matters.

THE MANCHESTER INSTITUTION OF

ENGINEERS.

In

wood is very carefully seasoned, being built up in and separation from any other traffic, so as to on the narrower gauge in avoiding the destruction stacks with intersticos, and submitted to the action ensure punctuality and perfect safety. The Metro- of property, villa residences, ground, &c.; that is of steam, and is full of turpentine and resinous politan Railway has established in the metropolis in passing by instead of through them. The not only that such are the requirements, but that minimum radius of the curves and minimum The walls of those houses are caulked like the it may be made and is commercially profitable to height of headway admissible in each system are deck of a ship. In the first place, all the seams comply with and defer to them. The complete the most important features to be considered in and chinks between the timbers are filled in either safety of the Metropolitan Railway, in which, as deciding upon the best system of railways for with the large moss of Russia or, where that is you know, through and local traffic are separated, towns which have canals, rivers, existing railways, not to be obtained, with oakum, and this is driven is established by the fact that during the five years a labyrinth of sewers, gas and water pipes ramifyin with an iron instrument specially adapted to the it has been in use, upwards of eighty millions of ing throughout. Another important feature to be purpose, and the caulking is dressed with turpen-passengers have been carried along it without the considered of course is the question of cost. I am tine. Finally, the angles are filled in with a cement loss of a single life (except one occasioned by the unable to make an exact comparison of the two composed of lime, cowdung, and coarse flour or falling of a beam), and upwards of 113,000 in one systems in this respect, because the survey or meal. In the isbah at the Exhibition, the cement day. It has further revealed the fact, that the route adopted for a 3ft. gauge is not necessarily was omitted, as it would have hidden the construc-fabulous expenditure of a million pounds sterling admissible for a 4ft. 84in., for in the case before us, tion. It is not the habit of the country either to and more per mile which it cost may be made a re- the line, if made of the wider gauge, would have colour or to varnish the surface of the wood, either munerative one, but this only of course can apply to be made with flatter curves, and therefore pass of buildings or furniture. This is left in its to the metropolis. There is yet another fact esta- through more expensive property. From calculanatural condition; but the hollows, sunken parts, blished which applies to all local lines, viz., that tions which have been made, however, I am and under-cuttings are tinted brightly. The travelling under ground is not only practicable, but enabled to say that the Manchester and Didsbury colours used for this purpose are cobalt, vermilion, is unattended, and that in a tunnel which in one Railway might be constructed and equipped on and green verditer. The ornamentation, of course, part is two miles of unbrokon length, with any real the 3ft. system for less than two-thirds the depends upon the means, the taste, and the fancy inconvenience. Those are all important facts to amount, and be maintained and worked at a of the proprietor; but the style has remained un- have had established for us, and the greatest praise corresponding reduction of expense, than a 4ft. altered for ages, being the Lombardian of the redounds to all concerned, not only in the concep- 84in. gauge. I am throughout assuming that twelfth century, mixed with Byzantine and Greek. tion, but in the development and management of the 4ft. 8in. system, if adopted, would be for the Metropolitan Railway. the purpose of ultimate connection with some I will now proceed to describe some of the features existing line, and, in that case the rolling stock of the proposed Manchester and Didsbury Railway, of the two lines would have to interchange. If no and the route it is generally to take. It is proposed such connection were contemplated there would be to have a double line of rails of 33ft. gauge, comleft no sufficient reason for the adoption of that mencing in Albert-square for the city terminus, gauge; and seeing that the 3 ft. system meets all requirements of the cues, Dickinson-street, through the town's paving yard, such manifest advantages in its favour, it is under the Rochdale Canal, under the South Junc-difficult to resist the conclusion that it is the more tion Railway, between which the line would be in preferable of the two. It may be asked why part open. It will then proceed over the flood not adopt a 3ft. or even narrower system. The line of the river Medlock, and proceed under Charles- answer is that the 3ft. system is already largely street and York-street. Beyond the top of York- adopted in Queensland, Ceylon, Norway, Belgium, street, still underground, the line will curve under and other places, and with complete success. Oxford-street to the west side thereof, where it would designing the carriages for the local line, the 3ft. be an opening cutting, and so continue to Didsbury. gauge is found to give ample accommodation. It will follow the course of the turnpike road as The carriage which promises to be most suitable is nearly as practicable at distances therofrom vary- what may be termed of the omnibus type, with ing 300 yards to 500 yards, until entering the seats arranged on each side and a longitudinal township of Didsbury, where it would re-cross the passage, say 30in. to 36in. wide down the turnpike road, and proceed on the opposite side middle, with doors opening inward at the ends. through Barlow Moor to Didsbury. There would The leading dimensions are 20ft. long, 6ft. wide, be in all eleven stations so situated as to serve the and 6ft. high inside. Carriages of this size city, the Altrincham Railway, Chorlton-on-Med- would accommodate 24 passengers, twelve on a lock, Greenheys, Rusholme, Fallowfield, Withing-side, and give over 30 cubic feet of space to each. ton, Back Withington, Northendon Road, Barlow The floors of the carriages would be on a level Moor, and Didsbury, and another station may be with the platforms, and this, with the wide passage, probably added convenient to the People's Park. would give the requisite facility of ingress and No serious alteration of road or street levels would egress, which is one of the essentials of a local have to be made except in Charles-street, which, traffic where there is great frequency of trains. I for a 3ft. railway would have to be raised about ought, perhaps, to have mentioned before, that in 34ft. and for a 4ft. 84ft. railway about 8ft. 6in. or speaking of light railways, say, for example, the 5ft. higher. When I inform you that the raising projected one of 34ft., it is not intended to convey of Charles-street even 3ft. Gin. will affect twelve the idea that the works or rolling stock for such a other streets and nearly 200 dwellings, you will system would be in any respect less substantial or durable than on the heavy 4ft. 8in. system, but be enabled to realize one reason for preferring a railway which necessitates so low a headway, and rather that the works, engines, and carriages this will apply to most local railways in towns. In the would be, though lighter, sufficiently strong and particuliar locality of Charles-street, the property durable in proportion to the reduced loads and is not generally of a description which it is desir-speed of the trains, and that a closer approximaable to retain, and, in the opinion of many com- tion of the paying to the non-paying load would petent to judge, the changes involved by a mode- be effected. rate alteration of levels will prove rather advan- Another point I would make allusion to is the tageous than otherwise. But there are other proposal as regards the Manchester and Didsbury strong reasons for preferring the 3ft. to the Railway of making it throughout below ground. 4ft. 8in. system for local railways. The rails of This, I think is not an unimportant feature, and it the former do not exceed 40lb. to the yard; tun- is one of the advantages to be credited to the nels and bridges of a height not exceeding 10ft. before-mentiond low headway of the 3 ft. system. may be employed; open cuttings of much smaller The days for adding over-bridges, embankments, dimensions; and curves may be used of a radius viaducts, and level crossings to those already of only two chains, although in the particular in- existing in towns and their suburbs, are, I think, stance before us it would not be necessary to em- gone by, and that for the future it seems imploy curves of less than four chains radius; the probable that more railways will be tolerated in locomotive engines need not exceed 15 tons weight; towns if such additions are involved in the system. carriages 5 tons weight; and on no driving wheel On a long through journey, it is doubtless do-irwould there be more than three tons; the train able and pleasant to be able to see the open speed would be limited to twenty-five miles an country from the train; but in the suburbs of a hour. Whereas on the 4ft. 84in. system the rails town this desire is more keenly felt and appreciare 80lb. to the yard; tunnels and bridges 24ft. ated at home than in the train on the short wide, 16ft. high; open cuttings in proportion; journey, and to this enjoyment the embankment curves not less than eight chains radius; locomo-fixes the limit. It will be thought that when tive engines, 30 tons weight; carriages, 8 tons; minimum load upon each driving wheel, 6 tons; but a speed which may be raised to forty miles an hour. The steepest gradient on the Manchester and Didsbury line would be one in fifty with the 34ft., against one in twenty-five with the 4ft. 8in. system.

