THE

MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. that, as yet, all commercial countries have as well as to that of weights and measures.

LONDON: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1868.

One of the primary difficulties to be blue book of the Royal Commission, but its encountered in the establishment of an inter- general tendency is unquestionably favournational system of coinage lies in the fact able to the internationalization of the coinage, not attained to a uniformity of standards. It may be that at a future time we shall recur In some, gold is the principal medium of trade, and in others silver. This involves an awkward complication and complexity in itself. To maintain the two metals at a steady relationship in value to each other is almost beyond the range of possibility. The prob

to the whole subject, for there can be little doubt that if fearlessly grappled with by competent and unprejudiced minds, the seeming difficulties in the way of its practical realization will disappear like morning mists in the sunlight. With the facts before us that "there

GE

BOTTLED SUNSHINE.

INTERNATIONAL COINAGE. T is greatly to be regretted that the Royal ment of the present year, was appointed to more diffused, the gold standard will prevail, have legalized the obligatory or permissive inquire into, and report upon, the practi- and thus one important step towards inter- use of the international system of metric cability or otherwise of instituting an inter-nationalism will have been gained. The main weights and measures, and about 100,000,000 national system of coinage, has adjourned its problem now to be worked out is to bring into of people who have adopted an international sittings sine die, without arriving at any complete harmony and to unitize the three prin- currency," we are compelled to agree with tangible conclusion. After numerous and cipal moneys of the world, namely, the sove- Mr. J. B. Smith, one of the members of the lengthy consultations, and the elicitation of reign, the dollar, and the franc. Let these only Commission, that the Government of Engvoluminous evidence from the authorities of be brought into exact relationship with each land will incur a great responsibility if it let European, American, and Indian mints, the other, and the work of internationalization slip the opportunity of responding to the Commission frankly admits that although the will be well nigh done. To this momentous, desire which the world expresses for unithing is very desirable, there seems to it to be yet comparatively simple, issue, the defunct formity. insuperable obstacles in the way of establishing Commission does not appear to have given anything like a uniform metallic currency in sufficient attention. The sovereign is already Europe-at least, at present. The whole ques- familiarized, if not naturalized, everywhere, tion is thus absolutely relegated to the same un- and it may be said to regulate the exchanges satisfactory position which it occupied before of the world. The dollar, which derived its EORGE STEPHENSON the Commission was called into existence to name from the Austrian thaler, more than once asked, "What is the power that drives a railattempt its solution, and the public who ex- three centuries ago, subsequently found a way train? Receiving no satisfactory pected an affirmative answer at its hands local habitation in Spain, and afterwards in answer, he replied to his own question, "The receive only a negative blue book. With Spanish America and the United States. It light of the sun-light bottled up in the earth every desire to yield credit to the Commis- has now a firm footing in China and Japan, for tens of thousands of years-light absorbed sioners for industry and perseverance in the whilst to the merchants of London its title by plants and vegetables, being necessary for execution of a laborious task, it is incumbent is familiar as a household word. The inter- the condensation of carbon during the proon us to say that they have actually retarded mediate value of the dollar between the cess of their growth, if it be not carbon in rather than expedited the accomplishment of sovereign and the franc gives it, to some another form, and now, after being buried in a great work, which, nevertheless, must extent, an advantage over both-at least, as a the earth for long ages in fields of coal, that speedily be consummated, because it is an money of account. The franc rests upon a latent light is again brought forth and absolute necessity of the time. Royal Commis- more scientific base than either of its compe- liberated, made to work, as in the locomotive, sions have too often served the unhappy pur- titors, and has obtained great favour through- for great human purposes." The philosophical pose of shelving vital questions rather than out the principal nations of Europe. At mind of George Stephenson, unaided by theosolving them satisfactorily, and of relieving Berlin, the Commercial Congress now sitting retical knowledge, rightly saw that coal was the Legislature of onerous duties without there decided in its favour yesterday. The the embodiment of power originally derived themselves performing them. It would be new revolutionary Government of Spain has from the sun. Substitute for the coal a tank, easy to cite notable instances corroborative of also decreed that the franc, or a coin equiva- a reservoir, a receiver, a cucumber frame, or this assertion, but the fact, unfortunately, is