THE MECHANICS' MAGAZINE. LONDON: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1868. OUR IRONCLADS. covered. The captain of the "Montauk " the "Monadnock" certainly made a passage says "that on the whole she has behaved very round Cape Horn; but whether this can be well with the moderate test she has had, but considered as a genuine ocean cruise is another she gives positive indications that if forced question. We think it cannot, for the followend-on into a sea she will strain both over- ing reasons:-The vessel was fitted with temhangs greatly, and if she gets into the trough porary wooden pilot houses, and with coats of the sea she will wallow very heavily,- to round the bases of the turrets in order to keep such an extent, indeed, as to render the them water-tight, but which would have to breaking of a tolerably high sea over the be slackened for the ship to prepare for turret almost certain." The decks of the action. She appears also to have kept pretty SO much has been written within the past. Nahant " leaked very much, and large quan- close to the coast, as it was necessary for to tities of water entered the ship under the to call at various points on her passage to turret, wetting the belts of the blowers, put-take in coals. ting the crew to serious inconvenience in We are not able to devote so much space consequence for want of air below, and causing as we could wish to the elucidation of this irstant depression of the steam by stopping highly important subject. We have, howthe draught, because of the constant neces-ever, gone carefully through these American sity for stopping the blowers to repair the reports, and have failed to find anything suffibelting. The other ships were of about the ciently satisfactory to give us any solid same size and class as those above mentioned, ground for believing in "sea-going monitors." and although no details of their behaviour We have no doubt as to the utility of moniare given, it, in all probability, did not differ tors as floating batteries for the protection greatly from that of the others. of our coasts and harbours, and we hope that class of vessel will be multiplied in the future, in place of spending immense sums upon immovable forts, which are found to be useless almost before they are completed. But it is useless and injurious to the best interests of the nation to claim for monitors a character which they do not possess, and which is opposed to the official reports of the officers who command them. few years upon the respective merits and demerits of the turret and broadside systems of ship construction, that, at first sight, the subject would appear to have been exhausted, and that nothing of importance remained to be said. But so much has been written in a spirit of partizanship by those who do know something of the question, and so much by those who do not, and who write for the unscientific portion of the press, that, so far from the subject having been worn threadbare, there really remains much to be learned by those who take an interest in the develop- When Admiral Du Pont was ordered to ment of our Royal Navy. The particular employ the monitors on blockading duty outbranch of the subject to which we now pro-side the bar at Charleston, he reported, "they pose to call attention is that of the sea-going are totally unfit for the duty, and particularly monitors, of which we have recently read so in the hot season. In even a slight sea the much in the columns of a powerful contem-hatches must be battened down, and the effect porary. It has been stated as a fact that a upon the crew, if continued for a brief period fleet of these sea-going monitors has been in hot weather, would be most deleterious; cruising in Russian waters and elsewhere, indeed, in such weather they are not habitand that every naval power was rapidly ac-able." And this is not all, for, in a joint quiring a fleet more or less large of these report, the commanding officers say that "the par excellence engines of war. In the long hatches would have to be battened down the and bitter warfare which has taken place whole time, and the vessel could not fail to between the respective advocates of the turret be disabled from loss of health to the crew." and broadside systems, we have never limited If there is any truth in the above extracts our columns to the advocacy of one side of the from official reports-and we do not see how question only, but have freely given insertion it is possible to discredit them-what becomes to the opinions of both parties, and in our of the dry, seaworthy, duck-like properties editorial columns have endeavoured to steadily which have been ascribed to them by the hold the scales of justice between the rival advocates of sea-going monitors. Captain combatants. Worden reports of the original monitor that In a paper read before the Institution of "she would be unable to work her guns at Naval Architects, at