HE first meeting of the members of this Instiat the Royal Institution, Manchester, when the President (Mr. W. W. Hulse) read the following address on light railways :-In selecting the subject of light railways, I am desirous of enlisting your attention to the important question as to what is the best system of railway for suburban traffic. The subject of light railways, as they are called, as distinguished from the heavy railways in general use, has already received much study and discussion by several eminent members of the Institution of Civil Engineers, not so much with reference to their applicability to the suburban traffic of our large towns, as to other countries, particularly such as have not the means of providing the heavier and more costly system, or where the paucity of population, nature of the country to be traversed, or other circumstances, render necessary a much less costly system. But I am more particularly wishful of bringing the subject of light railways publicly forward, now for the first time, since the passing of the Regulation of Railways Act last session, which permits their construction and use in this country upon certain stated and necessary conditions, and with the view of showing how peculiarly adapted such light railways are for local traffic, and with reference to the projected Manchester and Didsbury Railway. In this country there are two systems of railway in almost exclusive possession, namely, the 7ft. system and the 4ft. 8in. system, formerly distinguished as the broad and narrow gauge railways. I use the expression system instead of gauge advisedly, because each different gauge has grown into a system, involving certain special and fixed details of permanent way, tunnels, bridges, rolling stock, speed of trains, and cost, peculiar to itself and differing in degree materially from the other. By placing these details side by side with the requirements, necessities, and probable returns of each particular case, it may soon be ascertained which system is best suited to it, so as to be convenient to the public and remunerative to the shareholders. This is the course pursued in other undertakings; in a word, the steam engine is constructed according to the power and work it has to do. The 7ft. system, the heaviest we have, was introduced by Brunel, on the Great Western Railway, but as it is being superseded by the anterior and lighter system of Stephenson, viz., the 4ft. 8 in., I need not further advert to it, except to add, as you are aware, that the 7ft. system has been found to be too heavy to bo remunerative. Other systems have been introduced, viz., with 42in., 36in., 27in., and 23in., and one at Crowe, for workshop purposes, of only 18in. gauge.

