Volume 11 (1865) (424 pages)

278 She Hlining aul Scientific, Breas, Bievhanica. WORKING STEAM EXPANSIVELY. Government has just spent about $30,000 at the Novelty Iron Works, New York, to determine whether any, and if any how ninch, advantage there is in working steam expansively. ‘he experiment has proven a most . excellent advertisement for the wealthy com-; pxny which has furnished the facilities for carrying it out ; besides affording a most profitable joh to the same company. But the government is rich; it has plenty of money, and why should it economise. Now, if a private individual wished to ascertaiu the same thing, he would be very likely to go to some party who is running an engine to do a certain amount of work. He would make an arrangement by which the engineer should run one week with the throttle valve open, and regulated only hy the links; and the next weck he would have it work thesteam expansively. A carefully kept fuel account would show the advantage, to all practical purposes, as well as the costly machinery prepared for this purpose at the Novelty Works. But then government never connts the cost ; government don’t have to work for its money; it taxes the people. Intelligent engineers knew long ago, by practical experience, that there was economy in working steam expansively. Government, however, has just found it ont, at an expense of $30,000. It will be yenrs, however, before red tape will allow it to be put in practice in government works. An engineer on the New Jersey railway, who nsed the half-stroke cut-off was asked, long before the government trial was instituted, how much he saved by working cxpansively. He replied: “ When Irun to Newark, without the cut-off, I burn three plump tiers of wood; but when I use the cut-off, IT burn two.” Will the costly government trial prove anything more practical? To Stop Runaway Horses.—Mr. Rosenfield, formerly ol the firm of Hutchings & Rosenfield, in this city, has invented an arrangement for preventing accidents or injnries by runaway horses. ‘his invention, is called the “ Safety Whippletres,” and is so arranged that in case ahorss or horses attempt to run away, the driver can, hy pulling a strap, immediately set them free from the buggy or carriage, and thns prevent the possibility of any injury to the vehicle or its occupants. Though very simple, when examined, and very cheap, this invention, if used, will euable people to be as safe from accidents while they are riding as they ai while walking. , Improvensxt in Mastie Roorinc.— Messrs. Skinner, Duncan, and Merighi, of this city, have obtained Letters Patent throngh our Agency for a pew combination for mastic roofing, the combination of which is such that it is said to be impervious to heat and cold, and is not easily subject to he attacked by fire. Yhe rays of the sun having no effect upon it, the iaterial will not run in summer and leave seams through which the water may leak during the antum and wiuter rains; neitber does the cold crack it in winter so as to leave crevices throngh which the water may penetrate into the building. We cordially recommend this roofing to bnilders. New Exauetine Macutve.—Mr. McEachren has received Jetters patent from the United States, through the Mixing anp Sclenriric Prrss Acrxcy, for a new emaneling machine, ler enameling moulding, which promise to be a great improvement over the old system. Mr. McKachren, with others, has lately started a mannfuctory for looking-gluss and picture frames, on Fremont street in this city, where he has several of these machines in hse. His claimis as follows: A movable bottom for raising the work or moulding pp and out of the enamel or paste substantially as described ; and in combination with the enameling haths, he claims the steam chamber for heating the bath and keeping it hot. He also claims the combination of the traveling carriage hopper, and enameling tool, all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth, monds, us easily as marble. A New Metuop or Corrine Borstms.—A gentleman named Woolaver, residing at Su gun, Solano county, has obtained patents for two new methods of corking bottles. The value of these inventions hes chiefly in the nsé of the bottle lor holding champagne, soda water and effervescing liquids. The mouths of the bottle—for it has two—are in the sides of the neck, instead of tlie top, as is ordinary bottles. Yo drow out the contents ol the bottle, a tube is used with a hole on the under side, a button being placed at each side; hy lifting a . lever the contents forces itself out ut the opposite side, and by drawing the lever back the bottle is effectually closed. The other device is simply a cork placed longitudinally with the neck of tle bottle, and isopened by means of a pair of lorceps, with a hole on the under side. With these forceps the cork is compressed till the tube enters far enough to admit of liquor passing through the hole in the tube, which passes {t into the glass or vessel—the cork stopping the bottle as soon the pressnre of the forceps is removed. ‘These are simple and useful inventions. Applications for patents (which have been ordered to