lent to it, shall henceforth be the unit of something like it, with condensing machinery too well known to need the adducement of value in that country. The French decimal attached, and an hour or so for the ages reany such confirmatory evidence. Regarding system, singularly enough, was also intro-ferred to by Stephenson, and we have in effect the individual composition of the International duced under the auspices of a revolutionary what is promised by Captain Ericsson, the Coinage Commission, better results than usual regime,* which has frequently the merit of inventor of the hot-air engine, and whose might have been predicted from its conferences; using no red tape to hamper its movements. name is so intimately connected with the but, alas! it has proved no exception to the It is clear that the three moneys named will monitor system. Yes, if all be true, we rule, and henceforth it will be numbered with continue to exist as rivals, if they be not are to have a revolution in the means of the long list of its abortive predecessors. made, as they may easily be made, fast obtaining motive power-the realization, The advantage of assimilating the coinage friends. in fact, of the dream of many a philoof Europe with that of Great Britain is so So long back as 1862, the director of the sopher, the realization of an idea older than manifest, that discussion upon the point United States Mint sketched out a plan for Christianity itself. But before commenting seems perfectly unnecessary. It is impos- effecting the desirable agreement between upon this startling announcement, let us see sible that any one, whether commercially en- them, and the Paris Conference of last year how the matter stands. Captain Ericsson, it gaged or otherwise, who has travelled on the accepted it. This arrangement was in sub-appears, has written a letter to a Swedish Continent, can have escaped inconvenience or stance as follows:-A French coin of 25 university-that of Lund-in which he refers avoided annoyance from the diversity of the francs is worth in the existing currency of to a wonderful apparatus for the condensametallic currency which now prevails. The America, 4 dollars 82.5 cents, whilst a newly tion of the sun's rays, which are to be utilized trading communities of the United Kingdom minted British sovereign is worth 4 dollars in the production of motive power. It apand of Europe are subjected to something 86-7 cents. Here, then, there are pretty near pears that Captain Ericsson has been for far more serious than mere annoyance. Loss approaches, not only to those two coins, but the last few years carrying out experiments of time and of money are at present the in- also to the 5-dollar piece. Supposing them with the view of ascertaining whether the evitable attendants upon international trade. all fashioned upon the French basis, the new sun's rays could be so condensed as to become Next in importance to the varying languages sovereign would be brought down by 4-2 cents, a practical means of producing a motive of the different states is, undeniably, the and the new 5-dollar piece by 17-2 cents. power. He tells us that Sir John Herschel's varying systems of coinage, of weights, and The shilling in money of account would thus and M. Pouillet's well-known experiments for of measures. Those inseparable companions, be equivalent to 25 cents, and the franc to calculating the influence of the sun's rays, commerce and civilization, aided largely by 20 cents. By this method a definite relation- however interesting, were of little use to him. their faithful minister, steam, are gradually ship would be established also with the new Referring as they do to low temperatures extending their beneficent sway. By their gold coinage systems of Prussia, Austria, the only, they merely show what quantity of ice agencies, the peoples of every clime and or atatag and Italy the lira of be melted or of water heated within a the most diverse habits and modes of think- which is in unison already with the franc of Certam number of degrees below Dong pot ing and acting, are daily being brought, as it France. In this case, the weight of the by means of the sun's rays; whereas Captain were, closer together, and it is the bounden American half-eagle would be 124 9-20 grains, Ericsson's inquiries were directed to the induty of the statesman and the legislator to instead of 120 grains, as at present. From vestigation of the amount of heat produced facilitate in every possible way friendly com- these considerations it will be seen that to by the condensation of the rays and their munications between all sections of the make the sovereign, the dollar, and the franc concentration on a comparatively small superhuman family. It might be considered harmonize, little is required besides harmony ficies. Captain Ericsson has also endeaUtopian were we to express an opinion that on the part of the Legislatures of the three voured to discover the best means of effecting eventually a universal language will be spoken; great countries to which they pertain. this condensation, and with this view he has but assuredly the day will come, and is not constructed three machines, which he calls distant, when a system of coinage shall exist, sun machines, for the creation of his new the details of which will be understood motive power. One of these, we are told, readily by the inhabitants of the civilized is worked by steam, which is produced b globe. condensation of the sun's rays; the two others

