feature in it that requires an improvement and that is that the parallel levers can only go a certain distance, and should the hay be thrown loosely into the box, these levers might exert hardly any pressure upon it, and therefore it requires considerable care and judgment in packing the box to a certain height so that the bales may be pressed with uniformity. MACHINES FOR MAKING COVERED CORD. This machine, invented by John Turner and J. E. Palmer, of Montville, Conn., was exhibited at the Fair by Mr. Turner, who gave the following written description of it: This is the first machine invented that successfully performs the work intended. It takes the yarn for the body of the strand, and the yarn for covering the outside of the strand, and in one process, makes them into the complete cord, which is used for hanging piotures, mirrors, &c. The large and increasing demand for this style of cord, renders this an important invention. To the casual observer, the apparatus has the appearance of a very simple, ordinary cord machine, constructed on "the Sun and Planet" principle, and such it essentially is. The arrangement for covering the strands of the cord before laying, consists in placing separate platforms containing the bobbins of covered thread directly above and running on the same axis with the bobbin platforms containing the threads which form the body of the strand; yet they have an independent motion, and run at a much greater speed. In consequence of this the covered threads are wound directly around the partially twisted threads, composing the centre or body of the strands, as they emerge from the top of the hollow spindles forming the axis on which the bobbin platforms revolve. The bobbin platforms, containing both the body and the covering threads, derive their motion from pullies attached to the under side of them, and running in contact with rings having a flat inner surface within, in which they revolve, the centrifugal force when running being sufficient to give the necessary friction. After receiving the covering described, the several strands are brought together and laid into a cord in the usual way. The merits of the machine may be thus briefly enumerated. It is extremely simple in construction. It occupies but small space, requires but little power to operate it, and is easily tended. It makes cord in one continuous piece, of any desired length, thus saving the waste arising from cutting up the usual short lengths of hand made cord. It puts just enough. and no more covering than is necessary on the strands, and with a uniformity which it is impossible to attain by hand. Its chief merit is that it saves at least nine-tenths of the cost of labor by the usual hand process. The subject selected for the next discussion was "Iron plating for vessels of war." Adjourned. AMERICAN INSTITUTE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION, Chairman, S. D. Tillman, Esq.; Secretary, Mr. J. W. Chambers. } The Chairman having invited, by letter, Rear Admiral Lessoffsky of the Russian Fleet, to hear the discussion on Iron-clad vessels this evening, received the following reply which was read by the secretary. |