their last meeting, by sea, as the ports are obliged to be kept closed Mr. E. J. Reed, Chief Constructor of the and caulked, they being but 5ft. above the Navy, it was conclusively shown that a berth water;" and on her passage from Hampton on board a rigged monitor in a stiff breeze Roads northward (the passage on which she was anything but desirable, except to "per- was lost), Commander Bankhead says "she sons of a suicidal turn of mind,' as such a plunged heavily, completely submerging her vessel would, with a comparatively low pres-pilot house, the sea washing over and into sure of wind, run great risk of capsizing. the turret, and at times into the blower This being the case with regard to the pseudo pipes." (She was then in tow of the "Rhode sea-going monitors, let us see what was the behaviour of the American monitors-as reported by the officers in command of them, and which reports we have now before usduring the late war between the Northern and Southern States of America. These monitors were not "seagoing "--that is to say, they were not encumbered with masts, spars, and sails, with the additional men necessary to work a sailing ship, and with the extra provisions and water requisite for their support. 66 Island.") Commander Bankhead also says, "when the Rhode Island' was stopped to see if that would cause the monitor to ride easier, the latter fell off immediately into the trough of the sea and rolled heavily." She let in water at the base of the turret, and the commander believes that leaks were caused by the heavy shocks received by the projecting armour as she came down upon the sea; and she foundered, although fitted with pumps capable of throwing 2,000 gallons per minute, the pumps being in good order and working In the operations which took place in constantly. It is true that the "Weehawken" Charleston Harbour, off Fort Sumter, the behaved well in a storm, as before referred "Passaic," "Weehawken," "Montauk," to, but she afterwards foundered in Charleston Patapsco," "Catskill," "Nantucket," and Harbour at midday with many of her crew, "Nahant," were engaged, and the following a wave having passed over the deck when the is a statement of their performances at sea:- fore hatch was open for ventilation. She was When the "Passaic was off Cape Hatteras, thus brought down by the head, water rushed on her passage from Hampton Roads to Beau- in at her hawse holes, and, although the fort, the wind fresh from the S.W., her cap- pumps were promptly set to work, she sank tain states that the ship was caused to "pitch in three minutes. There can be no doubt and labour a good deal; " and on a subse- that the suddenness with which these vessels quent occasion he says, "had it not been for sink when vitally injured is a matter for the weather cloths, the sea would have broken serious consideration. The "Tecumseh regularly over the top of the turrets." The went down with all hands in four minutes turret was in its proper position for fighting, after being struck by a torpedo, and the and in consequence of the difficulty in raising "Patapsco" in one minute by the same means, and lowering it, it could not possibly be got with the loss of a great number of men. down. Water found its way into the ship Much misapprehension prevails as to the round the base of the turret, and on one occa- sizes of these American monitors as compared sion the fire-hearths were covered to within with English ships, the monitors being repre3in. of the fires, and the splashing had nearly sented as being much the smaller of the two. extinguished three of them. The Wee-This, however, is a great mistake, and is hawken," her captain states, behaved admir- owing to the fact that American tonnages are ably in a storm, but made much water, so measured in a different way from our own. much that at one time her ashpits were It appears from the reports before us that DORSETT'S PETROLEUM FURNACE. THATEVER successes have attended the generating steam by means of liquid fuel to land boilers, it is quite certain that up to the present time no one of them has proved successful, in a practical point of view, as applied to steam navigation. Trials have been made, both at home and abroad, to effect this object, but until now we have not been able to record a steam trip, made with liquid fuel, which satisfied all the conditions demanded by the present position of this important question. It is, therefore, with more than ordinary satisfaction that we now place before our readers particulars of the most successful voyage yet made with a steam ship of considerable size burning liquid fuel. This was accomplished on Monday last by the screw steamer" Retriever," of 90-horse power nominal, and 500 tons burthen, fitted with a liquid fuel furnace upon the principle invented by Mr. Edward Dorsett, of 12, London-street, City. Amongst the company on board, we observed Captain Selwyn, R.N.; Captain Crown, of the