field for the Val de Travers cement. The cost would probably have been beyond what the Board would have felt justified in incurring. It is to be regretted that, as laid, the Embankment roadway threatens to be very dusty in dry weather, and very muddy in wet seasons. But this indeed is a defect applying to the new pavement. It does not give foothold to the horses, and the applied remedy is to cover it with gravel, which is ground into dust when dry, and pugged into mud when wet.

The report of the Metropolitan Board of Works, just published, is an interesting document, containing a large number of important statements and facts. As touching the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, for instance, it is stated that it embraces 377 men, that the brigade has in charge three floating fire-engines driven by steam power, 25 land steam fire-engines, and 56 fire-engines worked by hand. The brigade attended, last year, 1,825 fires, as against 1,585 in the preceding year. These are exclusive of chimney fires, of which there were 2,590 recorded last year. Government contributes £10,000 a year to the Fire Brigade; the Fire Insurance Companies £14,896; a halfpenny rate over the metropolis realises £68,998; the remainder of the expenditure is made up of chimney-fire penalties, and amounts received for special services.

Mr. Childers' arrangements to produce eco- an oil farm-the M'Cray-has been recently sold nomy with efficiency at Whitehall. for a million dollars, and that the monthly yield of But greater and more dangerous errors the farm is 1,659 barrels, worth about 34 dollars than those above specified have been com- per barrel. The daily income of the holder of a mitted in the coaling and victualling of our very rich oil district is put down at the fabulous sum of 7,000 dollars per day !—a statement to be navy. It is well known that since the con- received with a grain of salt. Although there tract system has been abolished by the may not be in the United Kingdom any such rich Admiralty, what is designated the "purchase springs as there are in Pennsylvania, there is good system" has been introduced. The gentle-reason to believe that there is in this country a man who has been sufficiently fortunate to wide field and prolific source of hitherto unknown, receive the appointment of coal buyer to the unheeded, and undeveloped wealth of this nature. Admiralty is, no doubt, well satisfied with The "great country " is prolific in "notions," the arrangements under this head, as he re- as well as in shale oil. One of the most recent ceives a commission of 3d. per ton on each would be peculiarly opportune to the Parisians if ton purchased for the navy. But this they were in a condition to take advantage of it; arrangement is exceedingly disadvantageous, it is good news for the hippophagi, and for those and seriously affects the efficiency of our who think that horses and donkeys should be put fleet. Instead of our ships being supplied to very different uses than hauling omnibuses or with a smokeless coal, whereby a large fleet costermongers' barrows. The invention to which of steamships might be in comparatively close we are referring originates at New Orleans, and is proximity to a hostile fleet without being rubber springs. a self-acting omnibus worked by coiled indiaBeneath the carriage to be observed, the immense clouds of smoke which drawn, which is placed upon a platform, there is now issue from their funnels would at once a powerful spring of indiarubber coiled round a betray their presence, and would probably large wheel, which acts in the same way as the result in the escape of the enemy. This drum upon which the mainspring of a watch is results from the coal buyer under the pur- wound. The indiarubber band is slightly vulchase system purchasing coal of inferior de- canised, is round, and about 2țin. in diameter. scription, and not confining himself to the When the drum is wound up, the necessary conWelsh smokeless coal with which our navy tractile power is given for the haulage of the car. Works is estimated at £1,200,000, and for prowas previously supplied. It is said that The rubber rolls are fastened to the under side of perty and compensations £450,000. The Southern £18,000 are saved annually by this system, wheels upon each side to the drum. The length of is estimated to cost £309,000 for works, and the platform, and passed along by five fixed roller Embankment, also opened in the last Board year, but, if the efficiency of our fleet is thereby rubber roll for an ordinary street car is about £771,616 for property and compensations. For imperilled, it may be truly designated a 125ft. Backing apparatus is applied and the the current year the estimate for improvements, "miserable economy." But this is not all speed can be regulated by a horizontal wheel, or and for fire brigade, is £897,000. The improveabout the coal business. "The principle of circular lever with the utmost nicety. The ments include main drainage and sewers, the present Government has been to live machine can be wound whilst in motion. The upon the stores which had been provided by experimental trips have been pronounced perfectly the care of their predecessors." In 1869, we satisfactory. What next? had 59,199 tons of coal in our foreign coal depôts, and on January 1, 1870, this had been reduced to 27,026 tons. It will scarcely be believed that neither of our great fortresses, Malta and Gibraltar, had coal enough in store for more than one ship. Our other foreign stations were in a similar condition. Mr. Childers may call this economy, but we do not, neither will the public when the facts become known.

