182 



Popular Science Monthly 



can turn completely around in a little 

 more than their own length, and hence 

 can steer a violent zig-zag course. A 

 submarine attempting to torpedo such 

 a boat, traveling thirty miles an hour 

 with so little hull to shoot at, would be 

 attempting almost the impossible. 



In realizing the tremendous advance 

 of the motor-boat it must be remembered 

 that these vessels can travel at high 

 speeds, in almost any seaway, carrying 

 eight men for long distances, and that 

 they are armed in addition. A few 

 years ago motor-boats did not travel so 

 fast with one man, for a mile only, even 

 on quiet, inland waters. And yet they 

 are small enough to be placed on the deck 

 of a warship. This is evidenced by the 

 fact that each is equipped with cleats, 

 bolted to the keel, by which it can be 

 lifted from the water. This is the reason 

 England has placed a very large order 

 for duplicates of this American design. 



A 



Hitching the Mower to the 

 Farm Automobile 



CALIFORNIA ranchman (James 

 M. Berry, Sacramento) found that 

 pea vines came up so thickly in a grain 

 field that it was impossible to cut the 

 grain. He decided therefore to cut it 

 for hay. Because of the shortage of 

 horses he tried hitching the mower 

 behind the ranch automobile. The plan 

 worked so successfully that about twenty 

 acres were cut each day, the car drawing 

 the mower at such speed that the mower 

 readily cleared itself. When horses were 



used, the blade frequently clogged itself. 

 The hay was raked by the same 

 method. In the fall the automobile was 

 used to run a stacker. The lift rope of 

 the stacker was attached to the front 

 axle of the car and when the operator 

 desired to raise the load of hay he would 

 back the automobile until the stacker 

 had cleared itself. Then it would be 

 lowered by reversing the machine, let- 

 ting it down gently, whereas horses 

 would jerk the stacker and let it down 

 abruptly, with a bump. 



The Reinforced Concrete Principle Ap- 

 plied to Automobile Tires 

 ANEW tire has been patented which 

 combines elasticity with great dura- 

 bility. The principle is similar to that 

 employed in reinforced concrete; a 



The farm auloiuuljilL luuk Uil ijlacc of horses 

 and did the big job better and in less time 



A portion of the tire with the "shoe" cut away, 

 showing the reed woven into a networkof strands 



woven fabric is embedded in a body of 

 elastic composition. 



Vegetable reed, preferably "Spanish 

 cane," is woven into a network of cir- 

 cular and longitudinal strands. There 

 may be one or several tube-like arrange- 

 ments, or a sjiiral eflect may be used. 

 The spans between the fibers are filled 

 with a substance which can be i)oured in 

 when iiot and allowed to solidify. This 

 composition is highly elastic and yet is 

 strong enough to resist road bruises. 



Its main advantage over the solid 

 rubber tire is its elasticity and durability. 

 No road is too rough for it and it will 

 bear up under the hardest service. The 

 "S()aTiisli caiu'" adds greatly to its wear- 

 ing (|ualilics in .dl sorts of weather. 



