represents their laboratory pyrometer. These are of various sizes, the smallest having a 15in. tube, a 24in. dial, and being indicated to 800deg. Fah. In many localities, durable timber for fence posts or for sills to a building is exceedingly scarce. And yet, there so many varieties of durable timber that, if oak of any kind can not be obtained, some other kind of timber may be had which will be found quite as durable as oak. Red elm, if seasoned before the timber is employed for fence posts, will last quite as long as oak. When red elm is employed as sills for a building, as the newly hewed sticks are liable to warp and spring, the timber should be hewed, framed, put in its place, and protected from the sun all in one day, if practicable. In case red elm timber can not be secured in a frame soon after it is sawed or hewed out, every stick should be placed on a level foundation, so that stones or heavy timber may be laid above it to hold it straight. Red beech is another kind of durable timber, which will serve satisfactorily for sills of buildings, or for posts or beams, where the timber is liable to be exposed to dampness or the influences of wet and heat. Red beech will be found an excellent substitute for oak. As this kind of timber rarely grows where we find oak forests, it may be sawed into all kinds of timber for dwelling houses or outbuildings. It will make joists, studs, and excellent floor boards, provided they are "stuck up" straightly soon after the logs are sawed, so that the pieces may have an opportunity to season straight without being warped by the sun. Butternut is another kind of timber that is often more durable than any oak, even when employed for fence posts. Butternut is usually a soft wood, often softer than white pine. Therefore, this kind of timber may be employed for roof boards, for flooring, for casing, and window sills, or for making doors. Yet, as butternut timber is so liable to warp and spring, when the pieces are seasoning, it is always important that this kind of lumber should be stuck up while the timber is green, that it may be straight after the pieces are well seasoned. The grain is so beautiful that a parlour finished with butternut lumber often looks richer than if wainscoted with the best black walnut. Many a man has purchased black walnut, at an exorbitant price, for for other work in his house, when there were large making a hand-rail and balusters for his stairs, or butternut trees on his own land which would have furnished ten times more lumber than he required, and that, too, of a superior beauty. A common error is frequently committed in selecting durable building timber for dwelling houses and out-buildings, and then choosing perishable timber for sleepers or cross sills, though the main sills may have been procured of the best quality, at a large expense. We frequently see white oak, or red elm sills, and sleepers of sugar maple, which will decay as soon as basswood or buttonwood. When the ends of sleepers are received in gains cut in the sills, the very ends are more liable to decay than any other part, especially if water is allowed to find its way down in the joints. For this reason, it is always quite as important to select durable timber for joists and sleepers as for sills. But when the sills of a building are resting on a high wall, where the timber will be exposed to the alternate influences of moisture and dryness, almost any kind of wood may be employed; and so long as water can be kept from the surface, from cracks and from mortises, even perishable timber will remain quite sound. Basswood, white beech, maple, and other kinds of timber that are known as perishable, will satisfactorily serve these purposes, and continue sound so long as the sticks can be kept dry. In numerous instances, persons who have many acres of oak, chestnut, and other durable timber, near by, have gone thirty miles to purchase hemlock scantling and boards for building a barn, when either of the kinds mentioned would have subserved a more satisfactory purpose, and would not have cost one half so much. Oak and chestnut will make excellent roof boards or vertical boards for any outbuilding. I have in mind a barn that was covered with basswood boards, put on vertically in 1832, and they are good for another thirty years. Had the boards been seasoned, planed, and painted, as they should have been before they were used, they would have been quite sound at the present writing. I have met with many large barns, at the West, which were built wholly of oak. CAPTAIN MOODY'S TELEGRAPH SHIPS It is fully expected that a large return will be made to the shareholders arising from the con veyance of passengers and the carriage of parcels and goods; more especially the latter, which are June 11, 1869, has succeeded in making a boat | pense, to reach their various destinations. which he could run her if such an event should have been necessary, but he has found from her strength that she was capable of standing a large amount of knocking about before she could be injured, therefore, he has not availed himself of that haven. The form is that of the cross, and were it not for her upper surface being painted white, she would be to all appearance as near the form of buns sold at our confectioners on Good Fridays as possible. We shall have more to say of this vessel next week, as we propose to illustrate her in section. ROYAL INSTITUTE OF BRITISH curtain wall and towers of Killaleagh Castle. I will next mention the large house or palace of Sir Watkin Williams Wynn, at Wynnstay, in the place of that which was burnt down, a work of great merit and beauty, as I from having frequently seen it. Nor must we forget the large mansion at Bulworks are, I think, creditable to our profession, but strode, building for the Duke of Somerset. All these infinitely creditable to our friend, to whom I present this testimony of our esteem and regard. All I can say in addition is, I hope he may long live to cultivate his skill and great talent, and find the occupation for it that he has hitherto found. I have the pleasure to notice that, like Mr. Pugin, he has the advantage of having a very skilful son, who has won some of our prizes, and will possibly win many more. I am delighted to think that a worthy father is likely to be followed by an equally worthy son. As we have a good deal of business before us, I will not like to say. I have now the pleasure to ask him to scarcely say all in my friend's presence that I should add more to these brief remarks, and, indeed, I could stand forward to receive the highest testimony which the Institute of British Architects can confer him on behalf of the Institute this elegant mark upon any one. I have the pleasure of handing to of our esteem and regard for him, and of our gratification at his professional success. I hope he will long live to be an ornament to that profession, and to be decorated by the medal which I have now the pleasure to present to him. Prize. LIQUID FUEL. YONSIDERABLE interest is at present felt in the institute, Sir William Tite, M.P., the president, T the last ordinary general meeting of the above made the following remarks on the occasion of the presentation of the royal gold