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THE ABBEY MILLS PUMPING STATION have moulded and stopped chamfers, and those on
AND MACHINERY.

WE

E last week described and illustrated the engines, pumps, and boilers at Abbey Mills, and we now illustrate one elevation of the engine-house, and give a half-sectional elevation through the boiler-house, showing a portion of the engine-house. The latter building is cruciform in plan, with the boiler-house, a distinct building, running across the back, while a handsome chimney stack rises on either side. The walls of the engine-house are of white brick with dressings of Portland stone, of which material are formed the moulded bases to the piers and the moulded and carved capitals to same on the engine and beamroom floors, which we shall illustrate in a future impression. The engine-house is faced externally and internally with the best white facing bricks, and with full-length headers, regularly and thoroughly tied into the thickness of the wall. The piers on engine-room floor have three bands of red brick. The arches external and internal to both engine-room and beam floors are of coloured bricks, in two tints, red and buff, laid in alternate bands, and having a 44-inch course of red bricks on the extrados, which on the exterior of the building is weathered and moulded with hollow mouldings; the bricks are gauged and rubbed, set and jointed in fine putty, coloured red and black.

The external arches on the engine-room floor |

beam floor nail-head ornament cut on their outer arrises. The end windows on the beam floor have bead moulding on the internal arches and jambs stopped against the sill, and moulded archivolts of Portland stone round the external arches. The windows on the engine-room floors have archivolts of Portland stone with moulding internally stopped 6in. above the capitals. The outer arrises of piers, internal and external, are cut and rubbed to chamfer, with moulded stops. The course in cornice is worked in plain face in Portland stone. The panels under the windows of engine-room and beam floors, and between the cantilevers in the cornice on the exterior, and the panels under the windows of the beam floor in the interior of the building, are filled in with encaustic tiles in three colours-buff, black, and red. There are four entrance doors to the engine-house at the ends of the arms of the cross, framed and moulded, with eight ornamental sunk panels and meeting beads in front and bead flush at back, hung folding with wrought-iron ornamental hinges back and front. Each of these doors has a fanlight over, with solid fir wrought and grooved moulded frame, glazed and filled with ornamental ironwork on each side of the glass. The engine and boiler houses communicate by two doors with semicircular heads, the two lower panels moulded on both sides, and the upper panels glazed with plate glass.

The shape of the roof will be readily gathered

from our illustration. It is covered with 1-inch boarding, grooved and tongued, and slated with the best Duchess slates, 24in. by 12in., of two tints, arranged in horizontal bands, which form a plain pattern on the surface, and secured to boarding with two copper nails in each slate,-each slate having a lap of three inches. The wood mouldings on the ridges are covered with 61b. lead rolls and flashings. The enrichments on the moulded roll round the curb are cast in lead, and screwed on with copper screws. There are sixteen dormers for ventilation in the sides of the roof, and four larger ones, one at each end, built upon the main walls of engine-house of brick and Portland stone. The openings to the smaller dormers are wrought stop-chamfered semicircular headed fir frames filled in with wrought ornamental boards, but the larger ones have wrought stop-chamfered fir frames with ornamental semicircular head and ornamental cast-iron mullion. The dormer roofs are framed into the timbers of the main roof; the timber rafters of which, in the case of the smaller dormers, are stopped against sills of fir framed to openings in all cases, and the lower purlins stopped against side wall of dormers. In the large opening the timber rafter of the main roof is stopped at the second purlin, to which it is secured by a bolt. The roofs of dormers are covered the same as the main roof, and have 6lb. lead ridge and flashings. The hip-knob on top of coping is finished with an ornamental wrought finial. The gutters are of cast

iron of ornamental pattern, the flanges for joint outside at back and bottom, and inside at front, and ornamental cast-iron rain waterdown pipes connected therewith at all the external and in

THE GLASS WORKS OF VENICE AND
MURANO.*

ternal angles of the building. An ornamental cast-tury iron cresting is fixed to ridge, and returned round

flat under the dome.

The dome surmounting the roof constitutes a conspicuous feature. It is carried on four large wrought-iron ribs, joined together at top with a wrought-iron girder or curb. The four ribs are composed of angle iron, with top and bottom flanges of plate iron, the web filled in with wrought-iron scroll work, riveted over wrought-iron hoops or rings, passing between L irons of rib. The rings are welded in one piece, and are of the following dimensions: The large one, 3in. by gin. thick; the next size below, 3in. by in. thick; the next, 24in. by ĝin. thick; and the bottom one 24in. by gin. The solid portion of the web of the brackets is composed of two 5-16in. plates. The angle irons are 4in. by 4in., and the width of the flange is 9in. The flanges are composed of three in plates to a height of 2ft. above the commencement of the scrollwork, and two in. plates for the remainder of the distance. Each rib is fixed with its foot to a cast-iron saddle, which is bolted to the wall, and also to the cast-iron arched girder before alluded to. The outside of the rib is attached at the upper end to the corner of the curb, and the inside to a diagonal girder situate in the angle of the square curb. The depth of this curb is 1ft. 1lin. x 1ft. 11in. bottom flange, and 11in. top flange; the angle irons are 4in. x 4in. Xin., and the angle irons of the gusset plate 3in. X 3in. X in., the web and top and bottom flanges of in. plate. The bottom portion or drum of the dome is constructed of eight cast-iron ribs, and cast-iron covering plates and moulded caps, all the joints of which are planed and filed to a true fit, and the joints chipped level.