issue), were mude through the Minina anp Scienrtzic Press AGENCY. Ee More about ths Diamond Drill. ‘We have seen a trial of the diamond drill in hjue flagstone. Acore, 114 inches diameter and 10g inches long, was cut out by it in four minntes. The hole made was 1% incbes diumeter; the feed was at the rate ol 56 turns to linch. Another hole, 1914 inches deep, was bored in 71g minutes, the rate of Teed heing 78 turns to one inch. Auother hole, 914 inches deep, was hored in 314 minutes, at the same rate of feed. The boring averaged about 2.6 inches per minute, The coinpany guarantee it to cut four inches per minute in North River bluestone, saudstone, marble, and slate, and two inches in graniteand harder rocks. With the last Ieed it would have been greater had there been more steam; all the steam canie 50 leet, through a 37 pipe, with several elbows. The core, which we brought away, is quite straicht, and others that we saw appeared so; and the surlace is very smooth. Holes bored. in this way willbe trne, und smooth enough for first-rate: stone-work ; and drills may be madé to cut holes and columus a foot or more in diameter, and ol any length required. The kerf cnt is 5-16ths thick ; and the power consumed is what is uecessary to pulverize this amount of stone. ‘wo meu worked a drill about halfas fast as it was worked by steam, showing that the power required is moderate ; and steam or compressed-air engine, of simple form, may be used. The only question is. the durahility of the diamonds. II the Ieed is violent, they may be broken ; but when the feed is properly gradnated they are not broken, and do not appear to be worn. In France, where the invention originated, diamonds, set differently, are used to dress burr-stones ; and it is claimed that they work . niore economically than the old tools. The borers we have seen are mude to set, with bayonet joints, on the ends of tnbea. There are six diamonds in each; so set as to cut a kerf in which the inetal can turn without touching. A stream of water runs in through the tube, and out around it, and washes out the debris. It is claimed that the principle may he applied with advantage to sawing stone; aud that very hard stonesmay be cut hy the diaA chambering drill has been made on this principle, by which the hole at the bottom may be enlarged to twice the size of the main hole—American Artisan. PREPARATION FoR Pruserving Lratuzr. The Shoe and Leather Deuler’s Reporter, good autbority, gives the following receipt for a preparation to ensure great durability to leather, and to make it pliable and soft: The preparation consists of four articles, tallow, suap, resin and water. These ingredieuts are prepared as follows: ’f'wenty-one parts of tallow are nielted in a vessel, three parts of rosin added, and the two when melted mixed well together. In another vessel seven parts of good washing soap are dissolved in seventy parts of pnre rain water. After it is dissolyed and the mass heated ta tbe boiling point, we add the part prepared before, let it boil onge more gently, and the preparation is ready for use. It is especially adapted to boots, harness leather and beltings. A puorocrarner of Cleveland, Ohio, §s abont to explore the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky for the purpose of. taking views ol’ its interior, by the aid of strong chemical lights. . plished in the manufacture. Manufacture of Glass. All writers on the subject of glass mannfac. tnre fail to show anything cecisive upon the precise period of its invention, Some suppose it to have been invented before the flood. Nervi traces its antiquity to the time of Job. The first glass houses, well authenticated, were erecled in the city of Tyre. Moderu writers upon the fuct generally refer to Pliny in establishing the fact that the Pheenicians were the inveutors of the art of glass-making. The tradition is that the art was originally brought to light under the lolowing cireumstances: A vessel being driven by a storin to take shelter at the inouth of the river Belus, the crew were obliged to remain there some length of time, In the process of cooking, a fire was made npon the ground, whereon was abundance of the herb “kale.” ‘That plant burning Lo ashes, the saline properties became incorporated with the sand. This causing vitrification, the compound now called glass was theresnlt. ‘The fact becoming known, the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon essayed the work, and brought the new invention into practical use, ‘Uhis is the tradition ; but modern science demonstrates the false philosophy, Nalits made of wire of various sizes, from a 24 of an inch down to 1-32d. are still used in France. he points are conical, abont 60°, ‘They may be driven without splitting the wood, A conmnon pin, when driven into the edge ofa thin pice of wood, splits it; but if the tapered point be cut off, and 2 conical point made, it may be driven ‘without splitting. In inaking small models of soft wood, we have nsed steel pins with conical points, mude of pieces of knitting needles. They drive well, and hold fully as well as brads. We believe that tapered nails are not so good, for