Volume 23 (1871) (426 pages)

September 16, 1871.] SCIENTIFIC PRESS. 169 SELF-ACTING GATE. . This imyention, which we originally illustrate, relates to that class of gates which werk antomatically. By an inge-. nions mechanical application it is arranged . so as to epen and shut at pleasure, by the. passage of the wheel of the vehicle over a erank in the road. These cranks are ar-! ranged so that rnnning over them, on/. either side, in the direction of the gate, opens it, and by going from it the gate is closed. A system of gears, rods, chains, and pulleys, connect the cranks with a toothed wheel eperating in a rack nnder the base of the gate, as partially shown, which moves it open er shut, according to the direction the cranks are operated. The construction of the frame may be yva-: ried according to taste, and tLe roadway planked or not, as desired. The machinery is Hght and simple, yet suflicicutly strong to last for years, and is comparatively reasenable for the real convenience of its use. As o general thing, but two cranks are required, one on each side of the gate; but in the case represented by the accompanying cut, there are two cranks on one side and one on the other. In entering the gate from the road, where there is not room enough to tnrn and enter the gate directly facing it, acrank on each side is more convenient from the fact that an approaching vehicle would have ample room to pass over either crank, and then make the turn without cramping or other difficulty. The bed timber, with the rail on top upon which tle gate slides, is firmly imbedded iuthe ground, and the gate, resting on it, is thereby prevented from sagging, and the guides on therails retain it in the proper position. High winds do not affect its working freely, and it cannot be left open except through the neglect of the driver to run the wheel over the crank opposite the one by which the gate was opened. No cattle, however vicious, can get throngh it; for, on closing, a spring snaps through the gate into the beam, precludiug the possibility of running it back except by means of the crank or a human hand. The cranks can be placed at any: distance from the gate, by means of the boxes buried in trenches throngh which the leading rods run, so that a team of any number of animals can pass through without the driver having to leave them. The patent for this gate has recently been allowed through our agency to Edmund Higgius, now of Vallejo. 5: ow Tre Excrisn Terecrara Systes.—Un der the management of the Post-oftice De partment, is proving a decided success. While the cost of telegraphing has been greatly reduced, the net earnings have been increased, and during the same time the work of extension and repairing has been more than the average of past years. The time is not far distant when the telegraph system of this country also, will be placed under government control, and be Water Pipes. nY OUR XEW YORE EDITOR. What Shall wo uso for Service Pipes for Household Purposes. This most important question has been answered in a dozen different ways within asmsny years but people even yet do not scom satisficd. Let us look at some of the materials which have been brought forward to answer this question. Galvanized pipe, bad from the first moment. ‘The lining of zine too thin to be of any use iu protecting the iron. Zine is poisonous and so are its vomponnds. It is readily taken up by the water and in fact it protects the iron at the expense of its own corrosion. Iron, is fairly safe, but not good. Iron will rust, and iron rnst water is better for a medi. Ny HIGGINS’ uses, as it is ruinous to the teeth. Lead; almost all waters corrode lead and carry it along with them. One water in ten may not, but the reverse is the rude and it won’t do to trust that the water you use is an exception. JLead pipe makers tell you that itis safe. They have an ax to grind and lie to help the grinding. They know that the best of drinking watersin almost every case will corrode lead and the water will be poisoned. The worst of lead poisoning is that you may take a little now and not feel it, a lit tle next week and no effect, and so on, but when the whole amount is sufficient to produce the. poisoning, then look out. . Not a particle of lead that once gets into the system cver gets out. It is an accumulative poison. Rubber can’t be trusted mechanically. Well you all know what I am coming at, Tin, yes that is the metal. Pipes were made with a wash of tin inside. It was too thin, it broke or wore away, exposed the lead and then you were as