvenient, previously, to place before the reader hand is more rapid. Three thousand six hun- posant qui eut jamais ete execute, ou meme a brief description of a machine for making dred pins are pointed by the machine in an hour, concu. Les logarithmes des nombres de 1 a pins, invented by an American. It is highly whilst a man can point fifteen thousand six 200,000 formaient a ce travail un supplement ingenious in point of contrivance, and, in re-hundred in the same time. But in the process necessaire et exige. Il fut aise a M. de Prony spect to its economical principles, will furnish of heading, the rapidity of the machine is two de s'assurer que, meme en s'associant trois ou a strong and interesting contrast with the ma- and a half times that of the human hand. It quatre habiles co-operateurs, la plus grande nufacture of pins by the human hand. In this must, however, be observed, that the process duree presumable de sa vie, ne lui suffirai pas machine a coil of brass wire is placed on an of grinding does not require the application of pour remplir ses engagements. Il etait occupe axis; one end of this wire is drawn by a pair force to the machine equal to that of one man; de cette facheuse pensee lorsque, se trouvant of rollers through a small hole in a plate of for all the processes we have described are ex-devant la boutique d'un marchand de livres, il steel, and is held there by forceps. As soon ecuted at once by the machine, and one laborer appercut la belle edition Anglaise de Smith, as the machine is put in actioncan easily work it. donnee a Londres en 1776; il ouvrit le livre au hazard, et tomba sur le premier chapitre, qui 183. We have already mentioned what may, traite de la division du travail, et ou la fabrica. perhaps, appear paradoxical to some of our tion des epingles est citee pour exemple. A a readers, that the division of labor can be ap- peine avait-il parcouru les premieres pages, plied with equal success to mental operations, que, par une espece d'inspiration, il concut l'exand that it insures, by its adoption, the same pedient de mettre ses logarithmes en manufac economy of time. A short account of its prac- ture comme les epingles. Il faisait, en ce mo tical application, in the most extensive series ment, a l'ecole polytechnique, des lecons sur une of calculations ever executed, will offer an in- partie d'analyse liee a ce genre de travail, la teresting illustration of this fact, whilst at the methode des differences, et ses applications a same time it will afford an occasion for show. l'interpolation. Il alla passer quelques jours a ing that the arrangements which ought to regula campagne, et revint a Paris avec le plan de 3. After this first or coarse pointing, the late the interior economy of a manufactory are fabrication, qui a ete suivi dans l'execution. Il rassembla deux ateliers, qui faisaient separelathe stops, and another forceps takes hold of founded on principles of deeper root than may the half-pointed pin, (which is instantly releas. have been supposed, and are capable of being ment les memes calculs, et se servaient de veed by the opening of the chuck,) and conveys usefully employed in paving the road to some of rification reciproque.* it to a similar chuck of another lathe, which re- the sublimest investigations of the human ceives it, and finishes the pointing on a finer mind. steel mill. 1. The forceps draws the wire on to a distance equal in length to one pin: a cutting edge of steel then descends close to the hole through which the wire entered, and severs piece equal in length to one pin. 2. The forceps holding th's wire moves on until it brings the wire into the centre of the chuck of a small lathe, which opens to receive it. Whilst the forceps returns to fetch another piece of wire, the lathe revolves rapidly, and grinds the projecting end of the wire upon a steel mill, which advances towards it. 4. This mill again stops, and another forceps removes the pointed pin into a pair of strong steel clams, having a small groove in them, by which they hold the pin very firmly. A part of this groove, which terminates at that edge of the steel clams which is intended to form the head of the pin, is made conical. A small round steel punch is now driven forcibly against the end of the wire thus clamped, and the head of a pin is partially formed by compressing the wire into the conical cavity. 186. The ancient methods of computing tables were quite inapplicable to such a proceed184. In the midst of that excitement which ing. M. Prony, therefore, wished to avail himaccompanied the Revolution of France and the self of all the talent of his country, and formed succeeding wars, the ambition of the nation, the first section of those who were to take part unexhausted by its fatal passion for military in this enterprize, out or five or six of the most renown, was at the same time directed to the eminent mathematicians in France. nobler and more permanent triumphs which First Section. The duty of this first section mark the era of a people's greatness, and was to investigate, amongst the various analywhich receive the applause of posterity long tical expressions which codt found for the after their conquests have been wrested from same function, that which was most readily them, or even when their existence as a nation adapted to simple numerical calculation by ma may be told only by the page of history. ny individuals employed at the same time. This Amongst their enterprizes of science, the French section had little or nothing to do with the ac5. Another pair of forceps now removes the government was desirous of producing a series tual numerical work. When its labors were pin to another pair of clams, and the head of of mathematical tables, which should facilitate concluded, the formulæ, on the use of which it the pin is completed by a blow from a second the extension of the decimal system they had had decided, were delivered to the second section. punch, the end of which is slightly concave. so recently adopted. They directed, therefore, Second Section.