The same deceptive and ruinous policy pursued in the instances above named has been carried out with the entire store department. Provisions which had been provided in large quantities at our home and foreign depôts were consumed, but not replaced, whereby an apparent economy was effected. New stores, as well as old, were thus disposed of; seasoned timber thrown upon the market at

The Metropolitan Board of Works has not, as
yet, elected a chairman, but it has done a greater
and better thing in securing for the people of
of London, in perpetuity, the right to use the
greater part of Hampstead Heath as a breathing
The lord of the
place and recreation ground.
manor, Sir John Maryon Wilson, had legal rights,
and the settlement of these rights might have
involved interminable litigation but for the
powers with which the Board is invested, and the
excellent spirit in which the Board and the lord
of the manor have conducted and concluded the
negociations. The sum paid to secure finally this
great public boon has been £45,000, of well spent
money. Taking this important performance in
connection with the completion and opening,
during the past year, of the Victoria and the
South Thames Embankments, and with the pro-
gress, to a stage so near completion, of the
Metropolitan Main Drainage Works, it may not be
said that the Board are do-nothings.

The total cost of the Victoria Embankment

£497,000; Park-lane improvement, £123,000; Chelsea Embankment, £135,000; Stingo-lane, £50,000; Finsbury and Southwark Parks, Whitechapel and Kensington, and other minor improvements, £77,000; and Fire Brigade, £15,000. The property of the metropolis has increased, according to the last assessment, from £16,257,000 in the preceding year to £18,719,000 in last year. The amount required for the expenditure of the Board for the current year will be met by a rate of a shade_above 5d. in the pound over the metropolis. The Board appears to have looked well after the public interests in meeting claims for property and compensations. For property on the embankment there were 56 claimants who required £426,207, but were paid off with £273,499. In Queen Victoria-street there were 556 claimants, who scheduled themselves for £2,612,106, but accepted £1,990,377 in payment of their claims.

It is much to be desired that in the next session

of Parliament the Metropolitan Board of Works, or the Board of Trade, should bring in a bill, and carry it to a successful issue, for the provision of

subways in all the principal thoroughfares in the metropolis, and for compelling the gas and water companies to use them for their mains. This important question, which has been under discussion for years, has been revived in connection with the new system of paving. It matters comparatively little what mode of paving is employed, or the facilities with which it can be taken up and replaced; the head and front of the nuisance, which must be got quit of sooner or later, is the constant breaking up of the streets for the purpose of relaying larger mains, and for repairs. The necessity for this is constantly and rapidly increasing, and within a very limited time matters must come to a dead lock, from the steady and large increase in the consumption of gas alone, leaving out of consideration altogether the question of water mains. In 1866 the quantity

one-sixth of its value," and the notorious On a former occasion we expressed regret "Seely's pigs," which had been proved to a that the Victoria Embankment should be disParliamentary committee to be worth about figured and its beauty so seriously marred by the £4 per ton, were sold for half that sum. It gasworks' coal wharf, at its very commencement appears, however, that the greatest blunder at Blackfriars Bridge. Our fears as to the of all was committed in connection with the injurious effect of this provision have been more sale of the anchors. There was a splendid than realized, as any one will admit who notices stock of anchors in store, of all sizes, but, the numerous coal barges moored, or unloading, more especially, of large ones, suitable for at the eastern end of the embankment. For the our largest ships of war. These anchors rest the Metropolitan Board has done and is doing were admitted to be as perfect and sound as its work in the decoration and completion of the anchors could be, but they were all sold at Victoria Embankment in the best manner. By "one fell swoop," at £6 per ton, their original District Railway Company has not an eye more the way it seems strange that the Metropolitan cost being from £30 to £10 per ton. The dock-sensitively alive to "the becomins," as Judge yard superintendent at Portsmouth was so as- Halliburton would say. The great signboards on tounded at this transaction that he disobeyed the Charing Cross Station of the underground orders, and delayed the delivery of the anchors line have their letterings to Villiers-street on the of gas consumed in the metropolis was stated in store at that yard, the result being that the one side and to the Embankment on the other at 8,500 millions of cubic feet. The certiAdmiralty gave way to his remonstrance, If these boards are to be what "Jeames" would fied accounts of the Metropolitan Gas Comand the anchors at Portsmouth remain there. call a "pummancy," they ought to be supported We cannot, within the scope of one article, deal with this question in the comprehensive manner it demands. There are many other flagrant cases of gross mismanagement which we must refer to in a future number.