bad off as thongh the pipe was of lead in the first place. Some said galvyanio action! That’s a mistake, the metals are so much alike in some respects that galvanic action don’t take place between them. So you are no worse off even after your tin is . gone thau if you had a lead pipe. But made a part of our post-ofilce system. Cutcaco Larp is being received at the rate of one and two car loads per week, and finds ready sale, three car loads having deen sold iu this city the past week. pipes ave lined with tiu in these days in a . way that makes a tin pipe inside a lead . one. A New York man invented the process several years ago. The thinnest coating of tin used, is as thick as card . board. The lead outside is as stout as in. any lead pipe. Here we have it then. The tin is as thick as safety requires, and the lead outside is as strong as you want it, like any lead pipe. ‘‘How shall you know this pipe if yon see it?” The inside is almost as bright as silver and on the ontside are four little ridjes extending the whole length of the pipe equally distant from each other. If yon inqnire about thisat your plnmbers there is no knowing what they will tell yon. They have all maunor of stories about ‘‘can't solder joints,” ‘‘nnequal expansion” of the two metals, worse than lead, etc., ete. Wehare heard all that before, and from people who knew better. Just tell them, however, that another New Yorker invented « joint which is as strong as any partof the pipe and don’t tuke a plumber to make it either. It don’t cost much. It does away with all the trouble that they have ever had with such work; its quicker too. Now I have no ax to grind, and I can’t tell you anything about prices, thoughits myimpressiou that it costs ,cine than for a drink or for household . abont the same as lead pipe; a little more 4 SELF-OPENING AND CLOSING FARM GATE. I think. I never bought an ounce in my life; I don’t know the address of the firm that makes it; you will find it in almost any of the Eastern papers. I think I may be pardoned if I say that a letter addressed to Mr. Shaw, 213 Centre street, New York City,—I don’t know his initials —would probably bring you all the further informatiom which you wish. I speak freely, because I feel that it is high time for people to understand that lead Pipes will poison. It is only a question of time. Tin pipes and tin lined pipes are safe and they are not expensive when we look at the danger arising from the pipes in use, Now reader if you poison yourself with lead water pipes my hands are clear of you. CxaLOROFoRM AND Roperry.—It appears to be the opinion of the most eminent medical writers that the reports of the use of chloroform and similar agents in facilitating robberies. etc., of persons while asleep, are without foundation—that such agents cannot be efficiently employed in stupefying persons against their will without alarming them. Itis said that its application to a sleeping person is so attended with choking and retching, that the soundest sleeper would likely be waked before stupefaction was complete. GNATS IN THE Eves oF Catrie.—a serious eye disease among cattle is reported as prevailing in Kansas City, Mo. The supposed cause of the trouble is gnats getting into the eyes of cattle that drink at stagnaut pools, Bers are now sent by mail, confined in a square block of wood, with auger holes bored in it and covered with wire gauze, NOTES AT THE S. F. MECHANICS' INSTITUTE FAIR. {In these notes we bave rvom only to notice briefly such articles a8 come specially under our observation. More replete descriptions of the most interesting and instructive exhibits will be given in the Press at our greater Ieisuro hereatter. No classlied catalogue being published we do not in this number give complete notices in any particular department.) Presenvep Mrats.—Messrs. Ross, Dempster & Co., make an exhibit of Australian preserved meats, a commodity which bids fair to form an important article of commerce. Rotary Dioorr.—This is a new devico for breaking up the soil, invented by Mr. 8. Johnson, of this city. Tho machine is intended as a substitute for plowing, harrowing and cultivating. Mr. J. is about adding an important improvement to the “digger” in the form of knives, which are intended to precede the digger. CauirorsiA Mapr Avucrrs.—We have here another new item of California manufacture, made and exhibiteé by E. W. Mitchell & Co., of Napa City. These we believe are the first augurs ever manufactured in California. They are made of the best cast steel and have the manufacturer’s warrant that every instrument shall give entire satisfaction. We trust the experimeut will prove a paying one. Rawaiws Brerrs.