The daily Alaskan., 1913-05-08
QUEER INVENTIONS
Curious Devices For Which Pat-
 ents Have Been Granted.
THE TREETOP RAILWAY LINE.

Tbis Weird Scheme Involved Building
 on Elevated Road Supported by Liv-
 ing Wood-An Ingenious Panther
 Trap and a NoiseIoaa Alarm Clock.
 A chewing gum locsct and an elevNt, ted railroad supported by the branches Of growing trees are among tLe devices which have been granted patents from our government The patent office is quite broad minded In lts ideas Of what ought to be patented.
 The chewing gum loc;et was patent, ed Jan. 1. 1880. by Christopher W. Rob ortsou Of SomervIlIe, Tenn. The locket resembles tIe ordinary one which is used to carry the sweethearts picture, but instead Of a photograph It Is lined
 with a porcelain glass Interior Into
 this ho chewing gum Is neatly slipped
 for future reference.
 The tree supported elevated railroad
 Is Che Idca of Jerome Orlay of Tenn. schc. Belgium, and his patent letters
 were granted March 70, lgl2. In order to build a railroad Of thIs type all that
 Is necessary Co do Is to plant trees on
 both sides Of Che street and have them
 Ioau toward one another until they
 cross nt tnp ton. Iu the crotch thus
 provided ft would bc possible to lay
 striugcrs to which crogstIcs, etc., would
 he attached and to build your elevated
 railroad running under shady branches
 and supported by living wood. Addl,
 uonal poles lf desired, may be set be.
 tween Che trees, and part of the patent
 provides for running a double track
 road with one car above the other,
 One of Che most provIdent Inventors
 Is George c. HHle of Kansas City, Mo-.
 who was granted a patent Aug. 4. 1885,
 for combination suspeuders and Gre
 escape Woven Into Che fabric ot the ap-
 parouuy innocent r0lmscs. Mr. HaIe's patent provided for a string treated
 with some form of chemicals, SO that
 It would not cQsily burn. When caught
 on the upper floors of burning build
 ing the man provided with Che fire
 escape suspcndcrs had orIy to pulI the
 end of this string. which immediately unfurIcd itself for about 200 or BOO
 feet Then he rouId 'ct down this string Co thc street. hnvc It attached
 to substantial rope pull the rope uD
 to his floor. attach tho rope Co a firm
 point and escape from thc burning
 building,
 Speaking of susDcnders Mark Twain
 was thc grantee Of a suspender pat ent In December, lS7l he patented am improvement .n adjustable and de uchobIe straps for garments. In de. scr.nmg his invention Samuel b. CIcm. ems cussIGps lt us "UU adjustable and detachable cl0sic strap for vests, pan mloons or other garments requiring straps" and claims Us Its novel feature Che fact that lt is provided with de vices for adjusting Its length and with buuouholed ends for direct attachment Go Che clothing The device appears to consist merely Of two pieces Of leather with nuttouholcs at che ends and hook wIth different holes for adjusting Che length.
 ! An Ingenious contrivaucc has been patented by an Oregon man by means of which the family eat can be used as live bait for catching lynycs cou. gars. nanthcrs, and the like without danger to thc cut and with great cer toiuty th0t the wild animals will be trapped. The patent consists of a sharp stake with a point at Che top intended Co make it uncomfortable for pussy to rest there permanently, and ! a ring over thc stake. Co which by a |Wrht chain Is attached a collar or bar. ness. which fastens around the cats neck. In circle about the stake are set half dozen steel traps. securely chained to Che ground in such a way that an animal caught in one of them could not quite reach the stake Drive ! the stake somewhere out in the wllds where Iynxes and partners do congre- gate put pussy into the collar and |awalt results. Being a live bait she will yowI This will attract the ani- mals, but whom they come she will ! Immediately escape by running up the IsaEe. which ls covered with cloth t0 give her claws a chance. The animal, while pranciug around at the foot of ! the stake. win prance into one of the steel traps and get caught Pussy will come down from the pointed top and serve as balt to attract more animals.
 The acme of ingenuity, however, has ! been reached by George Hogan in his |nolseIcss alarm clock, patented June9, |l00s. The Hogan device consists of a ! Iar Of water on a shelf above the bed, from which runs a hose, which on re- urlng the sleeper attaches to his leg. By means Of the ordinary alarm clock ] a valve is opened at any hour that may be desired when water begins to Gow against the leg Of the victim. ! This does not disturb the uelghbors land is sure t5 awaken Che sleeper, a satisfactory arrangement for every body.
 The one thing which the government l u.U nof rnneI1pr nmOng applications