WATERPROOF ELECTRIC BATTERY,

The strongest point in favor of the new pole is its durability. Wooden poles must be replaced every five or six years, but a concrete pole is practically everlasting. Should the concrete poles be universally adopted, it would mean a saving of many million dollars annually in the United States, where new telephone, telegraph and trolley lines are being constantly erected.

Electricity in Wet
Places

WHEN electricity first went to sea to

do ignition work a great deal of trouble was caused by dampness and salt water-and the trouble still exists in many cases. But builders of ignition apparatus have been busy, and the accompanying illustration from a photograph taken at the Motor Boat Show in Madison Square Garden, New York, indicates that one, at least, of the manufacturers of storage batteries has succeeded in making his batteries waterproof. In a large glass tank floated the model of a steam yacht decorated with a string of miniature electric lamps running from stem to stern over the mastheads, lighted by current from batteries placed on the bottom of the tank, wholly under water. Another string of lights, supplied with current from the same source, depended from the keel, while a tiny diver, in full regalia, looking for all the world as if he were signalling to be let out, held a single lighted lamp in his outstretched hand. The little lamps burned steadily through

out the show and many spectators were attracted by the novelty of the exhibit and the wordless tale told by the submerged batteries.

Wage Calculator

A NEW wages calculating machine of English make has recently been brought out. The design is free from small and intricate pieces of mechanism which are generally a prolific source of trouble. This instrument is a time and labor saving device employed in the case of piece-work, for quickly finding, without calculation, the proportion of the total balance money that is due individually to any number of men sharing profits on the same contract, the divisions being proportional to each man's fixed daily or weekly money rate. When work is paid for on the premium system the instrument can, also, be used for finding the time allowance that is to be added to the actual time occupied on the con

tract.

Idle, and the other is free to revolve. A spring of sufficient strength to cause the two wheels to revolve together, presses the loose wheel against the other.

By pressing down the foot lever, the pressure of the spring against the wheel is released, thus allowing the two wheels to be turned independently. This is necessary when setting the apparatus. Two cards of scales are attached to the rims of the wheels. These cards are of two kinds, a "wages" and a balance scale. The former is placed upon the left-hand wheel, and the latter on the right-hand wheel. The divisions of the scale are marked from pennies up to one pound: from one pound to three pounds each division represents twopence. It is claimed that the balances within these ranges can be read with accuracy to one halfpenny.

From three pounds ten shillings to ten pounds each division represents

the pointer is turned to the £20 on the wages scale, and the £10 division on the other wheel is brought opposite the pointer. The foot is taken off the treadle and the two wheels can then be turned together if necessary.

The proportion of the £10 due to each

six pence. From ten pounds to twenty pounds the scale is divided into shillings, and readings of six pence can easily be made. Results at present can only be obtained from sums up to £20. But if dealing with larger sums than this, they can be divided into some convenient multiple of twenty, and multiplied accordingly.

The machine is set in a similar manner to a slide rule. Near the operator's hand there is a small indicator or pointer which is movable, so that when one amount has been found, this pointer can be put in position and the amount on the right-hand wheel brought to it. The machine is very easily operated as will be seen from the following example: "Supposing the combined wages of a number of workmen is £20, and they are engaged upon a contract work valued at £30. Then the balance, £10, has to be divided between the men, in the proportion of their wages. In order to do this

man is then read off on the balance scale opposite to the man's ordinary weekly wage on the wages scale. When dealing with the premium system it is necessary to read hours in place of shillings, and five minutes in place of a penny. The makers, however, recommend the use of a rather smaller machine with special scales when treating the premium system.

Electric Polisher

THE increasing demand for high grade

floor polishing has resulted in the introduction of an electric machine which is very efficient for use on large surfaces of tile, mosaic, and other floors of similar construction.

The accompanying illustration shows at six-wheel electric floor surfacer, all of the driving parts of which are completely enclosed and protected from grit and water. The electric motor used is of

seven and a half horse-power capacity. The machine is designed to be self-pro

pelling in either direction. Its rate of

speed is fifteen feet per minute. It is operated from a seat at the front. The six grinding heads are thirteen inches in diameter and run at a speed of 200 revolutions per minute. The electrically driven grinders are so arranged as to cover a track of thirty-three inches in width and the wheels are fitted with rubber tires to prevent marring or scratching the floor. The weight of the machine complete with its equipment of switching apparatus, steering gear and reversing handles together with the necessary starting rheostats and other electrical apparatus for controlling the electrical mechanism, is about one ton.