—Mr. H. Royer, 487 Brannan street, makes a very fino display of his rawhide preparation for belting, lacing, etc. Mr. R. has beeu for several years engaged in mannfacturing this kind of material the speciality of which is the production of a leather of complete pliability and_ tensions] strength, which is unaffected by exposure or atmospheric chan ges. The machinery by which this is accomplished is secured to the inveutor by letters patent. REMARKANLE CHERRres.—The branch containing 354 Queen Anne Cherries from Luellen’s nurseries, O1egon, exhibited by Dewey & Co., have been looked upon with surprise by visitors in the horticnltural department. Durron’s New Harness, which has been tested three months, is spoken favorably of. Itavoids the use of the ordinsry collar aud breast-plate, rnd is sne of the most important inventions of the day. Tue Preserves, jellies, jams, pickles, canned fruit and vegetables exhibited by P. D. Code & Co., look inviting to the taste. This new firm are making a commendable success of their business in San Francisco. Tue Cau. Beet Sucar is one of the most significant exhibits in the whele Fair. This new product is remarkable for its whiteness and purity. Hearte’s Doverarnine Macsine is a Califoruia improvement which has worked very successfully at Swan, Dunbar & Co.’s factory, in this city. This firm has ruu a variety of machinery for making boxes, of which product they exhibit. Patent WINDMILLS AND HoRsEPOWERS. of improved California manufacture, were exhibited by W. I. Tustin. Sarrv’s Truss Bripce was exhibited in model by the Pacific Bridge Co., of Oakland, W. H. Gorrill, President. It has been introduced on this coast during the past year, by the building of several strnetures, one of which, at Oroville, has a span of 214 feet iu the clear. Grart STEMMER AND CrusHER.—Schoenstein & Kline inventors and patentses exhibited one of this new class of machinery, which we would advise persons interested in to examine at their place of manufacture, No. 5 Powell st., 8. F. A Tucx Marser, by John H. Mooney, patentee, is one of the improvements for first-class sewing machines which our lady friends should examine.

September 16, 1871.] SCIENTIFIC PRESS. 169 SELF-ACTING GATE. . This imyention, which we originally illustrate, relates to that class of gates which werk antomatically. By an inge-. nions mechanical application it is arranged . so as to epen and shut at pleasure, by the. passage of the wheel of the vehicle over a erank in the road. These cranks are ar-! ranged so that rnnning over them, on/. either side, in the direction of the gate, opens it, and by going from it the gate is closed. A system of gears, rods, chains, and pulleys, connect the cranks with a toothed wheel eperating in a rack nnder the base of the gate, as partially shown, which moves it open er shut, according to the direction the cranks are operated. The construction of the frame may be yva-: ried according to taste, and tLe roadway planked or not, as desired. The machinery is Hght and simple, yet suflicicutly strong to last for years, and is comparatively reasenable for the real convenience of its use. As o general thing, but two cranks are required, one on each side of the gate; but in the case represented by the accompanying cut, there are two cranks on one side and one on the other. In entering the gate from the road, where there is not room enough to tnrn and enter the gate directly facing it, acrank on each side is more convenient from the fact that an approaching vehicle would have ample room to pass over either crank, and then make the turn without cramping or other difficulty. The bed timber, with the rail on top upon which tle gate slides, is firmly imbedded iuthe ground, and the gate, resting on it, is thereby prevented from sagging, and the guides on therails retain it in the proper position. High winds do not affect its working freely, and it cannot be left open except through the neglect of the driver to run the wheel over the crank opposite the one by which the gate was opened. No cattle, however vicious, can get throngh it; for, on closing, a spring snaps through the gate into the beam, precludiug the possibility of running it back except by means of the crank or a human hand. The cranks can be placed at any: distance from the gate, by means of the boxes buried in trenches throngh which the leading rods run, so that a team of any number of animals can pass through without the driver having to leave them. The patent for this gate has recently been allowed through our agency to Edmund Higgius, now of Vallejo. 