medal and Institute is the most agreeable incident of the year connected prizes:-Gentlemen,-I now come to what probably with this valuable institution; I mean the presentation of the royal gold medal. I think we are infinitely indebted to her Majesty for the kind continuance of her gracious pleasure in receiving our annual nominations for this award so courteously and so kindly as she does. She has never received, The medal having been presented amidst the I will venture to say, any name with greater satisfaction than that of the gentleman whom I have to plaudits of the meeting, the President then proceeded bring before you to-night in the person of my old Medallion and other Institute medals and prizes, to present, with appropriate remarks, the Soane friend, Mr. Benjamin Ferrey. I believe that he and awarded in accordance with the resolution of a APPARATUS FOR CLEARING THE SUR- that was a good while ago; he tells me that he was lows:-To Mr. E. C. Lee, of Lincoln's Inn-fields, I began life about the same time, and I am afraid special general meeting, held on March 14, as folFACE OF RAILS OF SAND, &c. a pupil, not of the elder Pugin, but of the eldest for his design for a railway terminus, the Soane Pugin, for there have been three of that name in my Medallion; to Mr. G. H. Guillaume, of Southampton, GEORGE P. FLOYD, of Boston, has just day and generation. I recollect perfectly well this for an essay on the requirements for a town church, MR. patented an apparatus for removing sand, Mr. Pugin, when I was a very young man in the the Institute Medal; to Mr. E. J. Munt, of the dust, and other matters from the surfaces of rail-office of Mr. Laing, architect to the Custom House, Adelphi, for measured drawings of Castle Rising, way rails. From each side of the steam dome he whose pupil I was. Mr. Pugin came to the Custom Norfolk, the Institute Silver Medal and £5 58.; to proposes to carry a small steam pipe, arranged House, then in course of erection, to make some Mr. A. Hill, of Keppel-street, Russell-square, for with proper cut-off valves, and terminating in a drawings, for he was one of the ablest draughtsmen measured drawings of Ardfert Cathedral, Templenapeculiar shaped mouthpiece immediately over the of the day. Mr. Pugin, besides being distinguished hoe and Kilmelchedor Churches, a Medal of Merit; rail, in front of the sand-pipes. When the valves as a draughtsman, was one of the earliest pioneers of are open, the force of the discharge of dry steam the study of Gothic architecture. I dare say you all to Mr. R. A. Came, of Great James-street, for his through those pipes completely clears the face of cannot recollect its publication, as I do. The illustraknow the book by Pugin and Mackenzie-though you design for an ornamental ceiling, the Students' Book the rail from sand, dust, &c. He also carries from tions of that work were, I believe, to a great extent the head of the boiler, at the high water line, or etched by Mr. Pugin himself, and it was one of the where the gauge cocks indicate that line, two great precursors of architectural literature, for I similar pipes, terminating in similar mouth-pieces, think it was published almost as early or earlier than nited States in connection with the substituimmediately in the rear of the drivers, the object Britton's great work of that day. It introduced a of which is to blow off the sand which necessity taste for Gothic architecture; and in that book were tion of liquid for solid fuel, in consequence of the has compelled the engineer to discharge from his engraved some of the most agreeable and, so far as success which has attended the invention of Messrs. boxes to give his drivers a hold upon the rails I recollect, some of the finest specimens of that archi-Whipple and Dickerson, of Chicago. The distincand prevent their slipping. These pipes also tecture. It was most interesting and valuable at the tive peculiarity of this process consists in the evolutime to which I am now referring; for when I was tion of hydro-carbon gas, which is conducted to the lubricate the rail, thereby facilitating the passage a student, as my friend Professor' Donaldson was, firebox, and there burnt from ordinary pipes, as in a of the train. the books which could teach us and enable us to gas stove. The process of evaporation is the chief learn that peculiar and interesting branch of our art feature of the discovery. Steam from the boiler were very few, and not very meritorious. The one, passes through a pipe into the firebox, where it is however, that Mackenzie and Pugin produced superheated in a small iron cylinder to a temperature deserves even at the present day our consideration. cf from 500deg. to 700deg., or to even a greater temMy friend's history, as I have said, began at an perature if desired; thence it passes through a pipe early period of my own life; and though I had not to a cylindrical generator, some 4ft. high by 2ft. in then the pleasure of knowing him, as I have said, diameter, containing 600 copper tubes of small size. introducing Mr. B. Ferrey's name to the notice of while the petroleum is contained in the spaces around I knew his master; I feel much gratification in The superheated steam passes through these tubes the meeting in association with this award, as I have them. The intense heat here, of course, volatilises had the honour of doing to her Majesty the Queen. the oil with great rapidity, and the gas passes into He is, par excellence, a designer of churches. We all a receiver enclosing the generator, similarly to a know his merits in that way. I have asked him for water jacket. From this it rises through a layer of a list of his works. He has furnished me with it; sponge, to equalise the pressure, into the dome of but it is so long that I should weary you if I read it the machine, whence it passes into the firebox of the through. We all know the great merit-the boiler, and is consumed through an ordinary frame wonderful merit in point of fact-of some of these of burners with a force and heat far superior to any structures. The one perhaps best known in London produced by coal. The practical application of petrois St. Stephen's Church, Rochester Row, built at the leum as fuel was mentioned in last week's "Mining expense of that generous lady Miss Burdett Coutts, Journal," and the value of petroleum, as compared whose acquaintance I have made at Torquay, where with coal, was there carefully shown. Taking she was staying, like myself, on account of her journeys amounting to 1,250 miles in all, which have health. I think that church is quite worthy of her been performed without accident of any kind, the munificence, and the desire of every one to see a consumption of oil was 35 per cent. less by weight monument of taste and elegance erected so success-than that of good patent compressed coal. Each fully as has been done by my friend Mr. Ferrey. The pound of fuel consumed evaporated 12lb. of water; large church of St. James, at Morpeth, and that than which a more satisfactory result could scarcely national work-the restoration of the Lady Chapel, and west front of Wells Cathedral-are further instances of his skill. I hope our friend may live one of the worthiest restorations of one of