The Scientific American Boy; Or, The Camp at Willow Clump Island

Chapter 50

Chapter 505,617 wordsPublic domain

THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE.

There is one more piece of work done by our society which yet remains to be described, and that is the cantilever bridge. This we all voted to be the greatest of our achievements on the island. To be sure, it was Uncle Ed's design, but I think we justly deserve credit for the masterful way in which it was erected. In our search for types of bridges before building the king post bridge, we came across a simple cantilever bridge that didn't look very difficult to construct. To be sure, none of us knew a thing about stresses and strains, and ingenious though we were, Bill realized that the task of designing a cantilever bridge was far beyond him. Nevertheless, we were sure we could build one if only we had a good set of plans. A letter was therefore mailed to Uncle Ed, asking him for the required details. The answer came promptly from Western Australia, asking us to send him the exact width of the water we wished to span, the depth of the water, the distance from the top of one bank to the top of the other, and the exact height of the banks above water level. We decided we would build the bridge across the mouth of the lagoon. The distance here between the two banks measured a little over 60 feet. The banks were very precipitous, and rose 13-1/2 feet above the level of the water. All these details, together with soundings of the bottom, all the way across, were sent to Uncle Ed, and on the day after our railway was completed quite a bulky package was received in answer. It contained complete directions for building the bridge of wooden frames, which were so designed that they needed merely to be hooked together to form the bridge, though to make the structure perfectly safe Uncle Ed cautioned us to tie the frames together wherever they met.

I am half afraid to tell my readers how to build this bridge, as it required the utmost care, and had to be built just so to avoid disaster. Bridge building is a serious business, and I would not advise any one to attempt building this, of all bridges, who does not propose to follow instructions implicitly. Uncle Ed told us that if we built it properly, and with sound timbers, we would find the bridge strong enough to support a dozen boys, but he warned us not to crowd more than that number on it.

FRAMES FOR THE CANTILEVER BRIDGE.

The frames with which the cantilever bridge was built were made of saplings from 3 to 4 inches in diameter. We procured them from Mr. Schreiner's lands up the river. In making the frames the sticks were fastened together with 1/2-inch bolts 6 inches long. It was quite a strain on our pocketbooks to buy these bolts, but Uncle Ed had written that nails or spikes would be useless to stand the strains of so large a bridge, and that if we could not get any bolts we had better give up the idea of building a cantilever bridge. To make sure that we made no mistakes, Uncle Ed had made a drawing of each different size of frame we would need, designating each with a different letter, and then these same letters were marked on a general view of the bridge, so that we would know exactly where the frames belonged. These drawings are reproduced here in Figs. 305 to 316 and 318. We had to make four frames each, of the _A_, _B_, _C_ and _E_ sizes, two each of the _F_, _G_ and _L_ sizes and one each of the _H_, _I_, _J_ and _K_ sizes. Of the _D_ frames two were made with the ends cut away on the outer half, as illustrated in Fig. 308, and two were cut away at the inner side, the reason for which will appear presently. When fastening the timbers together we cut notches in each stick, as shown in Fig. 317. The depth of each notch was just one-quarter the diameter of the stick; that is, the notch was 3/4 of an inch deep in a 3-inch stick and 1 inch deep in a 4-inch stick. Care was taken not to exceed this depth, for fear of weakening the sticks. In the case of frame _D_, the sticks were not notched or mortised together. It will be noticed that the measurements are given to the inner edges of the sticks in some cases, and to the outer edges in others. The reason for this, as Uncle Ed explained it, was because the thickness of our sticks would vary considerably, and it was important that many of the measurements be exact, otherwise the frames would not fit into each other as they should. Another thing to which he called our attention was the fact that frames _A_, _B_, _E_, _F_, _H_, _K_ and _L_ were stiffened with cross braces, while the rest were not. The braced frames, he wrote, were those which would be under a compression strain, while the others would be under tension; that is, when any weight was placed on the bridge it would push against the ends of the braced frames, trying to crush them, but would pull on the unbraced frames, trying to tear them apart. In fact, the bridge would have been just as strong had we used heavy iron wire in place of the unbraced frames, and the only reason Uncle Ed did not recommend our doing so was because we had no simple way of stretching the wire taut.

ERECTING THE TOWERS.

