V Procssdings of the Polttechkic Association. 1069 



rubber is that it cannot by any possibility be punctured with a pin, 

 or by coming in contact with rock or any sharp substance, so liable to 

 be met with in escaping from a wreck or in landing. If one should 

 be punctured, there are seven more left. It can also be very cheaply 

 made, and takes up less room than cork, and will last a hundred years. 

 The same method of construction may be applied to tools, chairs, 

 settees and life boats, so as to increase their bouyancy. 



Veneer Hubs foe Wueels. 



One other application was the formation of veneer hubs foT wheels. 

 Mr. "Weston stated that a well-known carriage house in this city 

 would test the hubs on a carriage this summer. There was also 

 exhibited a model of a railroad car wheel made from reneer one- 

 eighth of an inch thick ; the grain of the wood in each altetnate layef 

 running crosswise to the preceding one. The layers are arranged 

 from the outside toward the center, each layer being cemented to the 

 preceding one, and the whole being formed into a solid and very 

 compact mass by the pressure produced by forcibly driving a plug 

 into the central hole. The rim of the car wheel might be either 

 steel or iron ; thus would be obtained, what lias long been a desidera- 

 tum, a noiseless wheel for the sleeping cars of our railroads. Mr* 

 Weston stated that he believed it would last longer and answer the 

 purpose better than any other car wheel ever made. It was not 

 claimed that this crossing of the grain of the wood was a new thing. 

 The veneers need not be more than one-eighth of an inch thick, and 

 it will be readily seen that a wheel may be made of any si2;e in tliis 

 manner. 



Mr. "Weston said he had made a veneer hat for himself, and also 

 stated that he believed a balloon would yet be constructed of veneer, 

 combining lightness, strength and durability. The latter statement, 

 however, may be regarded 'as exceedingly questionable. 



Mr. Blanchard remarked that this plan of constniction is of great 

 value where great strength is required in ornamental work. Arches 

 or moldings of an ornamental character may be made by placing 

 together three layers of veneer, the grain of the middle layer run- 

 ning in a direction pei-pendicular to the grain of the other two. 

 Draughting boards of the best kind may be made in this manner. 



The Bees and the "Weather. 

 Dr. Lambert addressed the Association upon a subject to which he 

 had given great attention, namely : The possibility of predicting the 



