own smoke.

CAR BRAKE.--S. D. Tripp, Lynn, and Luther Hill, Stoneham, Mass.--This
invention relates to improvements in railroad car brakes, and consists
in an arrangement, on the locomotive or tender, of a steam cylinder
and piston, and the arrangement, on the cars, in connection with the
brakes, of sliding rods, so that the rod of the car next to the
engine or tender, being moved backwards by the piston rod of the above
cylinder, will bring the brakes of the rear wheels down upon them, as
well as the brakes of the tender, and slacken the speed thereby, so
that the rear projecting end of the brake rod will come in contact
with the rod of the next car, and set its brakes in action in like
manner, and so on, throughout the train. The arrangement of the said
brake actuating rods is such that no matter which end of the car is
foremost, the wheels of one track will be acted on by the brakes.

COMBINED RULER, BLOTTER, AND PAPER CUTTER.--Hugh S. Ball,
Spartanburgh, S. C.--This invention relates to a new and useful
improvement in a combined ruler, blotter, and paper cutter, three
articles indispensable for the desk, combined in one.

REED FOR ORGANS AND MELODEONS.--Augustus Newell, Chicago, Ill.--The
object of this invention is to so construct the tongue-butts, or
shanks, of musical reeds, that the same cannot, during the vibratory
motion of the tongues, be raised from their seats.

ANTI-FRICTION COMPOUND.--Victory Purdy, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.--This
invention relates to a new and useful compound for lubricating
railroad car axle journals, and other journal bearings.

* * * * *

QUERIES.

[_We present herewith a series of inquiries embracing a variety of
topics of greater or less general interest. The questions are simple,
it is true, but we prefer to elicit practical answers from our
readers, and hope to be able to make this column of inquiries and
answers a popular and useful feature of the paper._]

* * * * *

1.--EMERY WHEELS.--Can I make emery wheels similar to those used in
a foot lathe, that will answer for sharpening fine tools, such as
gouges, rounds, and hollows, and if so, how shall I proceed?--F. W.

2.--BOILER FURNACE.--I have two boilers, twenty-four feet long and
four feet in diameter each, with five ten-inch flues. The fire passes
under the boiler, and enters the flues at the back end, passes through
the flues, and enters the smoke