The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-09-10

sea fishing know how the fish line cuts
deeply Into the hard wood of the gun
vale as it is hauled in while taut.
Even an iron protection, after a time,
shows the wear of the rope, which is
comparatively soft. This gives a clue
to the invention of an Albany quarry
man for cutting stone. Instead, how
ever, of hemp, he proposes to use wire
rope, and with this he will carve the
marble and stone right out of it's ma
tive bed. The wire is wound in strands
and has a very rough surface, power
full machinery gives a strong and q
steady strain, and the stone, yielding
to the constant wear, parts with
smooth edges. 1t would be easy
enough to cut blocks after they are re-
moved from the quarry. but where the
c~leverness of the inventor comes in is
dGvlSlng mechanism that can be ap-
piled to the stone while in the quarry.
This is effected by sinking two parallel
channels in the quarry to a depth of
little greater than that of the lowest
level of h stone to be cut. The chan
nelS may be from 20 to 100 feet. or
more, apart. At the bottom of each is
made a small hole to receive the foot
ends of the shafts of the machine.
This is the only preparation of the
quarry that Is necessary. The ropes,
which are coiled on huge drums, are
then passed around the channels, and
as the drums revolve the cutting pro-
ceeds. Suitable brakes are provided
for the regulation of the speed and
pressure. The ordinary speed of the
strand is 800 feet a minute, so that a
mile length of it passes in six minutes.
While the strand is moving, crushed
stone or chilled shot and water can be
introduced to increase the attrition.
Far better, however, than either of
these is a composition obtained from
the tailingS of a magnetic iron separa-
tor, which costs about One-tenth as
much as the chilled shot. 1t does not
leave the lines caused by the shot, and
1T can be used owe and ove again.
Starting Machine for Race Horses.
An Indian correspondent says that
the reccntly-invented machine for
starting race horses has already quite
a vogue in India, and was used with
most successful results at the last
Bombay races. The machine consists
of a barrier of five ropes, which are
stretched across the course after the
horses have left the paddock, almost
level with their heads. When the field
is ready to get away the barrier is re-
owe and the horses let go. The rap
idity with which the machine works
obviates all chances of an accident. 1t
should be a most effective check on the
endless false starts and vexatious de-
lays which are a too frequent feature
of race meetings. A starter, profess
sional or amateur, has very little. If
any, control over an unruly field be-
yond keeping them waiting and fining
jockeys who persistently delay the
start by breaking away or hanging
back; whereas, with the machine these
breaks are reduced to q minimum.
The contrast between races started
with the machine and those started
with the flag is very marked. In the
latter case false starts are numerous:
but with the machine they rarely oc-
cur. Significant testimony of the opin-
ion of racing men as to the invention
is afforded in the fact that q well
known starter is now devoting half
an hour daily to schooling green horses
with the new machine.