Correspondents whose inquiries fail to appear should repeat them.
If not then published, they may conclude that, for good reasons,
the Editor declines them. The address of the writer should always be
given.
Inquiries relating to patents, or to the patentability of inventions,
assignments, etc., will not be published here. All such questions,
when initials only are given, are thrown into the waste basket, as it
would fill half of our paper to print them all; but we generally take
pleasure in answering briefly by mail, if the writer's address is
given.
Hundreds of inquiries analogous to the following are sent: "Who
makes machinery suitable for making flour barrels? Whose is the best
theodolite? Who sells steam whistles? Whose is the cheapest silk,
suitable for balloons? Who makes the best engraving machine for
transferring designs to copper?" All such personal inquiries
are printed, as will be observed, in the column of "Business and
Personal," which is specially set apart for that purpose, subject to
the charge mentioned at the head of that column. Almost any desired
information can in this way be expeditiously obtained.
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