Jam. % ilgg.l 
Poftesf And sthEa 
1? 
drawing, at least, we would advise the draftsman to waste 
110 time over them ; they cannot be made to take the fair 
and dehcate infiections of a wooden spline, nor can they be 
reHed upon to retain the exact shape under ordinary 
handling. They are in no sense a substitute for the 
wooden spline and the spline weights; and, having the 
latter, there is no necessity to resort to them. 
There is one very important class of' •instruments that 
may properly be classed at the same time under the three 
heads of Ruling, Measuring and Marking; being used 
SECTION AT A.A. 
FIG. 37. 
for the three purposes. The compass is strictly a mark- 
ing instrument, in that it carries either a pencil 
or a pen; but it is also a ruling instrument, as 
the pencil or pen cannot be directed freely iii 
any direction, but must move in a circle. With 
its marking points removed and ixplaced by a plain steel 
point, it becomes the dividers, a strictly measuring instru- 
ment. The compass is found in a variety of sizes and 
stjdes, the principal one being the regular large compass 
with several interchangeable legs, Fig. 43. The two legs 
are united by either a tenon or pivot joint. Of the former, 
the double-sector is preferable, one leg being fitted with 
two steel plates, Avhile the other is divided into three 
leaves of the metal of which the instrument is made, be- 
tween which the steel plates fit. By means of a binding 
FIG. 38. 
screw the joint may be made to move as freely as is de- 
sirable. Another form of good construction is the pivot 
joint; the heads of the two legs being clasped between a 
yoke forming a handle, while they are centered by two 
pivots with conical ends. 
However constructed, the joint should move smoothly 
and evenly, whether the points are close together or wide 
apart. If this is the case, the joint may be soi-ewed up 
so tight as to prevent any accidental derangement of the 
points in ordinary use ; and at the same time to respond 
to a moderate pressure of the fingers in adjusting. One 
leg should be fitted with a hinged joint near the middle, 
similar to the main joint, but with fewer leaves; in order 
that the lower portion of the leg may be held at right 
FIG. 39. 
angles to the paper vv'hen drawing circles of large dia- 
meter. 
The, other leg should be fitted with three interchange- 
able points, each provided with a similar point. One of 
these should be a plain steel point, one a pen point carry- 
ing a right line pen such as will be described later on, and 
the third fitted to carry a movable lead, as made for lead 
pencils. In the older compasses, the lower end of the 
leg formed a split tube large enough to take a specially 
small lead pencil, of about one-half the ordinary diameter, 
made for the purpose. A newer formTias a screw chuck, 
the same as in the pencils with movable leads, and uses the 
same leads. The best form has the split tube of such 
small size as just to take a movable lead ; of good length, 
so as to grasp the lead without breaking it, and with a 
binding screw in the center of the split tube, putting an 
even pressure on the lead for the whole length of the tuhe. 
The movable legs are joined to the main part of the in- 
strument in several ways, the best being the bayonet or 
socket joint, Fig. 44. In this the upper end of the leg 
is turned truly cylindrical and fitted with a feather, while 
the socket is bored out to fit and slotted to take the feather 
which prevents the leg from turning. The next best 
form. Fig. 45, has a pentagonal shank to the movable part, 
with a socket of similar shape on the main part and a 
binding screw to keep the two together. 
Next to thoroughly good joints, the main requirements 
of good compasses are that they shall be stiff and rigid 
throughout, as light as is consistent with this rigidity; 
and shall balance well in the hand. This quality of perfect 
balance is most essential in compasses, dividers, drafting 
pens and all similar instruments; and is only to be de- 
pended upon in those of first-class make throughuut. 
The steel points may be cither the long conical English 
pattern, which has superseded the old triangular points, 
or the needle point. The latter is a piece of tempered 
steel wire, about 3-32in. in diameter, and }i'm. long, each 
end turned down so as to leave a very fine point about 
i-32in. long projecting from a square shoulder. _ This 
piece is held in a sleeve with a binding screw in the 
end of the leg. The needle point is considered to damage 
the paper less, where much work is done from one point, 
than the solid steel point. It is, however, more clumsy 
and heavy, and somewhat in the way of a clear sight in 
setting the instrument to any given points on the paper. 