colour

a body of clear glass; these filigree rods are prepared by placing in a mould alternately small rods of white and coloured enamel; the workman ROM an early date the city of Venice has been then prepares a solid ball of clear glass, which, celebrated for its glass. In the thirteenth cen- being deposited in the mould in contact with the the processes of the Phoenicians, who had long rods at a welding heat, causes them to adhere; this enjoyed the exclusive production of glass (in con- ball is then taken out and rolled on the iron plate, or sequence of the abundance of its principal ingredients, marver," as it is called, into a uniform mass; the natron, sand, and fuel, on their coasts), seem to have ball is then dipped into the pot of clear glass, and been learnt by the Crusaders, and transferred to then drawn out to the required length and size. Venice and the neighbouring island of Murano, Should a spiral rod be required, the mass is twisted where they were long held secret, and formed a during the drawing process. The millefiori are The old Venetian slices of coloured glass rods embedded in lucrative commercial monopoly. blown glass was light, bright, vitreous in appearance, less or differently coloured ground of the same matefashioned into shapes which varied with the indi-The ritorto, or twisted patterns of many coloured stained with the richest possible colours, and rial, and are used chiefly for making paper weights. vidual tasto and skill of the workman; this branch rods, are fused together with clear glass. These of industry, during the fifteenth and two following beautiful striped patterns are very simply made; for centuries, rose to a pitch of excellence which obtained a goblet of ruby and aventurine, for instance, a for it a world-wide reputation. Some of the parti- number of rods of the two colours are laid side by cular secrets of this beautiful manufacture have been side, alternately, on a sort of shovel, and introduced handed down from father to son, and so carefully into the furnace. As they begin to melt and adhere treasured up, that at this very day, quite as much as together, the workman, with a piece of half-molten in the age of Marco Polo, Venice possesses the abso- glass at the end of his rod, presses upon the end of old Venetian glass manufacturers still inhabit the them all up, so that they come together into the form lute monopoly of the art. Lineal descendants of the the first, and turning round the hollow rod winds island of Murano; but the demand for the produce of a cylinder, the end of which is fixed to the handle of their ancient handicraft has been so unimportant, that is to control them during the subsequent operathat these workmen were driven to seek subsistence tions of blowing. The celebrated frosted or "crackle" by the production of a more common-place material glass of the Venetians was long considered a lost for every-day use. art; it is made by suddenly plunging the hot glass into cold water, and in this manner fractures are produced of a crystalline character. The glass is then reheated at the furnace, and the heated ball is afterwards expanded by blowing. Although frosted glass appears covered with fractures it is perfectly

sonorous.

art of bead-making. The manufacture of beads is Venice still possesses the absolute monopoly of the tombs of Thebes, and in the ruined temples of of the highest antiquity; they are found in the Assyria; in the tombs of Greece and Rome, and even in the burial-places of the ancient Britons, we find beads, and these, too, of the particular zig-zag pattern which has always been, and still is, manufac tured at Venice, and found over the entire continent of Africa. In the history of the conquest of America these beads played a most important part, and were used by the Spaniards to trade with the natives. to the bead trade ou account of the prevailing fashion At the present time great impetus has been given of black beads, for which there is a great demand.

The revival of the ancient art of glass-blowing is due to Dr. Salviati, whose imitations of the old Venetian soffiati and execution of new designs are most successful, and have excited universal admiration at the Paris Exhibition. The soffiati, or blown glass, produced by Dr. Salviati, equal, and even surpass, the old in lightness, brilliancy, colour, and design. The glass blowers of Murano are now able to produce nearly all the famous kinds of ware so peculiar to Venetian glass, and which were thought to be entirely lost, such as "filigree" fiamma, retorto, opal, or girasole, avventurina, reticello, frosted or "crackle" glass, morise, millefiori, acqua marina, rich ruby colours, giallo d'oro, and The interior is lined with in. deal lining, many other kinds of work, some of which are imitawrought on one side and moulded strings between tions of the old glass and some new inventions. the oight brackets, portions of which are cast to It is hardly possible in words alone to convey a an ornamental pattern. The columns and entabla-correct idea of the manipulations necessary for the formation of a bottle of the simplest form. ture above the dome are of cast iron, bolted toge-tools used are an iron tube about 5ft. in length, a few The ther on the inside, and lined with in. deal, wrought instruments like shears, of different sizes, and stamps with mouldings to window heads. The columns on with a strawberry-shaped die. The workman first the inside are of solid fir, turned, moulded, and dips the end of the tube into the pot of molten glass, into two distinct branches, the first the ordinary The bead manufacture, or conteria, may be divided carved. The roof of the,dome is of Memel timber twisting it round so as to accumulato a suflicient bead, or margaritine, and the other, Perle alla the eight ribs of English oak, and the stringing quantity of glass to make the required bottle, a few Lucerna, which are a finer, and, consequently, more pieces and moulding on the outside of oak, the turns of the rod, and a breath or two into it, and a expensive bead. The manufacture of margaritine the covering boards of deal lin. thick at bottom hollow ball appears at the end, and the required shape is also divided into sections, the first of common and in. thick at top, and the inside lining of in. is given to the hollow globe by means of the shear-glass beads, canna divetro, and the second canna di stuff. All the visible face of timber is wrought like instrument, whilst being rotated on the glass-smalti, or enamel beads. The manufacture of these maker's chair; a "pontil" is then attached opposite last differs but slightly from the other, but the paste and moulded, chamfered, or otherwise, the outer to the tube, which is then broken off. boarding grooved and tongued with iron tongnes. reheated in the furnace the mouth of the bottle is After being is of a finer quality and more costly. The furnaces The roof is covered with slates, and the ridges formed; a boy then brings up on the end of a rod a are built of a fireclay, found at Cerone, in the Friuli; these furnaces last about two years, forty-four with lead, same as engine-house roof. small portion of ruby, acqua marina, or any other weeks being a year's work. The materials are vitricolour that may be required to ornament the bottle.fied in pots (padellati) made of pure refractory clay, This must be as hot as almost to drop off, and must and for the manufacture of beads are usually four be ready at the exact moment; he touches with it to five in number, each capable of containing about the neck of the bottle, which is rotated on the chair 1,300lb. of paste. The furnaces for the finer quality by the glass blower, In this manner rings and other of enamel beads are constructed in a different ornaments are wound round the bottle; these rings manner from those for canna di vetro. The pots are scolloped at the same time with the shears by the glass blower. Between these rings little lumps of furnace, so that the heat can be regulated according are separated from each other by divisions in the the same or other coloured glass are then struck on, and stamped as strawberries with the die. to the colour and quality of the paste. The principal this operation the bottle has to be introduced several During ingredients used in the manufacture of glass beads are Pola sand, Catania soda, natron (a native sesquitimes into the furnace. A vase, not by any means carbonate of soda, found deposited on the sides of of the most elaborate pattern, required the labour of several lakes to the west of the Delta of Egypt), three pairs of hands during half-an-hour, in which antimony, arsenic, manganese, minium, nitre, &c. time it went thirty-five times into the furnace. All this time the glass is drooping and twisting out of shape every time that it is put into the furnace, so that great care is required to retain the form. finished glass is then put into the annealing oven, where it remains cooling very slowly till the next morning.

