Board should take it into consideration, and see if they could not arrange with the local firm who had already introduced it in Bideford to light the Bideford New Quay.

Colonial Enterprise.—Mr. J. F. Albright, managing director of Crompton and Co., Limited, has just returned after a very successful tour round the world. He started originally with the Iron and Steel Institute for the United States, and then went to Australia to look after the business of the Crompton Electric Supply Company of Australia. After spending some months in various parts of Australia, he went to Ceylon, and from thence to Calcutta. After this he proceeded to Colombo and Mauritius, en route for Durban. Making this his headquarters, he went up country to Pretoria, where his company is about to carry out the lighting of the town. We are glad to learn that the change has done him much good.

Permanent Exhibition.-We notice that for some time back there has been established in Paris, in the Passage Jouffroy, a permanent exhibition of electrical appliances, compressed air electric lighting motors, and similar useful facilities of modern civilisation. We should think it might be very well worth while for a few of the larger firms to institute in London, on a modest scale, an exhibition of this nature, with rooms fitted up in every way with electric lighting, heaters, and cookers, with motors applied, and so forth, advertised well in the daily press. The number of people even now who do not realise the benefits of electricity, and do not understand the very rudiments, is still enormous.

Staple Driver.-An extremely simple and cheap, and at the same time effective, little device has been introduced by Messrs. Woodhouse and Rawson in the shape of a patent staple driver for electric or other wires. This tool holds the staple in position until it has penetrated sufficiently far to dispense with further support, and can be driven home with a hammer. It consists of a rectangular tube of the size to hold the staple, inside being a plunger with a movement of about in. The points of the staple project, and are placed over the wire, and a blow is given to the opposite end of the plunger, the tool is removed and the staple driven home. It will be especially convenient to the electrical trade for running wires overhead or in corners where the staple cannot be held with the fingers. 1003

Austrian Telephones. The concession granted several years ago to the Telephone Company of Austria for opening telephone exchanges in the towns of Gratz, Prague, and Trieste will expire in October this year, and the concession for five other towns, Lemberg, Reichenberg, Pilsen, Czernowitz, and Bielitz, held by the same company, will terminate in February, 1893. The company, which is an English one, has received notice that the concessions will not be renewed, and that the exchanges in all the towns mentioned will be worked by the Imperial Postal Department. It has accordingly demanded compensation to the extent of 1,900,000 florins, or about £160,000 sterling, but the Government object to the amount as exorbitant. The dispute will probably be settled by arbitration, as provided in the terms of the concession.

Andes Railway. The tunnels of the wonderful railway now in course of construction through the Andes for the purpose of establishing communication between the Argentines and Chili are being bored, it appears, by the aid of the electric current. The highest of the tunnels is about 10,000ft. above sea-level, while the pierced mountain is about 12,000ft. From Juncal, in Chili, to Quebeda Navaro, in the Argentines-a distance of about 14 milesthere are, it is stated, no fewer than eight tunnels, of a total length of nearly 9 miles. It having been found

impracticable to employ steam engines from the great expense of raising machines and fuel to so great an altitude, it was decided to utilise the water power available in the valley for supplying the necessary power; and the great turbines are reported to be doing their work well.

The Paris Metropolitan Railway.-The Paris Municipal Council on Saturday continued the debate on the subject of the proposed metropolitan railway, and heard the evidence of the director of the works, and M. Sauton, the reporter, the latter explaining the views of M. Guyot as regards the rights of the Council in the matter. The Council, without deciding at this stage for any of the schemes before them, declared themselves generally in favour of the construction of a metropolitan railway. A clause in the first article dealing with the course to be followed by the railway was adopted, and a motion introduced by Charles Laurent that the line should in no case follow the boulevards, was also passed by 34 votes against 23. The whole of the first article was then agreed to without amendment, and finally the project was adopted by 60 votes against nine.

Hospital Music by Telephone.-The Rev. Frederick Harford, M.A., minor canon of Westminster, has formed a "Guild of St. Cecilia " for the distribution gratuitously of soft and sweet music for hospital patients. Canon Harford is a great enthusiast upon the well-known soothing effect of dreamy music upon sick persons, variously applied since the time of King Saul, and is organising his guild for the purpose of systematically using music as a healing medicament. His proposal is partly to organise bands of violin performers (with muted violins) and portable "pianino" to perform outside the wards, but he has now extended his idea to include the establishment of a complete system of telephonic distribution from a central hall to the various hospitals. Canon Harford has himself written much suitable music, and already enlisted the sympathy of some influential persons in favour of his scheme.

