RECENTLY PATENTED IMPROVEMENTS. 511 
fastened at their upper ends to the arm rests and adjustably connected at their 
lower ends by thumb-screws to the lower end of the back, and there is also a 
leg-rest pivoted at its upper end to the arm-rests. Rising vertically to a con- 
venient height from the front axle, to which their lower ends are secured, are 
two hand-crank standards, mounted in the upper ends of which are two hand- 
crank wheels. Power is communicated to the driving-wheels through the med- 
ium of a chain which connects the crank-wheels with spracket- or gear-wheels 
upon the driving axle, having spurs or cogs adopted to mesh with the links of the 
chain. 
Improvements IN Sugar Manufacture. — An improved method of manu- 
facturing sugar from sorghum, maize and sugar-cane, has been patented by Mr. 
O. B. Jennings, of Honey Creek, Wis. In the manipulation of sorghum and 
southern cane, as anticipated by Mr. Jennings, in his specifications, the cane is 
reduced by a grinding or other process to a dust-like fineness, thereby thoroughly 
rupturing the juice-cells. And for carrying out this particular process, there is 
described in the invention an apparatus consisting of numbers of circular-saws 
for reducing the cane to a proper degree of fineness. Afterwards sprinkling or 
mixing before defecation, a quantity of dry lime or lime whitewash powder with 
the finely divided cane, then subjecting the material to a temperature of not less 
than 2 12° F. but an average of from 228° F. to 267° F. according to the ripe- 
ness. The juice is then removed from the precipitated or woody matter, by wash- 
ing with water for which vessels and appliances of special adaptation are brought 
into use. 
Speed Gauge for Locomotives. — A gauge or speed recorder to be applied 
to railway trains has been invented upon entirely new principles by Mr E. R. 
E. Cowell, of Detroit, Mich. There is a small glass tube used in connection 
with a receptacle filled with oil and in which a small propeller-wheel is driven at 
a speed corresponding to that of a predetermined wheel of the engine or car. 
The device is connected to the car-wheel by a narrow gear-wheel on the axle, 
meshing into another having attached a flexible shaft leading up to the position 
assigned the device in the engine-cab. The connection is made to one of the 
forward truck-axles, as its wheels having no brake do not slide upon the rails. 
By the use of a device of this nature the engineer has at all times in front of 
him, the exact speed in miles per minute or hour the train is making, whether 
the time be daylight or a dark and foggy night, hence he need make no supposi- 
tions as to the rate of speed or disobey orders as to speed through unavoidable 
ignorance. By the successive application of such simple and economical safety 
apparatus, and by discarding such devices as are no longer considered useful, 
we shall be led upward step by step until in the near future a locomotive engine 
will not be considered complete without them. 