Russian Navy; Mr. Silverlock, of the Citizen Steamboat Company; Mr. Parker, Mr. Crowe, Dr. Paul, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Lammerton, of the Carriage Department, Woolwich Arsenal; and Mr. Steel, from the Admiralty. Wapplication of the various systems of Mr. John Bourne, in his treatise on steam, air, and gas engines, after referring to several arrangements for burning liquid fuel, says: "I can discern no very much better arrangement for burning liquid fuel than that long since adopted by myself, of feeding tar and steam into a hot retort, and conducting the vapours through hollow furnace bars to be burnt by ascending through an artificial fire of some intractable brick or stone." This is, in effect, to burn the vapour of the oil, and is exactly what Mr. Dorsett does, only without the steam and stone of Mr. Bourne. Had the latter gentleman seen the invention of the former before he wrote the above sentence, we think he would have expressed a modified opinion upon the point. Mr. Dorsett's system is extremely simple in its details; it consists of a generator, which is nothing more than a small portable vertical boiler, in which the creosote is vaporized under a pressure of from 35lb. to 40lb., the vapour being led through a pipe to the furnace of the steam boiler, under which it is burned in jets. In the present instance, there were two of these gene rators, which were placed on the deck of the vessel against the boiler casing, the pipes being carried down from them to the boiler furnaces. The creosote is pumped into the generator, a shovelful of live coal is placed under it, and as soon as the vapour begins to distil over, it passes down a pipe into the furnace of the generator. There it issues from perforations in the pipe, and continues the duty commenced by the coal, and supplies the vapour to the boiler furnace. The adaptation of the coal furnace to the purpose of burning liquid fuel was effected on board the "Retriever" by removing the furnace bars and filling the ash pit with two layers of perforated firebricks. On these bricks lay the coiled pipe leading from the generator, and from which issued four jets of flame. Two more jets were burned in the return box, thus making six jets in each furnace, or eighteen jets in all, there being three furnaces. The boiler had eight rows of tubes, a minimum. On a public trial like the pre- tenance and working equal to 80,682 rupees, TELEGRAPHS IN INDIA. the telegraphic administration of India, and the four upper rows over each furnace as furnished by Colonel Robinson's report, creased expenditure in the maintenance per were stopped; the bridges were removed. The In determining the degree of success achieved in this trial trip, we have to take we now upon mile. come to the very important conDuring the years we have already referred to, receipts. The following return shows the sideration of expenditure and receipts. We now come to the important question of the following were the amounts expended amount of receipts for the several years from India. This amount gives the total expendi-and telegraph service messages, fines, and of the construction of telegraph lines in all sources, viz., on account of private, service, ture, including the value of European stores sale of unserviceable stores. We have placed expended. To render the return more useful, we append to it the number of miles erected next to it the several annual amounts expended on account of working and maintenin the same year :Official Year 1862-63 1864-65 1865-66 Length of line ance: Maintenance. Rupees. Total Official Total Receipts. Rupees. 7,57,050 9,15,330 9,27,247 11,29,440 Total Working and 1865-66 15,34,498 16,33,922 The discrepancy in the relative amounts for the years 1864 and 1865 is evidently due A comparison between the two series of to the major portion of the expenditure for figures appears at first sight anything but the increased mileage in the latter year being agreeable, but on a closer inspection we bedebited to the former; otherwise, the com-lieve it will be found a little more satisfactory. parison between the respective amounts is The annual amount for expenditure during somewhat fair. Of the total sum expended the last year has certainly increased considerin the several years from 1862 to 1866, ably-in round numbers, 100,000 rupees; but amounting to 65,07,417 rupees, the large during the same time the revenue increased amount of 38,33,669 rupees represents the double that amount. May we not hope that that value of stores from Europe expended; so relative increase is still going on, and that a that we have of the various amounts dis- considerable revenue may be derived from the bursed a sum amounting to more than fifty telegraph system? The following statement, per cent. of the whole, representing the com- compiled from various returns, is given, in the mercial part the mother country plays in the hope that it