some uses, as_prismatic nails with pyramidal poiuts wonld be; or perhaps wedge ends, for convenicnce of manulacture, would be better. They would not split the wood; the wedge point, if ahout 60°, wonld crush a little at a time, and make a hole for itself, whereas a long wedge or tapered point in its effort to crush a grenter amount at a time, splits it ; that is, the power required to crush so much is more than is reqnired to split the piece. Jet any one file the ends ol parallel nails that he finds among common nails, and try them, and he will find that they will be sufer to drive where there is danger ol splitting, The French wire nail is expensive; bnt it is worth using for some purposes. For delicate work spch nails, made of brass wire, with heads like serew heads withont nicks, would be good. Jl 2 good machine could be invented to make nails of this kind cheaply, we think it might he worked with profit. But parallel cut nails with wedge points can be made cheaply, aud we if not the incorrectpess of Pliny’s account; think a few shonld he tried—Amer. Artisan, and modern manufactnrers will readily detect the error, Iron the impossibility ol melting silex and soda by the heat necessary for the ordiuary boiling purposes. It is a well-authenticated fact, however, that there were whole streets in ‘l'yre eutirely ocenpred by glass-works; and history makes no mention of any works ol this character at an earlier period than the time mentioned by Pliny. It was during the reign of Nero, so far as we can discover, that the first perfectly clear glass, re-embling crystal, was manulactured. Pliny states that Nero, for two cups of ordinary size, with handles, gave 6,000 sestertia, equal in our currency to about £50,000; and that rich arti. cles of gluss were in such general nse among the wealthy Romans as almost to supersede articles of goid and silver. It is not strange that the strict secrecy with which the business was condneted in the middle ages should have invested ths art with an air of romance; and legends, probably invented lor the purpose, created a maximnm of wonder among the nninitinted. ‘the Government of Venice also added, by its course, to the popular notions regarding the high mystery of the art, conferring, as it did, the title of “ Gentleinan” (no idle Usero. Invention.— Mr. B. M. Esterle of this city has invented a novel, simple, and apparently very effectual contrivance for enabling vehicles te cross railroad tracks, or to raise theniselves out of a track when running in it, without danger of upsetting or straining the vehicle. It consists of a simple key or flange, from half an inch to an inch in width, and * gnarter of an inch or more in thicknesg, according to the weight ol the vehicle, fastened to the rim of the wheel at each alternate spoke, on a level with the face of the tire. In turning out of « railroad track or crossing it diagonaliy the flauge catches on the tron ol the track and lilts the carriage out with scarcely a perceptible jolt or strain, and as qnickly as ths carriage could he turned on the pavement. be invention is exceedingly simple, and appears fully to answer the porpose for which it was intended. A caveat for the invention was sent on to Washington by the last steamer through the Minine anp Screnmipic Press Parent Acrncy. A New Invextion—We learn that I, S. Crall, the Superintendent of the American claim near Birchville, has invented a pan which title in those days) on all who became uccom-. it is claimed will surpass anything of the kind Howell, in lis. inuse. It is something similar to tho Baux Familiar Leliers, dated from Venice in 1621,. & Guiod’s pan, but works munch faster, and at says: “ Not withont reason, it being a rare kiud of knowledge und cliemistry, to transinute the dull bodies of dust and sand, for they are the only ingredients, to such pellucid, dainty body as we see crystal glass is.” A French writer, who published an elaborate work upon the snbject of glass manufacture, after it had been introduced into France, gives an interestiug account of the rise aud progress of the art in that country, the encouragement it received, and the high estimation in which it was held. Alter stating that it was iutroduced in France from Venice, he says : “Phe workmen who are employed in this uohle art are geutlemen, for they udmit none but such. They have obtained many large privileges, the principal whereof is to work themselves, without derogating lrom their nobility. Those who obtained these privileges first were gentleinen hy birth; and their privilege running, that they may exercise this art without derogating from their nobility, as a sufficient proot of it, whicb has heen coufirmed by all our kings ; and in all inquiries that have been made into connterfeit nobitities, never was any one attaiued who enjoyed these privileges, having always maintained their honor down to their posterity.” Buron Von Lowhen states, in his Analysis of Nobility in its Origin, that “so useful were the glass-makers at oue period in Venice, and so considerable the revenne accruing to the republic from thsir. manufacture, that to encourage the men engaged in it to remata in Morano, the Senate made them all burgesses of Venice, and allowed nobles to marry their danghters; whereas, if a nobleman marries the daughter of any other tradesman, the issue is not reputed noble.” Parent Oreice Rerorrs ror 1864.