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Bond, A. Russell

"The Scientific American Boy The Camp at Willow Clump Island"

In this manner a V-shaped trough
was formed. The boards were firmly nailed together at their meeting edges
so as to prevent them from warping apart. A diagonal brace at each corner
made the wedge-shaped tower very substantial. A number of cleats nailed to
one of the poles provided a ladder by which we could mount to the top of
the tower. The shorter tower was a three-legged affair, made of three
12-foot poles. At first two of these were flattened and nailed together at
their upper ends, and they were braced at the top and bottom. The third
leg was then nailed in place and braced by cross bars connecting it with
the other two poles.
[Illustration: Fig. 252. The Large Tower.]
[Illustration: Fig. 253. V Shaped Trough.]

The Wheel.
We were now ready to make the wheel. From Lumberville four 1/2-inch
boards, each 3 inches wide and 15 feet long, were procured; also a bar of
iron 3/4 of an inch in diameter and 2 feet long. At the center of one of
the boards a block of wood 4 inches long and 4 inches in diameter was
nailed on for a hub. A 3/4-inch hole was now drilled through this hub and
the board. Holes were also drilled into the other boards at their centers.
Then they were all strung onto the bar and spaced like spokes at equal
angles apart.


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