will prove attractive to all those erection of the Indian telegraphs. For the who take any interest in Indian telegraphs. same corresponding periods we are furnished It gives the divisions of the Indian system, with the following figures, as representing the with their various lengths at the end of the cost of maintenance of the system for the official year 1865-66, together with the total several years. As each year had its increased amount of receipts from all sources during length of line, an increased amount in main- the year 1862 to 1866 :— tenance was of necessity the consequence, but for the sake of a better comparison we again append the amounts of increased mileage :— one or two matters into consideration. In burned. and Working On investigating the above figures, it will be Official 1864-65 116 116 122 receipts are, therefore, only for four months. the nature and amount of the interruptions of communication during the several years we have been investigating as compared with the transmission of messages at the present date. IF ALTERATIONS IN FOREIGN details of the engines of R.M.S. "Russia," and the engines of the Leipsic Water Works. With equal punctuality, Mr. Burgh's treatise on modern screw propulsion* continues to make its appearance. We have received Parts VII., VIII., and IX., the first of which contains a chapter on twin screw propulsion by the author. The "Vixen," the "Viper," and the "Ruahine," and the Greek gunboat "King George," are among the examples discussed, and some useful results of practical however, have had their beginnings, although which a chapter on fuel and boilers is comat a time when competition was not so keen, menced. The first part of this chapter is and when things had not to be cut so fine as devoted to a consideration of the liquid fuel in the present day, when a slight error either question, which is at the present time engaging pro or con would not be so severely felt as it the attention of engineers and others intenow would. But there are many others to whom rested in its practical solution. This part of the work of estimating is still an onerous duty, the subject is not discussed at any length by and who would hail with satisfaction a useful the author, who does not appear to have very book of ready reference upon the subject. To great faith in the commercial success of the F we imagine the whole world to have been these, and especially to those who are pre-application of hydrocarbons to this purpose. of one mind at the building of the Tower paring for, or commencing, a professional In boilers, however, Mr. Bourne is evidently of Babel, it is quite evident that the confusion career we strongly recommend "Atchley's much more at home, and his convictions much consequent upon the sacrilegious attempt Estimate and Price Book," " which is now more settled and definite. He goes into the was not confined to tongues only. Every before us. This work emanates from the pen subject extensively, and places before us all nation presents, together with a diversity in of Mr. W. D. Haskoll, to whom the engineer- the most recent examples of boiler construcdialect, a distinct difference in its manners, ing profession is also indebted for several tion, profusely illustrating each part with customs, weights, measures, and in all those works upon railways and their construction, wood engravings. This chapter runs through innumerable particulars which, in fact, con- in which the author has embodied his expe- Part IV., and concludes in Part V., after stitute a nation's individuality. The most rience as resident engineer upon several lines which we have a chapter on pumping engines, enthusiastic philanthropist must admit that of railway both in this and other countries. several of which are well illustrated. Besides hitherto we have not accomplished much The work before us ranges over a wide field, the woodcuts, we have the plate engravings towards repairing the mischief created by our the subjects including railways, tramways, which, in the three parts before us, represent vainglorious ancestors. It is true that colo-roads, harbours, docks, fortifications, barracks, the engines of the monitor "Dictator," donkey nization has done a great deal to spread the bridges, aqueducts, tunnels, sewers, water-pumps at the Motala Iron Works, Sweden, growth of the English language; it is the works, and gas works, including the buildings language of America and Australia, two and various contingencies incidental thereto. countries which, for extent, outvie the rest of There are also examples of well-drawn specithe globe. From time to time, many attempts fications for labour and materials as well as have been made to effect both an alteration for contractors' plant and tools. These last in our own currency, and a uniformity in our two items are at all times of importance to monetary system, with that of other nations. the contractor, but especially so