For those who can handle the compasses and dividers 
with the delicacy which such tools really demand, the 
plain solid point will be found better in every way. The 
compasses are usually fitted with a lengthening bar, a 
straight piece with a male fitting at one end and female 
at the other, by means of which one leg can be lengthened 
for drawing circles of large diameter. This piece is by 
no means essential, and may well be dispensed with. The 
large compasses are much less used in marine drafting 
than in mechanical and architectural work, and for the 
former we should prefer a pair with one solid leg with a 
singe joint in the center, ending in the English point, the 
other leg being fitted with a similar point, movable, and 
also pen and pencil points. The average size for this 
instrument is about 6in., and it is also duplicated in a 
smaller size, of about .VAm. The larger size will .sweep a 
circle of 12 to I4in. diameter, with lengthening bar, and 
FIG. '11. 
from that down to or less; but it is a clumsy tool 
for small circles. The smaller size is intended for medium 
and small circles, but for the latter it is infeidor to the 
boiv compasses. Fig. 46. In these the upper joint is 
omitted, the two legs forming a single steel forging with 
a small ivory handle on top. About the middle of their 
length they are joined by a long screw and nut, by which 
they can be drawn together, their upper parts being thin 
and elastic. They do not permit as much variation oE 
size as the regular compass form, but they are more con- 
venient and more accurate for circles within their capa- 
city. They may be had with either plain or needle point, 
but each is made up as a separate tool, hoisr-dividers, boxv- 
pencil compass and bow-pen. 
Theoretically, the small bow-compasses will draw the 
smallest possible circle, but practically there is only one 
good tool for very small circles, under y^in. diameter. 
FIG. 42. 
This, the drop compass. Fig. 47, is a comparatively new 
tool, and differs from the ordinarj^ compass and bow- 
compass, in that the whole tool does not revolve 
in drawin a circle, but the leg which carries" the 
pencil or pen revolves around a stationary axis, 
a plain, straight leg of steel wire. As the mark- 
ing leg moves freely up and down on the sta- 
tionary leg, the pen may be lifted fro mthe paper and 
poised clear of it until properly adjusted, then dropped 
lightly and swung around by the thumb and second finger, 
the central stem being held vertical by the forefinger. 
With this tool a circle may be drawn almost touching the 
fine central point. 
In all forms of Compasses and dividers the instrument 
should stand all possible tests that will show the two legs 
to be in absolutely the same plane, whether closed or 
opened. In the compasses with joined legs, the points of 
these legs should come accurately together when the main 
legs are wide apart at the top and the points turned in. 
In the spring boivs the sides should be firm and ragid, 
whether open or closed, and the screw and nut should 
work smoothly and easily. 
For circles over 12 to I4in. in diameter, the beam com- 
pass, Fig. 48, is used. This tool consists of a bar of wood 
or metal of any desired length, at one end being a fixed 
head carrying a plain or a needle point. Another head, 
carrying a plain point, a pencil or a pen, at will, is fitted 
to slide on the bar; being clamped in place and provided 
with a screw ft)r very fine adjustment. The only limit 
to the diameter of the circle is the length of bar, which 
can be swung and handled. This tool in a heavier form 
is used by machinists under the name of trammel points. 
YACHTING NEWS NOTES. 
Utowana, steam yacht, Allison V. Armour, sailed from 
New York on Dec. 24 for an extended cruise through the 
West Indies and to Mexico, wliere the party will proceed 
inland from Progreso on a botanical expedition. The 
yacht will call first at San Juan, Porto Rico, and then at 
Santiago. With Mr. Armour is Dr. C. F. Millspaugli, 
curator of the botanical department of the Field Memorial 
Museum, and Messrs. Allen, Mott and Ischman. Capt, 
John Crawford is in command. 
.Pawnee, yawl, has been sold by F. V. Alexandre to T. 
C. Zerega, former owner of Nymph. 
The annual meeting of the Knickerbocker Y. C.j ®f New 
York, was held on Dec. 22 at the Ftotel M^iilltattan, the 
following officers being elected: Com., 9; fl. Mason, Jr., 
cutter Moccasin; Vice-Com., W. G. NeWitiati, knockabout 
Willada; Rcar-Com., TI. A. Quackenbtlslii sloop Viking; 
Treas., George H. Cooper, Sec'y. J- O. Sinkinson; Meas., 
John J. Honey; Fleet Surgeon, Dr. F. H. Boynton; Board 
of Directors, H. Stephenson, F. E. Barnes, Charles W. 
Schlesinger, Rodman Sands and L. Lochman, Jr. A mess 
dinner will be served at the club house, College Point, 
every Sunday afternoon at 2 during the winter. The 
club proposes to charter a steamer to follow the America 
Cup races next fall. 
The Harlem Y. C. has elected the following officers: 
Com., John A. Kipp; Vice-Com., H. Hanlein, Jr.; Rear- 
Com., John Symmers; Fleet Capt., A. Hochstaetter ; Fleet 
Surgeon, Dr. J. C. Shannon; Meas., John Wimmer; 
Treas., J. H. Andrews; Fin. Sec'y, T. B. Bates; Rec. 
Sec'y, F. S. Sullivan; Cor. Sec'y, S. L. Schneider. 
Queen Mab, cutter,' J. S. Fay, has been sold through 
Manning's agency to C. L. F. Robinson, New York. 