5: ow Tre Excrisn Terecrara Systes.—Un der the management of the Post-oftice De partment, is proving a decided success. While the cost of telegraphing has been greatly reduced, the net earnings have been increased, and during the same time the work of extension and repairing has been more than the average of past years. The time is not far distant when the telegraph system of this country also, will be placed under government control, and be Water Pipes. nY OUR XEW YORE EDITOR. What Shall wo uso for Service Pipes for Household Purposes. This most important question has been answered in a dozen different ways within asmsny years but people even yet do not scom satisficd. Let us look at some of the materials which have been brought forward to answer this question. Galvanized pipe, bad from the first moment. ‘The lining of zine too thin to be of any use iu protecting the iron. Zine is poisonous and so are its vomponnds. It is readily taken up by the water and in fact it protects the iron at the expense of its own corrosion. Iron, is fairly safe, but not good. Iron will rust, and iron rnst water is better for a medi. Ny HIGGINS’ uses, as it is ruinous to the teeth. Lead; almost all waters corrode lead and carry it along with them. One water in ten may not, but the reverse is the rude and it won’t do to trust that the water you use is an exception. JLead pipe makers tell you that itis safe. They have an ax to grind and lie to help the grinding. They know that the best of drinking watersin almost every case will corrode lead and the water will be poisoned. The worst of lead poisoning is that you may take a little now and not feel it, a lit tle next week and no effect, and so on, but when the whole amount is sufficient to produce the. poisoning, then look out. . Not a particle of lead that once gets into the system cver gets out. It is an accumulative poison. Rubber can’t be trusted mechanically. Well you all know what I am coming at, Tin, yes that is the metal. Pipes were made with a wash of tin inside. It was too thin, it broke or wore away, exposed the lead and then you were as bad off as thongh the pipe was of lead in the first place. Some said galvyanio action! That’s a mistake, the metals are so much alike in some respects that galvanic action don’t take place between them. So you are no worse off even after your tin is . gone thau if you had a lead pipe. But made a part of our post-ofilce system. Cutcaco Larp is being received at the rate of one and two car loads per week, and finds ready sale, three car loads having deen sold iu this city the past week. pipes ave lined with tiu in these days in a . way that makes a tin pipe inside a lead . one. A New York man invented the process several years ago. The thinnest coating of tin used, is as thick as card . board. The lead outside is as stout as in. any lead pipe. Here we have it then. The tin is as thick as safety requires, and

the lead outside is as strong as you want it, like any lead pipe. ‘‘How shall you know this pipe if yon see it?” The inside is almost as bright as silver and on the ontside are four little ridjes extending the whole length of the pipe equally distant from each other. If yon inqnire about thisat your plnmbers there is no knowing what they will tell yon. They have all maunor of stories about ‘‘can't solder joints,” ‘‘nnequal expansion” of the two metals, worse than lead, etc., ete. Wehare heard all that before, and from people who knew better. Just tell them, however, that another New Yorker invented « joint which is as strong as any partof the pipe and don’t tuke a plumber to make it either. It don’t cost much. It does away with all the trouble that they have ever had with such work; its quicker too. Now I have no ax to grind, and I can’t tell you anything about prices, thoughits myimpressiou that it costs ,cine than for a drink or for household . abont the same as lead pipe; a little more 4 SELF-OPENING AND CLOSING FARM GATE. I think. I never bought an ounce in my life; I don’t know the address of the firm that makes it; you will find it in almost any of the Eastern papers. I think I may be pardoned if I say that a letter addressed to Mr. Shaw, 213 Centre street, New York City,—I don’t know his initials —would probably bring you all the further informatiom which you wish. I speak freely, because I feel that it is high time for people to understand that lead Pipes will poison. It is only a question of time. Tin pipes and tin lined pipes are safe and they are not expensive when we look at the danger arising from the pipes in use, Now reader if you poison yourself with lead water pipes my hands are clear of you. CxaLOROFoRM AND Roperry.