lxii GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



United States Government, for the removal of obstructions 

 at Hell Gate, are also well advanced, the work under the bed 

 of the river being already honey-combed by the removal of 

 immense quantities of solid material ; and at the proper time 

 all these submarine galleries will be charged with immense 

 masses of explosive material, the discharge of which it is ex- 

 pected will shatter the remaining rock walls, and reduce 

 them to a level that will carry the whole below the reach of 

 any passing vessel in any state of the tide. 



Official reports as to the present stock of workable coal in 

 Great Britain has had the effect of creating a panic, which, 

 aided by combinations of a few capitalists controlling the 

 coal-interest, has increased the price of that necessary of life 

 very materially, so much so as to involve in peril the future 

 of the manufactures of Great Britain. So far from exporting 

 coal hereafter, it is expected that large quantities will be im- 

 ported from the United States and elsewhere, this change in 

 the state of affairs necessarily resulting in favor of the Amer- 

 ican manufacturers and manufactures produced ; and both 

 the iron and coal trades have already experienced its stiffen- 

 ing; influence. 



Imj^rovements continue to be made on railroads, looking 

 toward the safety and security of life ; the introduction of 

 new forms of breaks and of platforms, as well as the more 

 extended use of the telegraph in running the trains, all tend- 

 ing to this end. 



The introduction of mechanical methods of puddling in 

 iron forges has, it is said, more than realized the expecta- 

 tions of the inventors. The methods of Danks and Dormoy 

 are especially recommended. The increased economy and 

 efficiency consequent upon the use of these inventions is of 

 special moment at the present time in connection with the 

 enhanced cost of manufacturing, resulting from the rise of 

 the price of coal just referred to. 



The use of new explosive materials in engineering contin- 

 ues to increase, the employment of the old-fashioned gun- 

 powder having been in a great measure superseded in cer- 

 tain connections. Nitro-glycerine, Dynamite, Dualin, Giant- 

 powder, Fulminatine, Lithofracteur, etc., are terms applied to 

 the various preparations, each of which is claimed by its in- 

 ventor to be superior to all others, or, at any rate, safer and 



