Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-03-06
4 New Locomotive.

Mr.. Thomas, an English civil engi-
neer, has invented locomotive which is
a novelty in it's way. The particular ex-
cellence claimed for it is, that instead of
requiring track adapted toit, it adapts
itself to the track. 1t is described as
having two driving wheels about five
feet in diameter, on which almost the
whole of the weight of the engine rests;
and smaller wheel in front, which is
for steering purposes, and is so COM
pletely under control as to answer the
slightest touch of the hand Each wheel
has broad iron tire, with narrow
fanges, upon which is placed a soft,
vrlcanized India rubber ring, about
twelve inches in thickness, the fanges
keeping it in its place. Over the India
rubber there is placed an endless chain
of steel plates, three and a half inches
wide, which form the portion of the
wheel that comes in contact with the
rough road and this reticulated chain
is connected with what may be called
vertebre at each side of the wheel
In consequence Of the pliable, elastic
property of such ties, "the wheel-sur-
face" says the enthusiastic inventor,
"presents, according to the condition
of the road over which it passes, the
broad, quiet tramp of the foot of the
elephant, the gentle step of the feline
race, or the web-footed effect of the
acquatic animal when walking on the
morass." It is driven by steam, and
will, it is said, ascend or decend grade
at an angle of thirty-five degrees with
out capsizing or losing it's tenacious
foothold. In short it will cline around
and over the rugged hills of Scotland
with as great ease and security as a fly
cEngs to the smooth surface of a wall
| With a few trifing improvements
it will, no doubt, be able
to run up an incline of
seventy or eighty degrees, and then it
will become a vehicle worth having.
Imagine the sensation of race by
steam up the side of Mount Washing
ton, or tour over the peaks of the
Andes, at the rate of forty miles an
hour, through thickets for Chimborazo,
twenty minutes for dinner in the crater
Of Cotopaxi Indeed, in reading over
Mr.. Thomas glowing description of
his patent adjustable wheel, we are in
cllned to think that for hepurposes of
locomotion the human foot is compare
lively a very clumsy affair, and destin-
ed soon to be superseded by some sort
OF revolving hoof, shod with an India
rubber stocking and recticulated SHOE
The Demand for Sewing Machines.
Probably no one invention has come
INTO such general use as the sewing ma
chime. The business of manufacturing
and selling them, says the Boston Com
merclal Bulletin, has grown up mainly
Within the past fifteen years, but during
the last ten years has increased rapidly.
There are now made and sold annually
III the United States about 75O, 900 sew
ing machines, and in every city, town,
village and hamlet, these useful ma
chimes are more or less in use. Some
OF the largest manufacturers are now
running extra hours to keep up with
orders, and even then are frequently
unable to supply the demand. The
massachusetts, companies are doing q
large and remunerative business, mauy
et them exporting their machines to all
parts of the world, particularly to
Europe. l.-I p.
COLONEL RoBB, Collector OF the port
OF Savannah, has rendered his resig-
nation. In his letter to the President
ne says he is impelled to this course
from desire to promote, so far as any
act Of his can do, entire harmony i'll
the ranks of the Republican party IN
Georgia.
GRAND RAPIDS is to have an elevator
with storage capacity Of so, 000 bush
nIc oF c.,,; >,