The roofs of the dormers are of fir framed, anh covered with slates, nailed to inch boarding and lead ridge. A wrought-iron bolt passes througd the top of dome, connecting the two cast-iron shoes that receive the ends of external and internal ribs. The octagon ornament at top is of cast iron, secured by the centre bolt above mentioned. The window sashes are of cast iron, with circular copper casements in the head made to open for ventilation, The caps of the columns outside are cast loose, and pinned on. The ornamental cornice round the interior is of cast iron, screwed on to the wood lining with copper screws, and the pendants to the eight ornamental cast-iron ribs are of wood. The bases of the finials on the tops of the dormers, as also on summit of dome, are of wood, covered with lead, and the ornamental finials of wrought iron, gilded. The junction of the roof of the enginehouse with the square portion of the dome is effected by an L-iron passing from outside of curb to outside of rib of dome on a line with the rafters of the roof, so that the end of the purlins rest on it. The L-iron is kept in its place by frame of T-iron struts with flat-iron diagonal ties. This frame is covered with lin. boarding, wrought on one side, and grooved and tongued with iron tongues, and covered with the same slates as other portion of roof to form a cylinder, and they are fixed in this post the glass requires from twelve to seventeen hours,

with lead rolls and flashing, and 71b. lead flat at corners formed by the octagon springing from the

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The reticello is produced by a kind of net-work, consisting of small bubbles of air inclosed within the mass, and arranged in a regular series, crossing and interlacing each other. This ornamental appearance is produced in the following manner:-A tube is made by arranging a number of small glass rods, or canna, as they are called, round a centre, so as tion by melted glass. The cylinder is then heated until the rods stick together, and are next drawn out into a long cone, and twisted spirally at the same time; this cone is next inserted into another that has been prepared in a similar manner, but twisted in the contrary direction; the two are then heated until they fuse together. Whenever the little rods cross each other a bubble of air will be enclosed in the diamond-shaped space; this occurring in a very regular manner a reticulated appearance is produced. The "filigree glass is produced in a somewhat threads of white or other coloured enamel in similar manner, but by using rods which contain

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"Society of Arts Journal."

beads are far too numerous to be enumerated here; The materials used for the production of enamel

almost

every product of the mineral kingdom might be mentioned; amongst others, gold and silver, of which considerable quantities are used. The Venetians are still in possession of the best enamel processes, and they supply the French and other nations with the best kinds of enamels of every calcined in a reverberatory furnace for about ten or possible coloured shade. The raw materials are first twelve hours, where they are kept at a red heat. Whenever the pots are worked out in the glass furnace, the "frit" is immediately transferred into them from the reverberatories in an ignited state; according to its quality, to be melted down.

The drawing out of the glass into tubes, or canna, is performed by "shifts" (muda) of six hours each. Each shift is composed of the gatherer, or maestr scagnor, who dips the end of an iron rod into the pot of inelted metal," and gathering up the requisite quantity of glass by turning the rod round and round. He then hands it over to the two assistants, or pastonieri, who roll the plastic lumps of glass on the iron plate, or marver," until it assumes a cylindrical quality of bead that is intended to be made; a cirform about 4in. in diameter, according to the cular hole is next made with an iron tool (borsella) in the direction of the axis of the cylinder, and the other assistant applies the end of a solid iron rod,

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(of smaller section than the screw) at its opposite

THE NEWARK BREECH-LOADING
BREECH-LOADING RIFLE. ends to receive a spanner and facilitate the insertion

of the screw in its socket and its withdrawal therefrom when required. The screw having been inserted for about half its length in the socket of one rod is ready to receive at its opposite end the socket of another rod which is screwed into its place or withdrawn therefrom after the ordinary manner of coupling boring tool rods.

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tipped with melted glass, called a "punto," and thus attaches it to the opposite end of the cylinder;

the two rods are then handed over to the tiratori, or

drawers, who draw the cylinder out into a small tube, in a gallery adjoining the glass house; these galleries are usually about 300ft. in length. At the end of the "shift" these tubes are cut into lengths of about 3ft. and packed into boxes, so as to be passed off to the manufactory, where they are reduced into beads. This is quite a separate business, although sometimes carried on in the same establishment as the first. During the last few months, on account of the extraordinary demand and high prices for black beads, most of the glass houses of Murano and Venice have turned their attention to the production of these glass tubes, or canna, for bead manufacturers.

(To be continued.)

In our

THE NEWARK BREECH-LOADING RIFLE. IN our notice of the late meeting of the National Rifle Association, at Wimbledon, we enumerated the breech-loaders there present. list we included that of Mr. Newark, and according to promise we now place before our readers an illustrated description of this rifle. It has often been said of the Snider rifle that the breech-block is apt to be blown open by the escape of gas from a defective cartridge. The foundation for this outcry is really very slight, and although in practice breech-blocks have been opened, it has only been partially, and no harm has resulted, owing to the form of the block. Nevertheless, the opening at all is a fault, and we ought to hail any improvement calculated to prevent its occurrence as valuable. The modification patented by Mr. Newark is intended to obviate accidents from such cause, and so far it is successful. It will be seen from fig. 1 that the striker, instead of being inclined to the axis of the barrel, as in the Snider, is in line with it. In other respects it is similar, but is retained in its place by the pin a working in the slot h. This striker is driven forward to fire the charge by means of the bolt h, also confined to its place by the pin n, and actuated by the cam q. This cam, shown also in fig. 3, is carried by the disc q fixed to the axis p of the tumbler, or, if preferred, it may be made with it in one pieee. The cock r therefore performs no part in the

firing, being only intended for use in cocking the piece. After the arm is cocked the bolt h is forced back by a spiral spring, shown in fig. 1, so that the breech-piece c may be opened. Fig. 2 shows Mr. Newark's arrangement of spring and extractor. In the Snider rifle the part d of the breech-block which slides on, the pin of the hinge is much shorter, and we believe is apt to wear and become loose. Mr. Newark lengthens it in his gun, and by a telescopic arrangement of the sliding parts, shown in dotted lines, he succeeds in protecting his spring from any external influences, and at the same time gains in the bearing surface of the breech-block.