—The engravings for the Patent Oifice Reports for 1864, are rapidly approaching completion. They are being prepared by Messrs, HE. R. Jewett & Co., of Buffalo, New York. The line engravings” are said to be execnted in the highest style of art, and under a patented procoos, the same time saves machinery. he new invention is called the waltzing pan, and has, in addition to the cirenlar motiun of the shoes a shifting from side to side. We understand that one of these pans will soon be at work at the American claims. A patent has been applied for hy Mr. Crall and the new invention will soon be fully described through the Mixina And Scientiric Press.—Nevada Transcript. Work axp Invenrions.—Mr. Mill tells us in his Political Economy, that thé labor-saving inventions of modern times have not yet lessened the daily lahor of mankind. The steam engine does the work of abont one thousand millions of men—mors mep than there are in the world—and this inconceivable addition in the world’s working force has all accrued in ninety years; yet no man finds his day's work diminished hy it. On the contrary, we work harder than we did ninety years ago, and hardest where there are the most steam engines. The farmer on opr western pruiries, by tbe aid of the mowing machine, gets in,in one week, acrop which his father conld not have got in by workiug till the prain dropped over-ripe from the straw; and then he tbrashes, in six honrs, more tbau his-father could have flailed out ina whole winter. But be works harder than his lather did, winter and summer. Ladies have made the sanie remark npon the sewing machine; they can sew ata pace that would have made their grandmothers gasp toe see, but their sewing is never any nearer done than it was when theyset every stitch hy hand. We kelieve it will be so tothe end of the chapter. We do not believe that any possible development of invention will ever much lessen the amount of hnman toil. As long as the world stands, we think the world will daily require, for carrying on its business, its entire daily revenne of force. Patent Receivrp.—Mr. 8. D. Sexton of Los Angelos has received the patent for his “Improved Quartz Crusher,” which issted Sept. 5th, 1865. The above is the fonrth patent which has been issued npon the inventions of D. Sexton, who is constantly at work setting forth new ideas to the world,

278 She Hlining aul Scientific, Breas, Bievhanica. WORKING STEAM EXPANSIVELY. Government has just spent about $30,000 at the Novelty Iron Works, New York, to determine whether any, and if any how ninch, advantage there is in working steam expansively. ‘he experiment has proven a most . excellent advertisement for the wealthy com-; pxny which has furnished the facilities for carrying it out ; besides affording a most profitable joh to the same company. But the government is rich; it has plenty of money, and why should it economise. Now, if a private individual wished to ascertaiu the same thing, he would be very likely to go to some party who is running an engine to do a certain amount of work. He would make an arrangement by which the engineer should run one week with the throttle valve open, and regulated only hy the links; and the next weck he would have it work thesteam expansively. A carefully kept fuel account would show the advantage, to all practical purposes, as well as the costly machinery prepared for this purpose at the Novelty Works. But then government never connts the cost ; government don’t have to work for its money; it taxes the people. Intelligent engineers knew long ago, by practical experience, that there was economy in working steam expansively. Government, however, has just found it ont, at an expense of $30,000. It will be yenrs, however, before red tape will allow it to be put in practice in government works. An engineer on the New Jersey railway, who nsed the half-stroke cut-off was asked, long before the government trial was instituted, how much he saved by working cxpansively. He replied: “ When Irun to Newark, without the cut-off, I burn three plump tiers of wood; but when I use the cut-off, IT burn two.” Will the costly government trial prove anything more practical? To Stop Runaway Horses.—Mr. Rosenfield, formerly ol the firm of Hutchings & Rosenfield, in this city, has invented an arrangement for preventing accidents or injnries by runaway horses. ‘his invention, is called the “ Safety Whippletres,” and is so arranged that in case ahorss or horses attempt to run away, the driver can, hy pulling a strap, immediately set them free from the buggy or carriage, and thns prevent the possibility of any injury to the vehicle or its occupants. Though very simple, when examined, and very cheap, this invention, if used, will euable people to be as safe from accidents while they are riding as they ai while walking. , Improvensxt in Mastie Roorinc.