may indicate that he who tampers with a Buckeye will not do it with impunity. The fruit of the buckeye offers much to interest us. The capsule or covering of the nut is beset with sharp prickles, which, incautiously grasped, will soon compel the aggressor to let go his hold. The nut is undeniably the most beautiful of all which our teeming woods bring forth; and in many parts of the country is made subservient to the military education of our sons who, assembling in the muster-field' (where their fathers and elder brothers are learning to be militiamen), divide themselves into armies, and pelt each other with buckeye balls; a military exercise at least as instructive as that which their seniors perform with buckeye sticks. The inner covering of the nut is highly astringent. Its substance, when grated down, is soapy, and has been used to cleanse fine fabrics in the absence of good soap. When the powder is washed a large quantity of starch is obtained, which might, if times of scarcity could arise in a land so fertile as the native soil of this tree, be used for food. The water employed for this purpose holds in solution an active medicinal agent, which, unwarily swallowed, proves a poison; thus again admonishing those who would attempt to 'use up' a Buckeye, that they may repent of their rashness.

Who has not looked with admiration on the foliage of the buckeye in early spring, while the more sluggish tenants of the forest remain torpid in their winter quarters? and what tree in all our wild woods bears a flower which can be compared with that of our favorite? We may fearlessly challenge for it the closest comparison. Its early putting forth, and the beauty of its leaves and blossoms, are appropriate types of our native population, whose rapid and beautiful development will not be denied by those whom I now address, nor disproved by a reference to their character; while the remarkable fact that almost every attempt to transplant it into our streets has been a failure, shows that it will die in captivity, a guaranty that those who bear its name can never be enslaved.

Finally, the buckeye derives its name from the resemblance of its nut to the eye of the buck, the finest organ of our noblest wild animal; while the name itself is compounded of a Welsh and a Saxon word, belonging therefore to the oldest portions of our vernacular tongue, and connecting us with the primitive stocks, of which our fathers were but scions planted in the new world."

OHIO BUCKEYE, OR AMERICAN HORSE CHESTNUT.

[From "The North American Sylva;" by F. Andrew Michaux. PARIS: printed by C. D'Hautel, 1819.] PAVIA OHIOENSIS. P. Foliis quinatis, inæqualiter dentatis; floribus subflavis; fruct ibus muricatis.

"THIS species of horse chestnut, which is mentioned by no author that has hitherto treated of the trees and plants of North America, is unknown in the Atlantic parts of the United States. I have found it only beyond the mountains, and particularly on the banks of the Ohio for an interval of about 100 miles, between Pittsburg and Marietta, where it is extremely common. It is called 'buckeye' by the inhabitants, but as this name has been given to the pavia lutea, I have denominated it 'Ohio buckeye' because it is most abundant on the banks of this river, and have prefixed the synonym of 'American horse chestnut' because it proved to be a proper horse chestnut by its fruit, which is prickly like that of the Asiatic species instead of that of the paviæ.

The ordinary stature of the American horse chestnut is ten or twelve feet, but it sometimes equals thirty or thirty-five feet in height and twelve or fifteen inches in diameter. The leaves are palmated and consist of five leaflets parting from a common centre, unequal in size, oval-acuminate and irregularly toothed. The entire length of the leaf is nine or ten inches and its breadth six or eight inches. The bloom of this tree is brilliant. Its flowers appear early in the spring and are collected in numerous white bunches. The fruit is of the same color with that of the common horse chestnut and of the large buckeye, and of about half the size. It is contained in fleshy, prickly capsules, and is ripe in the beginning of autumn.

On the trunk of the largest trees the bark is blackish and the cellular integ ument is impregnated with a venomous and disagreeable odor. The wood is white, soft and wholly useless.

The value of the Ohio buckeye, or American horse chestnut, consists chiefly in the beauty of its flowers, which, with its rapid vegetation and hardy endurance of cold, will bring it into request both in Europe and America as an ornamental tree."

MICHAUX says he found the large buckeye, or pavia lutea, in its greatest profusion and expansion in the mountains of the Carolinas and Georgia. He first met with it on the Allegheny mountains in Virginia, near latitude 39°. It there towers to the height of sixty or seventy feet, with a diameter of three or four feet, and is considered as a certain proof of the richness of the land. "The wood," he says, "from its softness and want of durability, can subserve no useful purpose. Even in beauty this species is inferior to the common horse chestnut, and can never supplant that magnificent tree." The engraving in this article is copied from that in the superb work of Michaux.

HENRY DORN was born in Frank fort-on-the-Main, Germany, Feb. 16, 1843, where he attended the public school from the age of six to fourteen years.