COUPLINGS FOR BORING TOOLS.

IN coupling boring rods the common practice is to form a screw on one end of the rod and a tapped socket on the other, and to fit the screw of the one rod into the socket of the adjoining rod; the like arrangement has also been adopted for attaching the boring instrument to the coupling rod. It has, however, been found that the severe strain to which the boring apparatus is subject in working through hard ground frequently causes the screwed ends to snap at the shoulder, and thus constant expensive renewals of rods are required, besides great loss of time being incurred by the suspension of operations while the renewals are In order to avoid these difficulties, being effected. Mr. T. H. Tilley, of Queen-street, Cheapside, London, makes the coupling rods with a screwed socket at their opposite ends to receive a detached coupling screw made alike at both ends, and the stem of the bitt or boring instrument he forms with a similar screwed socket so that by inserting the screw for, say, one half of its length in one socket and screwing the socket that is to be coupled up on the other end of the screw a firm and strong coupling is obtained.

In the accompanying engraving, fig. 1 shows in section the sockets of two adjoining rods with the coupling screw in its place, and fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts detached. A and B are the tapped sockets of two coupling rods, or it may be a rod and the stem of a boring instrument, and C is the screw by which the sockets are held securely together. This screw C is formed with a cross thread, and it may be nicked at either end to enable a screwdriver to act upon it, but Mr. Tilley prefers to form the screw as shown in the engraving, with a square head

From this explanation it will be seen that the effect of the twisting strain put (when the apparatus is in work) upon rods coupled according to this invention, which has been patented, will be to draw the rods closer together and to throw the strain upon the screw C in the direction of their axis. Instead, therefore, of the boring apparatus having a tendency to break under strain at the couplings, it will be strongest at those parts.

VEGETABLE HAIR.

INDER the above title we have an invention, by UM. Werner Staufen, of 16, Rue Auber, Paris, and which has recently been patented in England. The invention consists in the manufacture of a species of vegetable hair from the fibrous material which grows through and proceeds from the bark situated near the foot of the palm known as the Levistonia chinensis, Roxb., or Latania chinensis, Jacq. The fibrous material and adherent bark as imported in the rough state being first disintegrated by an opening machine is boiled in an alkaline lye composed of from 51b. to 10lb. of soda or potash dissolved in 100 gallons of water. This operation, which occupies from half-an-hour to two hours, according to the strength of the lye, is continued until the gummy, resinous, and ligneous matters adhering to the fibres are completely removed. The material thus cleansed is exposed to the action of a mordant preparatory to its removal to the dyeing vat charged with the required colour, to which is added from 1lb. to 4lb. of oil soap for every 100lb. weight of fibre. The dyeing process being completed, the mass is dried either in the open air or artificially, and is afterwards submitted to the action of ordinary opening and combing machinery, by which the filaments are glazed and divided to the required degree of fineness. The fibrous material thus obtained is to be applied to the different purposes for which horsehair, bristles, and other kinds of hair have hitherto been employed as articles of commerce. When intended as a substitute for bristles (as, for instance, in the manufacture of brushes), the coarser fibres are selected and left straight, but when intended for stuffing and similar purposes in lieu of horsehair they are curled in the same manner as the latter, after which they are steeped in water till softened, and finally baked at a temperature of about 140deg. Fah.

WE hear that the conservators of the Cam have resolved to contribute the sum of £500 towards the works contemplated by the Cam Improvement Committee.

Correspondence.

HASTINGS DRAINAGE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE "MECHANICS' MAGAZINE."

one of the Scientific Committee, frankly admitted GENERAL CASEY, of the U. S. army, the compiler
the hemp specimens were tested in air as they came of the system of infantry tactics bearing his name,
from the makers." Now, as hemp rope will contract has, at his own request, been placed on the retired
and tighten when wet, the specimens should have list after a service of forty consecutive years. Dur-
been tested in that condition, and as the core is not ing the war, General Casey commanded a division at
so affected by contact with water, it is obvious that the battle of Fair Oaks, where, although his line wag
the contraction of the wet hemp rope envelope is a badly broken by the rebels, the General behaved
decided protection to the electric conductor. In proof with the utmost gallantry, receiving on this account
of this I have seen 100 feet of new 4in. rope cable a brevet as brigadier-general in the regular army.
made in the usual way-stretched out by hand-and
on being exposed to a few hours' rain it became so
tight as to break in the nip where it was made fast.
Now the core could not contract, nor was there any
tension upon it. The contraction of the cable
amounted to 3 per cent.; thus, 36in. of core, or say
three-cighths of an inch in every foot of the cable
lay slack in its centre. Every inch must have its fair
share of this contraction, which is an effect so im-
perceptible to the eye, and so infinitesimal is the un-
dulated form taken by the conductor in the yielding
hemp envelope, that one is disposed to exclaim, How
wonderfully has nature provided the contracting

THE double-screw iron armour-plated turret ship Company at Yarrow, one of the two vessels intended "Cerberus," building by the Palmer Shipbuilding to be stationed at Melbourne, for the protection of the Australian colonies, is ordered to be sent to Chatham, at which port she is to be fitted for service. The other vessel intended to be stationed at Melbourne is the "Nelson," 72, 2,736 tons, 500-horse