— Messrs. Skinner, Duncan, and Merighi, of this city, have obtained Letters Patent throngh our Agency for a pew combination for mastic roofing, the combination of which is such that it is said to be impervious to heat and cold, and is not easily subject to he attacked by fire. Yhe rays of the sun having no effect upon it, the iaterial will not run in summer and leave seams through which the water may leak during the antum and wiuter rains; neitber does the cold crack it in winter so as to leave crevices throngh which the water may penetrate into the building. We cordially recommend this roofing to bnilders. New Exauetine Macutve.—Mr. McEachren has received Jetters patent from the United States, through the Mixing anp Sclenriric Prrss Acrxcy, for a new emaneling machine, ler enameling moulding, which promise to be a great improvement over the old system. Mr. McKachren, with others, has lately started a mannfuctory for looking-gluss and picture frames, on Fremont street in this city, where he has several of these machines in hse. His claimis as follows: A movable bottom for raising the work or moulding pp and out of the enamel or paste substantially as described ; and in combination with the enameling haths, he claims the steam chamber for heating the bath and keeping it hot. He also claims the combination of the traveling carriage hopper, and enameling tool, all substantially as described and for the purpose set forth, monds, us easily as marble. A New Metuop or Corrine Borstms.—A gentleman named Woolaver, residing at Su gun, Solano county, has obtained patents for two new methods of corking bottles. The value of these inventions hes chiefly in the nsé of the bottle lor holding champagne, soda water and effervescing liquids. The mouths of the bottle—for it has two—are in the sides of the neck, instead of tlie top, as is ordinary bottles. Yo drow out the contents ol the bottle, a tube is used with a hole on the under side, a button being placed at each side; hy lifting a . lever the contents forces itself out ut the opposite side, and by drawing the lever back the bottle is effectually closed. The other device is simply a cork placed longitudinally with the neck of tle bottle, and isopened by means of a pair of lorceps, with a hole on the under side. With these forceps the cork is compressed till the tube enters far enough to admit of liquor passing through the hole in the tube, which passes {t into the glass or vessel—the cork stopping the bottle as soon the pressnre of the forceps is removed. ‘These are simple and useful inventions. Applications for patents (which have been ordered to issue), were mude through the Minina anp Scienrtzic Press AGENCY. Ee More about ths Diamond Drill. ‘We have seen a trial of the diamond drill in hjue flagstone. Acore, 114 inches diameter and 10g inches long, was cut out by it in four minntes. The hole made was 1% incbes diumeter; the feed was at the rate ol 56 turns to linch. Another hole, 1914 inches deep, was bored in 71g minutes, the rate of Teed heing 78 turns to one inch. Auother hole, 914 inches deep, was hored in 314 minutes, at the same rate of feed. The boring averaged about 2.6 inches per minute, The coinpany guarantee it to cut four inches per minute in North River bluestone, saudstone, marble, and slate, and two inches in graniteand harder rocks. With the last Ieed it would have been greater had there been more steam; all the steam canie 50 leet, through a 37 pipe, with several elbows. The core, which we brought away, is quite straicht, and others that we saw appeared so; and the surlace is very smooth. Holes bored. in this way willbe trne, und smooth enough for first-rate: stone-work ; and drills may be madé to cut holes and columus a foot or more in diameter, and ol any length required. The kerf cnt is 5-16ths thick ; and the power consumed is what is uecessary to pulverize this amount of stone. ‘wo meu worked a drill about halfas fast as it was worked by steam, showing that the power required is moderate ; and steam or compressed-air engine, of simple form, may be used. The only question is. the durahility of the diamonds. II the Ieed is violent, they may be broken ; but when the feed is properly gradnated they are not broken, and do not appear to be worn. In France, where the invention originated, diamonds, set differently, are used to dress burr-stones ; and it is claimed that they work . niore economically than the old tools. The borers we have seen are mude to set, with bayonet joints, on the ends of tnbea. There are six diamonds in each; so set as to cut a kerf in which the inetal can turn without touching. A stream of water runs in through the tube, and out around it, and washes out the debris. It is claimed that the principle may he applied with advantage to sawing stone; aud that very hard stonesmay be cut hy the diaA chambering drill has been made on this principle, by which the hole at the bottom may be enlarged to twice the size of the main hole—American Artisan. PREPARATION FoR Pruserving Lratuzr. The Shoe and Leather Deuler’s Reporter, good autbority, gives the following receipt for a preparation to ensure great durability to leather, and to make it pliable and soft: The preparation