We built the complete set of frames before attempting to erect the bridge. Then we began by building the towers. Two _A_ frames were set on end and spaced 4 feet apart at the top and 5 feet apart at the bottom, measuring not from the inner but from the outer edges of the frames. In this position they were connected by short spars, notched in place. The notches for these connecting spars will be seen in Fig. 305 on the main or vertical timbers of frame _A_, just below the upper and middle cross sticks and above the lower cross sticks. The upper connecting spars were wedged tightly under the cross sticks, and served as an additional support for them. Diagonal braces were nailed from one frame to the other, as illustrated in Fig. 318. The towers were built on opposite banks, at the mouth of the lagoon, and when completed we lowered them carefully down the banks into the water. According to directions they were to be set just 30 feet apart, measuring from the center of one tower to the center of the other. The water was quite shallow where the towers rested, but the bottom was pretty firm. Holes were dug in the bottom for the legs of the tower to set into, and then large stones were piled around each leg to provide a firm foundation for the towers.

SETTING UP THE FRAMES.

A _B_ frame was now hauled out to one of the towers and lifted by its narrower end, with fall and tackle, until its lower tie piece rested on the projecting ends of the center crosspieces of the tower. The upper end of the frame was held against the top of the tower, while a _C_ frame was hooked over the upper ends of the tower legs; then frame _B_ was allowed to swing outward until its smaller end locked with the outer end of frame _C_. It will be observed in Fig. 306 that the upper crosspiece or tie piece of frame _B_ was fastened to one side of the vertical sticks and the lower tie piece to the other side. This was done purposely, so that when the frame was set in position the bottom tie piece would be on the lower side of the frame and the top piece would lie on the upper side, as shown in Fig 318, or, better still, in Fig. 319. The rest of the frames were all arranged to be set in place with their tie pieces on the lower side, or facing the towers, as will be clearly understood by examining the illustrations. As soon as the _B_ and _C_ frames were set up on one side of the tower, another pair of _B_ and _C_ frames was set up on the other side of the same tower. A cantilever bridge must always be built out on both sides of the tower at the same time, otherwise it will be overbalanced on one side and topple over. After the _B_ and _C_ frames were in place we took two _D_ frames, with oppositely cut ends, and rested their tie sticks on the top of the tower, just under the ends of the _C_ frames. The ends of the two _D_ frames overlapped at the center of the tower, and, as one was cut away at the outer side and the other at the inner side, they fitted neatly together and were fastened with bolts. The _D_ frames were supported near their outer ends with _E_ frames, which rested on the _B_ and _C_ frames. Fig. 319 shows an _E_ frame set in position on the landward side of the tower, while two of the boys are climbing out on the opposite _B_ and _C_ frames preparatory to setting up the other _E_ frame. A cross stick was now bolted to each _D_ frame, just beyond the upper ends of the _E_ sticks. This done, the frame _F_ was hooked in between the ends of _B_ and _C_, at the shoreward side of the tower, and its outer ends were supported by frame _G_, which was hooked over frame _D_ and the upper ends of frame _E_. The frame _L_ was then rested on the ends of frame _F_ and _G_, and supported the shore end of frame _D_. A stick nailed across frame _D_ on each side of the upper ends of frame _L_ served to hold the latter in place.

BINDING AND ANCHORING THE STRUCTURE.

As the different frames were coupled together, we bound the overlapping ends with soft iron wire. The place where frames _B_, _C_, _E_ and _F_ came together was quite a vital point, and we took pains to make the wire binding at this place doubly strong. As soon as the _L_ frame was in place we anchored the bridge to shore by running wires from the ends of the _D_ frame and the ends of the _G_ frame to stakes driven into the banks. The frames on the second tower were now similarly erected and anchored, after which we were ready to put in the center panels of the bridge.

THE CENTER PANELS OF THE BRIDGE.