SIR, I have only to-day seen the notice of the new drainage system at Hastings, in your Magazine of the 31st ult. Allow me to say that you give me too much credit in the matter. It is true that I had a great deal to do with the plan which has been so successfully carried out, of intercepting the old drainage outlets, and carrying the sewage away from the front of the town; but whatever merit this part of the scheme may have, I can only claim to share it with the Drainage Committee of the Local Board of Health, of which, as mayor, I was chairman when the scheme was adopted. The merit of putting it into a practical shape, and of working it out to a most satisfactory completion, is due to Mr. Andrews, surveyor to the Local Board, and to Mr. Howell, the contractor, who gave up his position on the Board (of which he was hemp as a protector for the non-contracting electric and the prizes were a timepiece, a mirror, and a

an active member), to carry out the work. The utilization part of the scheme is my own private affair, jointly with Mr. G. E. Noone, with whom I have been working the last four years. The original idea was Mr. Noone's, and the system which we are working out forms the subject of two patents, both in Mr. Noone's name. It is due to the Local Board of Health to say, that they have given us every facility for carrying out our plans, and have made a grant towards the expense of connecting our works with thirs. I hope in a few weeks to give you an account of the working of Noone & Co.'s machinery for utilizing sewage as applied at Hastings.—I am, Sir,

yours, &c.,

Hastings, August 11.

JAMES ROCK.

conductor, and its insulation, as specially suitable to
deep sea telegraphy.

If this protection is so complete in a cable of the
ordinary manufacture-how much more perfect must
it be when specially made for the special purpose,
as it can so easily be done. Hemp cable being elastic
cent. in water, but when severe tension is applied,
can be so made as to break before yielding 2 per
the moment it is taken off the elastic nature of the
hemp takes it back to its natural condition. But the
iron wire elongates and so remains; it has no con-
tracting element of security, tension at once comes
upon the core and remains a tension still, which may
suap the conductor weeks after the actual strain was
applied.

Thero remains yet several important points to speak of, which will demonstrate to Mr. Smith, and your readers, still more cogent merits of the pure and simple hemp cable for deep sea telegraphs, which were endorsed by the late eminent engineer, Mr. R. Stephenson. But I fear we have already encroached too much on your valuable space. I shall be glad to continue my remarks another day. -I am, Sir, yours, &C.,

Loudon, August 10.

W. ROWETT.

J. T. DEXTER.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE is sent post-free to subscribers
of £1 Is. 8d. yearly, or 10s. 10d. half-yearly payable in
advance.

OCEAN TELEGRAPHY. SIR,-Your correspondent, Mr. Willoughby Smith, appears to be occupied with the broken Atlantic cable, and has made no reply to the letter you did me the honour to publish in your last week's number. With your permission I will now add a few words to that communication which may make the subject in its practical bearing more intelligible and satisfactory to your non-professional readers. Mr. Smith seems to imply that because the Portpatrick cable of 1852 was made of hemp, therefore hempen telegraph THE PARIS EXCURSION COMMITTEE. cables are not entitled to the privilege of a patent. SIR,-In common with the members of the Paris If this be his reasoning, a moment's reflection will, Excursion Committee, I cannot but feel somewhat I hope, satisfy him that as that cable was not pro-flattered by the very favourable mention which is tected by patent the public may copy it. But as my made in your latest impression of the volume of patent contains various important improvements on Prize Reports on "Modern Industries." Suffer me, that cable, as to the form and construction, I am, of however, to state that instead of 700, so many as course, entitled to the protection of the patent laws. 3,200 British artizans visited Paris, under the Improvement forms the foundation of all good auspices of the Committee; and that I was never at patents, whether it is in a telegraph cable or the any time secretary of the Working Men's Club and yarn by which it is made, a screw-propeller, or the Institute Union.-I am, Sir, yours, &c., iron of which it is composed. There are many Adelphi Club, W.C. patents for screw-propellers which in some degree differ as to construction, but all are made of iron, and August 12. they may be of Bessemer's, or some other patent iron. In like manner, there are many patents for telegraph cables, which may be made up of patent wire or of patent yarn. But certainly none have provided for the regulation of the specific gravity of deep sea cables, except my patent of 1858. In the same year, I published a pamphlet on the subject, and exhibited specimens of the hempen deep sea telegraph cable. The " Times," and other leading papers, then declared "the simple hemp cable was the best, after all.', Nothing has happened since then to change this opinion, but, on the contrary, everything has gone to confirm and prove the wisdom of that statement. But there are even now engineers who affirm that hemp telegraph cables, though they are consistent with light specific gravity, will elongate so much by tension, that they cannot endorse their adoption for deep sea purposes. These gentlemen, I presume, are few in number, and they have still much to unlearn. They held some time ago the doctrine of weight and pressure of water at increased depths, A. DE B. (DELPHI).-The first part of your letter has had but the living star fish which Captain McClintock our attention. To the second part we will reply by letter brought up on his sounding line from a depth of as soon as the necessary information is obtained. over 1,200 fathoms proclaimed to theso gentlemen A READER.The surplus air escapes from the diver by there was no inconvenient weight or pressure where means of a hole in the back of the helmet. they came from. Their delicate construction and J. B. R.-R.S.-M.O.-R. G.-G. J. G.-H. H. F.-R. T. S. RECEIVED.-A. de B.-R. H.-G. W. II.-S. E.-F. R. silent eloquence was another confirmation of what I-H. D. R.-J. R.-T. C.-W. R.-H. L.-J. B. T.-J. T. D. published in my pamphlet of 1858, that, as water-J. B.-G. and B.-W. II. II.—G, G.-B. A.—R. S. L.is so incompressible, it is simply impossible to press T. B.-J. H.-I. P.-W. T. F.-R. B.-B. F. C.-H. upon itself, or on what is submerged in it, though R. T.—H. R. and Co.—R. R.—S. P. T.-D. E.—F. L. it will occupy every pore that is penetrable, because of the exquisite purity of the elements. Increased

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pressure is only felt when air is carried by force to

increased depths; the antagonistic nature of the two elements is thus measured, and is daily turned to profitable account. This scholastic fallacy has been unlearned, and now we have to comprehend correctly the nature of hemp yarn before it is possible to appreciate its value in the cause of ocean telegraphy. Engineers may make the machinery with which the cable is made, but making the cable is no part of their business. They, for example, professed to have tested hemp telegraph cables, along with others, from which to choose forthe Atlantic. When all was done, and the selection made, Mr. W. Fairbairn, who was

All literary communications should be addressed to the Editor of the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. Letters relating to dressed to the publisher, Mr. R. Smiles, MECHANICS' MAGAthe advertising and publishing departments should be adZINE Office, 166, Fleet-street, London.

