438 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



nuity. We sball have to find out how far we can profitably conduct gas 

 from the gas works to our homes, in pipes, &c. 



The Chairman. — I predict that in ten years from this coal oil will be 

 used all over the civilized world. 



Mr. Leonard, from the committee on questions, gave for next meeting : 

 " The Microscope." 



At 10^- o'clock P. M., the Club adjourned. 



H. MEIGS, Secretary. 



February 28, 1859. 



Present — Messrs. R. L. Pell, Bruce, Godwin, A. Nash, Judge Scoville, 

 Stetson, Seeley, John Johnson, Breisach, Pinell, Veeder, Griscom, Has- 

 kell, Lawton, Jerome, Nowlan, Prof. Mason, Prof. Hedrick an-d others 

 ers — 45 members. 



R. L. Pell in the chair. Henry Meigs, Secretary, 



The Secretary read the following extracts : 



STOPPING RAILROAD TRAIN. 



Mr. E. Palmer, of Woodford Green, Essex, Ohio — a series of transverse 

 rollers under the engine and cars. The circumferences are a short dis-. 

 tance above the rails. If the wheels get oif the track, these rollers are 

 immediately in operation, and having flanges on their inner ends, act as a 

 series of wheels, &c. Also, a drag-carriage behind, self acting. 



J. Lubbock. — Bees make circular cells in the circumference of the comb, 

 and afterwards, when they had worked a row next to them, they made the 

 first row hoxagonal like all the rest. Wasps always built hexagonal cells 

 from the beginning. 



HELIOSTAT. 



F. Galton's, as cheap and as portable as a common ship's compass. Light 

 can be flashed from it so as to attract attention from the most careless per- 

 son, at ten miles distance — can be used anywhere the sun shines, and con- 

 vey messages known only to the person seeing the flash. Another Helios- 

 tat can flash the response. 



Mr. Nowlan exhibits his plan of a bridge over the East river, and ex- 

 plains the construction of it. 



G. F. Jerome exhibits mowing and reaping machine, and explains its 

 operation. A castor wheel on the left side supports the cutting frame so 

 as to adapt it to irregular surfaces. Its shear movement is claimed to act 

 without clogging. It cuts five feet swathe. One horse can do mowing on 

 six or eight acres a day. At Mineola, Queens county, on Long Island. 



Mr. Godwin moves for the reading by the Chairman of his paper on the 

 Microscope. Carried. 