NOTES BY QUIDNUNC. HE lessees of the valuable seam of oil shale ferred to in the notes of last week, are likely to read with interest the account of the immense value of the oil springs of Pennsylvania, as given in recent numbers of New York papers. It is stated that

in a manner less offensive to the eye than they
are now. The roof of the station, and behind the
scenes the scene painter's loft, so to speak were
not intended to be seen by the public, but the
roof of the station and the rude supports of the
great signboards, straddling at a great variety of
angles, are seen daily by thousands of passengers
using the Charing Cross Railway, and we would
recommend Lord Devon and his colleagues upon
the Metropolitan District Company's Board, to
note the excessive ugliness of the fittings upon the

trast with the beautiful garden grounds which are
being laid out in the same locality. Touching the
Embankment roadway it cannot but occur to the
observer that it would have furnished an excellent

panies for 1869, just published, give the consumption at 9,000 millions of cubic feet, exclusive of the quantity consumed in public lighting, and under contract. It has been calculated that, at the present rate of increase in the consumption, the quantity consumed will be doubled in about ten years; but, whether this calculation is sound or not, the increase in the consumption is proceeding so rapidly that the present mode of dealing with the mains cannot be much longer possible, and capacious subways seem the only remedy possible. The thirteen companies which supply the metrogas together,

tons of coal.

The telegraphic business of the Post Office is rapidly increasing; the weekly messages in the United Kingdom having been increased in the

HE liability of common photographs to fade is weather, inut trees in utes in cold. Two minutes' floating is sufficient in warm All the photographers, turn yellow and worthless in a few pieces of tissue must be floated for exactly the months, others last a few years, but all will fade same time, otherwise they will not all be equally away in time so long as metallic silver is acted sensitive. That they should be equally sensitive upon and tarnished by impurities in the atmo- is important, as their time of exposure under the sphere, for the dark portions of common photo-negative is governed by an actinometer. The bigraphs consist chiefly of common silver.

The edges of the negative should be painted As improvements were made, year by year, in black all round, so that the picture has an opaque the carbon processes, many of the inventors took black rim a quarter or half an inch broad. The out patents. These patents have now been nearly sensitive tissue under this rim will not be acted all bought up by the Autotype Printing and Pub- upon by light, which enables it to adhere more lishing Company, Rathbone-place, Oxford-street. tenaciously to the surfaces used in the transfer Notwithstanding this monopoly, they make no process, and otherwise facilitates the operations over-reaching terms such as would be likely to which follow. If it be desired to print the whole

THE ALBERT BRIDGE AT CHELSEA.
is with much satisfaction that we notice the

INSTITUTION OF NAVAL ARCHITECTS.

have issued the following list of subjects on
HE council of the Institution of Naval Architects
which communications are desired at their annual

general meeting in March next. They suggest that
gentlemen proposing to read such papers should
announce their intention to the secretary as soon
after Christmas as may be, in order that he may be
able to make suitable preparations for the meeting.
1. The Armament of Ships of War.
2. The Construction and Armament of Ships of
War for the Protection of Commerce.
3. The Construction of Vessels for Coast De-

fence.