To insure insertion in the following number, advertisements should reach the office not later than 5 o'clock on Thursday evening.

power.

took place in a timber-pond at Bootle, near LiverAN exciting yacht race between Lilliputian craft pool, on Monday. The largest vessels were 56in. long,

for her owner.

54in. long, the fleetest of which won a silver tankard
pencil case. The second match was between yachts
42in., and 36in. long contested. There was a gentle
In the other matches vessels 48in.,
northerly breeze, which, however, was sufficient to
the auspices of the Model Yacht Club.
cause some swift sailing. The regatta was under

FRENCH soldiers of the provincial garrisons are in many places now assisting in getting in the harvest. According to the regulations, they must not receive less than one franc per day with food; the farmers must also provide them with working clothes so that the uniforms may not be injured; the travelling expenses are also at the charge of the hirer. To obtain the assistance of soldiers, an application, supported by the Prefect, has to be transmitted to the general commanding the district.

THE business of the National Artillery Association meeting at Shoeburyness was brought to a close on Friday last, when the Countess Spencer distributed the prizes to the successful artilleryists. Nothing could have been more satisfactory than the whole of the proceedings during the encampment, and the marked improvement in the gun practice of the volunteers was the theme of general praise.

Ar the late competitive trial between two Woolwich 64-pounder wrought-iron rifled guns and a 32-pounder cast-iron gun, converted to a 64-pounder rifle on the Palliser system, the wrought-iron guns burst respectively at the 2,211th and 2,273rd rounds, while the converted 32-pounder fired 2,280 rounds, and was not injured to any extent worth mentioning. The consequence of this trial has been the abandonment of the manufacture of wrought-iron 64pounders, and Sir Johu Pakington has given a heavy order to the Elswick Ordnance Company for 212 Palliser guns. The old guns are now being selected at Woolwich for transmission to Newcastle-on-Tyne; and about thirty of them have already gone. They consist of 65cwt. 8-inch shell guns, and will be converted to 61-pounder rifled cannon. These 212 guns are immediately required by the Navy, but far greater numbers are wanted for our land fortifications.

Miscellanea.

half a million.
THE railway passenger-tax is rapidly approaching
In a financial year, 1866-7, it pro-
duced £471,631; in the year 1867-8 it has advanced
to £486,142, The tax is not levied on Irish railway
companies.

We must absolutely decline attending to any communi-
cations unaccompanied by the name and address of the
faith.-ED. M. M.
writer, not necessarily for insertion, but as a proof of good
Advertisements are inserted in the MECHANICS' MAGA- A SPECIAL train leaving Pittsburgh recently on
ZINE at the rate of 6d. per line, or 5d. per line for 13 inser- the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway,
tions, or 4d. per line for 26 insertions. Each line consists ran to Chicago in twelve hours, a distance of four
of about 10 words. Woodcuts are charged at the same rate hundred and sixty-eight miles, the quickest time on
as type. Special arrangements made for large advertise-record.

ments.

ON Friday last a new market at King's-cross was formally opened. It is situated between the Great Railway, and is intended to supply the north-western Northern Terminus and the new one of the Midland occupies an acre and a-half of ground. district. Its capabilities are very considerable, as it

THE number of Cornish pumping-engines reJ.-Ported for June is 25. They have consumed 1,593 tons of coals, and lifted 12-3 million tons of water 10 fis. high. The average duty of the whole is, therefore, 52,200,000lb., lifted Ift. high, by the consumption of 112lb. of coal.

Habal, Military, and Gunnery Jiues.

THE United States' screw steam corvette "Ticonderoga," 9 guns, Capt. Wyman, from Cherbourg for Brest, put into Plymouth Sound on Saturday evening, to be fitted with Wier's atmospheric telegraph. THE "United Service Gazette" understands that Mr. E. J. Reed, the Chief Constructor of the Navy, is to receive the dignity of C.B., and that the papers have already been sent into the Treasury for a tolerably liberal sum to be granted to Mr. Reed, as a reward for his numerous important inventions and eminent services.

THE money remitted to the Chancellor of the Exchequer by sundry persons for conscience sake in the financial year 1867-8 amounted to £4,688. In the preceding year repentance produced a larger sum, £5,087, which was more than the Chancellor's salary.

duced in the financial year 1867-8, no less than THE penny stamp on receipts, draughts, &c., pro£586,964, an increase of £17,822 over the product of the preceding year. The discount and allowances exceeded £24,000, and reduced the net produce to £562,517.

MR. GEORGE ELLIOT, the well-known colliery proprietor, has just been declared president of the Institution of Mining Engineers. The post is filled by election once in every three years, and was held by the late Mr. Nicholas Wood up to the time of his death.

IN Nevada, a Mr. Hoag has a cocoonery 50ft. square and 18ft. high. His nursery and hatching room, containing 1,000 feet of shelves, are sufficient for making 2,000,000 cocoons. His nursery is heated artificially. He is now feeding nearly 1,000,000 silkworms, and he hopes soon to feed 3,000,000.

THE discovery of petroleum in Pennsylvania was followed by a mushroom growth of villages. Nearly all of these ambitious hamlets have been at one time or another devastated by fire. One of the most important, Oil City, was, on the 31st ult., nearly wiped out by a conflagration which grew from an accident in an engine house. Two hundred families were deprived of shelter.

in the smelting works of Prince Salm. The men
were on the point of running a mass of metal when
a stop-cock gave way and the fiery liquid flowed
rapidly all over the place. Some moisture being on
the ground, a thick steam immediately filled the place
and prevented the men from seeing, and in their
endeavours to escape they stumbled over various
obstacles and fell in the molten iron, burning them-
selves in a most horrible manner.
Sixteen persons
were most seriously hurt, and several of them have
already succumbed.

