364 Transactions of the American Institute. 



a new stump machine. 

 Mr. A. Crawford, Warren, Me., exhibited and explained a small 

 model of a powerful hand stump machine and rock lifter, with 

 which one man can lift a rock weighing ten tons, or extract a 

 stump requiring the exercise of a mechanical power capable of 

 elevating 20,000 pounds. This machine is operated by means of 

 a horizontal lever with a man or two at each end. A ratchet wheel 

 of peculiar shape on a small journal bearing a pulley, is made to 

 revolve slowly by the motion of the lever, up and down. The 

 chain that is hitched to the stump or rock, is wound up by the 

 pulleys; and thus the weight is lifted bodily. The machine is sus- 

 pended on a strong tripod set up over the weight. Iron rods 

 extend from leg to leg, to keep the shears in position, when it is 

 being moved from stump to stump. The members liked every 

 part of this machine but the price, %vhich they thought quite too 

 exorbitant. Adjourned. 



December 31, 1867. 



Mr. Nathan C. Ely in the chair; Mr. John W. Chambers, Secretary. 



CLOSING OF THE YEAR. 



The Chairman spoke of the closing of the year. During the 

 period which has passed, many promises undoubtedly were made, 

 but I fear that most of them were broken. The object should be 

 to make ourselves useful. To do so, we must make a few wise 

 resolutions, and wisely keep them. To make ourselves better, only 

 can be done by helping to make others happy. Our privileges are 

 great. It seems to me, when looking back on the past year, that 

 an unusual number of those ^vho have been associated with us have 

 passed away. The opportunity which is presented to us, and the 

 work which is allotted to us to perform, is to add to the comforts 

 and conveniences of life; to abbreviate toil, and to elevate the 

 standard of indu8t^y^ I am happy to say that the influence of our 

 Club is extending more and more; and that within our sphere we 

 have most decidedly progressed during the year which is past and 

 gone. So important have our meetings become, that the managers 

 of the Metropolitan press, who are noted for their sagacity, are, one 

 after another, giving more space to the reports of our proceedings; 

 and I am happy to say that those papers recently reporting us, do 