It is scarcely possible, in the limited space at our disposal, to summarize the mass of evidence accumulated in the pages of the

That of the notorious Maximilian Robespierre.

DR. LIVINGSTONE.
T must be a matter of unalloyed gratifica-

are set in motion by the expansive power of with condensing apparatus and sun machines that light is again brought forth and liberated, atmospheric air, heated by condensed rays. "Let one-half the surface," says he, "be made to work, as in those 64,800 engines of We are not favoured with any description occupied by buildings, roads, &c., and we have 100-horse power each, for purposes which you of these sun machines-doubtless, from pru- still 648,000,000 square feet free for our pur-may, if you will only have faith in me, one dential motives-although Captain Ericsson pose (2ft. Swedish equal to 0.593 metre.) day understand." only excuses himself on account of want of Now, as my condensing apparatus has demonspace. This excuse might be accepted from strated 100 square feet to be amply sufficient us, whose pages are not constructed on the for the production of 1-horse power, it follows expansive principle, and will not hold more that 64,800 steam engines of 100-horse power than a given quantity, pack and cram as we each can be worked with the rays thrown on will. But of an inventor, with reams of a Swedish square mile." Archimedes, having I must ball, to learn that the predictions paper at his disposal, and immortal fame in calculated the force of the lever, explained of our veteran geographer, Sir Roderick his eye, we should have expected better that he could move the earth from its position. Murchison, as to Dr. Livingstone's return, are things or better excuses. Why have stopped Captain Ericsson asserts that by condensing likely to be verified, and that, too, apparently short just as we were upon the tiptoe of ex- the rays of the sun a force could be created within a very short time. Sir Roderick has pectation? These sun machines, and the that might arrest the earth in its course. just received letters from Dr. Kirk, of Zanapparatus for the condensation of the sun's Touching upon the coal question, Captain zibar, dated August 18th and 30th, which conrays, and for generating the requisite degree Ericsson refers to the probable exhaustion of vey the welcome intelligence that the Doctor of heat, have all been constructed, and yet our coal fields, observing that in a thousand had received, through an Arab messenger, we are not even informed as to their general years or so there will be no coal left in Europe short letters from Dr. Livingstone, written principle, much less as to their details. We, unless the sun be put in requisition. He at Marungu and Cazembe, places which lie to however, pass on to what we next have carefully provides against the contingency of the S. and S.S.W. of Lake Tanganyika. vouchsafed to us, and these are experimental cloudy days by observing that although the These letters, which are but brief, were results and generalities. Captain Ericsson rays of the sun are often prevented from written in October and December last year, states that from his experiments he knows reaching us, yet, with such a large magazine and afford intelligence which satisfactorily that at the temperature required for steam whence fuel may be obtained without labour accounts for the delays that have occurred engines and caloric machines the action of or transport to draw upon, "experienced since Dr. Livingstone wrote to Sir Roderick the sun on a superficies of 10ft. square, engineers will have no difficulty in laying up Murchison and others from a more southern assisted by his apparatus, can evaporate 489 a store against the rainy day. A large por-latitude, in February, 1867. It appears that cubic inches of water per hour. The im- tion of the earth's surface is, moreover, the great explorer has been living during portance of this fact, says he, can scarcely illuminated by an ever-unclouded sun. The three months with friendly Arabs and waiting be over-estimated. It proves the presence area over which the sun machine can work for the close of a native war before proceedof an amount of heat sufficient to lift 35,000lb. may, therefore, be regarded as equally uning on his way to Ujiji, and he told the Arab at the rate of a foot a minute, which is rather limited as the amount of force that can be messenger that after exploring Lake Tanmore than 1-horse power. (100lb. Swedish generated." ganyika he intended to return to Zanzibar. are equal to about 85lb. English.) We have now come to the close of this ex- This is the first announcement from himself Captain Ericsson goes on to say:-"Astraordinary letter, and the first thing which that he intended to quit Africa by that route, an indisputable proof of the capacity of the occurs to us is to question the authenticity and it confirms the suggestion made long ago sun to produce heat, this result is, perhaps, of of the production. This arises from its utter to the Royal Geographical Society by Sir R. greater importance than any other physical vagueness, and the absence of all practical Murchison. Dr. Kirk's letters must be highly truth admitting of practical demonstration. point-features we should not expect to cha- satisfactory to the friends of our great If we consider that the mean distance from racterize a letter from Captain Ericsson. traveller, inasmuch as they make known that the centre of the sun to the superficies of the But we have no real doubt of its genuine- provisions, medicines, letters, and informaearth is 214.44 times greater than the radius ness, of which there is internal as well as tion had been sent to meet Livingstone at of the sun, we easily find by squaring this collateral evidence. The conclusion Ujiji, and that he was aware of their being figure that a single square foot of the sun's arrive at respecting its contents is that it so sent. Dr. Kirk also reminds Sir R. Mursuperficies must heat 45,984 square feet of states what might be rather than what is. Itchison that when Livingstone went on this our planet. In other words, given equal is, in effect, the discussion of an ancient expedition (and he has not received any Eurosuperficies, the sun emits 45,984 times more theory revived without one atom of evidence pean news since) he was unacquainted with heat than the earth receives. Coupling this to show that it has been or can be carried out the discovery of Baker, and the southern exwith what has gone before, we may therefore in practice. Captain Ericsson's statement of tension of Lake Albert Nyanza towards the conclude that an area of ten square feet on results we feel bound to disbelieve until we Tanganyika. But as the map of Baker has the sun's disc is enough to work a steam have their details, or some more tangible also been transmitted to Ujiji, Livingstone engine of 45,984-horse power, which, un- evidence of the method of their accomplish-will, Sir Roderick observes, at once see that der ordinary circumstances, would requirement than is at present vouchsafed us. That

we

it was more than ever incumbent on him to

100,000lb. of (Swedish) coal per hour. This there is some remote possibility of utilizing try to solve the great problem of the Nilotic calculation, far from over-estimating the the sun's rays, for the purpose of producing watershed of Africa, by determining whether amount of heat generated by the sun, falls motive power, we feel bound to admit, but these great lakes are united or separated by far below the real quantity. More than half Captain Ericsson has not said enough-or, high lands, and, if separated, by ascertaining the heat is lost during the passage of the rather, he has said too much-to allow us to into what river system Tanganyika discharges rays through the atmosphere and the con- concede to him the honour and credit of hav-its surplus waters. The information now to densing apparatus. Accordingly, the actual ing realized the idea, and of having developed hand confirms the telegraphic news which left quantity of heat generated within the con- the solar engine into an accomplished fact. Bombay on October 3; for after Livingstone fined area mentioned is equal to that which It is really too much to ask the world, credu- quitted the southern end of Tanganyika, he would be produced by rather more than lous as it is, to believe in the existence and will have had about ten months to explore the 200,000lb. of (Swedish) coal. The human working of no less than three of these ma- whole course of that lake, and afterwards to mind cannot conceive the intensity of a pro- chines, without one word of explanation as find his way to the sea coast. It should be cess of combustion represented by such an to principle or construction, and it is an borne in mind that the ordinary post from extraordinary consumption of coal; still less insult to science that such statements should Zanzibar, whether by the Seychelles or the can it realize the nature and immense quantity be thus heralded forth in its name. Let Cape, usually takes six weeks or more to of the burning material producing this effect. Captain Ericsson give a clear and intelligible reach England; hence, if Dr. Livingstone What must be the sun's fuel when such an description of the means by which he effects reaches that place in a week after the deparenormous heat is being perpetually main- his object, and a statement of the practical ture of the steamer which carried the news tained on the entire surface of a globe, the results, and we shall be able to believe him. to Trincomalee, some weeks may probably diameter of which is about a hundred times In the meantime, we refuse to accept him as elapse before we can know of his arrival at larger than the earth's." 2431 dan gue to pet Captains Bivaly this comicion to the University Murchison, in a letter from which we have the inventor of the solar engine, and can Zanzibar. He may, indeed-says Sir Koderick mind that without any very extensive appli- of Lund as a windbag from which a prick of gathered our facts-bring the news himself, cation of the condensing apparatus, a force the pen will readily let out the sunshine, or and enable his admiring countrymen to give sufficient for practical purposes can be ob- moonshine, whichever it may be. We can him a hearty welcome before Chsistmas. We tained. Calculations which he has just com- imagine the gallant Captain standing on the sincerely trust he will. pleted have satisfied him that if the sun's rooftops of Philadelphia and asking, "What rays now wasting themselves on the house is the power that drives those 64,800 engines roofs of Philadelphia were condensed, they of 100-horse power each?" and receiving no might be used to set 5,000 steam engines, satisfactory answer from the gaping Boeotians each of 20-horse power, in motion. One of around hiin, replying,-"The light of the the remarkable peculiarities of this new force sun-light bottled up in my receiver for five tion, with the view of obtaining good_and is that it can be obtained without occupying minutes-light absorbed by my reflectors and cheap gas. Legislative enactments have been ground put to other useful purposes. As an deflectors, gathered from a Swedish square framed to promote the views of the public, instance, Captain Ericsson supposes a Swedish mile of area, and now, after being confined and are now taking effect. Gas companies square mile (equal to 49 English) covered in my condensers for three hundred seconds, have kicked against interference with what

GAS FROM BITUMEN. ONSIDERABLE stir has been made of late by those interested in gas consump

CONSI

R

was, in some cases, a very comfortable mono-
poly, instead of showing a good intention
towards the public by improving and cheapen-
ing the material they supplied them with.
That the means of doing this are within
reach, and that there are more ways of making
gas than one, are facts which have long since
been demonstrated, but which never appear
to have been acted upon by any of the com-
panies. In our first number for the present
year, we printed an interesting report from
Dr. Anderson, on the gas-producing quality
of Trinidad petroleum or bitumen. This re-
port was supplemented by a letter from Mr.
H. P. Stephenson, C.E., the well-known gas
engineer, in which it is stated that a mixture
of the bitumen with coal-producing gas of low
illumination, is very marked. A mixture of
20 per cent. of bitumen with 80 per cent. of
Lord Belhaven's main coal, distilled at a red
heat, produced 9,072 feet of 14-candle gas.
Thus a coal which is unfit for the production
of gas when carbonized alone is rendered
useful. In the early part of the year, too,
some experiments were carried out at the
Woolwich Arsenal Gas Works, with mixtures
of coal and bitumen. It was reported that
at these trials a mixture of 25 parts of bitu-
men and 75 of coal yielded at the rate of
9,856 feet to the ton of 20-candle gas. It was
estimated that the cost of such gas to the
consumer, the materials being furnished re-
spectively at 32s. and 16s. per ton, would not
exceed 3s. 7d. per 1,000 feet of gas sold.
A long series of trials on a manufacturing
scale were also directed to be made by the
Gas Committee of the City Corporation of
London to ascertain the value of bitumen
when thus used. The experiments were con-
ducted by Professor Frankland, Mr. Hughes,
C.E., and Mr. Stephenson, C.E. The trials
extended over many weeks, and the report
made by those gentlemen was most favour-
able. It showed conclusively that when
the raw materials were supplied at the
prices we have named, 20-candle gas could be
sold at a large profit at 3s. 7d. per 1,000 feet.
Professor Odling has also made a series of la- If the assumptions made in theory could be
boratory experiments upon the use of bitumen carried out in practice, the continuous girder
for gas purposes, with highly favourable re- would be adopted in every multispan bridge.
sults. Other eminent men have also made trials, But, unfortunately, this is not the case, and
which resulted most favourably. But not- the divergence between the two depends so
withstanding all this, we do not seem to make much upon the number of spans in the bridge,
any practical progress in the matter, or, if we the relative proportion between the dead and for x are x =—,
do, the public are not reaping any benefit live weight, or fixed and rolling load, and
from it. The discovery-if we can call it other circumstances, that there is a great
such-however, is young, and may require deal of uncertainty respecting the manner in case, M =
some little development before it can be which the various parts of the structure will
satisfactorily carried out in practice. But be ultimately affected. Without entering into
the economy of its results have so direct a
bearing upon the public weal that the matter
ought at once to be investigated in proper
quarters, and pushed on to that commercially
successful issue which appears inevitable from
the adoption of the system.

an intricate and abstruse mathematical investigation of all the points in a girder that are differently affected by the distribution of the load, we may briefly call attention to a few of the more prominent, which will suffice to explain the nature of their action. Let us take the simplest description of a lattice girder, in which there is but one series of EFFECT OF THE POSITION OF triangulation. We select this example in THE LOAD UPON CONTINUOUS preference to that of a plate girder, as it is better adapted to display the manner in which GIRDERS. No. I. the web is acted upon by the load. It is, THEORETICALLY, the advantages con- moreover, the theoretical prototype of the nected with what is known as the con- lattice form, and constitutes the basis upon tinuous principle of horizontal girders have which all calculations respecting it are been long since recognized by the profession. founded. What is true for the flanges of a Yet the continuous principle cannot be said single triangulated girder usually termed a to have become universally acknowledged in Warren girder" to ator true for those of a every instance where a bridge exceeds the lattice beam having any number of series of thence to bar 2, and from it to the lower flange limits of a single span as practically and triangulations. The strains that are found at the support A. The strain upon all those economically that which should be adopted. to act upon the bars of the web of a "Warren bars will, therefore, be equal, and as the If we take as examples the three modern railway bridges over the Thames, constructed upon the type of the horizontal girder, namely, the Charing Cross, Blackfriars, and Cannon-street bridges, we find that but one of these, the last mentioned. embodies the principle in question. To what is this reluctance to adopt the dictates of theory to be attributed? Is it owing to a want of appreciation of what is scientifically correct on the part of our engineers, or is it that what is

girder" only require to be divided by the
number of series of triangulations in the
lattice beam to give the strain upon each in-
dividual diagonal bar. Before proceeding to
the subject of the continuous girder, it will
be instructive to select an instance of a beam
having a single span, as represented in fig. 1.
The case may be considered generally under
three different conditions of load,-firstly, is given by the simple formula
when the load is stationary, and placed at the
centre of the girder; secondly, when the load We thus at once perceive that there is no

similarity between the strains produced upon the flanges and the web under the same conditions of loading- a fact that should be paid attention to. With a fixed load at the centre, the strains upon the diagonal bars are all equal, and represented by the equation already given. But although they are equal in intensity, their character varies according to the position of each bar. Thus the strain on bars 1 and 2 is of a compressive nature, while that upon 3 and 4 is tensile in character. It is easy to perceive that they change with every alternate bar, and this would be the case if instead of four there were any number of diagonals between the centre of the girder

W

―

2

and the abutment. The load is finally transferred to the abutment by means of the upright bar to which the diagonal 4 is connected at its upper extremity. In practice, this upright should be constructed of some very stiff section of iron, such as tee or channel iron. The latter section is admirably adapted, in consequence of its great rigidity, for the purpose. The bars 1 and 2, which are under a compressive strain, are termed struts, in contradistinction to 3 and 4, which, being acted upon by a tensile strain, are called

ties.

The next case to be investigated is that of a uniformly distributed load, represented in fig. 2, and we have the same problem to be solved, namely, the position of the maximum and minimum strain upon the flanges and also upon the web. Where the open web girder is selected as the type for illustration, the uniformly distributed load is usually regarded as situated upon the apices of the triangles, and consequently divided into as many distinct parts as there are triangles. In this instance, the number of triangles is four, and therefore the total load is divided into four parts arranged as shown in the figure. It must be borne in mind that half one of these separate weights is placed upon the junction of the last bar with the end of the girder, and therefore exerts no action upon any part of it. Employing the same notation as before, the strain upon either of the flanges at any point P, dividing the span into segments m and n, is given by the equa

tion S =

n are m

W x m x n
The limits of m and
2 x D x L

L

n=- and m, or n= 0. In the 2 former case, by substituting this value in the W x L formula S= = 8 × D

and in the latter S = o.

The maximum strain in the flanges from a uniformly distributed load occurs therefore at the centre, and the minimum at the ends, similarly to the case of a single load situated at the centre.

THE

tional guarantee. The early cessation of sig-
nals through this line soon after it was sub-
merged, and its subsequent abandonment, are
still fresh in the memories of all; and may we
not suppose that the matter is always kept
fresh in the Government mind by the con-
stant reappearance in the accounts of the
dividend their unconditional guarantee compels
them to pay. We need hardly be surprised,
then, at the Government declining to have
anything to do with a deep sea submarine line
for the present.

The erection of lines in Persia and through
Turkey in Asia, and the laying of submarine
cables through the Persian Gulf, are evidences
of the activity of the Government. The land
lines through Persia and Turkey are alterna-
tive; a portion of the submarine cable in the
Gulf will be duplicated, and a portion, again,
will have a duplicate in the shape of a land
line; so that even by the present route we
have two existing lines to India, thus reduc-
ing delay a great deal. Of the satisfactory
nature of these lines and their working it is
only necessary to state that of the various
messages received from India during the past
month, the time of their transmission has
been on the average a little more than a day,
and many have arrived from various parts

of India in a few hours.

trust not, two cables hors de combat, withou
any appreciable delay to communication. So
it should be with regard to our telegraphs to
India. The importance of our possessions and
relations out in the East is growing more and
more every day, and the time has really now
approached when we should do something
towards perfecting our communication with
the East, and render, if possible, any tele-
graphic interruption less likely than at pre-
sent. A really good and extra alternative
line direct to India itself is what is required,
and to fulfil the necessary conditions we can-
not look better than to the line lately brought
forward by the Anglo-Indian Telegraph
Company, but dropped again on account of
the want of confidence by the money market
in things in general. Renewed confidence in
telegraphic lines, and especially with regard
to deep sea submarine cables, is one of the re-
sults of the successful laying of the 1866 cable,
and of the wonderful success in recovering the
cable of the previous year.
So with regard
to the project of a deep sea cable from Suez
down the Red Sea to Aden, and from there
again direct to Bombay. We believe that it
will be as readily taken up as was the other
day the deep sea cable from Malta to
Alexandria, the successful submersion of
which we announced last week.

The

There is yet another line in course of rapid The route from England to India would construction, to which we have on more than then be by France to Susa, on the Italian one occasion called the attention of our frontier, to Modica in Sicily, by a land_line readers, which will again form an extra means belonging to the Anglo-Mediterranean Comof communication between England and the pany, from there to Malta, thence to Alexsubmarine cables of the Persian Gulf. This andria, and on to India via Aden and Bombay. line is known as the Indo-European, and is As far as Alexandria this line may be looked being erected by the Messrs. Siemens. The upon as throughout its length in duplicate, concessions from the various governments and it is only after passing Suez that an inthrough whose territories the line passes, terruption could be of consequence. were obtained, in some measure, by the influ- difficulties of laying a cable down the Red ence of our Government; so it will be per-Sea may now, by means of our superior knowceived that they are not so inactive as some ledge of the sea, and our greater experience, people would have them. This Indo-European really be said to offer but little weight in the line is a double line from London through scale. Prussia, Russia, and Persia to Teheran, where The question of "Existing and Projected. it joins the Indian system. It may be called Routes to India" has been considered in a almost purely an aerial line, for it has only pamphlet by Sir James Anderson, managing two submarine cables, both in shallow water, director of the Anglo-Mediterranean Comthe one across the North Sea and the other pany, and the deep sea line via the Red Sea along the shores of the Black Sea. When this and Aden is strongly recommended and supIndo-European line is completed, which will ported by him, but we think that his case be about the middle of next year, we shall would have appeared better and more plauthen possess the following lines of communi-sible if he had not occupied so much of his cation to India via the duplicate route in the space in running down the existing lines. Persian Gulf:-The existing Turkish and Our remarks have been made after a perusal European line from Fao through Bagdad, of the above pamphlet, and have been formed Constantinople, &c., to England; the Russo- from our previous knowledge of the subject, Persian line via Teheran and St. Petersburg; and the public view we take of telegraphic and the Indo-European line via Teheran, communication, and we are irresistibly brought Crimea, Poti, to Nordeney, the one we bave to this conclusion that our interests in India just been referring to. The major portion will be better served by increased telegraphic of these three routes are principally land communication; that although our present lines, and with the winter storms and hurri- lines and those in course of construction afford canes, with snow, and a conflict of elements, us great facilities of telegraphic correspondit is possible that at some one time we may ence, yet these facilities will be greatly inhave all the lines suffering from an interrup-creased, and our chances of interruptions tion of communication, although the number rendered less likely, by the carrying out of a of alternative routes reduces the chances of new line to India direct via the Red Sea and total interruption considerably; yet it must be acknowledged that with so great a length of exposed line-frequently in places difficult of access-a total interruption of communication is not only possible but prol able.

Indian Ocean. Viewing the question in the above light, we have brought before our readers the subject of "Telegraphs to India."

IT is stated in the "Courier du Pas de Calais'

TELEGRAPHS TO INDIA. HIS is a subject that is always being brought before the public, and we may rely upon it that, so long as our telegraphic communications with our East Indian posses- No system of telegraphic communication that the works on the model of the Channel Bridge sions are in their present condition, so long with any place can be considered as approach-have been progressing with great activity, and that Will this question occupy the public mind. ing perfection until the chances of interrup- the shareholders were invited to witness the proveedThe Government have been que aшing, some important experiments having taken are faced wa miulmum. Take, for in-place in illustration of M. Boutet's system. The madverted upon for their inaction in the stance, communication with America. Since power of resistance of a single wire of cables and of matter, but usually these feelings have pro- the laying of the cable in 1866, we have had ceeded from people either badly informed or constant communication with New York-not from those whose feelings were strongly only constant, but rapid. Two cables have been biassed. When the original Red Sea route doing the work. On three occasions one cable was projected for placing us in communication was broken down; the alternative one did the with India via Alexandria and Suez, and by work. But if any accident had happened to a series of long submarine cables down the that cable, then we should have felt that our Red Sea, up the Arabian coast to Kurrachee, communication was by no means perfect. the Government were so much interested in The submergence next year of the French the matter, and looked upon speedy commu-Atlantic cable will place our American comnication with India so important, that they munication in a more perfect condition, for supported that line, and gave it an uncondi- then we may have, although we certainly

a plait of cables was successively tried. The company present, some of whom were engineers well competent to judge, were astonished with the results, increase in the power of cables when combined on which clearly established a very great proportionate M. Boutet's system.

USERS

OF

IMPORTANT ΤΟ ENGINEERS AND STLAM MACHINERY.-Every Boiler should have a Feed Pump independent of the Steam Engine. This is the Practice of the Leading Firms of Engineers, who are now using exclusively the Donkey Pumps Vauxhall Iron Works, Nine Elms, London, S.W.— manufactured by Alex. Wilson and Co., Engineers, [ADVT.]

I first day of the establishment of the Royal that instay of the tables of Hansen. The print of the cone was made ofrly as hard as steel, being