-This section consisted of Each pair of forceps returns as soon as it has their mathematicians to construct such tables, seven or eight persons of considerable acquaintdelivered its burden; and thus there are always on the most extensive scale. Their most dis-ance with mathematics: and their duty was to five pieces of wire at the same moment in diftinguished philosophers, responding fully to the convert into numbers the formulæ put into their ferent stages of advance towards a finished pin. call of their country, invented new methods for hands by the first section-an operation of The pins so formed are received in a tray, and this laborious task; and a work, completely great labor-and then to deliver out these forwhitened and papered in the usual manner. answering the large demands of the govern-mule to the members of the third section, and About sixty pins can thus be made by this ma- ment, was produced in a remarkably short receive from them the finished calculations. chine in one minute; but each process occupies riod of time. M. Prony, to whom the superin- The members of this second section had cerexactly the same time in performing. tendance of this great undertaking was confided, tain means of verifying these calculations with182. In order to judge of the value of such a in speaking of its commencement, observes: out the necessity of repeating, or even of exmachine, compared with hand labor, it would "Je m'y livrai avec toute l'ardeur dont j'etois amining, the whole of the work done by the be necessary to inquire: 1. To what defects capable, et je m'occupai d'abord du plan gene- third section. pe pins so made are liable? 2. What advantages ral de l'execution. Toutes les conditions que Third Section.-The members of this secthey possess over those made in the usual way? j'avois à remplir necessitoient l'emploi d'un tion, whose number varied from sixty to eighty, 3. What is the prime cost of a machine for grand nombre de calculateurs; et il me vint received certain numbers from the second secmaking them? 4. What is the expense of keep- bientot à la pensee d'appliquer à la confection tion, and, using nothing more than simple ading it in repair? 5. What is the expense of de ces tables la division du travail, dont les dition and subtraction, they returned to that moving it and attending to it? Arts de Commerce tirent un parti si avanta-section the finished tables. It is remarkable 1. Pins made by the machine are more likely geux pour reunir à la perfection de main-d'au- that nine-tenths of this class had no knowledge to bend, because as the head is punched up out vre l'economie de la depense et du temps."of arithmetic beyond its two first rules which of the solid wire, it ought to be in a soft state to The circumstance which gave rise to this sin-they were thus called upon to exercise, and that admit of this process. 2. Pins made by the gular application of the principle of the division these persons were usually found more correct machine are better than common ones, because of labor is so interesting, that no apology is in their calculations than those who possessed they are not subject to losing their heads. necessary for introducing it from a small pam-a more extensive knowledge of the subject. 3. With respect to the prime cost of a machine,phlet printed at Paris a few years since, when 187. When it is stated that the tables thus it would be very much reduced if numbers a proposition was made by the English to the computed occupy seventeen large folio volumes, should be required. 4. With regard to its wear French government, that the two countries some idea may perhaps be formed of the labor. and tear, experience only can decide the ques- should print these tables at their joint ex- From that part executed by the third class, which tion: but it may be remarked, that the steel pense. may almost be termed mechanical, requiring clams or dies in which the heads are punched the least knowledge and by far the greatest labor, the first class were entirely exempt. Such labor can always be purchased at an easy rate. The duties of the second class, although requiring considerable skill in arithmetical ope. rations, were yet in some measure relieved by the higher interest naturally felt in those more difficult operations. The exertions of the first 185. The origin of the idea is related in the up will wear quickly, unless the wire has been following extract: softened by annealing; and that if it has been C'est à un chapitre d'un ouvrage Anglais, softened, the bodies of the pins will bend too justement celebre, (I.) qu'est probablement due readily. Such an inconvenience night be re- l'existence de l'ouvrage dont le gouvernement medied, either by making the machine spin the heads and fix them on, or by annealing only that end of the wire which is to become the head of the pin: but this would cause a delay between the operations, since the brass is too brittle while heated to bear a blow without Britannique veut faire jouir le monde savant; Wealth of Nations, by Adam Smith,] Voici l'anecdote: M. de Prony s'etait engage, avec les comites de gouvernement, a composer glais, des grandes tables logarithmiques et trigonometriques de pour la division centesimale du cercle, des ta-31. de Frony. De l'imprimeric de F. Didot, Dec. 1, 182, p. 7. *Note sur la publication, proposee par le gouvernement An |