Experience has proved that the system of 4ft. 8 in. is ample for the requirements of probably the heaviest, the fastest, and most varied and exacting traffic in the world. The question, therefore, arises, whether it is not advisable to adopt a lighter system, and, if so, of what gauge, for local traffic, more especially in the provinces. The requirements of a railway for local traffic, may be stated to be as follows:-Great frequency of trains, a speed not exceeding twenty-five miles an hour, a central station near the heart of the town, numerous stations in the suburbs, and absolute independence of

dealing with the subject of suburban railways, some notice ought to be taken of the efforts made to introduce tramways on highroads. Great exertions have been made, and by none more so than by Mr. Haworth, of this city, whose system appears of all to be the least objectionable. But unless principal streets can be widened very considerably I have asked you to consider in the particular beyond what they are, people become accustomed instance before us what effect the reduced head- to slow travelling, and the danger removed to way required for the 3ft. system would have as which the horses of other vehicles are subjected compared with the 4ft. 8 in., and I now would ask in crossing the rails, I fear there will not be much you to consider the effects of the curves admissible | likelihood of their becoming general. In some

localities, and for some special descriptions of traffic, they may be found to answer tolerably well. I do not know that I can, without the fear of wearying you with too much detail, say more with regard to light railways. The subject is one of surpassing interest to this city. It is not too much to hope that a system of local railways, cheaply constructed, and worked economically, with moderate fares, would lead to the removal on

THE INGLIS GUN CARRIAGE.

2. For an improved method of conveying milk cans by rail, the Society's silver medal and £10. The object in view is to reduce to a minimum the deterioration which milk now suffers in its transit by rail in the ordinary opon trucks. The principal evils to be avoided are:-the heating and shaking of the milk cans. Model of an improved railway milk van, on a scale of half an inch to the foot, to be sent in.