on heavy Committees have been appointed to consider engineering works. They are also matters the question and report upon it; a national which might be considered with advantage by congress has been held, but so far nothing all who are interested in works. To this end, has come of them. Upon the Continent, and a second part was added to the volume, which in France especially, many coins not abso- comprises an alphabetical priced list of ma- working are given. Part VIII. contains a lutely belonging to the currency of the chinery, plant, and fittings required in carry-chapter, by Captain T. E. Symonds, R.N., on country pass current notwithstanding. By ing out public works. Besides numerous wood the twin screw system generally, in which the a recent decree, several new regulations engravings, the work is illustrated with a principle is discussed from a seaman's point bearing upon the monetary circulation in number of lithographed plates, illustrative of of view, and some very interesting consideraFrance and on the Continent came into force girders, roofs, switches, and crossings, &c. tions are advanced. Chapter XI. is by Mr. at the commencement of the present month. But the value of the work does not end here. Burgh, and embodies a description of modern These affect the circulation of money in many There are many contingencies arising out screw propellers constructed by the most ways. All the coins in France, stamped of a contract which frequently lead to litiga- eminent marine engineers of England and with the effigies of Napoleon Bonaparte, of tion, and if a foreknowledge of legal liabilities Scotland, the details being given in the followLouis the Eighteenth, Charles the Tenth, and legal rights be obtained, much waste of ing chapter.. As usual, there are plenty of Louis Phillippe, and the Republic, as well as time and money may be prevented, and much minor illustrations on wood, whilst the working those struck in the earlier years of the anxiety and vexation spared. This may not drawings on the folding plates continue unEmpire, have been withdrawn from circula- always be pleasing to lawyers, to whom a good diminished in their attractive usefulness. We tion. Those that bear upon the reverse the reference case upon a disputed contract is at have in Part VII. illustrations of a screw imperial crown are alone recognized as no time a thing to be despised. However, we propeller for a steam launch by the Thames have here one member of that learned body at Ironworks Company, the screw propeller of A similar alteration is in progress in least bringing his experience to bear in warn- the " King George," by the same firm, and Belgium, where pieces of the value of a ing engineers and contractors off the shcals the screw propeller and lifting frame of the quarter, half, one, two, and two and a-half and quicksands of contracts. And those who "Orontes," by James Watt and Co. francs, bearing the head of King Leopold the obtain the volume under notice will thank Part VIII. the plates represent the screw of First, have been called in. In Switzerland Mr. Haskoll for having added a treatise on the " Lord Warden," by Maudslay, Sons, and and Italy the only coins that will in future the law in relation to the legal liabilities of Field; the twin screw propellers and lifting be current are those which were issued since engineers, architects, contractors, and builders. frames of the "Viper" and "Vixen," by the the year 1863. Sweden has adopted the This treatise includes the law of contracts, same firm; and the twin screws of the decimal system, in accordance with the arbitration, masters and workmen, &c., and is "Ruahine," by Dudgeon and Co. In Part IX. recommendation of the Rigsdad, presented ably written by Mr. C. W. Glen, barrister-at-the illustrations refer to Captain Symond's nearly a year ago. The Government has law. It treats upon the whole range of sub-method of fitting twin screws and the geodecided upon issuing a new gold piece of the jects incidental to the above matters; the law, metry of the paddle-wheel, by Mr. C. Barvalue of ten francs, bearing the name of as contained in the statute book, and as exCarolino, in consequence of its being stamped pounded by the courts, is fully set forth and Mr. Burgh has brought out a second edition with the likeness of King Charles the explained. It will thus be seen that in every of his treatise on the slide valve,† which is Fifteenth. This coin will, of course, pass department of the profession, and in every an improvement upon the previous edition, throughout the whole of the United Kingdom stage of the progress of a contract, Mr. Has having been re-written and amply extended. of Sweden and Norway. It is to be hoped koll's work may be beneficially consulted. Its This is noticeable not only with regard to that at the next international conference, usefulness is not confined to home practice, the descriptive matter, but also as respects