Gas v. Electric Light in New York. -For 40 years prior to the introduction of electricity for lighting purposes in New York City, the increase in the consumption of gas, says a gas journal, averaged about 10 per cent. per annum, while the population doubled every 17 years. Since the adoption of the electric light, however, the increase has been much more rapid. It almost immediately rose to 12 per cent. per annum, and in 1887 it was equal to about 14 per cent. per annum. This ratio was still further exceeded in 1888-9-90. The output of gas in New York is doubling itself now in a period of 6 years instead of 10 years. The president of the Standard Gas Company thinks that one reason for this very rapid increase is the fact that the electric light has educated the human eye to require more light, and that people are not satisfied with the quantity they formerly regarded as sufficient.

Contracts.-The following are mentioned as likely contracts for the application of electric light: New hospital at Bradford-J. B. Bailey, architect; Dalton-in-Furness, Co-operative Society premises-J. McIntosh, architect, Barrow; Corn Exchange, Gainsborough-D. Macdonald, borough engineer; Weights and Measures Offices, Leedsborough engineer, Leeds; Bank at Maryborough (Ireland)—J. O'Callaghan, architect, 16, Nassau-street, Dublin; Workhouse at Newcastle; Academy at Stonehaven for Dunottar Educational Trust; Grammar School, Wakefield, apply headmaster; Court House, Cork-Court House Joint Committee, Cork; Library Buildings, Southampton-(W. Henman, architect), apply librarian, Public Library, Southampton; new Municipal Buildings, Oxford-Mr. Bickerton, town clerk, Oxford; Public Library, Brechin, Scotland-architect, J. M. Fairley, 122, George-street, Edinburgh; Police Station, Glasgow

630033

100

J. Lang, clerk, City Chambers, Glasgow; Infirmary, Tadcaster-J. A. Bromet, clerk; Arcade at Torquay-J. Watson, architect; Sleight's Hall, Whitby-Clark and Moscrop, architects, Feethams, Darlington.

Maidstone.—At a meeting of the Maidstone Local Board on Tuesday the sub-committee on electric lighting reported a long conference with the manager of the Electric Installation Company, when they ascertained that if the Local Board obtain a provisional order they will experience great difficulty in getting any electric company to take a transfer thereof; that the cost of the smallest installation would be £3 a light, for 5,000 lights, and that if the company carried out the lighting of Maidstone the Board would have the power to purchase the undertaking at any time at a sum yielding 5 per cent. on the outlay. The committee viewed the company's works at Chelsea, which were no doubt as good as any existing at the present time. Councillor Barker urged the appointment of a committee to discuss the question of working the electric lighting themselves or not. He believed it would pay to do their own work. The clerk said they must decide on this course before October 1, or they would again be too late to obtain a provisional order. It was then resolved to appoint a committee to report further on the matter.

Nomenclature.-The German nation are very retrospectively conservative, and strive to make all their terms thoroughly Teutonic and simple. The telephone has been known as the "Fernsprecher,' or far speaker, and now we notice that the telegraph is being termed, in business circulars of Morse telegraph instruments, the "Farbschreiber." In this case the terms are well known, and little good could result from altering them, but in many cases the homely straightforwardness of the German technical terms is really an aid to learners, and the feeling of desire for directness is not one to be despised. Nothing in electrical matters so bothers and frightens the student and the average engineer than those terms, incomprehensible at sight, such as electro-kinetics, hysteresis, and so forth, and even electromotive force, while electric pressure, resistance, lag, dip, etc., almost carry their own explanation. The simplification of scientific nomenclature, as against what might be termed, in imitative verbosity, its "augmented nebulosity," is a matter that deserves constant and serious attention from those who are in the seats of learning as well as from engineers.

Munich.—The Municipality of Munich has decided to erect a central electric light station, and has commissioned Herr Oscar von Miller to prepare a scheme. The report of Herr von Miller states that the motive power, to the extent of 2,250 h.p., will be available from the falls of the Isar. Four turbines will drive as many dynamos. The lighting of the streets will be carried out by 307 arc lamps, distributed over a circuit of about five miles. The Town Hall, municipal buildings, post office, museum, docks, and other public buildings will take some 6,000 lamps. Motive power will also be distributed. The following is the estimate of the first cost:

Sevenoaks. At a meeting of the Sevenoaks Local Board on Monday, 27th July, a letter was received from the secretary of the Electric Trust, Limited, referring to the extension of time for executing works under the Sevenoaks Electric Lighting Provisional Order, obtained by them last year, and stating that they had applied to the Board of Trade for an extension of the order for 12 months on the ground that they were in communication with the clerk and surveyor to the Local Board. The clerk (Mr. H. J. Thompson) said that the latter part of the letter was not strictly correct, as no communication had been received from the trust, who, under their order, were bound to commence the work within 12 months, but had not done The surveyor said if the Board acceded to the application of the trust, they would be giving them a monopoly which might turn out detrimental to the district. The Rev. J. Jackson said the surveyor was too late to urge opposition. The Board had decided last year not to oppose the order, and it was not now sought to alter the order, but to extend the time. The surveyor said the Board was not bound to do so. The clerk said any resolution of the Board would influence the Board of Trade, but ultimately it was decided to await a communication from the Board of Trade before passing any resolution.

so.