is to reduce to a minimum the deterioration which

by rail, the Society's silver medal and £10. The TRIAL of Lieutenant-Colonel Inglis's gun object in view is to reduce to a minimum the carriago was made at Shoeburyness last week deterioration which meat now suffers in its transit by the Ordnance Select Committee. The members by rail. The principal evils to be avoided are: prosent wero:-Colonel Freeling, R.E.; Captain excessive changes of temperature, and injuries by Hamilton, R.N.; Colonel Mayne, unattached; pressure, by handling, exposure to dust, insects, Colonel Shaw, R.A.; and Colonel Heyman, R.A., &c. This prize may be awarded for an improved secretary; Quartermaster Behenna, R.A. The railway meat van or for a travelling meat larder executive wero Colonel Elwyn, R.A.; Com- suitable for railways. Model on a scale of half an a large scale of the artisans and labourers' dwell-mandant Captain Alderson, R.A.; Lieutenant inch to a foot to be sent in. ings from the crowded and unhealthy parts of the Ellis, R.A.; Colonel Curtis, R.A.; and Colonel city to the healthy suburbs beyond, and thus, in Churnside, R.A. There were also present on the the course of a short time, reduce in a marked ground Colonel Inglis, R.E.; Mr. Woolley, and degree the rate of mortality, which now stands so Mr. Batters, of the Carriage Department. Colonel discreditably high. Inglis's carriage is of wrought iron, with a slide interest to Ireland as well as this country. It is designed for the purpose of training heavy guns The question of light railways is likewise of great for a 10-inch or 400-pounder 18-ton gun, and is difficult to conceive anything which would be more through a range of 15deg. out of a small-sized boneficial to Ireland than the greatly exten led port admitting only of 5dog. training for a gun means of intercommunication which a light sys-mounted in the ordinary manner. This carriage tem of railways would afford. It might be found is not actually muzzle-pivoting, the gun being desirable to adopt even a 2ft. gauge in some dis- raised or lowered by means of a jack arrangement tricts for cheapness, as has been done in North at the trunnions, so that successive ranges within Wales, where the Festiniog Railway has a gauge 5deg. of limit each are attainable from the succesof 23in., locomotive engines under 8 tons weight, sive planes of the bodily lift of the gun in its seat. and over this railway of thirteen miles in length, A certain minimum extent of opening being conwere carried in 1865, 2,500 passengers, 11,000 tons sidered desirable round the muzzle of the gun for general merchandise, and 90,000 tons of minerals, the purpose of sighting, the port is made of suityielding a profit, it has been stated, on the capital able reduced dimensions-in the present case, about outlay of 26 per cent. If the produce of Ireland 3ft. high by 2ft. 4in. wide; and the range of the could be cheaply and expeditiously conveyed from the places where it is produced, to the towns and tion and 5deg. of depression, these being the probgun through this is designed for 10deg. of elevaports where it is consumed and shipped, a new era able requirements for practical purposes for guns of prosperity would be opened up for the inhabi- mounted in casemates or on board ship. The DISTANCE-MEASURING TELESCOPE. tants of that country. In considering the question height of the Inglis carriage is 4ft. 10in.; of the ti ventilation of underground lines, it has occurred platform upon which it rests, from the ground, W JE have just examined a very well-arranged distance-measuring telescope at Messrs to me that this might be better effected by employ-1ft. 8in. Elliot Brothers, the opticians, of the Strand. ing a separate and narrow tunnel for each line, The carriage and slide were built by Sir William The measurement of distances with this teleinstead of one wide one for both lines. Each train, Armstrong, at the Elswick Works, and the prin- scope is accomplished by means of two wires in progressing through, would tend to drive the air ciple of the former consists of two movements, one placed horizontally in the eye-piece, which, by a before it, and a fresh supply would follow behind. the vertical lift at the trunnions described, the beautiful mechanical arrangement, have a simultaIn the case of a single wide tunnel for both lines, other the ordinary rack and pinion plan of elevat-neous movement from the centre or axis of the the trains in passing through simply turn the airing the breech. To check recoil, the carriage, telescope. from one side to the other, and do not induco a fresh supply. The double tunnel would be safer than the single; at the same time, it would be slightly more expensive to construct.

3. For an improved railway milk can, the Society's silver medal and £10. The object in view milk now suffers in its transit by rail in the ordinary milk cans or "churns." The principal evils to be avoided are:-the heating of the milk, and all motion within the can which may causo the buttery particles to separate. A specimen of the improved railway milk can to be sent in. The models and specimens for competition must be forwarded to the secretary of the Society of Arts before February 1, 1869.