which will be based upon that of last year, as the author's experience on foreign works engravings. Of these there were only eighteen something definite will be accomplished has enabled him to provide for the wants and in the first edition; in the present there are towards the solution of a question so impor- requirements of those who are far removed thirty-eight, whilst there are thirty-seven tant as a uniform international monetary from the facilities and conveniences to which pages more of text. The author deals with system. we in England, and especially in London, are both the theory and the practice of the slide accustomed. To those engaged in profes-valve, giving a number of examples of good sional pursuits abroad, therefore, as well as those at home, we are pleased to commend this work. current coins of the realm. NOTICES OF BOOKS. STIMATES for tenders for engineering ESTworks are very responsible matters, and Mr. Bourne's treatise on steam, gas, and air enginest continues to put in a punctual appearance every month. Parts III., IV., and V., are now before us, in the first of few who have had anything to do with their "Atchley's Civil Engineer and Contractors' Estimate "Examples of Modern Steam, Air, and Gas Engines C. E. clay. In valves, as well as pointing out what is to be guarded against in designing and using this important detail of the steam engine. He goes fully into the geometry of the slide valve, investigating the theories of Messrs. Watt, Dr. Zeuner, Messrs. Long and Buel, and finally giving his own method of determining the loss of the slide valve, points of cut-off, and positions of the eccentrics. The book "Modern Screw Propulsion." By N. P. BURGH, En ginecr. London: E. and F. N. Spon, 48, Charing-cross. "The Slide Valve Practically Considered." By N. P. BURGH. Second edition. London: E. and F. N. Spon, 48, Charing-cross. 1868. will be found to contain good practical information upon the subject, the formulæ being given in an easy manner, and being well calculated for general application. It should find a place amongst the books of every young mechanical engineer. It is expected that the manufacture of the French Atlantic cable, that is, the external sheathing and protection, will be immediately commenced at the contractors' works at East Greenwich. At North Woolwich, Mr. Henley is now actively engaged in shipping on board his ship, "La Plata," the new Baltic cable, intended to be laid from Bornholm to Liban. ping, by which they will be supplied with a contractors-the Telegraph Construction and Mainvariety of vegetables in succession. The thirst tenance Company-will immediately set about for knowledge need not long remain unsatisfied, fitting her up with water-tight iron tanks and mawhen a French grammar, French dramas, &c., chinery as before, so that the cable might be can be obtained for the sum of one penny per shipped as manufactured. volume. Such is really a fact, as anyone can Mr. Dobson's treatise on bricks and tiles* prove by going to 16A, Tokenhouse-yard, and has reached a fourth edition. It forms one asking for Count Liancourt's works. This of the useful series originally brought out by gentleman will truly create a revolution in the Mr. Weale, and was first published in 1850, study of modern languages which will place and was subsequently-in 1863-revised by our professors at a discount. Our annual Professor Tomlinson. It has now been brought arrival of almanacks has commenced, Mr. down to the present time by Mr. Robert Thorley, the celebrated cattle food manuMallet, M.I.C.Ê, &c., who has made nume-facturer, being first in the field with his rous additions and amendments, in order to "Farmers' Almanack and Diary for 1869," render it a correct exponent of the theory which is full of interest to those to whom it and practice of brick and tile making in the addresses itself. present day. We see the change for the better which has taken place in brickmaking machinery during the last few years, and the improvements which have taken place in the bricks themselves. In the special chapter cess. INTERNATIONAL COINAGE. The shareholders of the Universal Private Tele graph Company have unanimously approved of the agreement entered into between their directors and the Postmaster-General. The agreement is upon the same basis as those of the other telegraph companies, viz., a twenty years' purchase of their present nett profits; in addition to this the shareholders will be repaid the amount expended by the company for the several patents of Sir Charles Wheatstone, that for the suspension of compound electric instrument, generally known as his ABC cables, and also for his valuable speaking magnetoinstrument. Arrangements are in course of being made for the transfer of the Isle of Man telegraph to the Post Office, so that all the telegraphs of the kingdom may then come under one system. Until these arrangements are settled, the cable made