Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1880 — An Effective Gate Fastening. [ARTICLE]

An Effective Gate Fastening.

We recently saw a neat, cheap and effective method of fastening gates. It was in use on a ranch in Sutter county, and is we have understood, unpatented, so that, if we can make its method evident, our readers may use it everywhere, says the San Francisco Bulletin. The gate is hinged, and swings in in the usual manner, except that it is best to use hinges which it will allow it to swing either way with equal ease. Plant the gate posts so that the ga'G will swing past. Then take a of inch iron, either square or round. Let it be three times as long as one side of the square scantling used at the end of the gate. Bend it in a forge, to a shape similar to the upper part of a letter T, or like three sides of a square. Cut a notch In the post at any desired height, and fasten this iron in by a staple, so that when lifted up the gate slips past either way, but when dropped it clasps the end of the gate. If properly cut, the notch will keep it from dropping past a horizontal point, and cattle will hardly find out how to open it.