consists of four articles, tallow, suap, resin and water. These ingredieuts are prepared as follows: ’f'wenty-one parts of tallow are nielted in a vessel, three parts of rosin added, and the two when melted mixed well together. In another vessel seven parts of good washing soap are dissolved in seventy parts of pnre rain water. After it is dissolyed and the mass heated ta tbe boiling point, we add the part prepared before, let it boil onge more gently, and the preparation is ready for use. It is especially adapted to boots, harness leather and beltings. A puorocrarner of Cleveland, Ohio, §s abont to explore the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky for the purpose of. taking views ol’ its interior, by the aid of strong chemical lights. . plished in the manufacture. Manufacture of Glass. All writers on the subject of glass mannfac. tnre fail to show anything cecisive upon the precise period of its invention, Some suppose it to have been invented before the flood. Nervi traces its antiquity to the time of Job. The first glass houses, well authenticated, were erecled in the city of Tyre. Moderu

writers upon the fuct generally refer to Pliny in establishing the fact that the Pheenicians were the inveutors of the art of glass-making. The tradition is that the art was originally brought to light under the lolowing cireumstances: A vessel being driven by a storin to take shelter at the inouth of the river Belus, the crew were obliged to remain there some length of time, In the process of cooking, a fire was made npon the ground, whereon was abundance of the herb “kale.” ‘That plant burning Lo ashes, the saline properties became incorporated with the sand. This causing vitrification, the compound now called glass was theresnlt. ‘The fact becoming known, the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon essayed the work, and brought the new invention into practical use, ‘Uhis is the tradition ; but modern science demonstrates the false philosophy, Nalits made of wire of various sizes, from a 24 of an inch down to 1-32d. are still used in France. he points are conical, abont 60°, ‘They may be driven without splitting the wood, A conmnon pin, when driven into the edge ofa thin pice of wood, splits it; but if the tapered point be cut off, and 2 conical point made, it may be driven ‘without splitting. In inaking small models of soft wood, we have nsed steel pins with conical points, mude of pieces of knitting needles. They drive well, and hold fully as well as brads. We believe that tapered nails are not so good, for some uses, as_prismatic nails with pyramidal poiuts wonld be; or perhaps wedge ends, for convenicnce of manulacture, would be better. They would not split the wood; the wedge point, if ahout 60°, wonld crush a little at a time, and make a hole for itself, whereas a long wedge or tapered point in its effort to crush a grenter amount at a time, splits it ; that is, the power required to crush so much is more than is reqnired to split the piece. Jet any one file the ends ol parallel nails that he finds among common nails, and try them, and he will find that they will be sufer to drive where there is danger ol splitting, The French wire nail is expensive; bnt it is worth using for some purposes. For delicate work spch nails, made of brass wire, with heads like serew heads withont nicks, would be good. Jl 2 good machine could be invented to make nails of this kind cheaply, we think it might he worked with profit. But parallel cut nails with wedge points can be made cheaply, aud we if not the incorrectpess of Pliny’s account; think a few shonld he tried—Amer. Artisan, and modern manufactnrers will readily detect the error, Iron the impossibility ol melting silex and soda by the heat necessary for the ordiuary boiling purposes. It is a well-authenticated fact, however, that there were whole streets in ‘l'yre eutirely ocenpred by glass-works; and history makes no mention of any works ol this character at an earlier period than the time mentioned by Pliny. It was during the reign of Nero, so far as we can discover, that the first perfectly clear glass, re-embling crystal, was manulactured. Pliny states that Nero, for two cups of ordinary size, with handles, gave 6,000 sestertia, equal in our currency to about £50,000; and that rich arti. cles of gluss were in such general nse among the wealthy Romans as almost to supersede articles of goid and silver. It is not strange that the strict secrecy with which the business was condneted in the middle ages should have invested ths art with an air of romance; and legends, probably invented lor the purpose, created a maximnm of wonder among the nninitinted. ‘the Government of Venice also added, by its course, to the popular notions regarding the high mystery of the art, conferring, as it did, the title of “ Gentleinan” (no idle Usero. Invention.