PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 489 



between New York and Boston was first laid, the wires were covered with 

 guttapercha, and it was found that this substance impeded the velocity 

 of the current. However much inclined to see the Atlantic project suc- 

 ceed, he had very serious doubts of its becoming practical. He had seen 

 wire eight miles long unwound from a coil and it was twisted in such 

 shapes that on straiglitening it out it broke in several places. Would not 

 the new Atlantic cable be. subject to the same trouble? At Crawfords- 

 ville, Indiana, he had seen a local magnet break after three months use. 



The Pacific Telegraph was selected as the subject for the next discus- 

 sion. Adjourned. 



American Institute Polytechnic Association, ) 

 February I6//1, 18G5. ) 



Prof. S. D. Tillman in the Chair. 



Automatic Fan. 



Mr. Chipman exhibited a model of his oscillating fan, for keeping flies 

 and other winged insects from alighting on and injuring articles. It was 

 worked by clock gearing. Tlie advantage of this machine over others, 

 the inventor claimed was the small power used to operate it, the fans being 

 counterbalanced. This fan was also designed to be used for hospitals, and 

 for keeping off mosquitoes. The price was from eight to ten dollars. 



Mr. Jireh Bull remarked that some few years ago he was in an estab- 

 lishment on Broadway, where a steam engine was employed to operate 

 large fans, and the proprietor told him that he was more than repaid for 

 the expense he incurred, by the saving of his goods from damage by flies 

 and insects generally. 



The Chairman read hip summary of scientific news. 



The Chimes in the Church of St. Germain, L'Auxerrois. 



The new chimes will consist of forty bells. M. Colin has invented a 

 cheap form of barrel, by which a large number of airs can be supplied, 

 thus breakihg the monotony usually belonging to chimes. One of those 

 barrels will cost about fifty dollars, whereas not less than Si 2, 000 was 

 paid for a single barrel belonging to the celebrated chimes of Bruges. 



Mr. William H. Butler said that some ten years ago the chimes in Trinity 

 Church, in this citj, were worked by keys, the same as a piano. 



Japanese Matches. 



Dr. A. N. Hoffman exhibited before the London Chemical Socioty some 

 matches or fuzes brought from Japan by the Prussian expedition. Beauti- 

 ful arborescent scintillations were thrown off during their combustion. The 

 nature of the composition was the point of interest, some persons having 

 supposed the peculiar light must be the effect of st^el filings, but analysis 

 had shown the composition consisted of two parts wood charcoal, three 

 parts of sulphur, and six and a half parts of nitre. The paper covering 

 was of the finest description, and known as Chinese paper. About forty 

 milligrams of the mixture was folded up with each match. 