the finest to see the completion of the latter work, which is buildings undertaken by any architect of the present day. I may also mention, having reference to the medal, I shall have the honour to present, that our friend, amonst others, designed and built Esher Church. Her Majesty the Queen, when residing at Claremont, has recently seen the church, and, as I understand from the best authority, was much pleased with the building. Now I leave the churches; there are too many to be enumerated, and, indeed, I do not know how many there are. THE SOUTHALL, EALING, AND SHEP- A COMPANY under the above title has just been proposed and started for the purpose of conveying passengers, goods, and parcels in carriages to be drawn by horses or otherwise, on what are called tram-railways, on the high road from Southall to London. The engineers, when starting our present railway system, through opposition or other cause, laid their lines, not to connect, but far away from the then flourishing towns and villages on the high roads, and the inhabitants on this line of route have thereby, like others, suffered great inconvenience, from the very inadequate means of transit for passengers and goods to and from the metropolis. This is more especially felt at Ealing and Acton, the former having no direct communication with the North of London, nor the latter with the West End. This company, whose scheme has met with extensive approval from the inhabitants of these places and the neighbourhood, will remedy this evil, and by its tram-railway, afford a convenient and direct means of communication with all parts of London and intermediate places; also connecting and feeding the Great Western, the North-London, and Metropolitan Railways. The advantages presented by this company to ananufacturers, builders, coal merchants, market gardeners, and others, will be self obvious, as feeders, or sidings, can be laid at a trifling cost into their own premises from the main tram-railway. Trucks will also be provided for the conveyance of full and empty carts and waggons to and from LonThen I come to other buildings, and amongst them don, whereby a great saving of labourers' time I find the Dorset County Hospital, which is conand horses can be safely anticipated to the em-sidered a very good hospital, as I know; the Town ployer. It is proposed to run carriages for work-Hall at Dorchester is also his work. Then, going men at convenient hours, at low fares. to the sister country, he restores the barbican, the be hoped for. That the use of petroleum gas, and not of the petroleum in the ordinary condition, produces the best result appears to have been now firmed by the excellent results obtained with natural established, and this opinion is in a measure conpetroleum gas under the boilers at the Erie Water Works. These are now heated solely by the flow of natural gas from the well recently sunk there. The gas is conducted by a lin. pipe, without gasometer, through smaller pipes underneath the boilers. The flow has been steady, and less than one-half the amount has been necessary to keep up a pressure of 47lb. of steam to the inch, the usual pressure required. No coal whatever has been used since its introduction, the cost it saves being from 8 dollars to 10 dollars per day. Thus far it has only been conducted into the fire space under the boilers, but pipes will be put in to conduct it directly into the flues. Besides the saving of coal, the item of cleanliness is one worth taking into consideration. There is no smoke, no dust, no ashes, and nothing to do except turn a faucet to either shut off the heat or put on full force in a twinkling. Added to the intrinsic value of this well, the success in finding gas has opened a new channel of prosperity, and several prospects and enterprises, wherein the cost of fuel is the great item of expense, and whereby it may be made almost nominal, are already afoot, and doubtless some of them will be pushed through a fair trial. It is now proposed to bore specially for gas, to be used in the manufacture of iron, from which considerable economy and improved quality are anticipated.-"Mining Journal." Correspondence. SAFETY VALVES TO STEAM BOILERS. TO THE EDITOR OF THE " MECHANICS' MAGAZINE.' SIR,-The fearful frequency of steam boiler explosions is to me a mystery, as I consider that the safety valves should or ought always to allow the escape of steam before danger to the boiler could possibly occur. Professing entire ignorance as to the principle of their construction, I should greatly like to see a diagram as to the form of those in general use, having an idea that from some cause they do not act properly, and are not, therefore, safety valves in the strict sense of the word. It is a subject of great importance, and I think attention might be well directed to it.-I am, Sir, yours, &c., IGNORAMUS. ON AERONAUTICAL SCIENCE. SIR,-In a paper "On Aeronautical Science," appearing in your impression on the 17th inst., the writer is not very fair towards me, and when it is considered that his remarks are directed against a rival in the field, it does appear to me that they lose all pretension to be considered as fair criticism. But as this subject is truly of much more importance than many people are inclined to think, and as the condemnation of my scheme has been printed in your journal before the design itself has appeared in print, I do hope you will not consider my humble request impracticable in asking to be allowed to explain my invention in some future number of your Magazine. I would of course compress my subject into as few words as possible, and, whilst I should feel deeply obliged, I believe numbers of your readers would be as deeply interested in the subject.-I am, Sir, yours, c., R. STEWARD. [We shall be glad to insert Mr. Steward's remarks which he alludes to, and print this letter as an earnest of our intention to do so.-ED. M.M.] A STEADY SHIP'S COMPASS. EIR,-When a steam ship is light and running before a high sea the racing of the engines renders an ordinary compass almost useless. The liquid compass fails to meet this defect, and I had one constructed on the enclosed plan, which greatly reduced the swing. The principle is that of an ON June 4, seven ships loaded with crude and refined petroleum cleared at Philadelphia for Europe, carrying 1,168,000 gallons. The total shipments from Philadelphia are 5,000,000 gallons this year in excess of the exports to the same date last year, but this does not tell all the facts. The oil fleets already chartered in New York and Philadelphia will take out of the country, between this date and the middle of July, the enormous quantity of 10,000,000 gallons of refined oil. This shipment will constitute, by two or three millions of gallons, the largest export of petroleum within the first seven months of any year since terrene oil became an article of One thousand barrels per day were added to the production of crude oil during May, and some parties maintain that the yield has increased 1,500 barrels per day; yet the vast shipments abroad seem to balance the large increase of production.