4. The Effect on Naval Construction of Torpedoes or other Modes of Submarine Attack.

5. On the Results of the best Modern Practice in Ocean Steam Navigation, with reference to the latest Modern Improvements-such as Surface Condensation, Superheating, Compound Engines, and the like; also the value of each of these taken separately, and especially the results of any actual experiments to test this point.

I resumption of the works of the Albert Bridge detailed col

at Chelsea, the progress of which has been retarded mainly by the inability of the engineers to obtain correct levels for the structure. This was occasioned by the Metropolitan Board of Works having applied to Parliament, since the Act for the bridge was obtained, for powers to construct an embankment along the Thames from Pimlico to Chelsea. It was only last year that the Board of Works succeeded in obtaining their act, and during the present summer they have completed their designs, by which the levels of the roadway and the distance the embankment will project into the river at Chelsea have been determined.

stimulating the inventive faculties of the settlers in the direction of improved modes of manipulatthis end an improved wool-washing machine has ing the wool and preparing it for exportation. To been patented by Mr. A. O. Chambers, and has been recently tried successfully at Thebarton, South Australia. The machine is on the principle of the Eureka clothes-washer, and in the trial was fixed in the river alongside the stages where the wool was being washed by the ordinary process. The box into which the wool is put is 12ft. long by 4ft. wide, and has, of course, provision for the ingress of the clean and the egress of the used

water.

steeped in cold water was transferred to the maA quantity of skin wool which had been chine, and operated upon by four dashers armed with 18-inch wooden spikes, beating in reverse directions, and moved by a double-action crank. After being subjected to this process for about two minutes, the wool was drawn to one end of the machine, and lifted out by means of a tray, and a fresh charge was placed at the other end of the box, the washed wool being separated from The wool was the other by a gate across the box.

6. On Economy of Fuel in Marine Engines, with 7. On the Life and Cost of Maintenance of Mer-considered better washed than that done by hand, chant Steamships.

8. Composite Shipbuilding.

9. The Design and Construction of Yachts.
10. On Legislative Interference with the Construc-
tion, Stowage, and Equipment of Ships.

11. The Effect upon Shipbuilding of Lloyd's
Rules, the Liverpool Rules, and the Rules of other
similar Societies for the Classification of Ships; and
on Ships not classed.

and it is believed that two machines worked by a horse will do more and better work than twelve men. The experiment was considered entirely satisfactory, and the apparatus pronounced much simpler and less expensive than any hitherto used for the same purpose.

The colony furnishes evidence of vigour and vitality in various directions. An extensive 12. On the methods for the proper Strengthening system of "Southern Tramways" was in successof Ships of extreme proportions, and on the Precau-ful operation in South Australia before London tions necessary to ensure their Safety at Sea. 13. On the Present State of Knowledge of the Strength of Materials as applied to Shipbuilding, with especial reference to the use of Steel. 14. On the Masting of Ships, and on Iron and Steel Masts and Yards.

16. On the Prevention of Fouling of the Bottoms of Iron Ships.

17. On Machines for the Economising of Labour in the Construction of Ships.

Having obtained the necessary data for their
operations, the bridge company at once commenced
work again, and are now pushing it on with
vigour, with the intention of erecting the bridge
with the least possible delay. The timber stag-heads, and on their Attachment to the Sides of Iron
15. On the Disposition and Construction of Bulk-
ing across the river is being completed, and the
Ships.
excavations for the anchorages and abutment
piers are being proceeded with on the bank of the
river at the Surrey side. The bridge will be
constructed on the suspension principle and is
being carried out by Capt. J. Roberts, R.M.A., C.E.,
the designs having received the approval of the
Board of Trade and the Thames Conservancy.
The bridge will cross the river in three spans of
225ft. each, and will give a clear headway of 21ft.
under the centre span at Trinity high water, the
two side spans having that height at the piers,
and diminishing to Sft. at the abutments. The
roadway will be 40ft. wide, and the two footpaths
8ft. 6in. wide each.

18. On the Use of Machinery for Economising Labour on Board Ship, whether Merchant Ships or Ships of War, and whethor for Loading or Manoeuvring.