Our Diamond Industry DI DIAMONDS to the amount of $34,862,561 were imported into the United States during the year of 1906. These figures include $10,579,654 of uncut stones. This importation of uncut diamonds is a development of recent years. The wage-earners engaged in lapidary work in the United States in 1890 were only ninety persons, the value of the product being $315,604. However, the importation of the stones in the rough has increased steadily, and has ranged above $10,000,000 a year during the past three

Practically all the diamonds imported into the United States are the product of the African mines, being shipped direct from European countries. Of the $24,282,897 in uncut stones imported in 1906, $10,192,821 came from the Netherlands, $5,007,792 from France, $4,578,361 from Belgium, and $4,307,811 from the United Kingdom. The cut gems came mostly from the United Kingdom and Belgium, the share of the former having been $6,

seen them can appreciate the immense size of these steamships, for many of them are actually as long and as wide as some of the vessels which cross the Atlantic Ocean between the Old World and the New. The accompanying photograph shows two of the big steamers of the great lakes receiving cargoes of iron ore at a dock on Lake Superior. An idea of their huge proportions can be gained when it is stated that each of the steamships in the photograph carry over 12,000 tons of cargo and are no less than 600 feet in length. Compared with the vessels in service on the great lakes even fifteen years ago, one of these steamers will carry as much cargo as four of the older ones.

964,543 and of the latter $2,079,136. The Netherlands and France followed with $944,576 and $567,572, respectively.

The De Beers management is considering the establishment of a diamond-cutting industry in South Africa, which will give employment to 15,000 white laborers. Approximately uncut diamonds to the amount of $35,000,000 are shipped annually from South Africa, and the mine operators claim that the company loses a large sum of money which could be made by cutting the diamonds on the spot where they are mined. The several governments in South Africa are to be approached looking to the adding to their financial policy a clause imposing a duty on the exportation of uncut stones.

Hospital on Wheels

THE
HE hospital car on railroads is instru-

mental in saving human life, where serious accidents occur remote from stations. The car herewith illustrated, is one used by the Southern Pacific Railroad. It is only one of several such cars placed at various points along the line. To complete the system, emergency hospitals are located at various places. In equipment, the coach contains all the facilities and comforts of a hospital.

The rear part of the car forms an observation room handsomely fitted up. Next come the private apartments of the surgeon, with bed, bath, lockers for surgical instruments, etc. Adjoining this, comes the hospital ward. It has eight berths. Beyond this is found the operating room. The forward part of the coach comprises the kitchen. The vestibuled plat

SO

form is the refrigerator for supplies. The berths are arranged that, when not in use, they may be stored in a dust-proof space beneath the floor. The ward then serves as a parlor or sitting room. A berth can be raised level with the floor so that the injured person may be slipped on without jar or unnecessary handling.

The car here shown is held on a special side track in West Oakland, Cal. A nurse and cook are always in readiness for service. When a call

is received, physicians and more nurses are at once dispatched with the car to the scene.

Prompt action of this kind is often instrumental in saving lives that would otherwise be sacrificed owing to loss of blood in the injured person and through the lack of suitable quarters in which the wreck victims could be adequately treated. While wrecks continue to occur, such hospitals will be necessary.

READY TO RECEIVE A PATIENT.

JACK "I see where some astronomer says be believes that instead of canals on Mars the mysterious lines are tunnels."

KATHARINE "Gracious! What a fine place for a honeymoon."-Chicago News.

Didn't Doubt His Word

AN expert from the United States Bureau of Printing and Engraving had a peculiar experience at one of the Broadway hotels the other day. His mission being to study and compare certain engraving being made here, the Government attaché never left or returned to his hotel without a small satchel, which he was careful never got out of his possession.

On receiving his bill from the clerk he tendered in payment a brand-new twenty dollar certificate. The clerk who tells the story carefully scrutinized it and then passed it back. "What's the matter?" demanded the guest. "I can't take that," replied the other. "I don't think it's good.'

"Not good!" exclaimed the engraver. "Why, it's perfectly good. I made it myself."

"Yes," he was coldly informed, "you probably did."-New York Sun.

The Unkind Stork

IT fell to the lot of five-year-old Wallace Stewart, being the third son in rapid succession, to sift the family ashes, as his brothers had done before him. One morning the boy was told by his beaming father that a baby had arrived the night before. Wallace also beamed, much to his parent's gratification.

"And just think! it is our first little girl!" Wallace's smile vanished and he scowled like a pirate.

"A girl!" as if it were the synonym for all that was opprobrious. "Gee! must I always sift ashes?"-Lippincott's.

He Got The Limit

THE pompous judge glared sternly over his spectacles at the tattered prisoner, who had been dragged before the bar of justice on a charge of vagrancy.

"Have you ever earned a dollar in your life?" he asked, in fine scorn.

"Yes, your Honor," was the response; "I voted for you at the last election."-Saturday Night.

The Burning Question

A TEACHER in one of the public schools of Baltimore was one day instructing her pupils in the mysteries of etymology, when she had occasion to question a boy pupil with reference to the word "recuperate."

"As an example," said the teacher, "we will take the case of your father. He is, of course, a hard-working man."

"Yes'm," assented Charley.

"And when night comes, he returns home tired and worn out, doesn't he?"

"Yes'm," in further assent from Charley. "Then," continued teacher, "it being night, his work being over, and he being tired and worn out, what does he do?"

"That's what ma wants to know," said Charley.-Harper's Weekly.

Oh! They'll Vote

"THE Women suffragists of Kansas are in a fix."

"How's that?"

"Why, the new ballot law there says that 'The lower limbs of every voter as high as the knees must be visible from the outside of the booth while he is preparing his ticket,' and the women don't know whether to vote or not."