A LARGE quantity of nitre destined for the works of Messrs. Crosfield and Co., of St. Helens, had been discharged from the "Earnest "and loaded on four waggons for transit to St. Helens, on Tuesday week. As the waggons were being taken to the weighing machine, some sparks from the engine fell upon the bags and instantaneously ignited the inflammable material contained within them. Three of the waggons were saved with very little damage, but the fire had got too great a hold upon the fourth. All kind of cast iron, from Medelin, South America, fairly burnt out, exploding with a tremendous force was communicated. It is whitish, composed of and report, although no one was injured. Conminute scales, and of a density equal to 7.45. It is siderable damage was done to the rails and sleepers very hard, and is used for stampers to crush auri-by the burning nitre falling through the bottom of ferous quartz, probably owing to the existence of the waggon on to them. about two per cent. of chromium.

Patents for Subentions.

ABRIDGED SPECIFICATIONS OF

PATENTS.

THE Abridged Specifications of Patents given below are classified, according to the subject to which the respective inventions refer, in the following table. By the system of classification adopted, the numerical and chronological order of the specificatious is preserved and combined with all the advantages of a division into classes. It should be understood that these abridgments are prepared exclusively for this Magazine from official copies supplied by the Government, and are, therefore, the property of the warned not to produce them without an acknowledg Proprietors of this Magazine. Other papers are hereby

ment:

BOILERS AND FURNACES-319, 323
BUILDINGS AND BUILDING MATERIALS-329

Ar a recent sitting of the Academy of Sciences in
Paris, the result of an analysis of a chromiferous efforts to extinguish it proved unavailing, and it CHEMISTRY AND PHOTOGRAPHY-290, 297, 327

IT now costs £35, £40 and £50 per mile for water for the roads of Camberwell, and in order to lessen the cost trials are being made with Mr. Norton's American tube wells, such as were used in Abyssinia, in order to obtain water at the mere cost of pumping. Each well can be sunk at a cost of £1 per foot, and the inventor is so sanguine of success as to guarantee fixing and removal at os. per foot, if the results are

unsatisfactory.

THE number of visitors to the South Kensington Museum during the week ending August 8, 1868, were-On Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday (free), from 10 am to 10 p.m., 19,660; on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (admission 6d.), from 10 a.m. till 6 p.m., 1,776. National Portrait Exhibition, by payment, 3,951; total-25,061. Average of corre

CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL, including agricultural imple

ments and machines-289, 312, 314
ELECTRICAL APPARATUS-315

FIBROUS FABRICS, including machinery for treating fibre,
pulp, paper, &c.-288, 310, 318, 320
FOOD AND BEVERAGES, including the apparatus for pre-
paring food for men and animals-287
FURNITURE AND APPAREL, including household utensils,
time-keepers, jewellery, musical instruments, &c-
None.

GENERAL MACHINERY-270, 271, 272, 274, 277, 280, 281, 282,

283, 292, 294, 295, 298, 300, 301, 302, 305, 322, 224, 328, 331, 334, 335 LIGHTING, HEATING, AND VENTILATING-None. METALS, including apparatus for their manufacture— 303, 321

MISCELLANEOUS-275, 276, 278, 279, 284, 286, 291, 293, 299, ROADS AND VEHICLES, including railway plant and carriages, saddlery, and harness, &c.-296, 309, 316

304, 306, 307, 311, 313, 326, 332, 333

SHIPS AND BOATS, including their fittings-None.
STEAM ENGINES-325, 337
WARFARE-285, 308, 317

A PARLIAMENTARY return shows that at the end of 1867 there were in England eight distillers from grain and other materials; in Scotland 108 from malt only, and eight from grain and other materials; and in Ireland two from malt only and 19 from grain and other materials. The number of proof gallons of spirits on which duty was paid for home consumption during the year is thus epitomized:-In England 9,031,504 gallons, in Scotland 7,329,319 gallons, and in Ireland 6,404,354 gallons distilled from malt and grain. The rate of duty was 10s. per proof gallon throughout the United Kingdom, and the amount of duty paid was £4,515,755 in England, £3,664,660, in Scotland, and £3,202,179 in Ireland. A TANK of meat preserved by the Victorian store at Melbourne for about three monthis, and the opening of the Museum-7,626,707. THE "Pungolo" of Naples states that the coral was about being shipped to England. The tank contained about two tons of mutton. The carcases fishery by Italian, and especially Neapolitan, vessels of the sheep had been boned, slightly salted and substance of a native or natural peroxide, and so gets on the Sardinian coasts, has been exceedingly successful this season. A bank was lately discovered, spiced, rolled in linen cloths, and then packed in the ready and perfect action at first combined with great lastthe richness of which will compensate for the losses tank. The meat was thoroughly tested, and pro-ing quality and lowered cost of production.-Patent comof the early period of the year. Within twenty-able article. The portions of the carcases prepared nounced to be in excellent order, and a most market 259 J. MASON. The manufacture of fuel for household pur· four hours a few boats got up rough coral to the in this way were cut through and tasted, and the poses. Dated January 25, 1868. value of 20,000f.; and some pieces of extraordinary flavour was delicious. It is said that meat thus size were obtained.

sponding week in former years, 10,506. Total from Company has been examined. It has been lying in for purifying gas, and in treating the oxide of iron residues to

OWING to the extreme heat and dryness of the season, all the corn crops upon most farms have become ripe together. The beans had of course to be left until the white straw crops were finished, and cutting the beans in the daytime was found to shell them so much that on the farms of Messrs. Howard, of Bedford, their reaping machine has this week been kept going throughout the night, and no mishap whatever has occurred.

AUTHENTIC accounts from Queensland are to the effect that the newly-discovered goldfields at Gympie Creek, the Canning Downs, and several other places, are yielding abundantly. Many persons are said to be making rapid fortunes, and thousands of persons are securing high wages with the usual splendid chances which make gold-digging so exciting to the imagination. Some very fine specimens of silver ore have also been found near Rockhampton, a populous town in Queensland, lying considerably north of the capital, Brisbane.

had retired to rest.