for the Isle of Man Telegraph Company, now stored at Silvertown, will not be submerged. Consequently, communication between the Isle of Man and Enguntil a satisfactory arrangement is arrived at, the land will not be restored. Mr. Ballantyne has described to the Franklin Institute (U.S.), a new form of what he terms "earth battery." He uses an open cylinder of zinc -or what is called a "tub without a bottom" sunk deep in the ground, surrounded internally and externally with a layer of coke, so arranged as not to be in contact with the zine. By making the contact with carefully insulated copper wires, The Post Office authorities are now pushing forward with greater alacrity. Previous to the purchase and handing over the various lines and submarine cables, the Postmaster-General has determined to have them tested. For this purpose, we understand Messrs. Forde and Fleeming Jenkin have been appointed to test the submarine cables, and Mr. C. F. Walker the land lines. 66 T Commission appointed to confer on this HE long-expected report of the Royal on the manufacture of bricks by machinery, by Mr. Mallet, however, we fail to find any highly important question has just made its allusion whatever to the important improve-appearance. It has assumed, as might have ments effected in this direction by Mr. Mur- been predicted, the form and shape of a very ray. The machinery invented by this gentle- bulky blue book, the contents of which are man has been in extensive use in various not to be devoured and digested at a single places for some time past with marked suc- meal. The Commissioners have succeeded in We recently saw five of Mr. Murray's accumulating an enormous mass of evidence machines in use at the Chatham Dockyard -relevant and irrelevant-on the question at extension works, when they were turning out issue, but their general conclusions do not about 800,000 bricks per week. They were answer it very conclusively; in fact, they stated by the superintendents to work more admit their inability to offer any decisive satisfactorily and give a better yield than any recommendations at all in reference to it, and other machines there. Of course, we cannot end by asking for an international conference expect a rudimentary treatise to include to deliberate anew on the whole subject. everything, but such a palpable improve- Next week, we hope to analyse the salient ment as Mr. Murray has effected ought not points of the report, and to offer our own to have passed entirely without notice. With opinions as to the desirability and the practithis exception, we may pronounce the treatise cability of introducing throughout Europe we are told that the current can be conveyed to to be the most complete of its kind extant, such a system of coinage, weights, and meaany distance and in any direction. The recomand highly useful for reference upon the sub-sures as shall at least minimize, if it do not mendations of this battery are that its power is ject. remove entirely, the serious inconveniences maintained for a long time, and that for medical In our recent minor literary acquisitions which now result from the diverse arrange-purposes it is specially suitable. we have, first, a very useful handbook on ments which unhappily prevail. Nearly one linear drawing by Mr. Ellis A. Davidson thousand years have elapsed since the Anglo(Cassell and Co.), and which forms one of Saxon monarch Athelstan issued an ordinance Messrs. Cassell's useful technical manuals. that "one money" only should circulate It shows the application of practical geometry legally throughout this kingdom, and he sucto trade and manufactures, and serves a two-cessfully put this resolution into effect. It fold object. In the first place, it forms a text-will be very strange indeed if, at this time of book for teachers in schools of art and science, day, when railways, the electric telegraph, &c.; and, in the second, it is an excellent steamboats, free trade, and the abolition of manual for self-instruction. "The British passports, have brought nations virtually into Army in 1868" (Longmans), by Sir Charles E. closer contact than were then the provinces of Trevelyan, K.C.B., which has just reached a a single empire, it cannot be contrived that third edition, should be read by all interested one money" shall flow freely through the in the question of army reform. This is a channels of European circulation, and thus matter which has been much under discussion promote yet further the advancement of comof late, and in which the author has taken an merce and the interests of mankind. active part. Mr. Herbert Bright, C.E., publishes some very appropriate remarks upon street tramways as applied to London and its suburbs (Spon). These remarks are prefatory a tramway and a carriage to travel thereon. In the carriage, the inside passengers sit back to back, so that they have the full enjoyment of the surrounding scenery, if there