998 Transactions of the American Institute. 



for an engine room. Manufacturers, in endeavoring to economize on 

 first cost, often ruin themselves. In many instances he had seen fires 

 heaped upon grates eighteen inches thick. 



Mr. C. E. Emerj stated tliat tlie Committee on Manufactures and 

 Macliinerj of the American Institute, at tlieir hist meeting, re-elected 

 their present Chairman, Professor Tillman, who had served them so 

 well ; and Mr. Robert Wier, a gentleman who is known for his 

 scientific attainments, was appointed Secretary of the Polytechnic 

 Association for the coming year. 



Tlie Chairman said he was very grateful to the Committee for 

 thus again honoring him, and wliile accepting this mark of their 

 esteem, he expressed the hope that at the end of the year, he would 

 be allowed to retire. He had held the present position more than 

 seven years. During this long period he had endeavored to dis- 

 charge, impartially, the duties of his ofiice. Doubtless he had made 

 mistakes, but his chief aim had been to give every one an opportunity 

 to set forth his own opinions, so long as they were in accordance 

 with the well-settled laws of science. JSTew inventions always have 

 the first claim to attention in our Association, and he was gratified 

 to know that inventors had generally expressed satisfaction at the 

 criticisms here passed upon their new devices. His reports on scien- 

 tific progress had often furnished topics for interesting discussions ; 

 but he regarded this order of business as subordinate to that of giving 

 greater notoriety to those meritorious iVmerican inventions, which arp 

 first submitted to this Association for exaniination. 



The business of the evening was concluded by an examination of a 

 drawing, made by Mr. Partridge, of a mirage, seen by him on the 

 morning of February 21st,. 1870, while crossing New York bay. 



Adjourned. 



March 17, 1870. 



Professor S. D. Tillman iu the chair; RoniciiT Wi:rR, Esq., Secretary. 



Shampoontng Apparatus. 

 Mr. M. L. Winn exhibited his shampooning apparatus. It is con- 

 structed of a rim or bottomless ])an, with a gutta ])ercha lining so 

 devised and provided with an elastic strap as to fit tightly around 

 the head l)elow the principal part of the hair. The drapery or cur- 

 tain, which fills below the rim, is both for ornament and use. The 