Hydraulic construction Foundations, etc., for engines... Turbines and races, and erection Engines and boilers, and erection Dynamos and electric apparatus Mains

Total (say, £170,000)... 3,400,000 marks. The cost of running, including interest on capital and depreciation, are given at 600,000 marks. The lamp-hour of 16 c.p. will bring 1·4 pfennig (∙17d.), and the lamp-hour per arc will be 14.1 pfennig (or 1.7d.).

that the

London County Council.-The Highways Committee at last meeting reported that they had considered a notice, dated 21st July, 1891, from the Metropolitan Electric Supply Company, of intention to lay mains in Amberleyroad and Bloomfield-street, Paddington. The proposed works are similar to those of this company which the Council has approved on previous notices, and they recommend that the sanction of the Council be given to the works referred to in the notice upon condition that the company do give two days' notice to the Council's chief engineer before commencing the works; mains be enclosed in iron pipes or efficient casing, and be laid under the footways wherever it is found practicable to do so; that, as an additional precaution against accident through defective insulation of the mains, each of the street boxes shall be provided with an inner as well as an outer cover, the two insulated from each other as far as practicable; and that the outer cover, which shall consist of an iron frame filled in with material to suit the paving, shall be efficiently connected to earth. They also have to report the receipt of a notice, given in accordance with the decision of the Council to accept four days' (instead of one month's) notice, in respect of the laying of service line from mains already laid from the Electricity Supply Corporation to supply No. 37, Strand.

Iron and Steel.-Engineers of every kind have nowadays to face the problems of the utilisation of iron and steel in nearly every department of their constructive work, and to those who experience does not lie amongst the actual foundry and forging practice, a book such as that we have before us should be invaluable. Its title explains itself" Economics of Iron and Steel-being an attempt to make clear the best everyday practice in the heavy iron and steel trades to those whose province it is to deal with the material after it is made," by H. J. Skelton (illustrated; Biggs and Co., 5s.). Mr. Skelton traces from the iron ore the manufacture of pig iron, explaining the varieties of ore and of pig, and the qualities of the best kinds and brands of cast and wrought iron. Particular attention is everywhere given to the description of the most usual processes and sections, so that customers ordering may know what are the most easily obtainable sizes. The actual methods of best modern practice are described at some length, and the work is illustrated not only with sections and details of pig, angle, toe, and other iron bars, but with many photographic reproductions of actual

works taken from the Ebbw Vale, the Lilleshall, and the Steel Company of Scotland works. The chapters on steel are equally practical; the methods of manufacture are described and compared, and the applications dealt with. Great attention is paid to the question of testing both iron and steel, and much information not otherwise easily attainable is given, as Mr. Skelton has at command full particulars from a large trade experience of the manufacturers', Admiralty, and Board of Trade tests. The work concludes with a score of pages giving a very complete list of the trade sizes of rolled iron and steel, with comparative prices and remarks, and altogether makes one of the most useful books of reference that an engineer could place in his library.

-

Egremont. The last monthly meeting of the Egremont Local Board had before them the question of electric light. It. being stated that the gas rate would be 4s. per 1,000 cubic feet, a letter was read from Messrs. Nicholson and Jennings stating that the cost of a complete light installation, excepting motive power and house, would be £1,972. 10s. They also asked for information as to the River Eden with a view to it being utilised as motive power. The chairman said it appeared the outlay in adapting the electric light would be very expensive. The clerk said Messrs. Nicholson and Jennings originally fixed the cost at £3,000, but if water were going to be used as the motive power they had reduced it to £1,972. The surveyor stated the gas came to about £300 a year. The gas costs about £200, besides the cost of other work. The view was expressed that there would not be enough water in the river during the summer months. The chairman referred to the installation at Keswick. Mr. Smith stated there was plenty of fall and power-any amount. The chairman thought they ought to be sure of having it all the year round if the public were to have the benefit of it in private houses. Mr. Armstrong thought the tender a remarkably small one. They could borrow £2,000 at 4 per cent. It might be too late in the year to entertain it now; but if the gas company did not give them better terms another year it should be seriously considered. Mr. Stout said there was not the slightest doubt but that they were paying far too much for the gas. Whitehaven had it at 3s. 2d., and the only difference in producing it at Egremont would be the carriage of coal. The chairman said the gas company had laid out a lot of money in putting down the pipes. He did not think they could let them have gas much cheaper. After further discussion, the surveyor was instructed to report upon the subject at the next meeting, and it was agreed to supply the information asked for by Messrs. Nicholson and Jennings.

