482 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Chairman. — It has never yet been offered low enough. 



Mr. Gale said that linen is extensively consumed in this coun- 

 try, for collars, wristbands, shirtbosoras, handkerchiefs, and linen 

 coats and pantaloons, besides many other uses. It costs us from 

 fifty to seventy-five cents per yard, and is chiefly imported. On 

 the other hand, we have a surplus of female labor in this coun- 

 try which might be advantageously employed in its production. 

 Linen is, in my opinion, a better protection -against cold than 

 cotton or woolen ; for if we lay a covering of linen upon a pile 

 of potatos, and a covering of woolen upon another pile, equally 

 exposed, the latter may be frozen while the former will be unin- 

 jured. Apples may be hung up in a linen bag, and will be secure 

 from frost. The United States ought to produce its own cotton, 

 and linen and silk. 



Mr. Churchill suggested that the porous nature of the woolen 

 covering, and the impermeability of the linen covering might 

 explain the difference between the two in resisting the frost. Mr. 

 Churchill also remarked that specimens of prepared fibres 

 examined by him, and especially of flax, prepared by a modifica- 

 tion of Claussen's process, exhibited the various twisted forms 

 of cotton fibres through short lengths ; this might interfere with 

 the identification of short fibres as in paper. 



The Chairman said that his observations corresponded with 

 this. 



Jfew siilject. — The subject selected for the next meeting is 

 " Saltpetre and substitutes therefor." 



Adjourned. 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, 1 



January 16, 1862. 3 

 Mr. R. L. Pell in the chair, 



RAILROAD JOINT. 



Mr. Johnson, in behalf of P. Bartens, the inventor, exhibited 

 an improved railroad joint, consisting of a chair, so constructed 

 as to "make the road, as it were, of one continuous solid rail, 

 preventing any rail from getting displaced, and at the same time 

 allowing space between the ends of the rails for expansion." 

 When a rail is to be taken up, the bolts confining it to the 

 sleeper and the key are removed. The chair will then slide 

 along the rail far enough to release the end. 