always in the centre of the field of view, enabling The object to be observed is thus the observer to see it with the greatest clearness and precision, and under the most favourable conditions for estimating distances. It has been tested most accurately by the Ordnance Select Committee, and pronounced to be the best telescope for that purpose. In using this instrument, the two wires are placed in contact by turning a graduated ring on the eye-piece, from left to right; the edge of the fixed index is then at 0. The telescopo is then focussed to the object under observation until it is seen distinctly, then the divided ring is turned until the object is seen exactly between the two wires. The required distanco is then shown upon the divided ring, fantry or any other object of a similar height; the the face showing, in yards, the distance of intop part of the ring showing the distance, in yards, of cavalry or any other object of a similar heightthe average height of infantry being taken at 5ft. 11in.; the average height of cavalry at 8ft. 10in. The utility, power, and portability of these telecopes will secure for them a large demand, ospecially when they are stamped with the approval o the Ordnance Select Committee.

which is completely lively, being mounted on ten rollers, was fitted with Lieutenant-Colonel Clerk's hydraulic buffer, which was described and illustrated by us at page 372 of our issue for the It was my wish to have included in my address 6th inst. The weight of the carriage is 4 tons other important subjects, but I find the time at 16cwt.; of the slide, 4 tons 5cwt.; the length of my disposal is too short to do justice to them. the slide, 15ft. Gin.; of recoil, 5ft. 9in.; slope of I must, therefore, solicit the privilege of another slide, 3deg. One round was fired, the projectile opportunity. There is one subject, however, namely, being a Palliser shot (0.08 windage), the charge Owen's College, which I cannot pass by. It is 40lb. 1.g.r. powder. The water in the hydraulic thought desirable and practicable to establish in some way a connection between this Institution and cylinder was 12 gallons 13 pint, the capacity being 13 gallons. The gun recoiled about 5ft. 6in., the the College, by which the objects of both may be gun-motal hydraulic cylinder being burst on the greatly advanced. And it has been further suggested right side about 11in. from the rear end; length that the engineers should recognize the college of rupture about 7in., the fractured edges showing education as part of an apprentice's pupilage or ap- very defective and cindery metal. prenticeship, and allow the students to attend right, however, to add that this cylinder was a It is but college continuously during the whole of a session first experimental one, originally merely made to or two. This would enable a student passing the try the system, and which, after doing duty on examinations to obtain a diploma, and it is thought Colonel Clerk's carriage, was fitted and did duty would lead to more thorough results than the enproperly upon Colonel Shaw's carriage. Fitted a deavour to practise the two parts at once, as at third time to Colonel Inglis's carriage, the livelier present. I hope the professor of engineering, Mr. recoil of which found out the defective portion, it Roynolds or Dr. Watts, will give us an address on has given way, but the suitableness and utility of the subject, which is one of the greatest moment the hydraulic plan is in no way affected by this to our profession. Another matter I am obliged accident. Efforts were made to replace it by to postpone, is an investigation into the causes of the great discrepancies which prevail in estimates Colonel Clerk for the 12-inch 600-pounder gun a wrought-iron lap-welded cylinder prepared by GOLD AND SILVER. for engineering work. I am inclined to attribute them principally to the varying system, in many platform, but the dimensions not agreeing, and the T for the first three quarters of the present year HE official returns issued by the Board of Trade cases to the absence of all system, of ascertaining practice was, therefore, obliged to be discontinued. show an import of gold into the United Kingdom cost; but, whatever the cause, it ought, I think, to be discovered. You will be as gratified to hear, as The practical working of Colonel Inglis's car- amounting to £14,596,897, and exports, £9,371,712; riage by eight men was, however, gone through to both amounts are above those for the corresponding I am to announce, the following list of interesting test the time aud full extent of elevation and de-periods of 1867, but below those of 1866. The expapers promised to be road during the present sespression, four men working at each winch. The cess of the nine months' imports over the exports sion, viz.-by Mr. James Fletcher, of Salford, on times taken in the movements were respectively: was £8,000,000 in 1866; £7,000,000 in 1867; November 11, on a now means of purifying the-from zero to 2deg. of depression, 1min. 21sec.; £5,225,000 in 1868. In the first three quarters of river Irwell, and utilizing the sewage, also of pre-from 2 to 3 leg., 35soc.; from 3 to 5dog., 1min. the present year the import of gold from Australia venting a recurrence of floods; Mr. John Heaton, 35soc.; from 5deg. of depression to 4deg. of eleva-advanced to £5,236,729, and from the United States C.E., of Nottingham, on the new system ho has tion, 2min., the men being very much exhausted to £6,811,492. The import from Brazil amounted discovered and brought into practical uso for mak-in their offorts against time. From 4 to 7deg. of to £338,583; from other parts of South America, ing steel from common pig iron; Mr. Daniel Adam-elevation, 1min. 25sec.; from 7 to 10dog., 1min. and from the West Indies, £859,601; from British son, of Hyde, on his improved boilers and smoke 5sec. Through the port only, 3deg. 39min. of de-North America, £165,485; from the West Coast of consuming furnace; Mr. Charles Briggs, of Tam-pression; and Gleg. 15min. elevation could be worth, on the patent syphon condenser. Other actually got, a portion of the carriage interfering papers, namely, one on the interchangeable sys-with the further rango of training of the gun. tem as applied to the manufacture of rifles, another on the generation and use of steam power, and another on heavy rifled ordnance and their carriages, are partially promised.-The proceed- PRIZES FOR IMPROVED MEAT AND MILK £1,801,106 from the United States; £173,225 from