First, the frame _H_ was wedged into place and thoroughly fastened by a liberal winding of wire. Next the frames _I_ and _J_ were set in place, and in order to do this we had to remove the upper tie pieces of these frames. Then one frame was hooked in the other, and the two were carried out on the scow under the center of the bridge. Ropes were tied to the ends of the two frames, and they were lifted together, like a wide _V_, to the position shown in Fig. 318, after which the tie pieces were bolted on again, resting against the ends of the _E_ frames. As an additional security, two sticks were bolted to the under side of the frame _H_, one at each side of the _I_ and _J_ frames. The bridge was then completed by wedging the frame _K_ under the ends of the _D_ frames, and also placing a stick across each tower under the joints of the _D_ frames. We planned to run our gravity railway across this bridge, moving our platform and trestle to the opposite bank; so instead of flooring our bridge with slabs, we fastened ties across at intervals of 15 or 18 inches. These ties were sticks 3 inches in diameter, which were secured to the _D_ frames.

A SERIOUS INTERRUPTION.

We were just preparing to lay the tracks across the bridge when we met with a serious interruption. Mr. Halliday had told us that a few days before our arrival that summer Mr. Smith, the owner of the island, and another man had paid a visit to the place. Jim Halliday himself had rowed them over, and learned from their conversation that Mr. Smith was trying to sell the island, and that the stranger, a Mr. Gill, was a prospective purchaser. All summer long we had been dreading the return of this customer, though, as time passed without his putting in an appearance, we almost forgot the incident. But now, at the end of August, just as we had about completed our cantilever bridge, who should arrive but this very man Gill and three other men with a large tent and camping outfit. It was a sorrowful crowd of boys that watched the wagon with their belongings ford the shallow water over to our island. We felt that the island was ours by right of discovery and occupation, but we were powerless to force our claims. And what if they did not insist on our leaving the island? It would not be the same place with strangers around to meddle with our things.

DISPOSSESSED.

But the new owner of the island was even more of a boor than we had anticipated. As soon as he landed he wanted to know what we were doing on his property, and peremptorily ordered us off. Bill answered that we were camping there, and politely asked if we couldn't stay out the summer. But Gill would not listen to the idea. We must get off the island that very day or he would see to it that we did.

I tell you it made us boil. We were just itching to give the pompous little man the sound thrashing he deserved, but knew that we would stand a very small show against his three powerful companions. At any rate, we were determined not to leave at once. Instead, we repaired to Kite Island, taking our belongings with us. Then we cut away the suspension, spar and pontoon bridges, so that we would not be annoyed by any of the Gill crowd. We were resolved that they should not benefit by any of the things we had built.

At the dead of night we paddled back to Willow Clump Island, crept past the slumbering intruders and waded out to the old water wheel. After a good deal of exertion we managed to dislodge the smaller tower, letting the wheel drop into the river and float away. Then we made for the cantilever bridge. It didn't take us very long to cut away the wire bindings, unhook the frames and drop them into the lagoon. But the task was quite a perilous one, as the night was pitch black. Finally, nothing remained of the bridge but the two towers, which were left as monuments to mark the spot where our last piece of engineering on the island was done.

FAREWELL TO WILLOW CLUMP ISLAND.

We spent several days on Kite Island, knowing that we were safe from intrusion, because the Gill crowd had but one boat, and that was on the Jersey side of the island. We felt confident that they would not take the trouble of wading around Point Lookout with their boats, as we had done; nevertheless, to prevent a surprise, we kept a sentry posted on the Lake Placid side of the island and gathered a pile of stones for ammunition. But our fun was spoiled, and we finally decided to break camp and bid farewell forever to Willow Clump Island and its vicinity. Our goods were ferried over to Jim Halliday's farm, where we were given shelter. The windmill, as I have already stated, was sold to a farmer at Lumberville, and we were kept busy for several days carting it over and setting it up in place. When everything had been done we stole back to Kite Island and set fire to the log cabin. The next day Mr. Schreiner took us home in a couple of his wagons. Thus ended our "investigation, exploration and exploitation of Willow Clump Island." The work of two summers was practically all destroyed in a few days.

REDDY'S CANTILEVER BRIDGE.