— Mr. B. M. Esterle of this city has invented a novel, simple, and apparently very effectual contrivance for enabling vehicles te cross railroad tracks, or to raise theniselves out of a track when running in it, without danger of upsetting or straining the vehicle. It consists of a simple key or flange, from half an inch to an inch in width, and * gnarter of an inch or more in thicknesg, according to the weight ol the vehicle, fastened to the rim of the wheel at each alternate spoke, on a level with the face of the tire. In turning out of « railroad track or crossing it diagonaliy the flauge catches on the tron ol the track and lilts the carriage out with scarcely a perceptible jolt or strain, and as qnickly as ths carriage could he turned on the pavement. be invention is exceedingly simple, and appears fully to answer the porpose for which it was intended. A caveat for the invention was sent on to Washington by the last steamer through the Minine anp Screnmipic Press Parent Acrncy. A New Invextion—We learn that I, S. Crall, the Superintendent of the American claim near Birchville, has invented a pan which title in those days) on all who became uccom-. it is claimed will surpass anything of the kind Howell, in lis. inuse. It is something similar to tho Baux Familiar Leliers, dated from Venice in 1621,. & Guiod’s pan, but works munch faster, and at says: “ Not withont reason, it being a rare kiud of knowledge und cliemistry, to transinute the dull bodies of dust and sand, for they are the only ingredients, to such pellucid, dainty body as we see crystal glass is.” A French writer, who published an elaborate work upon the snbject of glass manufacture, after it had been introduced into France, gives an interestiug account of the rise aud progress of the art in that country, the encouragement it received, and the high estimation in which it was held. Alter stating that it was iutroduced in France from Venice, he says : “Phe workmen who are employed in this uohle art are geutlemen, for they udmit none but such. They have obtained many large privileges, the principal whereof is to work themselves, without derogating lrom their nobility. Those who obtained these privileges first were gentleinen hy birth; and their privilege running, that they may exercise this art without derogating from their nobility, as a sufficient proot of it, whicb has heen coufirmed by all our kings ; and in all inquiries that have been made into connterfeit nobitities, never was any one attaiued who enjoyed these privileges, having always maintained their honor down to their posterity.” Buron Von Lowhen states, in his Analysis of Nobility in its Origin, that “so useful were the glass-makers at oue period in Venice, and so considerable the revenne accruing to the republic from thsir. manufacture, that to encourage the men engaged in it to remata in Morano, the Senate made them all burgesses of Venice, and allowed nobles to marry their danghters; whereas, if a nobleman marries the daughter of any other tradesman, the issue is not reputed noble.” Parent Oreice Rerorrs ror 1864.—The engravings for the Patent Oifice Reports for 1864, are rapidly approaching completion. They are being prepared by Messrs, HE. R. Jewett & Co., of Buffalo, New York. The line engravings” are said to be execnted in the highest style of art, and under a patented procoos, the same time saves machinery. he new invention is called the waltzing pan, and has, in addition to the cirenlar motiun of the shoes a shifting from side to side. We understand that one of these pans will soon be at work at the American claims. A patent has been applied for hy Mr. Crall and the new invention will soon be fully described through the Mixina And Scientiric Press.—Nevada Transcript. Work axp Invenrions.—Mr. Mill tells us in his Political Economy, that thé labor-saving inventions of modern times have not yet lessened the daily lahor of mankind. The steam engine does the work of abont one thousand millions of men—mors mep than there are in the world—and this inconceivable addition in the world’s working force has all accrued in ninety years; yet no man finds his day's work diminished hy it. On the contrary, we work harder than we did ninety years ago, and hardest where there are the most steam engines. The farmer on opr western pruiries, by tbe aid of the mowing machine, gets in,in one week, acrop which his father conld not have got in by workiug till the prain dropped over-ripe from the straw; and then he tbrashes, in six honrs, more tbau his-father could have flailed out ina whole winter. But be works harder than his lather did, winter and summer. Ladies have made the sanie remark npon the sewing machine; they can sew ata pace that would have made their grandmothers gasp toe see, but their sewing is never any nearer done than it was when theyset every stitch hy hand. We kelieve it will be so tothe end of the chapter. We do not believe that any possible development of invention will ever much lessen the amount of hnman toil. As long as the world stands, we think the world will daily require, for carrying on its business, its entire daily revenne of force. Patent Receivrp.—Mr. 8. D. Sexton of Los Angelos has received the patent for his “Improved Quartz Crusher,” which issted Sept. 5th, 1865. The above is the fonrth patent which has been issued npon the inventions of D. Sexton, who is constantly at work setting forth new ideas to the world,