19. On Telegraphic or other Communication of Orders on Board Ship.

20. On the Conveyance of Passengers and Goods over Estuaries and Straits, and on Railway Ferries. 21. On Floating Structures for special purposes, such as Docks, Lighters, Tank Vessels, Light Ships, Telegraph Ships, and others.

22. On Ships' Boats, especially those propelled by
Steam Power, and with particular reference to
Vessels having little or no Rigging.

23. On the Steering of Ships, and on Steering
Apparatus.
24. On the Correction of Compasses in Iron
Ships.

25. On the Measure and Amount of Resistance
opposed to a Ship's Progress by the Water through
which it moves.

in the old country had commenced to use that system of locomotion. As regards mining industry it would appear that it has been brought into prominence by a number of special incidents and circumstances. The working of the Burra mines is and Paramatta mines are declaring dividends. to be resumed, and the directors of the Moonta There has been a great rush to the Barossa Gold Field, where, at a depth of 15ft., "cement " is struck that on washing out yields 10oz. of gold to the ton of stuff. The Warden had great difficulty in marking out the claims to the satisfaction of the mob of applicants.

The Government has accepted contracts for 1,700 miles of telegraphic communication between Ports Augusta and Darwin, the works to be finished by the end of 1871. The telegraph charges between Adelaide and Sidney have been reduced from 10s. to 6s. for messages of not exceeding ten words.

Copper mining is looking up in the colony, new discoveries having been made, and the working of old mines being renewed with vigour. Touching other minerals, marble works have been established to utilise the white-veined bardilla and dovecoloured sorts found in the neighbourhood of Clare-road; and the Bulli Mining Company's native coal, as now raised, is offered as being similar in quality to the best Welsh steam coal, and effecting a saving of from 15 to 20 per cent. as compared with Newcastle coal.

The Northern Extension Railway is now completed to near the Burra Mine, and the project is on foot of a railway from Moonta to Moonta Bay, Peninsula. The undeveloped capabilities of the by the directors of the private railways on Yorke's colony are receiving earnest attention, and, among other directions, in the cultivation of vines and olives, the Sultana grape being an especial favourite.

The necessity of this bridge has long been greatly felt, and was strongly urged by the inhabitants on both sides of the river when the Albert Bridge Bill was before Parliament. The new bridge will connect Chelsea and Battersea, starting from Cheyne Walk at its junction with Oakley-street, and will terminate in the Prince Albert-road, Battersea, adjoining Battersea Park. Satisfactory arrangements have been entered into for the purchase of Battersea Bridge by the Albert Bridge 26. Exact Information (either Experimental or Company. The company have agreed to purchase Theoretical) on the Efficiency of Propellers. the wooden structure on the completion of the 27. On the Economic Value of Form and Propornew bridge for a yearly rent charge of £3,000 tion both in Merchant Vessels and Ships of War. per annum. The advantages of this arrange-intention of the Council to restrict gentlemen deIn naming these subjects it is by no means the ment will at once be seen when we state, sirous of reading papers on other matters, nor is it upon authoritative information, that the tolls intended that the list should be an exhaustive one. on Battersea Bridge amounted to between It has been thought better to publish a short list at £8,000 and £9,000 during last year. The situa-present, so that future lists may present some distion of the bridge is peculiarly favourable for tinctive features. traffic, as it provides for Chelsea, Brompton, and the west end of London generally, a shorter and better route to Battersea Park, Wandsworth, SOUTH AUSTRALIAN ENTERPRISE. Clapham, Tooting, Mitcham, and other large districts south of the Thames. It is estimated on our last we gave some figures respecting the trade of the British colonies and possessions. reliable data that the satisfactory arrangements A few additional particulars respecting South entered into with the proprietors of Battersea Australia may not be uninteresting. Bridge will give the Albert Bridge Company a clear profit of £3,000 per annum, after deducting third in importance as regards population and This colony, of the Australian group, is only a sum per annum sufficient for the maintenance aggregate value of produce and of imports and of the bridge works and the expenses of collecting exports; it is the first, however, in some other rethe tolls. It is further estimated that the share-spects, as, for instance, in the acreage of land holders will have a clear income of 9 per cent. under wheat crop, and in its production of that upon their capital, presuming the tolls on the cereal. It has about 550,000 acres under wheat, foreign merchandise actually marketed, then or IN the first eight months of the year 1870 the Albert Bridge to be equal to those on Battersea or nearly double the extent of Victoria, and above previously brought into the port of New York, was Bridge. We are glad to find that these works three times the average under wheat in New of the value of 200,953,257 dollars, free goods have been resumed, and hope shortly to place full South Wales. particulars of this long-required bridge before our Australia in 1868 was above five million bushels. eight millions more than in the corresponding The wheat produced in South amounting to 8,571,485 dollars. The total is above The cattle in the colony do not show a remark-period of 1869. The Customs amounted to no less able increase in recent years, but the flocks of the of the goods taxed. The exports of domestic prothan 90,253,165 dollars, approaching half the value sheep farmers of South Australia have increased duce from New York (not including gold and silver) from 1,768,724 in 1854 to 4,987,024 in 1868. in the first eight months of 1870 amounted to The implied increase in wool as a staple pro-f 111.264,616 dollars, being seven millions less than duction of the colony has had its natural effect of in the corresponding period of 1869.