I believe I have given a careful account of everything that was recorded in the chronicles of the society. We were too discouraged to undertake anything new in the two weeks before school opened. I presume I might mention here Reddy's cantilever bridge, which, however, had really nothing to do with the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., because our society was formally disbanded the day before Bill and I returned to school. About a month after leaving home I received a letter from Reddy inclosing three interesting photographs, which are reproduced herewith. Reddy certainly had the bridge fever, because soon after we had left he started to work, with the rest of the boys, on a cantilever bridge across Cedar Brook. The brook was entirely unsuited to such a structure, because the banks were very low; but he made the towers quite short and built an inclined roadway leading up to the top of them. The legs of the towers were driven firmly into the bank, making them so solid that he thought it would be perfectly safe to build the frames out over the brook without building them at the same time on the shore side. But he had made a miscalculation, for when a couple of the boys had crawled out on the _B_ and _C_ frames to set up an _E_ frame the structure commenced to sag. The trouble was remedied by propping up the tower with a stout stick driven into the river bottom and wedged under the upper tie piece of the tower. The towers were really too short to make a well proportioned bridge, for the panels had to be made very long and narrow, so as to reach across. But on the whole it was a very creditable structure when completed, though it had only half as long a span as our cantilever bridge over the lagoon.

INDEX

A "A" tent, 207 Abbreviations, wigwag, 146 Accident, railway, the first, 290 Ainu snow shoe, 41 Alarm clock, a unique, 63 Alphabet, wigwag, 145 Alpine stock, 198 Anchoring cantilever bridge, 303 Annex, the, 50 Arctic expedition, 193 Armchair, barrel, 227 Axles of railroad car, 285

B Bags, sleeping, 203 Banquets, midnight, 179 Barrel armchair, 227 Barrel filter, 68 Barrel hoop snow shoe, 36 Barrel stave hammock, 226 Barrel stave snow shoe, 36 Bat's wings, 33 Bed, a camp, 209 Bed in shower, 210 Belly band, elastic, 235 Bending wood, 39 Bicycle wheels, mounting frame on, 219 Big Bug Club, 177 "Bill," 17 Bill's cave, 224 Bill's skate sail, 21 Binding cantilever bridge, 303 Blades of wind wheel, 278 Boat, ice, 159 Boat mooring, tramp-proof, 142 Boat, scow, 59 Box kite, diamond, 236 Box, the black walnut, 19 Brake for wind wheel, 278 Bridge building, 95 Bridge, cantilever, 292 Bridge, king post, 105 Bridge, king rod, 102 Bridge, pontoon, 101 Bridge, Reddy's cantilever, 308 Bridge, spar, 95 Bridge, stiffening, 104 Bridge, suspension, 99 Bridge wreck, 66 Bucket, the canvas, 251 Buckets for water wheel, 246 Bunks, 270

C Camp bed, 209 Camp bed in shower, 210 Camp, breaking, 158 Camp chair, a, 208 Camp fire, a costly, 200 Camp fire, kindling, 194 Canoe, Indian paddling, 121 Canoe lee boards, 119 Canoe rudder, 115 Canoe, the sailing, 111 Canoe sails, 117 Canoe, scooter, 190 Canoe, stretching on canvas, 114 Canoes, canvas, 109 Cantilever bridge, 292 Cantilever bridge, anchoring, 303 Cantilever bridge, binding frames, 303 Cantilever bridge, center panels, 304 Cantilever bridge, frames for, 293 Cantilever bridge, Reddy's, 308 Cantilever bridge, setting up frames of, 300 Cantilever bridge towers, 299 Canvas bucket, 251 Canvas canoes, 109 Canvas, stretching on canoe, 114 Canvas tent, 46 Car axles, 285 Car for gravity railroad, 284 Car, mounting wheels on, 286 Carpenter's miter box, 288 Cave, Bill's, 224 Cave, covering the, 177 Cave, excavating for, 173 Cave, framing, 174 Cave-in, a, 171 Center panels of cantilever bridge, 304 Chain, surveyor's, 77 Chair, a camp, 208 Chair seat snow shoe, 35 Cheek blocks, 162 Chinks in log cabin, stopping up, 272 Christmas vacation, 19 Clamp for crank shaft, 276 Clapboards, nailing on, 135 Cleat, a, 163 Climbing, mountain, 198 Clock, a unique alarm, 63 Club, the Big Bug, 177 Club pin, 180 Club, the Subterranean, 171 Code, International Telegraph, 155 Combination lock, 181 Council of war, 139 Crank shaft, the, 276 Creepers, ice, 170 Crossbow, 55 Crossbow trigger, 57 Cutting out disk, 78

