which works a vertical drill which is raised from above by steam power, and falls by its own weight. Any number of these drills can be worked simultaneously, but as a rule about seven are used at the same time, and the holes are drilled at the rate of 10 to 20 feet in a day, their diameter being about 4 inches; the stuff is raised out by the action of the drill. As each hole is made, it is plugged to keep out the silt, and to the cords connecting the plugs a line is attached to serve as a guide to their position.

When a number of holes are ready, the scow is removed to a safe distance by warping, and the holes are charged, during the short time of slackwater, from a boat specially employed for the purpose. A long tin tube, just like an elongated plan case, is filled with nitro-glycerine (about sixty pounds in each charge); a priming of rifle powder in a corked glass bottle with an electric fuze is put inside the tube about halfway down; and the cartridge is lowered by a diver into the hole ready to receive it; when all are filled, the battery boat is brought up, the connected wires are led to it, and the charges fired through the platinum fuzes. If it is found afterwards by the divers that a

charge has not exploded, a smaller cartridge is fired over it, but misfires are rare, and there have been no accidents hitherto. The charges are always filled in during slack water.

The Scow has been found to work very efficiently; their only trouble has been from collisions with passing vessels, and this has been a source of great inconvenience, delay and damage. A few days previous to my visit, in fact, the whole top hamper of the Scow had been carried away by the paddle of a large steamer, and all the working arrangements were in consequence of a temporary and makeshift character.

I should mention that a huge Rake forms part of the apparatus, which can be dragged over the rock to rake off loose stones into deep water, or they can be grappled by another machine and lifted on board.

The cost of removing a cubic yard on Pot Rock will be 200 dollars; for the Hellgate clearances generally, about 20 dollars.

I think a similar arrangement to that of the dome might be very useful in getting in the foundations of a bridge or other work in a rapid current; it is not necessary that the hemispherical shape should be adhered to.

General Newton does not approve of

frictional electricity being used for firing mines, as the atmosphere may be in a highly electrical state when the charges are connected up and spontaneous explosion may Occur. An accident in the Hoosac tunnel, which resulted in the death of several men, was attributed to this. All such danger is obviated by the use of the platinum wire fuze.

Here end my engineering experiences in America, which I would gladly have extended if time had permitted. I met several of the Civil Engineers, and they all struck me as remarkably able men, not merely of great practical talent, of which of course I had little opportunity of judging, but as men of considerable scientific attainments, quite as much at home in the theory as in the practice of their profession.

Here also I bring to a close my American experiences. I left New York on November 16th, exactly two months after my arrival, and after a stormy passage in the 'City of Paris' arrived safely at Liverpool.

In setting down these brief notes of what to me was a most interesting tour, I do not think I can give serious offence to any but

those very thin-skinned individuals who think no foreigner should presume to speak of their country except in terms of unqualified praise. If I have extenuated nothing, I have most certainly not set down aught in malice, and so far from depreciating America, have no hesitation in saying that were I not an Englishman I should be proud to be an American citizen.

APPENDIX.

EXTRACT FROM A PAMPHLET BY THE BURLINGTON AND MISSOURI RIVER RAILROAD COMPANY LAND DEPARTMENT.

MILLIONS of acres comprising many of the best prairie lands in Iowa and Nebraska, are for sale by the Burlington and Missouri River R. R. Co., on ten years' credit, at six per cent. interest.

No part of principal due for two years from purchase, and afterwards only one-ninth yearly.

Products will pay for Land and Improvements. The prices of these lands are low, ranging generally in Iowa, from $5 to $16 per acre, and in Nebraska, from $4 to $12 per acre, with some less and

some more.

They vary according to soil, location, water supply, timber and other advantages, in precisely the same manner as do other lands.

These Iowa and Nebraska Lands are located principally in the south-westerly part of Iowa, and the southerly portion of Nebraska, along the Platte,