readers.

His Highness the Gaekwar of Barroda has forwarded to Sir Leopold Heath 500 rupees in aid of "H.M.S. Captain's' Widow and Orphan Fund." Subscriptions are being raised all over India.

The vessels" Avoca," "Malta," and " 'Geelong," ply between Port Adelaide and Suez, but it can scarcely be said "regularly," as the dates range to intervals of from 21 to 42 days. On the 4th of June last, and again on the 2nd July, English mails were received which were the first since 1862 that had reached within six weeks after date. On the whole, the affairs of South Australia, up factory progress. to the latest dates from the colony, manifest satis

THE MANCHESTER STEAM USERS'

ASSOCIATION.

HE last ordinary monthly meeting of the executive committee of this association was held at the offices, 41, Corporation-street, Manchester, on Tuesday, October 4, Sir William Fairbairn, Bart., C.E., F.R.S., LL.D., &c., president, in the chair, when Mr. L. E. Fletcher, chief engineer, presented his report, which on that occasion was for two months, and is given in abstract as follows:-During the past two months 462 visits of inspection have been made and 1,023 boilers examined-676 externally, 13 internally, 11 in the flues, and 323 entirely, while in addition 3 boilers have been tested with hydraulic pressure. One of these hydraulic tests was an ordinary one, simply to ascertain the sufficiency of a boiler already in work, while in the other two cases the boilers were new ones, and were tested by hydraulic pressure, as well as specially examined, both as regards their construction and complement of fittings, before leaving the maker's yard. In the 1,023 boilers examined 206 defects were discovered, 13 of them being dangerous. Furnaces out of shape, 6-1 dangerous; fractures, 41-2 dangerous; blistered plates, 21; internal corrosion, 51-3 dangerous; external ditto, 15-2

it is also connected with the hull by the gangways C C, and by the enclosed space for the engines, &c., marked D. EE represent screw propellers; F F are extra supports for the upper vessel; G G are steps from deck of upper vessel to open deck H H, extending over the hull; I I are port holes; J J iron ties supporting the upper vessel.

The foregoing represents a steam ship suitable for passengers, but the precise proportion or relative form may be varied to suit the particular purpose for which the ship is intended. Floating breakwaters, harbours of refuge, or landing stages of any form may be constructed in a similar manner, but for these purposes the triangular or oval form is preferred.