D Danish sail, 30 Derrick, the, 131 Diamond box kite, 236 Digging the well, 274 Disk, cutting out, 78 Disk, sighting, 79 Dispossessed, 306 Diving tree, 84 Door hinges, 269 Door latch, 269 Doors, sliding, 136 Double mirror heliograph, 156 Double surprise, 140 Drill, fire, 69 Drowned, how to restore, alone, 92 Drowned, restoring the, 89

E Easter vacation, 224 Elastic belly band, 235 Expedition, Arctic, 193 Expedition, logging, 255 Expedition, preparing for, 53 Exploration, preliminary, 66

F Farewell to Willow Clump Island, 307 Fastener, brass, 58 Filter, the barrel, 68 Filter barrel, cooling the, 250 Filter, the small, 67 Fire drill, 69 Fireplace of log cabin, 265 Fireplace, outdoor, 195 Fireplace, stone-paved, 196 Fissure, path up the, 129 Flanged wheels, 285 Fly, ridge pole, 54 Fly for tent, 54 Fly, umbrella with, 211 Focusing heliograph instrument, 153 Frame on bicycle wheels, 219 Frames for cantilever bridge, 293 Frames of cantilever bridge, setting up, 300 Friend in time of trouble, 201

G Goblins' Dancing Platform, 126 Grass hut, 124 Gravity railroad, 283

H Halliday, Jim, 194 Hammock, barrel stave, 226 Harness, pack, 212 Heliograph, the, 147 Heliograph, double mirror, 156 Heliograph instrument, focusing, 153 Heliograph screen, 151 Heliograph sight rod, 150 Heliograph signaling, 154 Heliograph, single mirror, 148 Hinge for spars, 30 Hinges, door, 269 House building, 124 House, log, 254 House, the tree, 132 Hut, cold night in, 197 Hut, log, 254 Hut, straw, 124

I Ice boat, the, 159 Ice boats, sledges and toboggans, 158 Ice, craft strikes the, 184 Ice creepers, 170 Indian paddling canoe, 121 Instrument, double mirror, 156 Instrument, single mirror, 148 Instrument, surveying, 73 International Telegraph Code, 155 Iroquois snow shoe, 39 Island, mapping the, 82 Island, off to the, 63 Island, trip to the, 64

J Jacob's Ladder, 129 Jaws of boom, 162 Jib-sail for ice boat, 164 Jib-sail for scooter scow, 187 Jim Halliday, 194

K King post bridge, 105 King rod truss, 102 Kite, diamond box, 236 Kite Island, 83 Kite, Malay, 5-foot, 231 Kite, Malay, 8-foot, 233 Kites, putting to work, 235 Kites, tailless, 229 _Klepalo_, the, 70

L Ladder, the Jacob's, 129 Ladders, rope, 130 Lagoon, the, 83 Lake Placid, 83 Land yacht, 215 Land yacht, a sail on, 222 Lanteen sail for canoe, 117 Lanteen skate sail, 29 Latch, door, 269 Latch string, 270 Lee boards, canoe, 119 "Leg-of-mutton" sail, 220 Levels, spirit, 74 Lock combination, 181 Log cabin, 251 Log cabin, building the, 259 Log cabin door hinges, 269 Log cabin door latch, 269 Log cabin door and window frames, 263 Log cabin fireplace, 265 Log cabin, floor of, 267 Log cabin, foundation of, 254 Log cabin, roof of, 262 Log cabin, stopping up chinks, 272 Log cabin window sash, 270 Log raft, 256 Logging expedition, 255

M Mainsail for canoe, 117 Mainsail for ice boat, 162 Malay kite, 5-foot, 231 Malay kite, 8-foot, 233 Mapping the island, 82 Mast of land yacht, stepping, 218 Mast step, ice boat, 161 Mast step, leather, 30 Mast step, wooden, 30 Megaphone, 57 Megaphone mouthpiece, 58 Midnight banquets, 179 Mill-race, the, 88 Mirror instrument, heliograph, 148 Miter box, carpenter's, 288 Mizzen sail of canoe, 118 Mooring, tramp-proof boat, 142 Mountain climbing, 198 Mouthpiece of megaphone, 58 "Mummy case," 204

N Needle, weaving, 39 Night, cold, in the hut, 197 Nightmare, a, 211 Noria, 241 Norwegian ski, 42 Numerals, wigwag, 145