—It appears to be the opinion of the most eminent medical writers that the reports of the use of chloroform and similar agents in facilitating robberies. etc., of persons while asleep, are without foundation—that such agents cannot be efficiently employed in stupefying persons against their will without alarming them. Itis said that its application to a sleeping person is so attended with choking and retching, that the soundest sleeper would likely be waked before stupefaction was complete. GNATS IN THE Eves oF Catrie.—a serious eye disease among cattle is reported as prevailing in Kansas City, Mo. The supposed cause of the trouble is gnats getting into the eyes of cattle that drink at stagnaut pools, Bers are now sent by mail, confined in a square block of wood, with auger holes bored in it and covered with wire gauze, NOTES AT THE S. F. MECHANICS' INSTITUTE FAIR. {In these notes we bave rvom only to notice briefly such articles a8 come specially under our observation. More replete descriptions of the most interesting and instructive exhibits will be given in the Press at our greater Ieisuro hereatter. No classlied catalogue being published we do not in this number give complete notices in any particular department.) Presenvep Mrats.—Messrs. Ross, Dempster & Co., make an exhibit of Australian preserved meats, a commodity which bids fair to form an important article of commerce. Rotary Dioorr.—This is a new devico for breaking up the soil, invented by Mr. 8. Johnson, of this city. Tho machine is intended as a substitute for plowing, harrowing and cultivating. Mr. J. is about adding an important improvement to the “digger” in the form of knives, which are intended to precede the digger. CauirorsiA Mapr Avucrrs.—We have here another new item of California manufacture, made and exhibiteé by E. W. Mitchell & Co., of Napa City. These we believe are the first augurs ever manufactured in California. They are made of the best cast steel and have the manufacturer’s warrant that every instrument shall give entire satisfaction. We trust the experimeut will prove a paying one. Rawaiws Brerrs.—Mr. H. Royer, 487 Brannan street, makes a very fino display of his rawhide preparation for belting, lacing, etc. Mr. R. has beeu for several years engaged in mannfacturing this kind of material the speciality of which is the production of a leather of complete pliability and_ tensions] strength, which is unaffected by exposure or atmospheric chan ges. The machinery by which this is accomplished is secured to the inveutor by letters patent. REMARKANLE CHERRres.—The branch containing 354 Queen Anne Cherries from Luellen’s nurseries, O1egon, exhibited by Dewey & Co., have been looked upon with surprise by visitors in the horticnltural department. Durron’s New Harness, which has been tested three months, is spoken favorably of. Itavoids the use of the ordinsry collar aud breast-plate, rnd is sne of the most important inventions of the day. Tue Preserves, jellies, jams, pickles, canned fruit and vegetables exhibited by P. D. Code & Co., look inviting to the taste. This new firm are making a commendable success of their business in San Francisco. Tue Cau. Beet Sucar is one of the most significant exhibits in the whele Fair. This new product is remarkable for its whiteness and purity. Hearte’s Doverarnine Macsine is a Califoruia improvement which has worked very successfully at Swan, Dunbar & Co.’s factory, in this city. This firm has ruu a variety of machinery for making boxes, of which product they exhibit. Patent WINDMILLS AND HoRsEPOWERS. of improved California manufacture, were exhibited by W. I. Tustin. Sarrv’s Truss Bripce was exhibited in model by the Pacific Bridge Co., of Oakland, W. H. Gorrill, President. It has been introduced on this coast during the past year, by the building of several strnetures, one of which, at Oroville, has a span of 214 feet iu the clear. Grart STEMMER AND CrusHER.—Schoenstein & Kline inventors and patentses exhibited one of this new class of machinery, which we would advise persons interested in to examine at their place of manufacture, No. 5 Powell st., 8. F. A Tucx Marser, by John H. Mooney, patentee, is one of the improvements for first-class sewing machines which our lady friends should examine.