British Association. The president-elect of the Cardiff meeting is Dr. William Huggins, F.R.S., one of the most eminent astronomers living, whose spectroscopic researches on the celestial bodies have yielded the most brilliant results. It is probable, then, that Dr. Huggins's presidential address will deal mainly with the work of his life, and he may be expected to review briefly the results which have been achieved by the application of spectroscopic photography to the heavenly bodies. From the president, Prof. O. J. Lodge, F.R.S., of Section A (Mathematics and Physics), something at least original, if not startling, may be expected. It is understood that he proposes to advocate the establishment of a permanent Government physical laboratory on the lines of the Greenwich Observatory to be devoted to physics instead of astronomy; taking up the more serious quantitative determinations, and the observation of molecular changes in the properties of materials. It is proposed to hold in

Section A, if possible, in conjunction with Section G, a discussion on "Units and their Nomenclature," having special regard to the new electrical and magnetic units now becoming necessary for practical purposes. The president of Section G(Mechanical Science) is Mr. T. Forster Brown, the well-known engineer, and his address will deal chiefly with mechanical appliances associated with coal mining, and specially with reference to South Wales. The address will have reference to the application of compressed air to mining purposes, electricity in mining operations, and to modern improvements in shipping coal. The following are among papers which have been promised for this section: Messrs. P. W. Willans and M. Robinson, on the Willans engine; Mr. W. Robinson, on a petroleum engine; Mr. E. Vernon, on the Bénier hot-air motor; Mr. R. H. Thorpe, on the Otis electric elevator; Mr. W. H. Preece, on the London and Paris telephone; Mr. A. R. Bennett, on the telephone of the future; Mr. S. Walker, on colliery lamps; Mr. T. Timmis, on electric lighting of trains; Mr. J. E. H. Gordon, on sub-stations.

Telegraphing Across Indian Rivers. Of several telegraphic lines running from Calcutta to differents parts of India, there are five proceeding almost due east, three of which convey the Burmese traffic, and the other two the Dacca, Chittagong, and neighbouring traffic The country through which these lines pass is intersected by wide rivers, in which connecting cables are submerged. For instance, the Pudda river, which is seven miles broad near Calcutta, is cabled at two points 12 miles apart; and it often happens that these cables break down while the river is in flood, so that repairs are difficult or dangerous, and a boat service to convey the messages from bank to bank, though practicable, is costly and slow. For some time past, therefore, it has been the practice in such a case to telegraph the message by means of Major Cardew's vibrating sounder through the iron sheathing of the cable instead of the interrupted copper conductor. This innovation is due, says the Times, to Mr. W. F. Melhuish, of the Indian telegraph service. Two methods are followed, both of which are quite successful. Either a complete metallic circuit, or "loop," as it is called, is formed by two land lines and two cables, the earth being excluded, or a simple circuit is made of one land line and the broken cable, with the earth as a return wire in the ordinary way. In the latter case, notwithstanding the fact that the iron wire of the cable which form the make-shift conductor are in contact with the water for seven miles across the river, the signals of the Cardew sounder can be read with ease, even when the apparatus is 4in. from the ear. This instrument, which has already been described in our columns, was also tried on the copper conductor of a cable which was completely severed, and the signals managed to pass, either by induction across the break or through the surrounding insulator. It is admirably adapted for telegraph signalling in wild wild countries or with an army in the field, and, as Indian telegraphists say, "it will work through anything." The method in question has enabled the Indian Telegraph Department to dispose of the local traffic and keep the Burmese lines free for their legitimate business. While upon this subject, we may add that Mr. P. V. Luke, C.I.E., director of telegraphs, Calcutta, is now in England arranging for stores and apparatus to be sent to India, and has contrived a very handy portable field telephone station, consisting of a strong teak box containing a combined receiver and transmitter made in one piece and held by the hand for speaking and listening, together with a call-bell, switch, and two cells of a dry battery. The box is of small dimensions and easily carried in one hand.