486 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



around the cylinder, but the steam in the jacket should be super- 

 heated steam, to be heated just enough to make good the loaa. 

 The means for doing this had been patented in Europe. 



Mr. Dibben. — In the Brooklyn Water "Works there is an engine 

 pumping water with a counter weight attached to it. 



Mr. Rowell. — I am informed that in all the Cornish mines they 

 use the half stroke. 



W. A. Bartlett said, in reference to the committee of organi- 

 zation, that they had secured the adoption of the rules proposed 

 by the Polytechnic Association to the committee on arts and 

 sciences. He moved an adjournment to the first week in Sep- 

 tember. 



A member. — That an adjournment for so long a time would be 

 a loss to the Association, and, therefore, he moved an adjourn- 

 ment for two weeks, which was carried. 



Adjourned to Thursday evening, July 12, 1860, at 8 o'clock, 

 P. M. 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, } 

 July 12, 1860. J 



Mr. John P. Veeder in the chair. 



Mr. Garvey presented a new breech-loading pistol, which was 

 capable of being loaded and fired sixteen times in a minute. He 

 stated that there was no danger of a premature discharge, as 

 when the cock was down all danger of a premature discharge 

 was obviated. It was patented by Mr. Stafford of New Haven, 

 Connecticut. Weight of one is 6-^ ounces. 



cut-offs IN STEAM ENGINES. 



Mr. Garvey. — The experiments which were being made by Mr. 

 Isherwood in relation to the cut-offs had to be discontinued in 

 the early part of the week ; but they had been resumed his day, 

 ■and the committee Avould be ready to report by the following 

 week. 



Mr. Seeley produced a specimen of a peculiar kind of coal for 

 the inspection of the meeting, and said that the first thing they 

 had to do was to find out " what it was." It had been alluded 

 to in the American Gas Light Journal, as Bitumen. It would 

 also mark on a wall. If you burn it, it has a smell like fish, and 

 would leave a disagreeable smell after it. 



Mr. Fisher wished to know what was the best material to paint 

 an iron vessel with, so as to enable him to carry water in it. 