She is now laid up at Morrel's yard, Newburgh. 
Gitona, schr., F. B. McQuesten, Boston, sailed from 
that port on Dec. 26 on a cruise to the West Indies. 
Corsair, Com. Morgan's new steam yacht, is on the 
dry dock at Hoboken, N. J., near the W. & A. F'letcher 
works. Com. Morgan sailed for Europe on Dec. 28. 
The Roberts Safety Water tube Boiler Company has 
fitted a new boiler in the steam yacht Impatient, W. P. 
Jafkson, Salisbury, Md. The Herreshoff steam yacht 
Dawn, T. H. Newberry, Detroit, Mich., was fitted with a 
Roberts boiler about a year ago, increasing the speed 
with a reduced consumption of coal. Mr. Newberry is 
now putting another of these boilers in his yacht Truant. 
A Few Stray Leaves from the Log 
of the Frankie. 
On the Wabash. 
I. 
Dave and I had always had a desire to explore the 
Wabash ever since, as little children, we stood on its 
banks, or on the old Covington drawbridge, and 
watched its waters flow silently by, and wondered where 
all the water came from and where it went to, and when 
■it would all get by and stop running. 
In after years, when we sailed, rowed, paddled and 
otherwise got over its surface in all sorts of ways, more 
or less ingenious, and generally of our own contriving, 
after the manner of boys, our desire gradually crystal- 
lized into shape — to explore its course from its source 
in and near the great Mercer county reservoir in north- 
western Ohio to its confluence with the Ohio at the 
southwestern corner of Indiana. 
The combination of flat-boat, house-boat and steamboat 
which a few years ago with infinite pains and labor I had 
designed as the means by which the trip would be made 
would provoke a smile from the readers of Forest and 
Stream. Indeed, Dave and I had many a smde our- 
selves when shooting a ticklish, risky rapid or carrying 
' our canoes around a dam, as we conjectured how that 
old stern-wheeler would have conducted herself in such 
an emergency. 
_ A stray catalogue from a prominent builder quickly de- 
cided me in favor of the modern cruising canoe; but as 
the beauty and utility of the modern cruising canoes 
were only" equalled by the altitude of the prices asked for 
them, the canoe project seemed hopeless until I finally 
hit upon the idea of building my own canoes, which I did 
from a simple little plan prepared by Mr. W. P. 
Stephens, and published in Harper's Young People, 
modified somewhat to suit our requirements. 
Both canoes were canvas canoes. The Belle was 14ft. 
in length by 3oin. beam, with a cockpit 8ft. long by 2oin. 
wide amidships, tapering to I4in. at each end. 
The Frankie was 14ft. long by 26in. beam, with an 
oblong cockpit 4ft. long by i8in. wide. The cockpits 
of both boats were amply protected by Tredwen hatches, 
with aprons of oiled muslin fitting close about the bodies 
of the skippers. The Belle was propelled by a 7ft. 
paddle, while the Frankie was driven by a magnificent 
gft. double blade, which I took the earliest opportunity of 
exchanging with the captain of the Belle for his smaller 
and lighter /ft., which answered my purpose much better. 
In addition, both canoes carried a lateen dandy sail, 
which, when a sad could be used, was stepped forward 
in place of a mainsail. As might be expected in inland 
cruising on so small a stream as the Upper Wabash, \ve 
had very little use for them during the trip, and when 
used they answered our purpose as well as a larger 
sail and possessed the advantage at all other times of 
taking up much less room than a mains-ail. When not 
in use, they were buttoned alongside the cockpit coam- 
ing on deck with light leather straps. 
The Frankie carried a light little tent of the Mohican 
pattern, just large enough to cover the coclcnit, while the 
Belle was fitted with a small A tent, which could be read- 
ily converted into a small wall tent by erecting it on the 
ground on our 7ft. pike poles; when thus erected it 
stood 3ft. off the ground all round at the bottom." A strip 
of light goods 3ft, wide was then buttoned all round in- 
side the lower edges of the tent and pegged to the 
ground at the corners. During the cruise we slept m 
this tent when the ground was favorable; when not, we 
slept in our canoes. 
Our clothing and personal effects were carried in 
rubber or oiled canvas navy bags; our blankets were 
also carried- in oiled canvas bags. We carried a sheet- 
iron camp stove, a mess chest i2Xi7in,, containing tin 
cans of coffee, sugar, lard, butter, salt, pepper, etc", to- 
gether with our knives, forks and spoons, and a sub- 
stantial lunch for each day's midday meal; the usual 
supply of tinware and cooking utensils. Our provision- 
ary supply consisted of bacon, potatoes, onions, eggs, 
biscuits, coffee, sugar, etc. Everything that was not 