-"New York Daily Bulletin." commerce. advance. TO CORRESPONDENTS. THE MECHANICS MAGAZINE is sent post-free to subscribers To insure insertion in the following number, advertise- 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' MAGA (nine of them coloured), 2,073,112 white men, and 178,895 coloured men; 3,931 officers were killed in battle, or about one in 21; 38,793 white men, or about one in 54; and 1,514 coloured men, or about one in 118. There died of wounds received in action 2,069 officers, or about one in 41; 30,887 white men, or about one in 67; 1,037 coloured men, or about one in 173. These proportions are reversed when we come to deaths from disease while in the service. 1,723 officers died of disease, or about one in 49; 121,109 white men, or about one in 17; 26,211 These difcoloured men, or about one in seven. ferences are explained partly by the greater hardships and exposures of camp life among the privates than among the officers, partly by the careless disZINE, at the rate of 6d. per line, or 5d. per line for 13 inser-regard of health among the rank and file, and partly tions, or 4d. per line for 26 insertions. Each line consists by the same careless way of living among some of of about 10 words. Woodcuts are charged at the same rate the enlisted men before they entered the army. This as type. Special arrangements made for large advertise- last cause is believed to apply especially to the coloured men, and the returns are regarded as proving that it is an error to suppose that men "living in all sorts of ways," careless about regularity as to meals, and reckless of exposure to hardships, become hardy and able to stand anything. The totals show that among the officers 6,000 lost their lives from injuries received in battle, and only 1,723 from disease; among the white men 69,680 by battle injuries, and 121,109 by disease. Among the coloured men Statistics of this class can seldom be complete, and it has to be added that other deaths, chiefly from unknown causes, bring the whole mortality up to the following figures:-Officers, 9,314, or about one in 9; white men, 251,722, or about one in 8; coloured men, 33,372, or about one in 5. The total loss, therefore, is stated at 294,415. ments. RECEIVED.-J. W.-W. B.-N. H. S.-J. S. D.-W. T.- Meetings for the Week. MON.-Royal Institution.-General Monthly Meeting, at 2,551 by sword or gun, and 16,211 by disease. 2 p.m. Habal, Military, and Gunnery Items. THE paddle steamer "Lightning," 296 tons, 100-horse power, now at Portsmouth, is under orders to take a line of soundings across the Channel, probably between Cape Grisnez and the English coast line south of Dover. It has been proposed to lay a tubular railway between England and France on the bed of the Channel, and the soundings to be taken by the "Lightning are understood to be one of the tests of the practicability of the scheme. THE new Flying Squadron, which will leave England about the second week in October, under the command of Rear-Admiral Beauchamp Seymour, C.B., will consist of the "Narcissus," flagship, 35 guns, 2,665 tons, and 400-horse power; the "Glasgow," 28 guns, 3,037 tons, and 600-horse power; the "Aurora," 35 guns, 2,556 tons, and 400-horse power; the "Volage," 8 guns, 2,332 tons, and 600-horse power; and probably two corvettes of the "Jason" class. The Channel Squadron is without a commander-in-chief. Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas M. C. Symonds has, for the time being, retired into private life, and Vice-Admiral the Hon. James R. Drummond, C.B., is, we understand, hesitating whether he should place his services at the disposal of the country and succeed Sir Thomas, or take that rest to which, after many years of hard work, he is fairly entitled. It is to be hoped for the good of the service and for other excellent reasons that he will yet elect to hoist his flag on board the "Minotaur"; he cannot do so at a more opportune time than the present. The ships are all in very fair order, the officers and men have been long together, and on October 1 he will have something to say as to the choice of the future second in command.-" Army and Navy Gazette." "VERITAS," in a letter to the "Times," respecting Admiralty coal, says :-Referring to a letter which appeared in the "Times" of the 14th inst., signed "H.," I deem it necessary to inform the public how the matter really stands. Your correspondent is doubtless desirous of saying what he knows on the subject, but then his knowledge is so exceedingly limited that his letter is calculated to misguide that portion of the public which is not aware of the working of the present system on which the Admiralty purchases of coal are made for Her Majesty's ships. To make the necessary comparison between the old system and the new, the former Admiralty list comprised a very large number of coals of the most inferior qualities, with a difference of 5s. a ton in their value, and some that had not been worked for 20 years. The contractors naturally shipped the cheapest they could get on the list, and consequently the worst. The result was that the best north country steam coal was never used by the British navy. How has the Admiralty become acquainted with "the quality of the coal raised in every important colliery in the kingdom," &c.? Only by employing an agent who thoroughly understands what coal is; and, for H.'s information, I would tell him that coal of the best quality is mixed with inferior sorts out of different seams, from the same mine. And does not this require constant supervision by the Admiralty agent? In carrying out another part of the system, by buying direct from the coalowners, who have undertaken the delivery of the highest qualities of steam coal to the near and distant stations or depots, a clear saving to the country has been effected during the last 12 months of about £18,000. Touching the question of the admixture of Welsh with north country steam coal, the saving, when fully computed, arising from the disintegrated and otherwise unconsumable particles of the Welsh coal being utilised by the semi-bituminous nature of the north country coal will amount, it has been estimated, to about £50,000 more. Í quite concur with "H." in desiring there should be no mystery in such a matter, and the facts as made public will be greatly to the benefit of those who are interested in steam navigation. AN experiment was made on Friday last at the Easter-road Barracks by the Edinburgh Militia Artillery, which is noteworthy as probably the first time that heavy guns of position have been handled with ease and rapidity without horses, bullocks, or elephants. By means of Thomson's road steamer two guns of 50cwt. were moved at six miles an hour, and wheeled while moving at that rate in a space eight yards in breadth. They were placed in position with a precision and rapidity that could scarcely be attained by any other means with guns THE interest of the annual banquet given by the of equal weight. This, it may be remarked, is the Mayor to the managers of the affairs of the school first time that Thomson's road steamers have been frigate "Conway," and which was celebrated on actually applied to heavy artillery. It is extremely Friday, June 24, was very considerably enhanced by probable that they will be largely used in future the presence of M. de Lesseps, who, with his wife military operations. We understand that a number and Mr. Lange, arrived at Lime-street Station at of these engines is being made for the British and 5-40 on Friday, where they were met by Mr. Indian Governments, and that they will in future Rayner, town clerk, and the French Vice-consul, probably be in constant use by all civilized armies. and conveyed in the Mayor's state carriage to the the commencement of a new and important applica-pointed for 7 o'clock, and soon after that hour all Friday's work will, therefore, be quoted in future as Adelphi Hotel. The Town Hall banquet was aption of steam to warlike purposes. We understand the guests, numbering about 90, had assembled. that Mr. Thomson has offered the loan of engines to transport the guns in charge of our regiment of Militia Artillery to Dalkeith. The value of the appliance can be judged when we state that these heavy guns could be brought into action at Dalkeith, which is six miles from Edinburgh, within an hour and a half after the order was received to march from Edinburgh.