The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1898-08-21
A VALUABLE ARMY INVENTION.
Mr. w. C. MeIntire's Combined BIZ
cycle Carrier and Cot

MI w. C. McIHtire's Combined RI
cycle Carrier and Cot
The war has acted as a stimulant to
the brains of the inventive geniuses. and
applications for patents pertaining to
war mechanism have lately flooded the
Patent Office. The records of that Office
show that nearly 1000 patents have been
applied for since the war began. and
most of these are devices for protection
TO the soldier. convenient modes for car
rying articles and for gun and rife
mechanism. As is the case with the gen.
eral class of ideas conceived by the
wOuld-be inventor. some of them ara
new and some good. but the majority Of
the new ones are not good. nor are tho
good ones new Among the very curl
Gus and impractical ideas may be cited
the soldiers helmet, constructed TO emit
smoke through a pipe in the top. which
is supposed 10 fall 10 the ground and
cover the wearer In this way. the in
ventOr claims. the whole army may
march upon the enemy unseen The bi-
cycle that can be dragged on the field
Of battle. and which can be easily de-
tached for use in the event of quick
retreat, together with The steel cape and
umbrella can be found by the score.
There are. Of course, many useful and
practical inventions to be found among
the rubbish.
lately patented is the invention of Mr..
William c. McIn1ire. of Ga F Street
northwest The device is designed for
use in the military branch OF the army
1t Is constructed after i combination of
ideas, and while It can be used for many
things. Mr.. McIntire has modestIy named
il a carrier" For reasons of safety as
to Mr.. McIntire's patent protection
abroad, it is undesirable TO give IN detail
the features Of its mechanical eonstruc-
ton Butt good idea of its usefulness
can be obtained from a description of its
possibilities. The device is intended To
be dragged behind the soldier in the
manner of the ordinary wheeled vehicle.
he arms of the soldier being entirely
free when desired. 1t is so constructed
that it enables the soldier to transport
a heavy load of army paraphernalia with
no Inconvenience and very little physical
exertion- A detail of men may. with -he
aid of the carrier. transport all the neces-
sary provisions and ammunitiOns needed
for a long campaign. II is especially
useful in camp or garrison for policing
the grounds. In this way il viii IN a
large degree replace the heavy army
wagon, which so many times has to be
left behind. in consequence of the IN
availability of the roads and which con-
stitutes a heavy item of expense in
camp. The carrier may be instantly con-
verified without the aid of toels} into the
most approved litter for the wounded.
or into cot upon which the sick or tired
soldier may rest.
Mr.. McIntire conceived the idea for this
invention some time ago, and has ex-
pended both time and money without
stint in perfecJing il and putting il into
practical form. He is now engaged in
the organiza ton of a company and will
dispose of a portion of the stock. Ar
rangements have been already made with
a large manufacturing firm doing husi-
ness in America and England to make
the carrier The sample of the machine
shown The Times reporter is the highest
evidence of the manufacturers skill