109 



FARMERS' REGISTER. 



[No. 2 



Resolutions of the convention. 



1. Resolved, That the convention concur in the 

 report of the general committee, that the several 

 vvori<s of improvement therein recommended de- 

 serve the patronage of the state, and ought to be 

 effected. 



2. Resolved, That in order to carry out the 

 views of the convenlion, and at the same time, to 

 accommodate them to the means and ability of 

 the state, a loan of tliree millions of dollars ought 

 to be contracted. 



3. Resolved, That in the prosecution of these 

 several works, the convention recommend the fol- 

 lowing classification: 



First Class, 



1. A guarantee by the state of five hundred 

 thousand dollars to the Raleigh and Gaston rail- 

 road company. 



2. A subscription by the state of four-fifths of 

 the capital stock of the Fayetteville and Yadkin 

 rail-road company. 



3. The incorporation of acompany for the open- 

 ing of an inlet at the foot of Albemarle sound, and 

 a subscription by the state of three-fifths of its cap- 

 ital stock. 



Second Class. 



1. A rail-road from Beaufort harbour to connect 

 with the Wilmington and Raleigh rail-road, and a 

 subscription by the state ol" four-fit hs of its capital 

 stock. 



2. A rail-road from Raleigh to intersect with the 

 Wilmington and Raleigh rail-road, at or near 

 Waynesborough, and a rail-road from Raleigh to 

 Fayetteville, and a subscription to each, of two- 

 fifths of the capital stock by the state. 



4. Resolved, As the opinion of (he convention. 



Virginia tonnage cleared. 



Petcrsbui'fr, American vessels 

 Riclinioiid, " " 



Foreign " 



Norfolk, American vessels, 

 Foreign '■ 



2,748 

 13,-340 

 4.340 



20,328 



12,771 I 

 12,222 I 



I 



24,993 J 



20,328 



24,993 



ON THE operation OF MAGNETISM, AND OP 

 TIME, IN IMPROVING THE TEMPER OF 

 STEEL AND THESHARPNESS OF FINE EDGED 

 INSTRUMENTS. A CERTAIN CURE FOR THE 

 PILES. 



To the Editor of the Farmers' Register, 



Watkinsville, Clarke co., Jan. 26, 1839. 



I read somewhere, a long account of the reason 

 why a razor dipped in hot water shaved easy. 

 The writer concluded the reason was very plain ; 

 for, said he, by way of illustration, it depends 

 upon the same princijile why a hot knife cuts but- 

 ter or cheese more easily than a cold one ; it melts 

 and softens as it goes, thus making a way for it- 

 self. This observation induces me to send you a 

 disertallon on shaving, which may be, like the di- 

 sertation on nian-midwilery, fit to be read some- 

 times, if not at all times. 



Is it commonly known — have I learned it some- 

 where and tbrgei where, or is it an observation of 

 my own — that surgeons' instruments, razors, or 

 any instruments requiring a good temper and fine 

 edge, are greatly improved by being charged with 

 the magnetic principle 1 If it is new, it should be 



that the balance of the si^ibscription by the state to , ""^'^^ •^"T" ^l""/. '''^ 'oad-stone can itiiproye the 

 *hp Wilm,n,T(r.n Qr.ri Wnioio-i-i ^r,nnr^aK,,r ^„..Nt ,^ temper of stccI lar excecdiug any other known 



the Wilmington and Raleigh company ought to 

 be paid without delay ; that surveys of Neuse and 

 Tar rivers, with the view to s'eam navigation, and 

 the survey of a route from Raleigh via Hillsbo- 

 rough, toGreensborough, in Guillbrd county, with 

 the view to a McAdamized turnpike road, ought 

 to be made by the state; and if the said rivers 

 should be found such as to justify the use of steam- 

 boats, the board of internal improvements be au- 

 thorized to contract accordingly. And that a com- 

 pany be incorporated for the construction of the 

 eaid road, and a subscription of two-fifths of its 

 capital by the state. 



Wilmington tonnage entered and cleared. 



American vessels, 

 Foreign " 



12,378 1 

 3,827 I 



16,205 



American vessels, 

 Foreign " 



25,600 

 3,929 



■Entered, 



29,529 J Cleared, 



Virginia tonnage entered. 



16,205 



29,529 



Petersburg, American vessels 

 Richmond, " " 



Foreign " 



Norfolk, American vessels, 

 Foreign " 



3,693 1 



2,823 



1,197 



7,712 



4,357 

 10,000 



1 4,357 j 



'Entered, 



7,712 



per ot steel lar exceeuing any 

 plan. The efiect it has on the edge of a razor, 

 lancets, or any thing of the kind, is astonishing. 

 Charge a needle with magnetic principle, make it 

 sharp, and give it to your good wile, and she will 

 notice the difference. Therefore, the first step to- 

 ward? taking off the beard easily, is to have the 

 razor rubbed with load-stone. 



Again, it is a known lact, that newly tempered 

 steel is always defective. It improves with age, 

 and, I believe, would continue to improve to an 

 unlimited number of years. This fact is common- 

 ly known ; but a wromg reason is given for it. It 

 is generally believed, that in old times the temper- 

 ing of steel was better understood than at this 

 day. It is a'common belief among surgeons, that 

 old London instruments were better made than 

 they are in this country; that they are better, is 

 certain ; but it is age that has improved them. 

 Facts in proof of this position, every body can call 

 to mind. I will, however, state a iew that have 

 come within my own knowledge. More than 25 

 years ago, I had a set of dissecting knives made 

 by Brown of Philadelphia. He was directed to 

 make them as good as they could be made, and to 

 charge double price for them. They were found, 

 upon trial, good for nothing, were thrown aside, 

 and after remaining for many years neglected, I 

 had the rust cbaned off, and sharpened. They 

 are now as good as the best I have ever used. 

 About twenty years ago, I had a couching needle 

 made of a singular form, by a black-smith. The 

 opera'ion ofconcliing for blindness requires a well 