O Oar, the, 61 Off to the island, 63 Organizing the society, 25 Outdoor fireplace, 195 Outfits, tramping, 203

P Pack harness, 212 Paddling canoe, Indian, 121 Paddles for water wheel, 246 Panels, center, of cantilever bridge, 304 Path up the fissure, 129 Patient, how to work over, alone, 93 Pin, the club, 180 Plank, swimming on, 86 Platform, Goblins' Dancing, 126 Point Lookout, 83 Pole, ridge, 48 Poncho, 210 Pontoon bridge, 101 Poor shelter, a, 199 Preparing for the expedition, 53 Protractor, the, 76 Provisions and supplies, 54 Pump, the, 279 Pump, action of, 281 Pump valves, the, 280

R Raft, log, 256 Raft, sail-rigged, 258 Railroad car, 284 Railroad car axles, 285 Railroad flanged wheels, 285 Railroad, gravity, 283 Railway track, the, 287 Railway accident, the first, 290 Railway, rope, 97 Railway spikes, 50 Rapids, shooting the, 88 Receiving trough for water wheel, 247 Records of the S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., 19 Reddy's cantilever bridge, 308 Rennwolf, the, 168 Restoring the drowned, 89 Ridge pole, 48 Ridge pole, fly, 54 Riveting, 213 Rod, heliograph sight, 150 Rod, surveyor's, 78 Rope ladders, 130 Rope railway, 97 Rowlocks, sockets for, 60 Rudder, canoe, 115 Rudder shoe, ice boat, 160 Runner shoe, ice boat, 160 Runners of scooter canoe, 190 Runners of sledge, 165 Rustic table, 66

S S. S. I. E. E. of W. C. I., records of, 19 Sail, jib, for scooter, 187 Sail, "leg-of-mutton," 220 Sail, mizzen, of canoe, 118 Sail-rigged raft, 258 Sail, sprit, for scooter, 186 Sail stitch, 46 Sail through the country, 222 Sailing canoe, the, 111 Sailor's stitch, 221 Sails, canoe, 117 Sails for ice boat, 162 Sandwiches, straw, 227 Schreiner, a visit from Mr., 110 Scooter canoe, 190 Scooter sailing, 188 Scooter scow, 185 Scooters, 183 Scow, the, 59 Scow, a sail in, 184 Scow, scooter, 185 Scow, stolen, 138 Screen, heliograph, 151 Seat, swing, 97 Shaft, the crank, 276 Shelter, a poor, 199 Shooting the rapids, 88 Sight rod, 150 Sighting blocks, 74 Sighting disk, 79 Signaling, heliograph, 154 Signals, wigwag, 144 Simple method of surveying, 79 Single mirror heliograph, 148 Sioux snow shoe, 37 Skate sail, bat's wings, 33 Skate sail, Bill's, 21 Skate sail, Danish, 30 Skate sail, double Swedish, 26 Skate sail, lanteen, 29 Skate sail, single Swedish, 28 Skate sails, 26 Ski, Norwegian, 42 Ski sticks, 43 Skids, 262 Slabs, 101 Sledge, the, 165 Sleeping bags, 203 Sliding doors, 136 Snotter, 187 Snow shoe, Ainu, 41 Snow shoe, barrel hoop, 36 Snow shoe, barrel stave, 36 Snow shoe, chair seat, 35 Snow shoe, Iroquois, 39 Snow shoe, Sioux, 37 Snow shoe, Swiss, 43 Snow shoes, 35 Society, meeting of, 189 Society, organizing the, 25 Spar bridge, 95 Spars, hinge for, 30 Spikes, railway, 50 Spiral spring, 153 Spirit levels, 74 Spring, spiral, 153 Sprit sail, 186 Stepping mast of land yacht, 218 Stitch, the sail, 46 Stitch, sailor's, 221 Stick, ski, 43 Stiffening the bridge, 104 Stone-paved fireplace, 196 Stone wall, how to build, 266 Straw hut, 124 Straw sandwiches, 227 Subterranean Club, 171 Summer toboggan, 229 Supplies and provisions, 54 Surprise, a double, 140 Surveying, 73 Surveying, first lesson in, 79 Surveying instrument, 73 Surveying, a simple method of, 79 Surveying for water wheel, 241 Surveyor's chain, 77 Surveyor's rod, 78 Suspension bridge, 99 Swamp shoe, 43 Swedish sail, double, 26 Swedish sail, single, 28 Swimming, 84 Swimming on a plank, 86 Swing seat, 97 Swiss snow shoe, 43