-"Scotsman." GENERAL SHANKS, who served in the Federal Army in the civil war, and is now a member of Congress, from Indiana, has compiled the following statistics' from official records and other sources. He states that the whole number of men in the Federal army in the course of the four years of the war was 2,335,951, viz. :-83,944 commissioned officers After proposing the usual loyal toasts, the Mayor (Mr. Hubback) proposed, in complimentary terms, M. The Health of the Emperor of the French," which was duly honoured and responded to in French by M. de Lesseps. Mr. Clarke Aspinall replied to the toast of "The President and Council of the School Frigate Conway."" "The Health of M. de Lesseps was then given from the chair, and was received with great demonstrations of respect. de Lesseps replied in French, declaring himself more profoundly affected by the greetings of this centre of commerce and intelligence than by all the compliments which had been paid him since the accomplishment of his task. He considered Liverpool as the depot of the civilization of the world, priated especially to private excursion parties, and we earnestly hope there will be no delay in placing these elegant and homelike carriages upon the principal routes in the New England States, and we will do all in our power to accomplish this end. Resolved, That our cordial thanks are also given to Mr. A. B. Pullman, General Superintendent Pullman Palace Car Company, who has accompanied us on our journey, for his personal attention, and for his unceasing endeavours to promote our convenience and enjoyment. Resolved, That these resolutions be published in the "Trans-Continental," as a testimonial to the Messrs. Pullman in which we, the passengers by this train, unanimously and heartily unite. not merely as regarded commerce, but literature, in to inaugurate the new buildings which have been proof of which he referred to the presence that erected during the past twelvemonth, a somewhat evening of Mr. Pendlebury, a native of Liverpool, larger number of visitors than usual attended. Tea who had been senior wrangler. The Mayor proposed and coffee were served in the open air, and also in "The Health of the Senior Wrangler, Mr. R. one of the new rooms, and between 200 and 300 in Pendlebury," to which that gentleman made a brief all-working men, with their wives, sisters, and and appropriate response. The toasts of "The other friends-sat down. Tea was followed by a Town and Trade of Liverpool" and the "Vice-musical performance by the College choir, which is Presidents" brought the proceedings to a close. composed of about 25 voices, under the leadership On Saturday M. and Madame de Lesseps and Mr. of Mr. Lichfield. The new buildings, which are in Lange were driven through the town, and inspected the rear of the College, are as yet in an unfinished the different buildings of interest. They afterwards state; they are of red brick faced with stone. The embarked on board the Mersey Docks Board steamer architect is Mr. William Webb. They consist of "Alert," and had an excellent view of the river and six class and lecture rooms surrounding the inner docks. In the evening they dined with Mr. Thomas court; they are airy and spacious, and lit with Harrison, at his residence, Fulwood, Aigburth. windows in the roof. Two of them are to be set Mr. Harrison represents the firm of Messrs. T. and apart as art studios, the one for drawing from the J. Harrison, who have embarked largely in the life and the other from "the round." Another steam trade via the Suez Canal, and who have been room, to be devoted to Natural Science, will enable wisely sanguine of the success of the enterprise the College to add to its other attractions a chemical from the first. On Monday morning M. de Lesseps class. The cost of these rooms thus far is nearly was presented with addresses from the Chamber of £2,000, but an additional £1,000 at least will be Commerce and the mercantile associations at the necessary in order to complete the design satisfacTown-hall. torily. Among the donors to the fund for erecting those additional rooms are-His Royal Highness the THE Abridged Specifications of Patents given below are Prince of Wales, the Duke of Argyll, Mr. Cowper-classified, according to the subject to which the respective Temple, M.P., Lady De Grey, Sir T. F. Buxton, inventions refer, in the following table. By the system Mr. C. Buxton, M.P., Sir John Lubbock, Mr. of classification adopted, the numerical and chronological Somerset Beaumont, M.P., Mr. Hastings Russell, all the advantages of a division into classes. It should be M.P., the late Duchess Dowager of Sutherland, Mr. understood that these abridgments are prepared excluSamuel Morley, M.P., Mr. J. S. Mill, &c. Among sively for this Magazine from official copies supplied by the visitors last evening were-Mr. Thomas Hughes, the Government, and are, therefore, the property of the M.P., and Mrs. Hughes, the Rev. F. D. Maurice, Proprietors of this Magazine. Other papers are hereby warned not to produce them without an acknowledge Mrs. Maurice, and Miss Macintosh. ment: Miscellanea. forwarded to the Board of Trade. Patents for Juventions. ABRIDGED SPECIFICATIONS OF PATENTS. order of the specifications is preserved and combined with 3586 BOILERS AND FURNACES-3536, 3568 FOOD AND BEVERAGES, including the apparatus for pre- paring food for men and animals-3527, 3540, 3546 time-keepers, jewellery, musical instruments, &c.