He learned the trade of machinist, serving as an ap
prentice from 1857 to 1862. During his apprenticeship
he attended the night college in his native city and
soon became, from natural aptitude and close applica-
tion to his studies, an accomplished draughtsman.

After the completion of his apprenticeship Mr. Dorn
went to Paris, France, where he obtained employment
in the shops of the Northern Railroad Company. He
also worked in other shops on stationary engines, tools,
telegraphic instruments, and in other branches of
nechanism, as well as in the drawing-rooms of differ-
ent firms and companies by whom he was employed.
He attended college in that city, thereby more readily
acquiring a knowledge of the French language. Mr.
Dorn now speaks with fluency and accuracy German,
French and English.

In 1869 Mr. Dorn left Paris and came to America, landing in Philadelphia, where he soon procured employment as a mechanical engineer. Here, on the 12th of September, 1871, he was married to Miss Emily Dorn (though of the same name, no relation), by whom he has had four children. Shortly after his marriage he removed to Cleveland, where he continued to reside until 1884. While in that city he was employed by the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Company for over six years. He left the employ of this company to accept the position of superintendent of the iron work of the Cleveland viaduct, one of the finest structures of the kind in the world. He was subsequently employed by the civil engineer of Cleveland to superintend the laying of the block pavement on some of the streets of that city.

HENRY DORN.

In 1880 Mr. Dorn was employed in the erection of the building and in putting up the machinery of the H. P. Wire Nail Company, the largest factory of the kind in the United States. Just as the structure was about completed, in 1881, through the carelessness or ignorance of the general manager of the company, Mr. Dorn met with an accident resulting in an injury to his spine, from which he has never fully recovered, his right side remaining in a partially paralyzed condition for nearly three

years.

On the 11th of April, 1884, Gov. Hoadly tendered Mr. Dorn the position of inspector of workshops and factories, under the law which had just passed the Legislature creating that office. He accepted the position and immediately entered upon the discharge of its duties. In this position he has shown exceptional qualifications and been of incalculable benefit to those for whose protection in health and limb the office was created. His first annual report to the governor showed the importance of the office, and the legislature very wisely provided him with three assistants. His ability as a mechanical engineer and his careful and systematic management of the office have placed it in the front rank of offices of that character in the United States.

Taking a deep interest in the subject of factory inspection generally, Mr. Dorn made an appeal to all officers of that kind in the United States, and by untiring efforts succeeded in getting together the first national convention of factory inspectors ever held in this country. It was held in Philadelphia, Pa., on June 8 and 9, 1887, and Mr. Dorn had the honor of being the first presiding officer of the convention, and before the close of the session was unanimously elected permanent secretary and treasurer.

The second convention was held in the city of Boston, Mass., on August 8, 9 and 10, 1888, and Mr.
Dorn was unanimously re-elected for a second time.

On April 4, 1884, an act was passed by the Legislature of Ohio for the inspection of workshops and factories. This was the third legislative act on the part of any State in the Union for such a purpose. Section 2,873a of that act reads as follows:

"The governor of the State shall appoint a suitable person, to be known as the inspector of the sanitary condition, comfort and safety of shops and factories, who shall be a competent and practical mechanic in practice, whose duty it shall be to visit all factories or shops where ten or more persons are employed, and to carefully inspect the sanitary condition of the same, to examine the system of sewerage in connection with said shops and factories, the situation and condition of water-closets or urinals in and about such shops and factories, and also the system of heating, lighting and ventilating all rooms in such factories and shops where persons are employed at daily labor, and also as to the means of exit from such places in case of fire and other disaster, and also all belting, shafting, gearing, elevators, drums and machinery of every kind and description in and about such factories and shops, and see that the same are not located so as to be dangerous to employees when engaged in their ordinary duties, and that the same, so far as practicable, are securely guarded, and that every vat, pan, or structure filled with molten metal or hot liquid shall be surrounded with proper safeguards for preventing accident or injury to those employed at or near them."

In pursuance of the provisions of this act, on April 11, 1884, Mr. Henry Dorn, of Cleveland, Ohio, was appointed inspector, at a salary of $1,500 per year and $600 allowance for travelling expenses. Three days later he took the oath of office and entered upon the discharge of its duties at his office in Cleveland. Owing to the inadequate appropriation of funds, but a comparatively small part of the 20,000 or more workshops and factories throughout the State could be visited. The zeal of Mr. Dorn caused him to be as energetic and economical as possible in order to accomplish the most good with the means at his command. The success of the entire system of the department is no doubt largely due to his energy and perseverance. His being a practical engineer, draughtsman and machinist and possessing the knowledge necessary for imparting information in relation to improvements on machinery, its preservation, protection, etc., especially adapts him to the highly responsible duties of his office. In his first report, covering only the last six months of the year 1884, he says:

"I began my inspection in the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga county, but finding it impossible to make a proper inspection of all the shops and factories in the city of Cleveland first, without entirely neglecting other parts of the State, I confined my inspection to the leading establishments, and to such less prominent places as my attention was called to by persons employed therein.

