PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION, 521 



of Duane street, which had been taken from the wall in a rotten 

 state. The probable time of its being in use was 30 years. 



The Chairman. — If creosote can be furnished at 5, 6 or 7 cents 

 a gallon at the place where it is to be used it would cause a great 

 saving. The expense of repairing railroads is enormous. I am 

 of the opinion that some gentlemen present will live to see the 

 freight traffic of this country ten times what it is at present. I 

 have lately visited my native home after an absence of forty 

 years, and found it completely changed, the amount of hay taken 

 from an acre being twice what it was, and everything else in like 

 proportion, and on inquiring into the cause of it was given to 

 understand that it was from the fact of their having read the 

 reports of such meetings as theirs was. 



The meeting adjourned until Thursday evening, November 22, 

 1860, at 7^ o'clock. 



Subject. — The " Sewing machine." 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, ? 

 JYovember 22, 1860. .5 



Professor Mason in the chair. 



James Holland presented a sample of crockery ware which was 

 intended to be placed on the butts of posts for the purpose of pre- 

 serving them from moisture. He said he had come to Noav York 

 with an entirely new invention in science and art. This article 

 consists of a stone post but made to all sizes to suit different sized 

 posts. The cost of those for a three by four inch hole two feet 

 long would be 23 cents. It is supposed that wood covered with 

 coal tar above the part that is enclosed in the crockery wull last 

 forever. In planting poles you should let the crockery come 

 about an inch above the surface, so that the moisture could not 

 get into the wood. This article is made of fire clay and sand. 

 Any kind of Pottery clay will make them. AVe dry them until 

 they are perfectly dry, and then bake them in a kiln for about 

 two days. After baking them they will be as hard as the Mun- 

 dank stone. It is a well known fact that you cannot get water 

 through pitch. 



Chairman. — What is to prevent the water from passing between 

 the wood and the pitch and rotting the wood at this place ? 



Mr. Holland. — Water will not pass through pitch, but if you 

 plant the poles without the crockery the pitch will peel off, while 



