iV2 



Popular IScicncc Monthly 



inattrials and the cement has been 

 li limped in by hand, the skip is hoisted 

 by compressed air and made to dump 

 its contents into the mixer. Inclined 

 rails guide it from its permanent ])iace 

 to its transient position above the mixer. 

 Compressed air is used to perlurm the 

 mixing, the conveying and the placing. 

 The conveying is a short affair. A 

 suitable pipe takes the concrete from 

 the bottom of the mixer beneath the 

 car and up to an elevated position at 

 one end of the car. Here the pij^e 

 divides into a Y, associated with whiih 

 is a sliding plate to control the mo\ement 

 of material into either arm. One arm 

 of the Y is used when placing concrete 

 in the side walls and foundation; the 

 other, when placing it in the arch. 



Motor-Trucks to the Rescue in a 

 Freight Embargo 



THE great value of motor-trucks for 

 overland haulage was brought out 

 recently when a convoy of five vehicles 

 and three trailers hauled a total load of 

 forty-four tons of steel from the customs 

 warehouse in New York city to a manu- 

 facturing plant in Hartford, Conn., a 

 distance of one hundred and forty-four 

 miles. The steel had arrived from 

 Sweden but could not be shipped to 

 Hartford by rail because of the (lifficulty 

 in obtaining freight cars. The plant was 

 almost out of material 

 and was facing a complete 

 shut-down until a motor 

 haulage contractor in New 

 Ycjrk city agreed to de- 

 liver the goods overland. 

 His con\oy, consistin<. 

 five 5>^-ton 

 motor-trucks * 

 and three 5K- 

 ton four- 

 whecled trail- 

 ers, left New 

 York at 5 I'.M. 

 one night and 

 a r r i \- e d at 

 Hartford at 

 II P. M. on the 

 following 

 night. During 

 the first night 

 the drivers 



took four hours of sleep apiece, stopping 

 and lying down on the seats of their cabs, 

 for the total load was very valuable and 

 insured for Si 00,000 by both the con- 

 signee and the haulage contractor. If it 

 had not been for the motor-trucks, there 

 is no telling how much the plant would 

 ha\e been incon\x'nienced. 



An Electric Motor- Chair 



THFL electric motor-chair shown in 

 the illustration has such a wide 

 variety of uses that it seems destined to 

 become \er>- po])ular. It may be used 

 by in\alids and by convalescents in 

 hospitals; as a pleasure vehicle on board 

 walks; for trips in the parks; for gi\ing 

 the children little outings; and even for 

 shopping and for a calling car. Its 

 operation is so easy and so nearly fool- 

 proof that there is very little danger ' 

 of accidents. 



The chair de\elops a speed as high as 

 ten miles an hour, but can be adjusted 

 for lower speeds. An electrical appliance 

 prevents higher speeds when going down 

 hill. The fender serves to prevent 

 serious accidents when running into 

 obstacles; for as soon as it touches an 

 object the circuit is broken, the power 

 shut off, and the brakes automatically 

 applied. The chair is guitled and con- 

 trolled in the same manner as the elec- 

 tric automobile. 



It may be elaborated and provided 

 with a wind-shield, top, and side curtains. 

 When fully equipped it weighs about 

 four hundred pounds. The batteries 

 may be charged at any 

 garage or other place 

 where the 

 ordinarystor- 

 agc battery is 

 charged. In 

 fact, except 

 for its style 

 ami its fender 

 mech an ism, 

 it is\ery simi- 

 lar to the or- 

 dinary runa- 

 bout. 



The Motor- 

 Chair Dt-vclops 

 n Speed of" Ten 

 Miles an Hour 