Out of nearly 300 establishments in the city of Cleveland I inspected 173 from April 16th to June 16th, out of which I found only twenty-seven complying with the requirements of the law creating the office of State Inspector of Shops and Factories. I ordered important changes in forty-one establishments and minor changes were ordered in most of the others.

On the 17th of June I started on an inspection tour and stopped first in Crestline, Crawford county, where I inspected two establishments, ordering minor changes in one.

From Crestline I went to Galion, Crawford county, where I inspected five establishments, ordering minor changes in one and very important changes in another.

From Galion I went to Delaware, Delaware county, where I inspected six establishments, two of which were complying with the requirements of the law creating this office, and minor changes were ordered in three establishments.

From Delaware I went direct to Columbus, Franklin county, where my first duty was to notify all establishments in that city of my coming. I found that there were nearly 200 establishments to be visited, and out of this number I visited seventy-five from June 23d to July 15th, out of which I found only ten that were being operated in accordance with the law creating this office. I ordered important changes in thirteen establishments and minor changes in most of the others.

During the same time I visited also Logan, Hocking county, where I inspected

seven establishments, out of which I found only one not amenable to the law. Minor changes were ordered in four and very important changes in two establish

ments.

On July 16th I left Columbus and went to Cincinnati, Hamilton county, where I found a great field of labor. An investigation disclosed the fact that Cincinnati had over 1,000 manufacturing establishments to be visited, which would, if properly inspected, take the inspector over a year, as most of the buildings are from five to seven and even more stories high. The most careful work was required here, as sanitary conditions, safety and comfort and every provision of the law, were found to present a strong claim to attention.

I visited, in the city of Cincinnati, one hundred and seventy-five (175) of the leading establishments, and such others as my attention was called to, from time to time, by persons employed in such shops and factories.

I started out in the same manner, as I did in other cities, by notifying all manufacturers and owners of shops and factories, nearly 1,300 in number, of my coming. Out of the 175 establishments visited, from July 17 to October 11, I found only eleven being operated in accordance with the law creating this office. I ordered important changes in sixty establishments, and minor changes were ordered in most of the others.

During the time I stayed in Cincinnati I made occasional trips to the other cities and revisited shops and factories where I ordered changes with satisfactory results. I found many shops in Cleveland which complied with my requests in regard to important changes, also a number in Columbus and Logan.

Receiving a letter from Akron, Summit county, calling my attention to the shops and factories of that city, I started on October 21 from Cleveland to Akron, where I found nearly fifty (50) establishments to be visited, and, after notifying all owners of shops and factories, I inspected forty-five of them from October 21 to 31.

It is a pleasure to state that, generally speaking, I found the establishments in Akron in better condition and nearer the requirements of the law than any that I have visited.

Out of the forty-five establishments I inspected I found twenty-five working in accordance to law creating the office of Inspector of Shops and Factories.

Minor changes were ordered in nine establishments and very important changes in eleven. Nearly all of the latter changes were in sewer pipe factories and potteries.

In these establishments the greatest danger I found was in the mills where the clay is ground. These mills are started or stopped by means of a cone or friction pulley, and I found the most of these pulleys were not given lift enough or clearance enough to make them safe, as it will sometimes happen that these mills will start up of themselves, either through dirt falling between the two friction pulleys, or through the starting lever slipping from the bolt, which I found in many instances very poorly secured. Most of the levers were only provided with a common iron rod, with an eye in the end, which eye was carelessly hooked on to a common bolt or spike, which was driven in the wall, whereas those eyes should, by all means, be properly provided with hooks securely fastened in the wall, so that the jarring of the mill cannot unhook the iron rods and thereby start the mill up suddenly, endangering the lives of persons engaged in shoveling clay out of the mills. Several accidents of that kind happened in Akron, one man being killed and others had their legs broken and were badly maimed.

EMERY POLISHING WHEELS.

I found in polishing establishments, stove foundries and other shops and factories where emery wheels are used continually that those wheels, in a good many instances, were too high-speeded, which is very dangerous and often results in their bursting and consequently in the killing or serious injury of somebody. I herewith present a table for speeding solid emery wheels of different diameters: