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AN

sea.

ENCROACHMENT OF THE SEA. N American paper notices the wearing away of the coast of New Jersey, by the action of the It appears that the dimensions of many farms have been seriously affected, and men are living who used to plough lands which now cannot be found. It is stated that the seven mile beach opposite Seavile has worn away 100 yards in the last twenty years. Dennis Creek is said to have lost more than a mile of its length by the wearing away of the marsh at its mouth in the last seventy years. The tide is found to be rising to higher points upon the land than formerly, and the salt grass is killing out the fresh grass and timber. Numbers of farmers along the sea-shore of Cape

May can point to pieces of land which were covered, with timber when they came into possession of the land, but are now covered with marsh, and the timber has been killed out. Where the marsh abuts upon the upland, fallen timber is often found buried, and the stumps of trees are seen standing with their roots in the ground where they originally grew. Large numbers of stumps of pine, cedar, and other durable woods, are seen standing in the waters. In digging a ditch through a tide pond, magnolia and huckleberry roots were found under the mud. Then, after 4ft. more of mud, large pine stumps were found, while cedar snags were found 4ft. and 5ft. under the pine. They were standing with 4ft. or 5ft. of water above them at low water. Other facts and cases are cited showing the sinking

of the coast of this State below the ocean. The whole amount of this subsidence is supposed to be 17ft. or more, and it is calculated that it proceeds at the rate of 2ft. in a century, or about a quarter of an inch a year. This may seem slow, but when it is recollected that the major portion of the southern part of the State has but little elevation above the level of the ocean, it will be perceived that great changes may occur as the subsidence proceeds.

took part in the expedition to the North Pole have returned to Norway. The expedition proceeded as far as 81 42 lat. A storm and rough sea caused the vessel to leak, and prevented their proceeding further north.

WE hear from Christiana, that the Swedes who

THE

DOTY'S LIGHTHOUSE LAMP.

round and imbed the wrought iron either completely or partially in the castings. In order to bring about a perfect union of the two different metals he previously casts a thin coating of iron upon the bars of wrought iron in order that when these are introduced into the mould the molten cast iron poured in shall in the first instance come in contact and effectually combine with the cast-iron coating of these bars.

ACCIDENTS IN IRONSTONE MINES. FROM the report of the Inspectors of Mines we

of the cylinder, Mr. Maquay-who, by-the-bye, is a first class diver-donned his 1461b. weight diving HE great desideratum long sought for, viz., a dress. He went over the side of the vessel, and powerful, brilliant, and reliable light, com- quick was the word given to the men at the air-pump bined with economy, for coast lights, seems at to "blow away." After the lapse of a few minutes, length to have been attained by Captain H. H. the sign was given from below to lower the cylinder; Doty, who has invented and constructed a "first this was done, when again there came a check, Mr. order" concentric lamp for burning liquid hydro-Maquay finding that the cylinder had not landed in carbon oils, the results of which appear to promise remedied, and after the lapse of half an hour up the centre of the barge. This was, however, quickly This previous coating of the wrought iron is what has long been wanted to remedy the irregu- comes the diver again with the information that one effected by dipping it in a thoroughly cleansed conlarity attending the lamps now employed by mari- of the guy-ropes liad broken, causing the cylinder to dition and treated with a suitable flux into a bath time nations to light up their coasts. The safety lie on one side, and that one end of the barge had of molten cast iron, and then withdrawing it. In and success of the commercial marine of every sunk into the oozy mud. This informotion caused particular cases a thin coating of cast iron is also nation depends largely upon, and is increased or much anxiety, as it was feared the cylinder might cast upon the wrought iron. The wrought iron may diminished by the number and distinctive character topple over and make the carboy burst before every- be cleansed for the above purpose either by pickling of the signal or danger-lights on the coasts. The thing was ready. After two or three such draw- or other known processes, or by the dipping process demand for good fish oils being beyond the supply, backs, which always occur on a first trial, the signal before mentioned. The iron is for this purpose first other and inferior oils have been used for lightwas given, and the balloon was lowered into the dipped and rapidly withdrawn, and then after treathouse purposes; the inferior quality and illumi-water, and firmly fixed to the chains placed atl.warting it with a suitable flux it is again dipped for the the punt. A thud was heard, proving the iron car-coating process. nating power of these oils frequently involve the boy smasher to have been struck, and then all were necessity of trimming the lamps during the night, on the qui vire wishing to see the balloon inflate. an operation attended with danger to commerce, There was a great rush of air to the surface of the and calculated to mislead the navigator and jeo- water, and many thought the balloon had burst, but pardize life and property. These disadvantages being this was simply impossible-for if too much gas came common to every nation in the world are the cause out of the tube it would escape from under the balof many of the marine disasters almost daily loon; the commotion on the water was caused by brought under our notice. To obviate, as far as the escape of the atmospheric air which the bag contained when it went down. Gradually it could be possible, these difficulties, and to bring into more seen the balloon was inflating, but it was at the same general use for coast lights the liquid hydrocarbon time discerned that the stuff of which it was made, oils, is Captain Doty's object, and he has produced viz., canvas, with a coating of gutta-percha steeped a lamp by which these difficulties, will be entirely in naphtha, was not air-tight. The escape of gas, overcome. It is said that this lamp produces a however, was not commensurate with the supply, more powerful light than any now in use, and will and at the lapse of eleven minutes the balloon, having burn the full service time with undiminished bril-detached the punt from the bottom, came up with a liancy, and without requiring to be trimmed, a jump, and rose 3ft. or 4ft. out of the water, the punt saving of more than one-half in the cost of fluid being suspended 18ft. at least from the bottom, and being the result of Captain Doty's improved was being kept in suspense when our reported left, arrangement of burners. These burners contain showing that it could easily be towed into shallow water and secured. The diver, on reappearing, was only about one pint of oil (without air space), and greeted with three hearty cheers upon his success, are supplied from a reservoir placed outside the and all went away delighted. In fact, Mr. Maquay lenses of a lighthouse through a syphon in was more successful than even he anticipated. He such a manner that a constant light and quan- only guaranteed that one balloon would raise ten tity of fluid is always maintained in the burners, tons, but the manner in which it dragged up the and air is guided to the flame by adjustable punt yesterday, laden to the extent mentioned, and flanged rings, so that the most complete com- overcame the suction which must exist between a bustion of the carbon ensues; and the application flat substance sunk into greasy mud, is a pretty conof Captain Doty's lamp to, and its trial within, any vincing proof that it would have raised half as much first-class lighthouse, can be made without any again. It is calculated that to raise the City of alteration in the structure or in its arrangement. Launceston," it will require twenty cylinders and forty balloons, but more, of course, can be used if required.

APPARATUS FOR LIFTING SHIPS.

HE following account of a trial of an apparatus

ATMOSPHERIC RESISTANCE TO SHOT.

XPERIMENTS have been recently made at E Shoeburyness to ascertain exactly what is the resistance of the air to the motion of projectiles. The instrument used was the chronograph invented by the Rev. Francis Bashforth, B.D., which is on the same principle as the Greenwich chronograph. It consists of a cylinder covered with paper made to revolve under two markers, which trace spiral lines on it. One marker is worked by a clock, and is jerked aside at each second; the other marker

learn that seventy lives were lost in the year 1867 by accidents in or about the inspected ironstone mines of Great Britain, which, however, are only the mines of ironstone of the coal measures worked in connection with coal mines. The number of lives lost is eleven less than in 1866, one more than in 1865. There were fourteen persons killed in the south-western district in 1867-Monmouthshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Devon; six in South Wales; five in the Midland district-Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, and Warwickshire; eight in the South Staffordshire and Worcestershire district; twenty-three in the North Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Shropshire; one in South Durham; and thirteen in Scotland. The number of separate fatal accidents in 1867 was sixty-eight-fifty in the mines, fifteen in shafts, three on the surface. No less than forty of the accidents in the mine (four in every five) were from falls of roof or of ironstone; and falls caused forty-one of the seventy deaths. Mr. Brough, reporting on the coal and ironstone mines of the south-western district, says that the deputies should be charged with the setting up of timber, or, if that cannot be, the special rules should provide for the planting of numerous props, whether the top appears to require it or not. Roofs that look and sound like thick cast iron or rock of vast depth will fall withwould be to set up much more timber; if the place out the slightest warning. The prudent course appears to require three props, set half a dozen. As the timber can be used over and over again, the real loss of material would not be so very great.

LATHAM'S SEWAGE DISTRIBUTOR.

registers the passage of the shot through ten screezs THE present system of distributing sewage over

land is open to the serious objection of being

T for this purpose, invented by Mr. Maquay, is extracted from the "Geelong Advertiser," of July 15: -The first public trial of Mr. Maquay's ship-lifting apparatus was made yesterday, in Corio Bay, and the success attained was so complete as to fully justify all the expectations of the company who have become the proprietors of the patent, and, on the strength of it, have, we believe, bought the sunken steamer the "City of Launceston." A barge was moored about a quarter of a mile from the shore, in five fathoms of water; at the stern of this barge a smaller one, 20ft. in length and 10ft. broad, laden placed 150ft. apart. The accuracy of the measure-affected by means of open channels or trenches cut ments is proved by the remarkable uniformity of with chains and stones, to the extent of ten tons, the results obtained from the experiments conducted in the ground. These trenches collect a considerhad been sunk, and it was this heavy mass which by Mr. Bashforth, assisted by artillery officers able deposit of focal matter, and require to be dug it was proposed to lift bodily from the muddy bot-attached to the Royal Artillery Institution and out afresh three or four times during the year. A tom. The following is a description of the apparatus Royal Military Academy. The important questions great improvement upon this system has been employed:-A strong iron cylinder, 3ft. 6in. in to be solved were how far the resistance of the air invented and patented by Mr. Baldwin Latham, height, with a diameter of 2ft. Gin., is half filled with depended upon the diameter of the projectile, and C.E., of 6, Westminister Chambers, Victoria-street, water; in this are placed 50lb. of zinc and a carboy how the resistance of the air really varied. With a Westminister. Mr. Latham's experience in drainage containing 112lb. of sulphuric acid. The cylinder, view to solve these problems, says the "Times," an and irrigation works led him to conceive the idea which weighs about a ton, is then lowered on to experiment was arranged by the Ordnance Select of covering up the carriers, which he does in the the vessel it is proposed to raise; two large circular Committee with bores of 3in., 5in., 7in., and 9in. pieces of prepared canvas, 22ft. in diameter, having Cored and hollow shot were prepared for each gun He lays closed channels either upon the surface manner shown in the accompanying engraving. previously, by means of a network of ropes, the of precisely the same external forms; these were lower ends being gathered together round circles of fired with charges from 1-12th to 1-6th of the weight or sunk into the surface of the land, but with the rope, been formed into the shape of balloons, with of the solid shot. The experiments for elongated top surface covered, and through which the sewage a capacity of 240 cubic feet each, are lowered down, shot are complete, and show that for a limited range is caused to flow, escaping on to the surface of the and, by means of angle irons and chains, firmly of 1,200ft. the resistance may be supposed to vary land through side openings or perforations. affixed to the sunken body. All having been made as the cube of the velocity. But for velocities vary-directing or cutting off the flow of the sewage, Mr. ready by a diver, he strikes an iron bar passing ing from 900ft. per second to 1,600ft. per second the Latham introduces valves at any required points, through an aperture at the top of the cylinder and exact law is an extremely complicated one, which is formed as throttle valves so as to be turned bearing upon the glass carboy of sulphuric acid, shown by a diagram, but can scarcely be expressed by a rod passing through the pipes. Where the which it smashes, and causes the acid to mix with by mathematical formula. the zinc and water, and thus coming in contact with the spherical shot have been fired a more precise law duces thin metal plates across the pipes at the joints. It is expected that when pipes or ducts have butt joints, he merely introthe oxide of zinc quickly causes hydrogen gas to will be obtained, because there will be no question generate. This is then conveyed to the two balloons of their steadiness. through two india-rubber tubes affixed to two taps on the cylinder, and the balloons becoming inflated with a gas fourteen and a-half times lighter than the atmosphere we breathe, quickly rises to the surface of the water-that is to say, if the dead weight they are fastened to is not too heavy-and it is calculated that each of them, when fully inflated, will lift ten tons of dead weight through water, though, judging by yesterday's experiment, they will lift a great deal more than this. As the weight required to be raised yesterday was only ten tons, only one balloon was called into requisition, and only half a charge of acid and zinc placed in the cylinder. Everything having been got ready for the lowering

MANUFACTURE OF IRON CASTINGS.

For

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation, and fig. 2 a transverse section of a pipe A made of earthenware, the rounded lower surface of which is sunk into the soil, while the flat upper surface projects somewhat above it in order that the sewage may flow through the side apertures B B on the soil

AN invention has recently been patented by - The lengths of pipe are connected together by
William Thompson, of Rathbone-street, Can-
ning Town, Essex, which has for its object the half socket joints C. In place of making the whole
combination of wrought iron or other metals with pipe of one piece the top flat side is made separate
cast iron in the manufacture of castings as to afford as a cover, as shown in the section at fig. 2 where
great strength and durability to the castings. For the cover A rests upon the projecting parts
this purpose he introduces into the mould for the cast- between the apertures B of the part A, and is
ing bars, rings of wrought iron or other metals, and provided with ribs a on its inner surface fitting
then pours the cast iron into the mould so as to sur- between the sides of the part A so as to hold it in

[blocks in formation]

Second, being a slide valve, it works itself clear, structed as usual, except that the condensers pro-
and is therefore not liable to leak. Third, its ease ject some distance in front of the box, which must
of application, as it can be applied to any locomotive not be too broad; and the object glasses are
having a slide throttle valve, without changing the elevated upon a brass stand on the end of a sliding
steam pipe. This simple, valuable, and inexpensive bar 24in. wide, which slides smoothly and lightly
improvement will recommend itself, and as it has
proved every way satisfactory to those who have in a groove cut for it under the bottom of the lantern,
tried it, we can have no doubt it will soon become and can be clamped in any position required.
generally adopted.
In my earlier experiments, I used a somewhat dif-
ferent arrangement of the object glasses, but the
plan above, which is a modification of one devised
by Professor Albert R. Leeds, works most satis-
factorily.

W throttle valve for locomotives, invented by

cal readers. The annexed cut-for which and for our

PICKERING'S PULLEY BLOCK.

A VERY ingenious application of the sun-and

The lantern thus constructed is mounted, like the planet motion to practical purposes has telescope of a theodolite, on an axis turning in a been effected by Mr. Jonathan Pickering, of Stock-pair of vertical posts, which rise out of a circular ton-on-Tees, in a pulley block, which we illustrate disc of wood 22in. in diameter. This disc is in elevation and in detail. The arrangement is ex-fastened loosely at its centre by a bolt with a screw, ceedingly simple, and equally effective, and so sucto the top of the operating table, and thus can be cessful are the working results that we understand turned completely round in a horizontal plane, and they are being made in large quantities. Mr. clamped by the screw where required. On one Pickering uses a common chain pulley with a end of the axis of the lantern, and outside of the upright post, is a circle of brass 8in. in diameter, by which the lantern can be clamped at any angle of elevation or depression by screws set in a pair of brass clamps on the post. A square prism (made either solid of glass, or hollow of brass, with glass sides, and filled with bisulphide of carbon) is mounted so that it can be slipped into the front of the object-glass mounting, and turned upon an axis as usual.

CATON

ON TEES

Mr. George Richards, of Boston, U.S., which, after au
extended trial upon the engines of several leading
railways in America, has been proved of great value, sunken chamber in the periphery to receive the
and a description of which will interest our mechani-links of an endless chain. On one side of this
description we are indebted to the U.S." Railway
Times"-shows the upright steam pipe as arranged
for the common slide throttle valve. On this pipe is
placed a slide valve D, similiar to the common valve,
but having a small port through the bar or part
which covers one of the ports in the steam pipe.
On this valve is placed an additional small valve A,
with small port B, which opens and closes the small
port in the large valve. The small valve A is
attached to the lever E in the usual manner, but the
large valve D is arranged with the slot C, wider
than the lever, or in such a way as to allow the
small port to be opened before the lever shall act
upon the large valve. The operation is as follows:-

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chain pulley is fixed a crank pin or eccentric, and
upon this eccentric a toothed wheel is fitted, which is
made to revolve loosely upon the eccentric, and is
made to revolve with the chain pulley also, thus de-
scribing the sun-and-planet motion. This planet
toothed wheel is surrounded with two internal
toothed wheels, which are each half the breadth of
the former wheel, and are the size of the orbit of the
inner planet wheel. These two orbit wheels are
made with teeth, different in number, but each
fitted so as to allow the inner planet wheel to work
therein. One of these orbit wheels is secured to
the framework of the apparatus, the other runs
loose upon the axle which passes through the
frame. A second chain pulley is attached to the
axle, and fixed to the loose orbit wheel. A chain

To show the vibrations in Chladni plates, a narrow clamp, carrying suitable glass plates, is screwed to the upper part of the front of the lantern, so that the centre of the plate is directly before the centre of the condensers. The lantern is now turned on its axis until the front is horizontal and the square prism slipped into the front of the objective, so that the light is reflected upon the screen. The plate is then focussed, sprinkled with sand, and touched as usual with the bow. The sudden appearance of the nodal lines is very beautiful. Any figures which can be formed on glass plates can thus be shown with great ease to the largest audience. The retarding influence of a solution of gum on the sand can be shown in action, and the curves studied in detail.

fully shown in the same way, employing a plate coated The magnetic phantom can also be most successwith albumen to prevent the filings sliding too much in a body. Numerous other similar experiments, which will occur to every operator, can be readily and beautifully performed. The waves produced by striking the surface of mercury in a suitable dish, the colours of thin plates obtained from the action of oils upon water, &c., can be readily shown by depressing the front of the lantern, without the object glasses, and receiving the light reflected from the dish of fluid upon a proper focussing glass and thus upon the screen.

In spectrum analysis, the arrangement gives great facility, especially by mounting the prism box, by J. P. Cooke, jun., so as to slide into the front of the object tube. To keep the edge of the prisms parallel to the slit, a notch is cut in the front of passes over this second pulley, by which the the object tube, and a corresponding projection weights are raised. It will be seen that the powe screwed into the sliding end of the prism box. The is obtained by the motion communicated to the arrangement proposed has the advantage of simfirst chain pulley running on the axle, carrying plicity, and gives the greatest facility in the use of round with it the toothed planet wheel, which gears the lantern for ordinary purposes as well as in the into the orbit wheels. The difference in the num-class of experiments described. ber of teeth in the orbit wheels gives a correspond- Of course the condensers should not be subjected to ing reduced speed to the second chain pulley. An examination of these pulley blocks leads to the following conclusions:-They are simple, strong, and powerful. They sustain the load, and cannot slip. They are very easy to work, and not liable to get out of order. The lifting chain being supplied with a hook at each end, no lowering is required for a fresh load. Longer or shorter chains can be changed by simply unscrewing the bolts. The working parts run on steel, and being internal are not liable to accident, and are free from dust or dirt. Having two chains independent of each THE PENNSYLVANIA STEEL WORKS. other, it is stated that they work with much less HESE works were the third started in the United friction and more speed than has been attained by States for the manufacture of cast steel by the any other pulley blocks, enabling one man to lift Bessemer process, and in extent and capacity for profrom 15cwt. to 20cwt. With these advantages in duction are far in advance of all others. The comtheir favour, these blocks cannot fail to make head-pany is formed of heavy capitalists, prominent railway with the public.

Upon moving the lever E, the small port B is opened, the steam passes into the steam pipe, and presses up against the parts of the large valve which cover the port, thereby relieving the valve of such amount of pressure as is due to the ports. A continued movement of the lever moves the large valve to the desired position. At each end of the large valve stops are cast. In applying this improvement to throttles in the smoke arch, connect the throttle rod to the small valve A. We show also an outside finished view of this improved valve. The advantages of this improvement of Mr. Richards' are easily stated:First, its easy movement, allowing steam to be let on at such time and in such quantities as may be desired, thus avoiding the disagreeable, and very expensive, jerking motion in starting trains, which, besides being uncomfortable to passengers, is very destructive to every part of the rolling stock.

ON THE CHLADNI PLATES.*

BY MR. J. S. CHEYNEY, A.M.
following article describes an easy and very
Teffective mode of showing the vibrations in
Chladni plates, &c., to a large class, by the use of
a calcium or electric lantern. The lantern is con-

"American Journal of Science and Art."

the vertical current of hot air from the lime or electric light until they have been thoroughly warmed. With this procaution there is no danger. I would remark, in conclusion, that this mode of mounting the lantern was devised in the spring, and effected, in all its essential features, in the autumn of 1867; and has been used with great satisfaction in results ever since.

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way men and engineers, and is presided over by S. M. Felton, Esq., late president of the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railway. The worksfor the description of which we are indebted to the American Railway Times "-were built upon the plans, and under the superintendence of Mr. A. L. Holley, now chief engineer. H. S. Nourse, late assistant, is superintendent, and John B. Pearse is assistant, is supposeener department, and chemist. The Bessemer department was started in June, 1867, and has been in constant operation. The ingots produced were mostly rolled into rails, at the Cambria Iron Works, Johnston Pa., until the starting of the

Pennsylvania Steel Company's rail mill in May, 1868. The annual capacity of the present Bessemer plant (two 5-ton converters) is about 10,000 tons, and of the rail mill, 30,000 tons. Additional converters will be erected from time to time. The Pennsylvania Steel Works are situated in the heart of the iron and coal regions of the state at Baldwin, a suburb of Harrisburg, which is a junction of cauals and railways running in eight different directions. Upon a rectangular, high, level plat, 100 acres in extent, lying upon the banks of the Susquehanna, between the Pennsylvania Railway and canal, the company's buildings are arranged with reference to systematic growth. Room is left for the indefinite enlargement of each department with reference to ample yard room and economical intercommunication by railway. These railways are of standard gauge, and of such curvaturs that cars from any of the lines radiating from Harrisburg can enter any building or yard. With such facilities for transportation, the present considerable distances between some of the buildings hardly amount to an inconvenience, and the great inconvenience so generally arising from huddling together the early buildings of growing works will

be avoided.

The Bessemer building is 114ft. long by 100ft. wide, and 25ft. high in the clear, for one pair of 5-ton converters. A lantern, 25ft. wide and 6ft. high, extends the entire length. The adjoining melting building is 81ft. by 524ft., and 39ft. high, with a hipped roof, and a lantern 18ft. by 44ft.; and the attached engine and boiler building is 133ft. by 52ft., and 15ft. high, built of blue limestone. The walls are 18in. thick, and 24in. through the pilasters. The roof trusses are of wood (for greater convenience of giving a top support to the cranes), and in the Bessemer building a sheet-iron sheathing or internal roof is suspended beneath them. The rail mill is 275ft. by 924ft., with two wings, 924ft. by 49 ft. each, and 28 ft. high in the clear. It consists of a hipped wooden truss roof and a continuous lantern (26ft. wide by 4ft. high) covered with slate and resting on wooden posts (10in. by 12in., 14in. by 14in., and four posts 28in. by 28in.) supported by stone piers. A permanent siding of wood, battened, and having a continuous line of 14ît., semicircular windows all around, extends from the eaves down to within 9 ft. of the ground; but below this point the siding is formed of balanced doors opening upward, so that the building can be entirely closed in winter, while it may be turned into a mere shed in summer, and may be opened at any point for ventilation or for entrance and exit of vehicles.

The machine shop is of wood, battened, 75ft. by 75ft.. and 204ft. high, with a lantern 18ft. by 72ft., and 6ft. high, and slate roof. One end is temporary, for enlargement. The line shafting is driven by a 10in. by 18in. portable engine, and the shop is completely furnished with roll and other lathes, planers, bolt-cutters, drill-presses, a 15-ton crane, end lathe, &c. The smith shop is 50ft. by 50ft., and 18ft. high, with a continuous lantern and slate roof, and is also arranged for enlargement. It has a central crane swinging over six double fires (without chimneys), and a Davy 7ewt. steam hammer for forging test ingots and other work. Extensive store sheds for fire materials, &c., are erected at a convenient distance from the converting works. Water is carried to the machine and smith shops under the head of rail mill tank. All the buildings are drained by a 3ft. brick sewer running to the river. Plans are in hand, and proper places are left for the erection of extensive tyre, plate, and mer

chant mills.

The Bessemer plant is precisely like that at Troy, as to sizes and positions of converters and converter lifts, cars and platform, ingot pit and cranes, except that the central ingot crane is as large as the others, viz., 22ít. jib, 9ft. lift. Two ovens with top entrances are sunk in the floor under the side ingot cranes. The flues of these ovens pass under brick bins for fire materials, to prevent their freezing in winter. The large converting house affords ample room for the storage of moulds, and the dressing of ladles and vessel bottoms, and for bins containing fire materials, charcoal, &c., and for a floor and hand crane for moulding flasks, &c. Two ovens, 18ft. long each, with end entrances and railways runuing out under the side ingot cranes, open into the converting room from the lower storey of the cupola building. From a turn-table under the central ingot crane, railways run in five directions out of the building and under the other two ingot cranes. The railway to the rail mill passes over a 10-ton scale, and a 2-ton platform is placed under one of the cranes, so that ingots can be weighed, assorted, and distributed with the greatest convenience and despatch. Upon the roof trusses there is a hydraulic cylinder, operated from the regulator, which raises a 1-ton drop (25ft. fall) outside the building. The chain that raises the drop also unloads from cars the skulls, &c., to be broken up, and places them in a position under the drop.

At the front of the cupola building (opposite the converting building) there is a double 2-ton vertical lift, operated by a line of shafting overhead, with openings to the stock shed and yard. Coal waggons for a charge each, and iron waggons for a ton of pig each, are run upon the stock-house scale, loaded,

and run upon the lift, and hoisted to the ample cupola-way running from a turntable in the main siding to
charging floor, 17ft. by 25ft., and 294ft. high, or to the other wing of the mill, in which there are two
the air furnace floor, 11.ft. high. Two gangways, steel hammers. Beyond this gangway there is a cold
10 ft. wide, run through the cupola building from bed 72ft. long, with a straightening press at one end
the front to the converting room. Between these and punching and drilling machines at the other.
gangways are the lift, a mixing floor for vessel Outside of this end of the mill are tables for finished
linings, the pit into which the cupolas are dumped, rails, ample yard room, and a siding with a 25-ton
and an ample space behind the converters. At the track scale, leading to the main siding. The furnaces
sides of these gangways are racks for tuyeres, and boiler setting are of the Fritz pattern. The
weighmaster's office, bins for fire materials (which furnace plates are corrugated, to prevent cracking by
are ground upon the floor above), a cylinder mill expansion. The boilers are 30ft. long by 44ft. dia-
convenient to the cupola dumping pit, a 50-horse meter, with two 17in. flues, 21in. by 24in. domes, and
oscillating engine to drive the line shafting in the 18in. by 21in. feed chambers below. The flame
top of the building, and the ovens opening to the passes through the flues and under the boiler in the
converting room. The next floor is 11.ft. high, same direction. The feed pipes are wrought iron,
formed of iron beams, arched between with brick, the main being 5in. in diameter. The main steam
and reached by the lifts and by two stairways. Cen-pipe is 14in. diameter, of wrought iron, and the
trally upon this floor stand three No. 6 Mackenzie branches are 5in. diameter, with S expansion joints.
cupolas in line (with space left for a fourth), and A 7-inch wrought-iron feed pipe connects the hammer
two 12-ton ladles standing on platform scales, and boilers in the wing, with the others. All the steam
arranged with worn-wheels to tip out the melted pipes are thoroughly lagged with paper, hay, rope,
iron from the cupolas into spouts leading to the con- and plaster-a thorough non-conductor, and very in-
verters. This floor is connected with the converting expensive.
room by wide arches. An ample space is left upon
it for getting at the converter bottoms. In one
front corner of this floor is a building containing a
5-feet Dimpfel fan for blowing the air and spiegel
furnaces, and a No. 6 Root pressure-blower for
driving the cupolas. In the opposite front corner is
a building containing a Blake crusher and a Bogardus
mill for preparing fire materials. The two large
spaces at the sides of the cupolas are occupied, the
one by two reverberatory spiegel melting furnace
similarly worked (with room left for another), capable
of melting 5-ton charges of iron for conversion. Wide
gangways are left between all the furnaces.

The blowing engine-room is 66ft. by 50ft.; the engine occupies a space of 60ft. by 22ft., and consists of a pair of 54-inch air cylinders, water jacketed, a pair of 40-inch steam cylinders 5ft. stroke, directly connected and horizontal, and a pair of 18in. by 24in. vertical air-pumps worked by belt cranks. The valve motion is the long slide with adjustable slide cut-off valve. The foundations are of heavy dressed stone, leaving a counter-arched water-tight pit under and between the engines. The air receiver is 18ft. high by 8ft. diameter. The water supply for the whole works is from an unfailing well, 12ft. in diameter, at one corner of the engine room. A duplex pump capable of throwing 1,200 gallons per minute, and arranged to connect with a 10in. suction pipe from the river, when required, delivers the water through a 10in. main into an iron tank 20ft. in diameter and 10ft. high, standing on an octagonal brick building 21ft. by 181ft. high, near the rail mill. The tank is covered and is surrounded by a circular brick wall, with an air space between. From the main, water is carried by the underground pipes to the pressure pump and to the feed pumps for the converting and rail mill boilers, to the machine and smith shops, and to the office and hotel. The overflow from the air pumps runs to a shallow pond 500ft. by 200ft., behind the rail mill, and when it is cooled runs back into the well. The rail train pit and boshes are drained to the pond.

The

The rail train engine is of the Fritz pattern, vertical and non-condensing. The cylinder stands on four piers, bolted to a solid heavy bed plate, 24in. high. It is 40in. diameter by 60in. stroke, and developes 300 to 500-horse power at the different passes. The crosshead is above the cylinder, and a forked connecting rod (thus very long) passes down both sides of it to the crank underneath. The valve motion is the Fritz revolving cam, with two doublesteam and two double-exhaust puppet valves. The cut-off is performed by the regulator in the steam pipe. The shaft journals are 15in. in diameter and 36in. long. The flywheel is 30ft. in diameter, and weigh 53 tons. The rail train is the heaviest in this country, and consists of four sets of three-high 23in. rolls-one set for blooming 10in. ingots, one for roughing, one for finishing, and one for either finishing rails of another pattern or for rolling beams or blooms. All parts of the train are stronger by some 50 per cent. than similar trains for iron. Each shoe stands on a foundation of heavy dressed stone, 14ft. deep, and 4ft. thick at the bottom. This train has already run some three months on steel rails with remarkable smoothness.

The fan engine (14in. by 15in.), fan, and feed pump stand near the main engine at one side of the main building. The fan was built by Morris, Tasker, and Co., and is 8ft. in diameter, by 3ft. 9in. face, and delivers to an underground brick air duet, 6it. deep by 4ft. wide, with 16in. branches to each pair of furnaces. The saw apparatus, and the straightening and punching machines, are driven by separate engines. There is no line shafting in the mill. In the hammer wing before referred to, there is a 5-ton Thwaites and Carbutt vertical steam hammer with a 40-ton block, a 15-ton crane, and a heating furnace and boiler similar to the others described, and adapted to cogging ingots, and to miscellaneous forging. There is also a 14-ton Morrison hammer by Seilers, with a 2-ton crane and a similar heating furnace aud boiler. This makes a very complete forge, capable of working up all ingots of unsuitable size for rails, and of producing every class of forging up to, say, 10in. The present product of these works are steel rails, hammered and rolled blooms, and forging.

Correspondence.

FLYING BY STEAM POWER.

taken a crow as my guide, so far as regards the mode of flight, but as the model has much thinner wings than any bird, it flies with less resistance than a bird, and also attains a much higher speed with the same expenditure of power in proportion to weight.

The pressure pump for driving the cranes is of the same size and make as that at Troy, and discharges into an accumulator, which also acts as a regulator upon the steam valve. The feed pump for the converting boilers is of the Henderson pattern. These pumps are in the blowing engine room. rail mill feed pump is a duplex. By means of an underground connection, the fire hose (always connected) either in the Bessemer works or rail mill, and the cranes, and the boilers in either building, can be supplied from either one of the three lastnamed steam pumps. The converting boilers, seven TO THE EDITOR OF THE "MECHANICS' MAGAZINE." in number, are 54in. by 30ft., with two 7-10-inch SIR,-In 1859, and again in 1865, I sent you some return flues, and form a battery 48ft. by 60ft. in particulars of experiments with flying machines, and plan, with an ample space all around it. They are I have now to state that flying by steam, on a small enclosed in brickwork, supported by iron staves. scale, and for a short distance, is an accomplished The blow-off pipes in the rear lead to the main fact, and also that I do not see any insurmountable sewer. The water supply arrangement, safety appa-obstacle to prevent its being successful on a scale ratus, &c., are very complete. The flues from the sufficiently large to carry a passenger. I have boilers lead to a brick stack 110ft. high by 5ft. square within. A 9-inch wrought-iron steam pipe runs underground, in an enclosed air space, from these boilers to the main steam pipe of the rail mill. The striking feature of the rail mill is its ample floor space and height. It is the only mill in this country built especially for steel, and the arrangement and strength of machinery are designed accordingly. The furnaces, eight in number (with room for more), are arranged in pairs, at one end and in one wing, with boilers over them, and sheet iron chimneys outside the building. The furnaces do not front each other; and the smallest space in front of a furnace is 21ft.; the mill is consequently cool. In the centre of the space between the furnaces and the rolls, there is ample room for piling ingots, and a hydraulic crane for unloading them from the converting-room cars and loading them on the furnace buggles. The rail train is near the centre of the building, with the engine at one end, directly connected; the saw carriage in the rear of it is arranged to receive rails from either of two sets of finishing rolls. The hot bed, laid on posts and rollers, is 48ft. long, with a 24ft. table at one end and a straightening plate at the other. Beyond it is a 10ft. gangway, with a rail

A crow has great difficulty in starting from level ground, but when it has acquired a sufficient amount of speed its flight becomes very easy; the wings are spread out flat, to offer the least resistance, and the bird glides along in any direction at will by merely altering the angle of the wings. During this portion of the bird's flight the wings act against the air similarly to the keel of a sailing vessel or lee board of a barge, and thereby prevent lee-way (or falling towards the ground). As long as the speed is considerable (say twenty miles an hour through the air) the lee-way is very trifling, but as the speed decreases the drop or lee-way increases, and in a little time (during which the bird may have flown half a mile or more) the bird has again to use his propeller to keep up the requisite speed to support his weight. The power, therefore, requied forr starting is very much in excess of that requisite for sustaining the flight.

My principal improvement over former attempts

consists in the mode of obtaining the necessary amount of starting power, and I do this by using falling water as the fulcrum for starting instead of the air, and although the idea of running up a waterfall may seem somewhat novel, yet the propulsion of large vessels at considerable speed by reaction from jets of water is a practical reality, and, I may add, for propelling light vessels of small draught, my water-jet propeller is greatly superior to every mechanical propeller with which I am acquainted. The wings of the model are made of very thin shoet iron, and, consequently, present only a knife-like edge of resistance to the air during flight. The boiler forms the body of the bird, and has a water-jet pipe. Steam is raised in the boiler to a few pounds pres

as type Special arrangements made for large advertise-
ments.

A DE B. (Delft.)-We are obliged by your communica-
tion, which will probably appear in our next.
MESSRS. F. AND H. (Chepstow.)-The matter shall have
notice next week.

The number of visitors to the South Kensington Museum during the week ending October 24, 1868, was-on Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday, free, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 10,683; on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (admissior. 6d.), from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., 1,780; total-12,463. Average of correR. J.-D. B.-W. G. F.-J. P.-W. J.-G. E. P.-J. C. S.-sponding week in former years, 10,653. Total from C. P. C.-E. D.-F. R.-C. D.J.-G. W. H.-P. O.-R. M.- the opening of the Museum-7,864,099.

RECEIVED.-T. B.-R. J. H.-E. G. and Son-W. F. S.

E. B.-P. M.-S. T.-R. A.-G. E. P.-P. L. F.-C. W. V.—

R. J. C.-D. and Son-J. G. W.-W. D.-E. G. S.-S. and
Co.-P. T.-J. P.-S. E.—B. W.—C. W. R.—A. M. and Co.

MANY methods of preserving eggs have been recorded. There is one which is used in the provisioning of Paris on a great scale, and which is described as the most sure. The eggs are plunged, in wire baskets each holding a dozen, into cauldrons of boiling water during about a minute. A thin layer of the egg coagulates on the inner surface of is speedily fatal to the freshness of the egg. THE basin of the Donets is found to be so rich in

sure in half a minute by the flame from a litt Naval, Military, and Gunnery Items. the shell, and prevents the infiltration of air, which

ignited spirit, and when suddenly liberated forces the water, and the toy flies off by reaction at great speed, and travels (up hill) over 8ft. in a quarter of

a second.

On a larger scale a considerable distance would be covered without any further propelling force being exerted beyond the starting power, and the flight might be afterwards kept up by discharges of steam or other preferable motive power. It may probably occur to some that a man's power ought to be sufficient for the latter purpose, but I doubt whether any mechanical apparatus worked with a man's power would give an effective forward thrust of even half a pound, by action, against the air at a speed of twenty miles an hour.

An apparatus might be conveniently tried on a large scale at the Crystal Palace with the aid of a guide wire. A veritable flight through the Palace in the space of a few seconds would, doubtless, prove a great attraction.-I am, Sir, yours, &c., Lilford-road, Camberwell, JAS. PARKER.

October 23.

LONDON LABOUR. SIR, We constantly hear the daily press raising a cry about the destitution of the labouring classes. I think my Channel scheme, you kindly inserted in your last issue, points out a way of, at least, bringing a little trade to the Thames. In the event of such a scheme being executed, it is simply a matter of competition; can the shipbuilders compete as cheaply as on the Clyde or elsewhere, and certainly the navvies would be amply provided for.-I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

JOHN G. WINTON.

13, Gladstone-street, October 28.

LIGHT-CONDENSING TUBES. SIR,-Not knowing whether-and with what results-experiments have ever been made with the conical reflector-lined tubes alluded to in the letter on the defence of fortresses in last week's Magazine, I beg to remark that such tubes would be so shaped as to condense and throw in an axial direction all the rays of light produced by any burner, in a similar way that a speaking trumpet does with the sound rays of the voice. By means of such tubes, signals could be made to very great distances, and in given directions; at night the very clouds might be made use of as reflectors by directing towards their lower surface a battery of such light tubes, thus throwing the signal to still greater distances. The usefulness of such tubes for guiding vessels in certain dangerous passages, or in time of war, when the lights of lighthouses have been put out, appears obvious.-I am, Sir, yours, &c., October 29.

G. J. GÜNTHER.

Meetings for the deck.
MON.-Society of Engineers.-Paper on Modern Gas
Works at Home and Abroad," by Mr. Henry
Gore, at 7.30 p.m.
Royal Institution.-General Monthly Meeting, at
2 p.m.
Royal Institute of British Architects.-The First
Ordinary General Meeting of the Session.
Mr. H. M. Marshall will be balloted for as
Associate. W. Tite, M. P., President, will
deliver an "Opening Address," at 8 p.in.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE is sent post-free to subscribers of £1 18. Sd. yearly, or 103. 10. half-yearly payable in advance.

All literary communications should be addressed to the Editor of the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. Letters relating to the advertising and publishing departments should be ad dressed to the publisher, Mr. R. Smiles, MECHANICS' MAGA

ZINE 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.

We must absolutely decline attending to any communications unaccompanied by the name and address of the writer, not necessarily for insertion, but as a proof of good

faith, ED. M. M.

Advertisements are inserted in the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE, at the rate of 6d. per line, or 5d. per line for 13 insertions, or 4d. per line for 26 insertions. Each line consists of about 10 words. Woodcuts are charged at the same rate

to become patrons of a bazaar to be held at Exeter
THE Prince and Princess of Wales have consented
the twenty-one lifeboats on the coasts of Devon and
during Easter week, 1869, in aid of the support
Cornwall.

of

MESSRS. CAIRD AND Co., of Greenock, have launched the "Donau," a steamer of about 3,000 tons, built for the North German Lloyd. She is similar in every respect to the large fleet of steamers launched by the same firm for the North German

Lloyd.

THE hulks lent by the British Government to the
Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company
for the conveyance of the French Atlantic cable
from Greenwich to Sheerness, there to be deposited
the " Amethyst," two of the old sailing 26's.
on board the "Great Eastern," are the "Iris" and
WE understand that the "Hercules" will be com-
missioned on November 2, for the home station.
The vessel is at present lying at Chatham, but will
be taken to Sheerners for completion. The is ex-
pected to arrive at Sheerness on the 10th proximo.
Her complement will be 650 officers and men.

AN order has been issued for the removal of the
engines of the "Lizard," tender to the "Formidable,"
26, flagship at Sheerness. The vessel will be after-
wards removed to Chatham for further survey. It
is anticipated that the whole of her bottom plates
will have to be removed, as they are worn very thin.
ANOTHER Scurvy-laden ship arrived in the Thames
on Sunday last, and three of the crew were at once
conveyed to the "Dreadnought" hospital ship. This
vessel left England at the end of last year, and was
not therefore provided with certified lime or lemon
juice, in accordance with the provisions of the Duke
of Richmond's Act.

COMPLAINTS having been made by the Woolwich Local Board of Health of the injurious effect on the public health due to the Woolwich Dockyard drainage not being connected with the Southern Outfall Sewer, the Lords of the Admiralty have announced their consent for the work to be done, and have stated that the estimated cost will appear in the next Navy Estimates.

THE "Spartan," screw, recently built and launched by Mr. J. G. Lawrie, at Whiteinch, has made a favourable trial trip. The "Spartan" measures 272ft. in length, by 31ft. 6in. in breadth, and 20ft. in depth; and she has two engines, having cylinders 36in. in diameter, with a stroke 3ft. 6in. in length. The burden of the "Spartan" is thus upwards of 1,200 tons, and the engines are of 94-horse power nominal. They were made by Messrs. Blackwood and Gordon, of Port Glasgow.

THE 68-pounder, 95cwt. cast-iron gun, lined with a steel tube, and rifled by Mr. Parsons on the plan advocated by him, split on Saturday morning last, while undergoing its endurance test, at the proof butt, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. The gun had been re-vented after the experiment for range and accuracy, which we reported as having been carried out a short time since at Shoeburyness, The split took place at the thirty-third round of its endurance test-the charge being 30lb. of large grained rifle powder, and 150lb. shot.

Miscellanea.

THE Czar has consented to allow photographs to
be taken of all the treasures of art contained in the
Imperial Gallery of the Hermitage.

THE annual dinner of the Civil and Mechanical
Engineers' Society will take place to-morrow,
Saturday, evening, at Anderton's Hotel, Fleet-street,
at half past 7 o'clock.

the Delhi Railway from Umballa to Meerut (about
IT is announced by telegram that the portion of
150 miles, or half the entire line), was completed on
the 17th inst.

Ay act of last Session provides for the expiry, on
Sunday next, the 1st of November, of seven pro-
vincial trusts. The most important removals will
be at Hereford, Bury St. Edmunds, and Devizes.
The Devizes gates surrounded the town, and the
"freedom of the road" is to be celebrated by a
banquet and a bonfire, for which latter object two of
the obnoxious gates were purchased at the sale of
the trust property.

Government Gazette," it may well be said to be fuel, coal, &c., that, according to the "Kharkoff already surveyed, or those which are now being actively worked, are alone taken into consideration, the quantity is nevertheless estimated at the enormous figure of 16,000,000,000,000 poods. All this but only taking into calculation the seams of lesser mass is not, of course, equally easy of extraction, depth, it is reckoned that 75,000,000 poods of coal may be annually supplied for a term of 17,000 years.

inexhaustible. If the coal beds that have been

IT is seldom we have to notice such wonderful

illustrations of prolonged existence as appeared in the obituary of the "Times" of Monday and Tuesday last, where the deaths of four ladies and three gentlemen are recorded whose united ages amounted to 613 years, giving an average of 87 years and nearly 7 months to each. Of these seven persons the oldest was a gentleman, who had reached the patriarchal age of 93 years, the youngest being 81. Of the opposite sex the oldest had also reached the venerable age of 92; the youngest was 82 years of age.

Ir is anticipated that by the close of the year the first section of the operations of the company which has been formed to collect and distribute the Liverpool sewage will be completed. This first section embraces the distribution of the sewage over a tract of sandy land in the neighbourhood of Ince Blundell, and ultimately the company intend to carry forward their operations to the borders of Southport. It is estimated that if the whole of the sewage of Liverpool were utilized and sold, a permanent annual revenue of £150,000 might be derived.

DURING the month of September the quantity of coal exported from the United Kingdom was 884,096 tons, against 978,586 tons in the corresponding month of 1867. The Northern ports exported 427,777 tons, Yorkshire 31,475 tons, London 4,565 tons, Liverpool 56,360 tons, Severn ports 266,900 tons, and Scotch ports 97,019 tons. As compared with September, 1867, there was a decrease from all the ports, with the exception of the Scotch. In the nine months ending September 30, the total exports reached 7,658,975 tons, against 7,295,235 tons in the corresponding nine months, being an increase of 363,740 tons.

THE Metropolitan Board of Works has ordered the following alterations to be made in the names Salisbury-street, Newington, to be re-named Darof public streets in the metropolis:-Pitt-street and win-street; Chapel-street, Walburgh-street, St. George's-in-the-East, to be re-named Tait-street; with Sclater-street; Bedford-row, Southwark, to be Anchor-street, Bethnal Green, to be incorporated incorporated with Zoar-street; Lemon-street, Southwark, to be incorporated with Loman-street; Mansfield-terrace and Lower Mansfield-place to be incorporated with Mansfield place. The subsidary names Peckham, are to be abolished. in Bramley-road, Kensington, and Queen's-road,

PASSENGERS in St. James's Park may have lately observed some workmen employed in the demolition

of an ugly-looking chapel not far from the India

Office. This edifice, the "Pall Mall Gazette" informs us, formed part of a mansion, now the office of the London recruiting district, which formerly was the residence of the notorious Judge Jeffreys. It was here that he performed his official duties when his court was not sitting, and here he lived in some little splendour till his committal to the Tower. The entrance of the mansion is from Duke-street; but as a mark of favour, King James II. granted Jeffreys permission to throw out a flight of stone steps leading to the Park; these still remain, and distinguish the house from the others in the same row.

A GHASTLY Scientific discovery is reported from Turin, where Professor Casturani, the celebrated animals by forcing air into their eyes, within the oculist, has, it would appear, found a way of killing space of a few seconds, and, it is thought, almost without causing them any pain. Experiments were made at the Royal Veterinary School, and it is said that they have fully proved the truth of the professor's invention. Within the space of a few minutes four rabbits, three dogs, and a goat were killed in this manner. The most remarkable thing about this "killing made easy" is the fact that it leaves absolutely no outward trace, and it can be as easily applied to men as to animals; if so, it is to be hoped the method is not easy of application.

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