he 15th instant,
by James K. Hobbs. The improvement consists in the placing of
grate-bars at the bottom of the fire chamber, below which is an open
air chamber into which the cinders and ashes fall through the grate,
instead of accumulating and clogging the fire chamber. The cinders may
be drawn out of the air chamber by an opening at the side of the
forge. The blast is admitted above the grate, and the mouth of the air
chamber being ordinarily closed, the blast is not affected by the
grate. We think it must prove a useful invention.

* * * * *

IMPROVED FIRE ENGINE.

This improvement consists in part, in the arrangement of two sets of
levers and hand poles on each side, in such a manner that "when force
is applied to the hand-poles of the outside levers, in a reverse
direction to that which is applied to the hand poles of the inside
levers, both powers will agree in forcing the pistons of the pumps in
one and the same direction, while the reverse motion of the levers
will prevent the engine from rocking". Entered at the Patent Office, on
the 10th instant, by Barton & Button.

* * * * *

A SIMPLE CHEESE-PRESS.

[Illustration]

An ingenious mechanic, not long since, hearing some persons conversing
on the ordinary cost of cheese-presses, which is generally from three
to six dollars, boldly averred that he could build a cheese-press in
one hour, which would answer a good purpose as such, and which might
be afforded for fifty cents. Being bantered on the subject, he went to
work, and by means of a good lathe and boring machine, he actually
produced his cheese-press within the hour; though not very smoothly
finished. We give a sketch of it at the head of this article,--too
plain to require explanation. Subsequently, several others were made
on the same plan.

* * * * *

CAST IRON ROOFING.

A specimen of cast-iron plates for roofing of buildings, says the
Philadelphia Ledger, has been exhibited at the Exchange, in
Philadelphia, by the inventor and patentee, Mr. Wm. Beach. The plates
are about a foot square, and are made to fit one into another so as to
render the roof perfectly water-tight, with the application of white
lead to the joints. In every respect this material for roofing is
preferable to any other description now in use. As to its durability,
there can be no doubt that it would remain p