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When a substance of a taper form, or any shape that is,not exactly square, is attempted to be grasped by an ordinary pair of tongs, they will not hold it very securely, because they are not adapted to conform to the irregularities of its surface. This is a serious objection to these useful implements, with the aid of which so much good work is done. The inventor of the tongs represented in our engravings — William Hart, of Mayville, Wis.—obviates this difficulty by providing an adjustable piece to each prong, so that they will grasp a body of taper or other form of much greater range of size than the usual tongs. Fig. 1 shows a front view of this invention, and Fig. 2 a side view. A A are the two arms, hinged at a, and each carrying a block of metal, B, in a recess cut in the short part of the arm, b, seen in Fig. 2. These blocks of metal arc pivoted to the arms, b, by a pivot, c, around which they can rotate, and as this is not in the center of B, by turning them round, they will accommodate different sized articles; these corresponding sides may be numbered as shown in our illustration, so that they may easily be brought in unison. By their being able to revolve, they can easily grasp a substance of any angle, and although the principle is especially intended for blacksmith's tongs, it is applicable to many other purposes and tools. These tongs were patented Dec. 29, 1857, by the inventor, who, on being addressed as above, will give any information that may be desired. A SUIT was recently brought against a Maine railroad for lumber accidentally burned in transit, and the road had to pay up. Why not ? Railroad companies contract with parties for carrying freight, and if it is destroyed by fire in transit, or stolen from the cars or stations, the company should be held to a strict accountability.
