614 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



easily wheeled where wanted, and costs about three hundred 

 dollars. After the chain is made fast, which is soon done, the 

 machine draws out the stump with all its principal roots, 

 in perhaps half an hour altogether, thus clearing the ground 

 of the roots, which render plowing difficult and almost impossi- 

 ble. All settlers on new forest lands know by sore experience 

 the great trouble of cropping in a well stumped field. A field 

 with the stumps and roots all drawn out is worth many left with 

 them to the slow rot of years. It was fully explained by Calvin 

 C. Bingham, of Fitchburgh, the agent of Mr. Ruggles. 



Mr. Butler had carefully examined this machine, and was 

 pleased with its form and action. 



Mr. Clowe admired the ornamental and useful — he was pleased 

 with this compact mechanic force, to lift the sturdy stump, pack 

 hay, cotton, &c., a rare combination in one engine. 



June 10, 1857. 



Mr. Butler in the chair. Henry Meigs, secretary. 



Present — Messrs. Heckrotte, Tillman, Stetson, Prof. Hildrethy 



Clark, Chase, Clough, Dr. Phelps, Clinton Roosevelt, engineer 



Waterman, Haskell, and others. 26 members in all. 



The Secretary read the following papers prepared by him from 



the latest importations, viz : 



SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH. 



Institution of Civil Engineers. ? 

 London, January ^ 1857. ) 



Two kinds of cable were mentioned ; a simple one, composed 

 of one wire in each non-conducting envelope. A certain number 

 of them laid together side by side so that in the casualty of one or 

 more broken the rest act. And the compound one; a number of 

 conducting wires in one envelope, covered with iron wire. 



The recent breaks in the cables suggest the simple one, for, 

 although some have been partiall}'- injured they have never 

 ceased to convey messages. 



The difficulty of working through the Atlantic cable was 

 considered. An underground wire covered with gutta-percha^ 

 was laid by the Magnetic Company in 1851, from Liverpool ta 

 Manchester. Induction was maintained by it. 