- GENERAL MACHINERY-3516, 3517, 3563, 3585, 3597 MISCELLANEOUS-3515, 3528, 3529, 3534, 3547, 3558, 3560, 3561, 3566, 3567, 3582 THE verdict of the jury on the railway accident on the Great Northern line at Newark, was as follows:-"We believe that Major Kershaw Hurst and others came by their deaths on the Great Northern Railway, within the borough of Newark, on Tuesday, the 21st inst., by the accidental breakON Friday, the 24th ult., at the ordinary meeting ing of an axle belonging to the waggon No. 3,238, of the directors of the North-Eastern Railway Combelonging to the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln-pany at York, the circumstances attending the shire Railway Company. From the evidence given accident which occurred on Wednesday morning we believe that the luggage train was driven at too near Newcastle were taken into consideration, as great a speed from Retford to the scene of the was also the gallant conduct of Steel, an engine accident. We are also of opinion that the fracture driver, residing at Newcastle, and the praiseworthy in the axle which caused it to break had been in conduct of the guard and stoker who were with him existence some length of time and that the axle was on the occasion. It was reported to the directors, not fit for use, and we think there should be some that Steel seeing, after the accident, the runaway limit or maximum time of use. We are also of engine proceeding in the direction of the Newcastle opinion that there should be some means devised station, where, if it had entered, it might have caused for the periodical testing of axles, the jury being of an immense destruction of property and loss of life, opinion that the present system is defective" The with great presence of mind, followed on his own above recommendations the jury desired might be engine on the same line. Having come up as closo as possible to the runaway engine, he made a spring THE exports of railway iron from the United upon it, and fortunately stopped it in time to Kingdom would appear to be still increasing, hav- prevent any accident. The guard also leaped after ing amounted in April to 96,876 tons, as compared him, but missed the engine and fell by the side of with 85,147 tons in April, 1869, and 58,904 tons in the line. The directors feeling that this gallant April, 1868. Russia took 20,619 tons, against 21,166 conduct should not go unrewarded, Steel was sent tons in April, 1869, and 2,019 tons in April, 1868; for to York. After the Board meeting he was the United States, 37,016 tons, against 33,565 tons, called in to the room, and was addressed by the in April, 1869, and 32,116 tons in April, 1868; and chairman of the company (Mr. H. S. Thompson), India, 15,986 tons, against 6,517 tons in April, 1869, who said that the directors had under consideration and 8,016 tons in April, 1868. The American and the conduct pursued by Steel and his two colRussian demand would seem to have reached its leagues who were with him on the shunting engine, 3511 S. ALLEY, Glasgow. maximum, but it will be seen that there was a large and having heard from Mr. Fletcher, the superin- ber 4, 1869. increase in April as regards India. In the four tendent, the whole of the circumstances, they were This consists in constructing a vertical or nearly vertical months ending April 30 this year, the aggregate anxious to express to him personally their admira-wall to extend to a depth sufficiently low to prevent the proquantity of railway iron exported was 306,027 tons, tion of the bold, prompt, skilful, and brave action pagation of the wave action under it to any effective extent. as compared with 233,353 tons in the corresponding displayed on the occasion, especially by the driver. This wall has fixed to or formed on its back at the upper part one or more watertight compartments which float it, and period of 1869, and 178,931 tons in the correspond- With a view, therefore, not only to their encourage the structures is made in section of convenient length horiing period of 1868. The exports have increased ment, but that of all the other servants of the com-zontally which are connected together, and which are secured to moorings situated before and behind them.this year to Prussia, Holland, Spain, Roumania, the pany under similar circumstances of danger, the Patent completed. United States (very slightly), Cuba, Brazil, Chili, directors felt it was due to them, and also to the British America, and India (largely); but they public, for whose safety the directors were neceshave decreased to Russia, France, Egypt, Peru, and sarily most anxious, to mark their sense of the Australia. The value of the railway iron exported conduct of the three men in a substantial manner. in the four months ending April 30, was £2,471,407, They should, therefore, place in the savings bank as compared with £1,783,572 in the corresponding the sum of £50 for the use of Steel, present £20 to period of 1869, and £1,375,684 in the corresponding the guard, and £10 to the stoker. The directors period of 1868. had also determined to give to each man a silver tion. ROADS AND VEHICLES, including railway' plant and car- Breakwater. Dated Decem 3512 J. KNOWLES, Burnley. Rotary engines. Dated De cember 4, 1869. This consists principally of a cylinder or circular chamber divided into two equal compartments by a fixed partition or diaphragm. Through the centre of this double cylinder passes the axle, upon which are keyed or otherwise fixed circular blocks, which are of the same width as the interior of the cylinders, and are provided with pistons or projections fitting in the space between the ence of the cylinders, the pistons being placed on opposite 3513 J. WALKER, Clayton-le-Moors. Washing blankets. Dated December 4, 1869. THE proposed suspension bridge over the Hudson/watch, in which would be placed a suitable inscrip- outside of the circular blocks and the inside circumferRiver near New York, stated to be America's greatest engineering work, will extend across the THE following resolutions were passed at a meet-sides of the axle in the two cylinders so as to avoid having river from Fort Clinton, on the west side, to ing of the Boston excursion party in San Francisco, any dead plate.-Patent abandoned. Resolved, That we, the Anthony's Nose on the east, with one clear span of Just after their arrival. 1,600ft., and an elevation of 155ft. above high-water passengers by the Boston Board of Trade Pullman mark. The total length of the bridge, including Atlantic to the Pacific, having now been a week excursion train, the first through train from the approaches, will be about 2,500ft. The entire structure will be composed of steel combination truss and cable work, of great strength and graceful appearance. There will be four systems of 20 cables deeply rooted in the rock, and abutments of The improved material from which the inventor manurubber when in the soft state, that is to say, previously to factures such blankets is produced as follows:-The indiapowdered cork; the cork by the pressure of rollers being its being vulcanised, is covered on one surface with partially embedded in the india-rubber, firmly adheres thereto; the rollers may be engraved or cut to any design, so as to produce a corresponding pattern on the cork or the towers on either side of the river. Each cable our admiration of the skill and energy which have absorbent surface of the metal.-Patent abandoned. will be about 14in. in diameter, interlaced and secured by innumerable smaller cables, and will contain altogether 371,165,750ft., or 70,302 miles of steel wire. The estimated weight of the iron and steel in the bridge will be about 17,000 tons, and the total suspended weight 9,651 this period, ample opportunity to test the character 3514 H. ALEXANDRE, Paris. Organs. Dated December 4, 1869. This consists in avoiding the intermittences of wind in the bellows or blowing apparatus, and in obtaining a continuous wind. The mechanism comprises two modes, one purely mechanical, the other an indicator to learn without a teacher to blow into the reservoir, which is fitted to pumps as usual to arrange a mechanism, which by making the pumps as one at a certain moment allows of putting one pump into action before the other has entirely proracks, springs, or other mechanical means.