ings closed with a vote of thanks to the president.

THE

VANS.

it could

Africa, £71,610; from British possessions in South Africa, £8,245. The export to France amounted to £6,059,495; and the export to South America and Brazil exceeded the import thence. The import of silver in the nine months amounted to £5,927,298; Brazil; £2,221,516 from other parts of South America and from the West Indies. The export of silver in the nine months amounted to £5,556,607; it went chiefly to France and other parts of the Continent; £264,185 to Egypt in coin, chiefly for China, &c.; and £458,842 in bullion, chiefly for

THE Council of the Society of Arts, at the sugTHE Chilian Government is instituting scientific gestion of the Food Committee, offer the folinvestigations into the late earthquakes and earth-lowing prizes for improved railway meat vans, quake waves in Ecuador, and a scientific commission milk vans, and milk cans :is about being sen there. 1. For an improved method of conveying meat | India.

THE CHATHAM DOCKYARD EXTENSION
WORKS.

THE

THE MOSS RUBBER INKING ROLLER. HE above is the name given to an inking roller THE accompanying engraving shows a plan of which promises to supersede the ordinary the extensive works now being carried out by treacle and glue rollers at present in use in printGovernment on St. Mary's Island, formerly a marsh ing offices. The name is derived from the mateof about 320 acres in extent. In our impression rial of which the body of the roller is composed, of the 10th of July last, we described the details which is india-rubber in a mossy or spongy form. of these works in connection with a visit of the It is the patented invention of Mr. Stephen MoulSociety of Engineers to Chatham. It is, therefore, ton, of the firm of S. Moulton and Co., Kingston unnecessary to repeat those particulars, India-rubber Mills, Bradford-on-Avon, and is proespecially as the plan is so very explicit upon all duced in the following way. Mr. Moulton takes points of arrangement. We may, however, state the ordinary vulcanized india-rubber, and reduces generally that the works will consist of a repair-it to powder. He then places it in a mould, and subjects it to a second vulcanizing heat, which converts it into a homogeneous mossy substanco.

now

It is then covered with a skin of rubber and sul

phur, and again subjected to a vulcanizing heat in order to cure the rubber skin, after which the The result of this process roller is ready for use.

Roller.

