In conclusion, I desire to thank those gentlemen at the head of the leading firms of sewing machine manufacturers for the trouble they have taken to arrange for your inspection specimens of their excellent systems, and I have much satisfaction in expressing my obligations to them for ready assistance in the preparation of my paper.

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Power machines and treadle machines were exhibited by Messrs. Willcox & Gibbs, Messrs. Wheeler & Wilson, and the Singer Manufacturing Company.  The motive power was provided by an electrical motor, supplied by Mr. Moritz Immish.  The Howe Machine Company exhibited a model of the first machine made by Elias Howe, and also one of the most recent Howe machines.  Mr. Newton Wilson showed a model of the Saint sewing machines, constructed from Thomas Saint’s patent specification, 1790, and Mr. Carver showed the Standard sewing machine.

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THE NEW KRUPP GUNS.

Nothing is being talked about at present in Germany but the guns of great caliber that are manufacturing at the celebrated works on the banks of the Ruhr.  As our neighbors appear to be elated over this wonderful work, it is expedient to examine the subject, in order to see whether their applause is legitimate.

We have known for a long time that the artillery materiel devoted to the defense of the German coasts consists of a long, stationary 53/4 inch gun; of long 73/4 inch hooped steel guns, closed by a cylindrico-prismatic wedge; of an 8 inch mortar; and of guns of 113/4 and 15 inch caliber.  The 113/4 inch gun is 22 feet in length, and, including the closing mechanism, weighs 79,200 pounds.  As regards the projectiles that this weapon throws, the ordinary shell is 33 inches in length, and weighs, all charged, 656 pounds, and the exploding shell, of the same length, weighs, all charged, 1,160 pounds.  The initial velocity of the latter is 1,600 feet with a maximum charge of 148 pounds of powder.

The 15 inch gun is 32.8 feet in length, and weighs 158,400 pounds.  Its projectiles are 3.67 feet in length.  The ordinary shell, charge included, weighs 1,400 pounds, and the exploding shell, under the same circumstances, 1,700 pounds, that is, more than three quarters of a metric ton.  The initial velocity of this last named projectile is 1,650 feet with a maximum charge of 1,650 pounds of powder.  We also know that Mr. Krupp has two models of guns of 131/2 inch caliber, and of a length equal to 35 times the caliber, say 39-5/12 feet.  The lighter of these models (which was shown at Anvers) weighs no less than 264,000 pounds, carriage not included.  Its cylindrico prismatic closing mechanism (Rundkeilverschluss) alone weighs 82,500 pounds.  This is the weight of a 53/4 inch hooped steel gun!

[Illustration:  FIG. 1.—­NEW 52 FOOT KRUPP GUN AND A GERMAN FIELD PIECE FIGURED ON THE SAME SCALE.]