COMPOSING AND DISTRIBUTING TYPE.
ARIOUS attempts have been made to compose

Vand distribute type mechanically, but from the

dangerous; internal grooving, 27; external ditto, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION number and the conglomeration of letters, figures, 1; feed apparatus out of order, 1; water gauges ditto, 10-2 dangerous; blow-out apparatus ditto, 5; fusible plugs ditto, 2; safety valves ditto, 3

OF SHIPS.

stops, and spaces, to provide for, most complicated mechanism has been brought into requisition,

2 dangerous; pressure gauges ditto, 12; boilers PATENT has been obtained by Mr. F. Wilkins, thus making the cost beyond what large printers

without feed-back pressure valves, 8; cases of deficiency of water, 3-2 dangerous.

of Farnborough, for an invention in the construction of ships and vessels so as to increase the stability, the safety, and the speed of them. It conOn the present occasion there are seven explo- sists in the application of what the patentee calls the under wave principle. The vessels are consions to report, by which 13 persons were killed and structed in two parts or divisions, one being placed 26 others injured. Not one of these explosions several feet above the other. The hull or lower sprung from boilers enrolled under this association. vessel is immersed to the water's edge or nearly so, The number of explosions from the commencement at or near which point the deck or back of the hull of the year amounts to 34, resulting in 63 deaths is to commence. This is to be equally water-tight and in 77 cases of personal injury. It is more with the other parts of the hull so that it may float than possible, however, that some explosions may at, under, or above the surface of the water with not have come under notice, so that this list equal safety. Above the deck of hull is a stage or may not be complete. The following is a state- platform, which is supported on an open framework ment of the explosions which occurred from July 23 formed of pillars or stanchions, leaving an open to September 23, 1870, inclusive: July 29, single-effect of this intermediate space is to allow the space between the upper vessel and the hull. The flued, or "Cornish" (internally fired), none inwaves to pass through it and glide over the deck of jured; August, superheater of marine boiler, the hull instead of dashing against a flat side as 1 killed; August 12, vertical water pipe (externally they do of an ordinary ship. The upper vessel is a fired), none injured; August 13, vertical fire-box mere open deck like that of an ordinary ship, or it (internally fired), 4 killed, 5 injured; September may contain cabins, saloons, and every accommoda14, plain cylindrical, egg-ended (externally fired), tion which passengers or other persons may require, 4 killed, 20 injured; September 15, vertical water and it is connected with the hull below by capacious pipe (externally fired), 1 killed; September 17, and commodious water-tight gangways. plain cylindrical, egg-ended (externally fired), 3 waterway is not intended for use but is left open merely to allow the waves to pass through without killed, 1 injured. Total-13 killed, 26 injured. touching or affecting the upper vessel, in other words to allow the hull to pass straight through the waves instead of being lifted over them. annexed engravings will show how Mr. Wilkins proposes to construct his vessels.

PREPARATIONS are being made at the Turkish perial Factories of Zeitoun-Bornou for the erection of an 8-ton steam hammer of the latest con

struction, now on its way from England. It will forge guns and coils of the largest size, and the furnace in connection with it will be of very considerable dimensions.

The

The

In the figs. A represents the hull, which may be immersed nearly to the water's edge when loaded, and it is the medium of supporting and carrying the vessel B above. This upper vessel is supported on a frame of angle iron or other suitable supports,

dare venture on, and at the same time shutting
small masters out of the question. Now, happily,
through the ingenuity and perseverance of Mr.
Kastenbein, a Frenchman, a machine of a very
simple character has been constructed, and is
ready to be introduced into the English market,
by which any letter, whether capitals, small type,
italics, figures, or any other kind, can be brought
into position by simply touching a key in a similar
way to playing a piano-forte. We cannot now enter
fully into the details of the apparatus, but from
what we have seen of it, we feel convinced that a
revolution will take place in the printing trade
tus, which occupies little room, is small, and it is
directly it is introduced. The cost of the appara-
so constructed that a lady or a boy can operate it,
and will do as much work in a day as four or five
men could do under the present system of picking
up. The distributing frame is of equal simplicity,
and can be worked by a boy of ordinary intelli-
gence; by it the types are divided and placed
into cases, which, when full, are ready for the
We shall probably give illus-
composing frame.
trations of both these apparatus in a week or two
and at the same time a detailed account of all the
working parts.

THE engineers in the employ of the Northern Pacific Railway, now being constructed from the head of Lake Superior to Puget Sound, have discovered an immense deposit of iron ore and 3,000 acres of valuable peat bog in the immediate vicinity of the line-30 miles east of the Mississippi River.

THE VENTILATION OF SHIPS, BUILDINGS, AND MINES.