SIR, Observing that the Moncrieff gun carriage, is deservedly, I think, occupying the attention of the authorities at Shoeburyness, I venture to submit a description of a somewhat similar system, which I proposed to a Lord of the Admiralty in No-ing basin, entering from Chatham Reach, having vember, 1866. It consists, as the plans enclosed with an area of twenty-one acres; in the centre, a facthis will show, of a movable platform placed in a tory basin of twenty acres; and beyond that a pit, and capable of being raised or lowered by fitting-out basin, with an area of thirty-three means of counter balance weights, applied, for in- acres, communicating with the river at Gillingham stance, in the same manner as in ordinary window Reach. Each of the three basins will have a depth with the turret raised above deck, fig. 2 shows side of the central or factory basin now factory sealed in a smooth skin of india-rubber. The adsashes. Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a vessel of 30ft. at high-water neap tides. On the inner is an article composed of an homogeneous material of the consistency of moss, which is hermetically the turret sunk into the hold, fig. 3 shows an buildings will be erected upon an area of 1,000ft. elevation, and fig. 4 a plan, of the gun platform. by 500ft. Between the factory basin and the river, vantages possessed by these rollers are important A gun, mounted on any description of carriage, occupying an area of equal extent, there will be to the printing trade; they are very durable, on can be placed on this stage, and all the advantages ten slips for laying up frigates, large docking account of the unchangeable character of the maclaimed for the Moncrieff system are obtained, platforms, worksheds, and a camber for floating terial; they are unaffected by temperature; are without the expense of converting the existing dock. The factory buildings will include foundry, not damaged by use on brass rule; are permagun carriages at present in use. A great advantage smitherios, boiler fitting and erecting shops, brass-nently soft and elastic; seldom require washing, and gained by making the platform itself movable foundry, coppersmiths' shops, and the necessary when washed for change of colour are ready for use immediately. Having had one of these rollers instead of the gun is, that in case the Moncrieff stores and offices. On the inner side of the recarriage is disabled by the enemy's fire, it must pairing basin there will be four graving docks of in use in our printing office for three months, we be some considerable time before it could be cleared 500ft. long and 80ft. wide-size enough to receive can speak as to the reality of the above advanaway and another fixed. By the plan proposed by the largest of our ironclads-with worksheds be- tages. During that period three of the ordinary me, if the gun is disabled, the platform could be tween and adjacent to them. A large coal store rollers would have been required, and as to other lowered, the damaged gun removed, and a spare will be provided at the river end of the fitting-out qualities, a fair trial has led our printer to express The himself as being in every way satisfied. We gun (mounted on almost any description of carriage) basin. The new works occupy 380 acres. be substituted. It is not likely, from the fact of water area of the basins, as will be seen from the therefore have pleasure in thus testifying to the the platform itself being always well below the above, is seventy-four acres; there will be 13,000ft. excellent character of the Moss Rubber Inking brink of the pit, that it could be injured by any but of wharfage in the basin, and 6,000ft. of river wharfage. The entire area will be enclosed be-. tween the existing dockyard at The platform and gun which it is designed the bend to Gillingham Reach, at the other by a end of to carry should be nicely balanced by counter-river wall and embankment, which are being enweights of concrete stone, or iron in tanks, so as tirely executed by convicts under the direction of to be capable of being moved with ease. Any the Admiralty authorities, and is a splendid piece power, almost, can then be used to raise or depress of water engineering, well forward towards comthe stage, but a small hydraulic ram might be applied with advantage where the pit was in thepletion. The fitting-out basin, much the largest vicinity of town water works or any natural head of the three, with which but little progress has as of water; in any case, ordinary tackle and fall could be used. Turrets and guns in sea-going ships could be raised and lowered in the hold of the vessel by this plan, so that when the ship was not in action, the turret and guns would be below the upper deck, and in their right place in the hold as cargo. When required for action, the gun and turret could be raised by steam or other power, and could fight in any weather that any ironclad broadside or turret ship can now do. This idea, I believe, has been partially adopted in the "Staunch" gunboat. I am anxious to know with what success, as I presented this plan to Admiral Milne in 1866, some time, I think, before by Government, being made by the convicts. the "Staunch was built-I will not say thought of. To sum up, the Moncrieff system is very scientific and eminently clever, particularly in the manner in which the recoil of the gun is utilized, but the carriage is complicated and expensive, and promoted by the scientific classes at the out of the new docks on the opposite side of the

vertical fire.

one

yet been made, will also, it is intended, be executed
by convicts. The other two basins, the graving
docks, and the factory buildings, will be executed
by contract. A large amount of the heavy work
involved in these contracts has been already
executed, including especially two of the graving
docks, which are very fine examples of strong and
durable masonry, having the best combinations of
concrete (eight of gravel to one of lime) as a basis,
with superimposed granite, Portland stone, and
brickwork. The stone is furnished to the con-
tractors from the Government quarries at Portland
and Dartmouth, and the bricks are supplied also

POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION PRIZES.

