Proceedings of the Polytechsic Association. , 1019 



from the hook, whereupon the velocit}' of the car causes the bag to 

 strike tlie inclined surface of the rearmost part of the scoop with such 

 force as to disengage the hook on the rod, B, from the rear end of 

 the scoop, and to move such end forcibly outward until the scoop 

 assumes a position parallel with the side of the car. This movement 

 of the scoop, by bringing its forward end inward, throws the bag, C, 

 inward through the opening into the car, and simultaneously with 

 this the rearward end of the scoop in its outward motion strikes the 

 bag, D, and pushing it from its hook, <?, throws it outward to the 

 ground. It should be mentioned that this expulsion or removal of 

 the bag, D, from its hook is assisted by means of a small hook-shaped 

 arm, against which the lower part of the bag rests when suspended, 

 as just set forth ; one of these small hooked arms being provided at 

 either end of the back of the scoop for use as the car is going in one 

 direction or the other. 



To illustrate the success which has attended the introduction of 

 this apparatus into actual use, and its merits as compared with 

 apparatus hitherto devised, we append a sketch of its trial on the 

 Boston and Albany railroad. " The method hitherto adopted has 

 been to suspend the bags on cranes and snatcli them with a hook. 

 This, however, occasionally injured the bags, and at other times 

 missed them, and they had to be sent by a later train. The new 

 method was tested on a train going from Worcester depot. Bags 

 were taken up at Xewton Corner, Xewtonville, West Jsewton, and 

 Natick, and at Auburndale a basket containing a live dove, two 

 bottles of wine, crackers, wine glasses, cigars, etc., was suspended and 

 was easily scooped up while the train was proceeding at its average 

 speed — thirty-three miles an hour. The dove was uninjured, 

 and the bottles of wine were found intact. Whererer the bags were 

 suspended at the proper distance the experiment was thoroughly 

 successful." 



This invention met with very general approval of members who 

 expressed any opinion on the subject. 



New Check Bolt foe !N'ut3. 



Mr. Chapman exhibited a check bolt, the invention of Mr. David 

 Gumming, Jr. It consists of a copper wire placed in a slot in the 

 screw, when the nut is screwed to the required place, the end of the 

 wire turned over, which prevents the nut from shifting. 



Mr. Dudley Blanchard said the only security we have to keep 