T Table, a rustic, 66 Tailless kites, 229 Telegraph Code, International, 155 Tent, the "A", 207 Tent, annex, 50 Tent, canvas wall, 46 Tent fly, 54 Tent making, 44 Testing the track, 291 Thole pins, 61 Tie block, wood, 49 Tie, wire, 50 Tiger's Tail, 83 Tiller, ice boat, 161 Tiller of land yacht, 219 Toboggan, the, 167 Toboggan, the summer, 229 Tower, the windmill, 275 Towers of the cantilever bridge, 299 Towers for water wheel, 243 Towers of water wheel, setting up, 248 Track, laying the, 289 Track, the railway, 287 Track, testing the, 291 Tramping outfits, 203 Tramp-proof boat mooring, 142 Tramps, trouble with, 138 Tree, diving, 84 Tree house, the, 132 Trigger for crossbow, 57 Trip to the island, 64 Tripod, the, 75 Trouble with tramps, 138 Trunk, the old, 18 Truss, king rod, 102 Turnbuckle, a simple, 216

U Umbrella with fly, 211 Umbrella rib crossbow, 55 Uncle Ed, word from, 45 Uncle Ed's departure, 109

V Vacation, Christmas, 19 Vacation, Easter, 224 Valves, the pump, 280 Van Syckel, interview with, 189 Vengeance, 139 Visit from Mr. Schreiner, 110

W Wall, how to build, 266 Wall tent, 46 Water wheel, 241 Water wheel buckets, 246 Water wheel, construction of, 245 Water wheel, Mr. Halliday's, 252 Water wheel, mounting the, 249 Water wheel paddles, 246 Water wheel receiving trough, 247 Water wheel, surveying for, 241 Water wheel, towers for, 243 Water wheel towers, setting up, 248 War, council of, 139 Weaving needle, 39 Well, digging the, 274 Wheel, the wind, 276 Wheels for gravity railroad, 285 Wheels, mounting, on car, 286 Wheels, mounting frame on, 219 Wigwag abbreviations, 146 Wigwag alphabet, 145 Wigwag numerals, 145 Wigwag signals, 144 Wigwagging and heliographing, 144 Wigwagging at night, 147 Willow Clump Island, 23 Willow Clump Island, farewell to, 307 Willow Clump Island in winter, 194 Wind wheel, 276 Wind wheel blades, 278 Wind wheel brake, 278 Windmill, 273 Windmill tower, 275 Window hinge, 270 Window sash, log cabin, 270 Wings, bat's, 33 Wire tie, 50 Wood, bending, 39 Wood tie block, 49 Word from Uncle Ed, 45

Y Yacht, land, 215 Yacht, land, frame of, 216

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SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN REFERENCE BOOK

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This book is intended to furnish the reader with information not obtainable in any other work of reference. It is not an encyclopedia, nor is it an annual, but it contains a mass of information that should be within the reach of every family. This work has been prepared in response to the many thousands of inquiries received by the Editor of the Scientific American on the widest possible range of topics, and it is through these inquiries that the Editors of the Reference Book have been enabled to determine the scope of this work. It deals with the "Progress of Discovery," "Shipping and Yachts," "The Navies of the World," "The Armies of the World," "Railroads of the World," "Population," "Education," "Telegraphs," "Submarine Telegraphs," "Wireless Telegraphy," "Patents," "Trade-marks," "Copyrights," "Manufactures," "Iron and Steel," "Departments of the Federal Government," "The Post-office," "International Institutions and Bureaus," "Mines and Mining," "Farms and Food," "Mechanical Movements," "Chemistry," "Astronomy," "Weights and Measures," and a host of other subjects, such as "Aerial Navigation," "Radium," etc. This valuable compendium has been put at a very low price, so that it may be within the reach of every one. It is fully illustrated, and has colored plates showing the flags of all nations, the funnels and house flags of lines in American trade, and the International Signal Code.

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MUNN & COMPANY, Publishers

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