HE cause of technical education is being well

Royal Polytechnic Institution, which we are glad
to be able to regard not only in the light of a place
of popular entertainment, but as playing a still
more important and equally successful part in the
scientific education of the people. On the evening
of the 12th inst., the Venerable Archdeacon of
Nottingham distributed at this Institution the
prizes and certificates which had been awarded to

LAUNCH OF THE "SPARTAN." [ER MAJESTY'S steam screwship "Spartan" HERMAdused at Deptford Dockyard at a quarter past one on Saturday afternoon, in the presence of 1,500 visitors, including Lord Mahon and Sir Henry W. Parker, the Conservative candidates for the borough of Greenwich. Mr. E. J. Reed, C.B., Chief Constructor of the Royal Navy, from whose design the " also present. The vessel was christened by Mrs. Spartan" was built, was A. P. Eardley Wilmot, wife of the Captain Superintendent of the yard, and the launch was in every way successful. The "Spartan" will be taken to Woolwich Dockyard during the week to be fitted. She will receive an armament of six guns, the vessel being built so as to fire in a line with her keel. The principal dimensions of the "Spartan" 212ft.; length of keel for tonnage, 185ft. 10 in.; are as follows:-Length between perpendiculars, extreme breadth, 36ft.; breadth for tonnage, 35ft. 10in.; moulded breadth, 35ft. 2in.; depth in hold, 19ft. 4in.; tons burden, 1,268 66-94ths; horse-power, 350. The vessel has been commenced and completed during the year in No. 1 slip. Sho went off just as the Prussian ironclad was coming into the water. river, and was immensely cheered as she glided visitors proceeded to the residence of the CaptainAfter the launch, a number of the Superintendent A. P. Eardley-Wilmot, C.B., A.D.C., where they partook of luncheon. There is only which is being completed in No. 4 slip, and will one vessel remaining in the yard-viz., the "Druid," be launched early in the year, after which the

is easily disabled, I imagine, by even one shot.
But the worst feature in the case is that none of
the existing gun carriages can be converted, and
must all be condemned if the system is to be
permanently adopted. On the other hand, by the
plan I propose, which is particularly simple, an
iron or wood platform, or turntable, has merely to
be made, large and strong enough to carry the
heaviest guns, and properly balanced for the the successful candidates of the evening classes Deptford Dockyard will be closed.

weight it has to carry. In fact, the platform might be made sufficiently strong to carry, say, the Millwall shield, so that when the platform was raised above the brink of the pit, the gunners could lay the gun with as much precision as in ordinary practice, as there would be very little chance of the shield even being hit during the short time that an experienced gunner would take to lay and fire. Of course, in loading the gun, the ordinary side arms could be used, and there would be no occasion for the rope rammer.

I may be sanguine, but it appears to me that the simplest plan of lowering guns, mounted en barbette, into pits, must eventually supersede all other systems of permanent fortifications, on account of the cheapness of the works, and the security afforded to the men and guns, to say nothing of the difficulty which an enemy would experience in finding out the position of his sunken foo.-I am, Sir, yours, &c.,

E. H. CLARK.

These honours consisted of tho prizes and certifi-
cates from the Society of Arts, the Science and
Art Department, and the City of London College,
which were supplemented by prizes from the Poly-
technic Institution. The recipients were of both
sexes, and of ages ranging between sixteen and
twenty-eight years. The subjects of study were
various, and the prizes consisted of gold, silver,
and bronze medals, books, and money. There
were 23 certificates of the first class, 25 of the
second class, and 25 of the third class. The results
reflect great credit on Mr. C. Mackenzie, the
honorary manager of the educational department
at the Polytechnic Institution.

THE number of visitors to the Patent Office Museum, South Kensington, for the week ending November 14, was 3,667. Total number since the opening of the Museum, free daily (May 12, 1858), 1,431,194.

THE last of the great Kentish ploughing matches 82 teams, most of them with four horses, competed came off at Farningham last week. No less than for the prizes. The work was considered superior to anything that has been seen before, the iron plough showing marked superiority over the old wooden Kentish ploughs; and in this case the three judges appointed awarded the first, second, and third prizes to Howard's ploughs. The first prizes also at the previous matches at Ruxbury and Sevenoaks were won by men holding the Bedford ploughs.

IMPORTANT ΤΟ ENGINEERS AND USERS OF STEAM 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 manufactured by Alex. Wilson and Co., Engineers, Vauxhall Iron Works, Nine Elms, London, S. W.[ADVT.]