—Patent duced its useful effect; this result is obtained by levers, completed. yards of solid masonry will be required. It is efforts; and that we extend to him our sincere taining this result. The first consists in employing two believed that the bridge, when completed, will be able to sustain the aggregate weight of 60 locomo-wishes for such a degree of prosperity to attend all tives, or more than six times the weight that can his operations as will be proportionate to his merits ever be crowded upon it at one time. The estimated liberal railroad men of the present day. Resolved, as one of the most public spirited, sagacious, and cost of the work has not yet been announced. That we take pleasure in witnessing, as we journey from point to point, through the Western States, the many evidences of Mr. Pullman's enterprise and the extent of his operations in the cars which we meet belonging to the Pullman Company, attached to the regular trains for the use of the public, or appro ON Thursday evening, June 23, the summer conversazione of the professors and pupils of the Working Men's College was held in Great Ormondstreet, Bloomsbury. It was a very pleasant gathering, and as part of the purpose of the evening was 3515 D. A. WOODWARD, Baltimore. Fluid lenses. Dated of metal or other suitable material, thus forming cells for holding fluid, whereby a fluid lens or any combination of fluid lenses may be made of any required focus, and of a size much larger than can be made of solid glass, and by means of the spherical or parabolically curved glasses, the metallic rebated rings and system of cementing which are employed, a combination of cells may be formed for holding fluids of different indices of refraction, thus forming a fluid lens which will overcome both spherical and chromatic aberration in its own construction, and also whereby reflectors can be made of any of the precise and exact curvature hereinbefore mentioned, the shells of glass being silvered by any method that can be used for the silvering of mirrors.-Patent completed. 3516 J. MACQUIRE, Inchicore, Dublin. Packing glands. Dated December 4, 1869. The packing, whether metallic or otherwise, will be forced against the surface of the piston or other sliding rod by the action of the steam, air, or other elastic vapour employed on the back of the packing, thereby making the gland steam tight with a minimum friction. This improved gland dispenses with the trouble and cost of the frequent packing hitherto necessary.-Patent abandoned. 3517 A. RIPLEY and J. WORMALD, Southwark. Pipe wrench. Dated December 4, 1869. This invention relates to an improved wrench designed expressly for grasping round surfaces of different diameters, such as those of pipe bars and studs, but will also grasp oval, rectangular, or other surfaces. The invention was illustrated in the last number of the MECHANICS' MAGAZINE.-Patent completed. 3518 D. WALDHAUER, New York, U.S.A. Harness. Dated December 4, 1869. This consists in a grooved metallic sleeve fitted on the draught pole or thill and connected to the draught animal by means of a clamp which is attached to the girth or body band and to the saddle in such a manner that the draught animal can be readily connected and disconnected and that the draught pole or thill is protected against wear from the belts usually employed to form the connection between the draught pole or thill and the draught animal. The said sleeve is provided with a recess to receive the end of a metallic trace or draught bar in such a manner that the said draught bar is held firmly in connection with the sleeve as long as the said sleeve is attached to the pole or thill, but as soon as the sleeve is withdrawn from the pole or thill it disconnects automatically from the draught bar or trace.-Patent completed. 3519 T. CLARK, Cheapside. cember 4, 1869. Umbrellas, &c. Dated De 3525 J. B. SPENCE, Manchester. Manufacture of alum. the manufacture of paper. Dated December 6, 1869. 3527 J. T. PRINCE, Boston, U.S.A. Hulling grain. Dated This consists chiefly in forming the periphery of a The inventor takes a strip of paper, and having pasted The object is to dispense with the necessity for using a separate loose case, which it is preferred to effect by adapting to the cover of the umbrella and affixing thereto another piece of the same material as the cover is made of.-Patent completed. 3520 S. CHATWOOD and J. CROMPTON, Bolton-le-Moors. Escape valve. Dated December 4, 1869. The inventors apply to the waste water pipe of the engine, cylinder, or such other steam vessel as the ratus may be used for an apparatus consisting of a short vertical pipe open at the top, which should be at a lower level than the cylinder or other steam vessel; around the upper part of the pipe is formed a valve face, the face being downwards. The upper part of the pipe with the valve face above mentioned is enclosed within a small vessel closed at the top and having at its lower end a neck which fits on a parallel part of the pipe below the valve face, and carries a corresponding valve seating set with its face upwards, so that when the vessel is lifted up the valve and seating are in close and steamtight contact, and when the vessel drops the seatings separate, and allow any fluid contained in the vessel to escape through grooves or openings left in the neck.-Patent completed. 3521 J. L. BOOTH, Rochester, U.S.A. Rails. Dated December 4, 1869. This consists of a compound rail for railways formed by first rolling the cap and base separately and then applying them together and passing them together through a rolling or compressing machine, whereby they are firmly united and without being heated for the purpose.-Patent completed. 3522 T. PRIDEAUX, Sheffield. Calcining gas limes. Dated December 6, 1869. The inventor takes the gas lime and thoroughly incorporates the substances formed by the passing of the gas through the lime with the portion of the lime which may yet remain in the caustic state. He accomplishes this mixture by grinding the said gas lime in a mortar mill or other suitable machine, and by preference he uses the gas lime as dry as it can be obtained, although in some cases he adds water with advantage.-Patent completed. 3523 W. SHANKS, Johnstone, N.B. Forging horseshoes. Dated December 6, 1869. The principal parts are carried upon and within a massive cast-iron table or frame of a rectangular form, and are contrived so as to cut successive lengths of iron from a rod or bar to bend each round a core or mandrel, to compress or indent it if required and to finally discharge it. The core or mandrel projects up through an opening in the front part of the table top, and the rod length is entered in a transverse horizontal direction into its proper position behind it by the action on the uncut part of the rod of a pair of entering rollers. The length or blank about to be forged or shaped is pushed up against a stop suitably adjusted at the side opposite to that of its entrance, and it serves itself as a stop for the next length whilst the latter is being cut from the rod. The cutting or shearing lever is fixed on a transverse horizontal spindle at the right hand side of the machine, and the rod is entered through a hole in it, and passes on through a guide in a holder fixed to the table.