happen to be any. The outside passengers are seated face to face, which appears a very convenient position for a backward somersault in the event of a sharp lateral jerk. Mr. Bright's rail presents no impediment to ordinary traffic, being simply a longitudinal flat bar sloping outwards. The wheel tyre has a corresponding inward slope, but we very much question the efficiency of this plan in practice. We think the driver's ingenuity would be sorely taxed to keep the car on the track. Mr. Allnutt, of the "Estates Gazette," 200, Fleet-street, has published a little work on kitchen gardening, which will be found very useful by amateur gardeners who, having a The "Great Eastern," under the command of ANOTHER candidate for the office of Gas Examiner small piece of land, wish to make the most of Captain S. R. Welch, R.N.R., arrived from LiverFrom it they will learn a system of crop-ance of some dockyard people and tugs she was known in connection with chemical periodical litera pool, on the 8th inst., at Sheerness. By the assist to the City of London, vacated by Dr. Letheby, is Mr. W. T. Fewtrell, F.C.S., whose name is well placed in the Medway in the position she formerly ture. Mr. Fewtrell was for a long time associated A Rudimentary Treatise on the Manufacture of occupied when taking in the Atlantic cables of with Dr. Letheby in the examination of the gas supBricks and Tiles." By EDWARD DOBSON, A.I.C.E., &c. 1865 and 1866. Fourth edition. London: Virtue and Co., 26, Ivy-lane. From Dungeness to her moorings plied to the City, and would, therefore, prove his 1868. she was navigated by Lieut. Brockman, R.N. The most fitting successor. ELECTRICITY AND TELEGRAPHY. Some interesting experiments have lately taken place in France on board the armour-clad ship Heroine," and also on board the yacht "Prince Jerome," upon the use of the electric light for signalling purposes. At present, results were considered of so satisfactory a nature that the experiments were ordered to be continued. The machine was that furnished by the Alliance Company, a machine that is now so well known. The power of the light obtained was equal to 200 Carcel burners-the Carcel being equal to eight candles; it therefore follows that the electric light possessed a brilliancy equal to 1,600 candles! In the direct E are glad to be able to announce the success-line of the light it was stated as possible to read to the introduction of Mr. Bright's design for ful completion of the repairs to the 1866 at the distance of 1,400 metres (1,531yds.) an it. ordinary newspaper. It was found that signalling Atlantic cable. A telegram received from Valentia by means of short and long flashes was the most contains the information that communication was easily to be carried out. And by that means sigrestored on Sunday last, at 4 p.m. The breakdown nalling was rendered easy. The commissioners on occurred on August 3, so that it is more than nine upon shows a very powerful focus of light, perthe subject report, "The apparatus experimented weeks since that event happened. Truly, this is fectly suited to night signalling, or for throwing a long time to elapse before the repairs of a cable a light over a coast or a ship. It can be concan be completed. It must, however, be borne in sidered as a veritable floating light, and would then mind that more than a month elapsed before the be most useful on board the flagship of a commander-in-chief." Of the peculiar value of this vessel chartered for the repairs left the Thames. electric light and its intense illuminating power, The repairs have been completed within a month it is stated as a fact that the yacht "Prince of the ship leaving. We really do hope that some Jerome," fitted with this light, was enabled to definite steps will be taken to place a ship per- of the Bosphorus, when the yacht belonging to the steam by night through the intricate navigation manently at Newfoundland, so that, should another Viceroy of Egypt was obliged to wait until daybreakdown occur, there may not be so long a light. delay. WILSON'S PATENT LOCOMOTIVE COTTON | The cotton produced in the interior cannot be con veyed as fast as it accumulates at the stations, where it lies frequently for considerable periods until the railway company can, by special cotton trains, remove it. The pressing of cotton at the station will, therefore, be equivalent to an addition to the working efficiency of the railway, it being then conveyed by the ordinary mixed trains in full truck loads with profit, instead of carrying light unprofitable loads with all the accompanying danger and loss in transit. About a year since we described an apparatus for compressing it in the railway trucks, but we have now before us a far superior arrangement for this purpose in the Locomotive Cotton Press which has been invented and patented by Mr. C. G. Wilson, of No. 2, Royal Exchange Buildings, London. We give a page engraving of this |