THE hill of Antelao, which hangs over several villages of Cadore, and was always an object of terror to the villagers, gave way on the evening of the 27th of July, when several of the inhabitants heat of the weather melted the snow on the mounIt is supposed that the great tain, and that the water washed away the small support of the masses of overhanging rock. In a brief space eleven persons were buried under the ruins of their houses, and more than 60 families are rendered homeless.

ACCORDING to the latest official return (1862), there were in the United Kingdom 6,378 textile factories, of which 5,652 were situated in England and Wales, 560 in Scotland, and 158 in Ireland. There were in these factories 36,450,000 spindles, 490,866 power looms, 230,546 power loom weavers, and 2,163 gigs; the total amount of power being 375,292 horses steam and 29,339 water. The hands employed in these were 775,534, of whom 467,261 were females.

THE last thing out in the shape of agricultural enterprise is a project set on foot by a speculative Milanese, who, after a long residence in Africa, has turned up at Florence, and is endeavouring to form a company for the reclamation and cultivation of the Desert of Sahara, which he asserts can easily be done by digging artesian wells in the sand! This enterprising individual does not appear to be yet acquainted with the value and effectiveness of Norton's American tube well, or he would never think of artesian wells.

The "Fremdenblatt" of Vienna gives an account of a sad accident which has just happened at Blansko,

cured can be lauded in London markets at such a
price as to give the shopkeepers a fair profit if
retailed at 5d. per lb.

257 T. L. G.BELL. Improvements in preparing oxide of iron obtain products therefrom. Dated January 24, 1868.

The patentee obviates various difficulties by freshly precipitating a certain quantity of iron throughout the

pleted.

known by the name of duff, together with either pitch By the proper admixture of small coals, and what is or tar, a composition is formed which is then tightly pressed into oval and round blocks, or into various shapes.

-Patent abandoned.

260 J. M. LEWIS.

watches, purses, or other valuables, when worn or carried in An improved apparatus for securing pockets. Dated January 25, 1868.

A RETURN has been published of the public statues, or public monuments, in London belonging to the nation, exclusive of those in palaces other This invention consists in a small double pointed than St. Stephen's Hall, or in other parts of the flexible fastener, which is passed through the lining of the Palace of Westminster, or cathedrals, and now pocket in which it is used, and the two points are then under charge of the Commissioner of Works, spe-separated and pressed down, which operation secures the apparatus to the person. The above-mentioned fastener cifying the dates of the erections and names of artists, is fitted on the inside with a small movable spring clip of and from what funds purchased or erected. The wire or other suitable material, on to which a watch or statues are those of Sir J. M'Grigor at Chelsea purse or other articles may be hooked. It is so constructed Hospital, Sir John Franklin at Carlton-house-terrace, that it allows of the article being easily hooked on to it, Sir C. Barry, Westminster Palace, and King James but not detached without carefully removing it through I., Charles I., Charles II. (in plaster), William III., the opening of the spring clip.-Patent abandoned. George IV., and William IV. The last five are in Westminster Hall and described as "unfinished." The statues of Sir John M-Grigor and Sir Charles Barry were paid for by public subscriptions; the others by parliamentary grants.

On Friday last a piece of iron ore was dug out of the bottom of the shaft, which is 74ft. deep, at Mr. Brown's iron mine, near Brixham, Devon, and on breaking it there crept out a lizard, six inches long, Not less singular than the foregoing was a discovery the belly yellow and the back of a brownish colour: made by us the other day. Cutting a piece of bread

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We cannot here give space to the details of this invention.-Patent completed.

262 J. and T. A. BOYD. Improvements in winding machines, and partly applicable to other machines requiring varying motions, and in pirns or yarn holders and shuttles. Dated January 25. 1868.

This invention relates to winding machines, and to amongst other things, various improved contrivances for

obtaining varying motions in such machines, which conpirms or yarn holders and shuttles, and comprises, trivances are applicable for obtaining similar motions in

other machines.-Patent abandoned.

263 C. KILBURN. Improvements in the construction of life and swimming belts, jackets, waistcoats, and buoys. Dated January 25, 1868.

in two at dinner, we cut a cockroach in halves across
the shoulders. To our surprise, the fore part of the
insect freed itself, and walked four inches from its
prison, turning on its back and struggling until we
The patentee claims the construction of life and swim-
despatched it. This is certainly remarkable, consi-
dering it had passed through the baking ordeal of theming belts, jackets, waistcoats, and buoys of a series of
compartments filled with corks, by preference waste
bread. The contents of the cockroach's body were bottle corks, substantially as described.-Patent com-
of a bright green instead of the usual whitish colour.pleted.
The bread was two days old.

This invention relates, first, to improvements in the me

264 C. E. BROOMAN. Improvements in breech-loading fireTHE industrial and commercial progress of Ireland arms, and in the manufacture of ammunition for the same. has ever been much impeded through the comparative (A communication.) Dated January 25, 1868. absence of fuel adapted for the generation of steam, for chanism of breech-loading needle guns; and, second, to although peat exists in abundance, its bulkiness has the manufacture or preparation of a priming for the cartprecluded its use as a steam fuel, except in the imme-ridges of these guns. We cannot here give space to the diate vicinity of the bogs. A discovery, however, is details of the invention.-Patent abandoned. now reported, which, if proved to be of the vast importance at present attached to it, will bring about an important change in Irish industry. It appears that at Clones, in county Monaghan, a petroleum deposit has just been opened upon, offering indications quite as favourable as those which led to the development of the enormous oleaginous wealth of Pennsylvania. Sufficient time has not yet elapsed for the value of the spring to be ascertained, but the results of further researches are looked forward to with the greatest interest

265 C. RITCHIE. Improvements in apparatus for utilizing heat for heating, warming, and ventilating, whether such heat be procured by the agency of steam boilers, furnaces, or from other sources. Dated January 25, 1863. present patentee, dated September 23, 1867 (No. 2674). This invention relates to a former patent granted to the We cannot here give space to a description of the invention-Patent completed.

266 T. ROBINSON. Improvements in the formation or con

struction of fortifications. Dated January 25, 1868.

This invention consists in forming or constructing fortifications or defences on land of large heavy masses of

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