MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 99 



second concealed dial is moved forward one division, corresponding in 

 the instrument examined by the committee, to 36 divisions on the first 

 dial. By this means any number of fares desired may be registered 

 on the concealed dials. In the instrument examined by the Com- 

 mittee, the record exceeded 10,000. 



The outer dial is examined byjthe agent at the terminus of the route 

 at the end of each trip, the number of divisions passed over by the 

 index noted, and the hand returned to zero. Each dial maybe turned 

 back -without affecting the record upon that which enumerates the 

 higher numbers. 



The second and third dials are concealed behind the first, and their 

 index numbers are brought into view by a key, in the possession of a 

 second agent. This key slides back portions of the face or first dial, 

 covering the indicating part of each ; thus enabling them to be read, 

 but not moved. 



The concealed dials can only be reversed by means of a third key, 

 which is in the hands of the proprietors alone. When they are ex- 

 posed, the ringing apparatus is locked, and they cannot be moved for- 

 ward. 



Hence it may be seen that if the driver neglects to pull the bell, his 

 dishonesty becomes apparent to all within the coach, among whom may 

 be a secret agent of the proprietors, and the knowledge of this fact 

 will tend to prevent any such attempt being made on his part. 



The -first agent who inspects the dial at the end of each trip, can 

 only open the glass covering its face, and cannot expose the concealed 

 dials. The second agent \vho inspects the concealed dials at the end 

 of the day, cannot alter them, but acts as a check upon the driver and 

 the first agent, while it is in the power of the proprietors to satisfy 

 themselves, at any time, of the correctness of his records, by examin- 

 ing for themselves the concealed dials. 



IMPROVEMENTS IX SEWING MACHINES. 



During the past year, a number of sewing machines, involving new 

 principles of construction, or action, have been invented and patented. 

 Since 1843, the whole number of these machines for which patents 

 have been granted, is believed to be upwards of thirty, which num- 

 ber will undoubtedly be greatly increased during the present year. 

 These machines, the use of which is now becoming extensive, are rap- 

 idly approaching perfection ; and the work that they already accom- 

 plish, seems to the inexperienced, as bordering on the marvellous. 

 The peculiar principle of the best sewing machines, consists in the 

 use of two threads, the one being fed by a needle, and the other 

 the wrong side thread, or as it has been termed the auxiliary thread 

 being supplied by a shuttle and bobbin. The needle is secured to a 

 stock, whose movement, caused by arms and levers, drives its point 

 through the material to be sewed ; the eye of the needle at a mod- 

 erate distance from the point, carries the thread through and then re- 

 tires leaving a loop, through which loop a shuttle is passed, on the 



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