Ij20 . [AssErcBL? 



But as this labor is usually, and it may be said, always associated 

 with the carding and ropeing branches, satisfactory evidence is be- 

 fore your committee, showing that full twenty per cent is saved in 

 the ordinary expense, in what is called the carding room department 

 of a cotton mill by this improvement. 



Its importance is further shown by stating also that by the census 

 of 1840, the number of cotton mills in the United States were 1,240. 

 Spindles 2,284,631; hands employed 72,119; value of articles made' 

 $46,350,453; capital invested in cotton factories $51,102,239. 



There was another railway drawing-head on exhibition at the 

 same Fair, by Wm. Bradley & Bro. of Paterson, N. J., both ma- 

 chines in point of mechanical workmanship were of about equal 

 merits, and were substantially alike in their plan of construction, 

 varying in nothing but in the mode of changing the speed of the 

 front pair of rollers: that is, by sliding a cog wheel directly into a 

 stud-gear instead of clutching the same as done by Mr. Leonard. 

 Your committee think that Mr. Leonard's is most convenient and 

 best, that Messrs Bradley's device is a mere change of form, with- 

 out improvement or mechanical advantage; and your commiltee 

 without judging of the rights of parties in the matter of privilege 

 of invention, give the preference to Mr. Leonard's drawing'head. 



Your committee beg leave further to say, that the railway draw- 

 ing-head as improved by Mr. Leonard, forms an important link in 

 the great chain of improvements in cotton machinery which have 

 together effected an entire change in the mode and means of cloth- 

 making in this and other countries; and as such is well deserving 

 the award of a gold medal, hereby recommended to be awarded to it. 



Improvements in Railroad Wheels and Railroad Trucks. 



The improved cushion wheel for railroads exhibited by Mr. Fowler 

 M. Ray, of the city of New-York, obtained the highest honors of 

 the institution: and also a railroad truck by the same individual, ob- 

 tained a diploma, certifying a gold medal heretofore awarded (in 

 1846,) as the best railroad truck on exhibition. 



The present day is emphatically the day of successful experiment 

 in the use of railroads; and every improvement in the construction 

 of the running gear or fixtures for the same, is a matter of unusual 

 importance to the world at larger 