-Patent completed. 3524 L. A. FARJON, Brussels. Forming iron pipes. Dated December 6, 1869. This consists of an improved mode of forming the joints of pipes or tubes, whereby greater simplicity and economy are obtained. The ends of the pipes on the outside are formed of rather greater diameter than the body of the said pipes tapering down so as to form a conical collar or projection round the ends of the said pipes. A strip of lead is shaped by casting or rolling so as to fit the conical projections on the ends of two pipes, and the said strip of lead is formed with a central rib, underneath which said rib projects into a space left between the ends of the pipes to prevent them from touching each other, and to allow of their expanding.-Patent completed. This consists in providing the main trough with a raising and lowering of the main poles or supports of the This consists in constructing a tubular vessel, one end abandoned. 3532 J. SWIFT, Wigan. Safety lamps. Dated December 3533 G. DOWLER and Cartridges. Dated December 7, 1869. The cartridge has been fired and the compound case extracted from the gun the smaller tube is withdrawn from the larger one. The smaller one may be re-charged with powder and the larger one with a projectile or shot, and the parts put together again.-Patent abandoned. 3534 J. JONAS, Fenchurch-street, E.C. Packing tea, &c. Dated December 7, 1869. by a screw or other suitable means, as heretofore, to One form of tie consists of a piece of metal made with eyes or loops somewhat in the fashion of part of a hinge and with a slotted opening. One end of the lashing is passed through the slotted opening and bent over, whilst the other end is bent into the form of a loop through which and through the eyes or loops of the "tie," a solid or split pin is passed to connect the parts firmly together, after which the end or ends may be turned up to prevent the pin accidentally falling out. Or if desired such pin may be cut with a screw thread. The aforesaid "tie " may be made of sheet metal bent and cut into the shape desired, or it may be otherwise formed.-Patent aban doned. 3536 W. SCOTT, Hawick, N.B. Furnaces. Dated December 7, 1869. This consists in the roasting of the green_coal in a retort placed in contact with the furnace. From this retort the gases escape at a high temperature into the furnace itself by pipes or other communication. When the extraction of the gas has taken place in the retort the residue of coke is removed and acts as fuel for the furnace in combination with the gases from the retort freshly charged with green coal.-Patent abandoned. 3537 J. WATSON, Montrose, N.B. Electric printing. Dated December 7, 1869. The inventor mounts the paper to be printed by ordinary electric-telegraph printing apparatus upon a cylinder of wood, metal, or other suitable material, the cylinder being fitted with a female screw and arranged to work in combination with a male screw so as to cause the cylinder to rotate and travel under suitable telegraphic printing apparatus.-Patent abandoned. 3538 C. VAVIN, Paris. Separating metals from foreign substances. Dated December 7, 1869. This consists in the employment of soft iron rings, each ring connecting several poles of the same name of natural or artificial magnets, the magnetism of which is obtained without the medium of electricity, the successive surfaces of these rings or equivalent surfaces being united on the same axis, and forming a cylindrical surface which serves to retain by magnetic attraction bodies which are allowed to fall on to it, whilst the bodies not subject to magnetic attraction not adhering to it may be collected separately. -Patent completed. 3539 F. A. HARRISON, Birmingham. Buckle. Dated December 7, 1869. This consists of two separate pieces of metal which are cut from two metal blanks, and being afterwards formed and finished by dress tools constitute in themselves when put together the buckle or fastening which is the subject of this invention.-Patent abandoned. 3540 J. CHILDS, Victoria-street, S. W. bread. Dated December 7, 1869. Manufacture of In place of the water or of a portion of the water the inventor places a fermented liquid in the condenser and charges it with gas. He finds that fermented liquors absorb gas much more readily than water does. He makes the dough with the liquor in the usual way. In some cases he prepares an extract or wort from grain or other material, and ferments it in a close vessel so that the carbonic acid gas resulting from the fermentation may be retained under pressure and so caused to be absorbed by the liquid. The inventor employs in connection with the fermenting vessel a surplus gas holder, into which the surplus gas when it exceeds a certain pressure 8 allowed to pass.-Patent completed. 3541 A. PONSARD, Paris. Crucibles. Dated December 7, 1869. It is proposed to cover the products made with these substances with a protective coating which enables every description of separating material to be manufactured and applied to the construction of crucibles, furnace hearths, vaults, and even to the entire construction of reheating furnaces and glass furnaces, linings for Bessemer converters, crucibles and linings of blast furnaces, steel crucible furnaces, kilns for the baking of ceramic products, saggars, pots for glass works, and their banks, basins for glass melting furnaces without crucibles, and other like purposes. The pieces having been made and dried are covered with a highly concentrated solution of chloride of calcium which penetrates the dry materials to a certain depth and is perfectly refractory. This first layer is then dried in a stove and coated with a coating compound of materials susceptible of being melted at a temperature approaching to that to which the pieces will be subsequently subjected. These materials are silica and clay diluted with a solution of chloride of calcium. the proportion of which varies according to the degree of jected and to the refractory quality which it is required to temperature to which the articles made are to be subimpart to them. These materials on melting form a continuous layer which protects the carbon from contact with the oxidising gases.-Patent completed. ends, of the length of the cartridge to be made, and ex- 3452 C. WYNDHAM, Southover. Velocipedes. Dated December 7, 1869. This consists in forming notches or recesses in the face or some other convenient part of the jointed leg, which has to be lowered on to the ground as referred to in the provisional specification of the inventor's application for a patent of October 9, 1869 (No. 2,947.) These notches are for a tooth on the end of a pawl or drop bar to fall into and hold the leg secure at an angle when pressure is put upon it, should the leg be resting upon ground of a higher |