VI NOTES BY THE EDITOR. 



important part. In England, 13 lines, varying from short dis- 

 tances to 4 miles in length, have been constructed, and upwards of 

 100 miles are in course of preparation or under contract. 



The Suez Canal is a successful fact. 



At the meeting of the British Association, General Heine read a 

 paper on " Lines for Ship Canals across the Isthmus of Panama." 

 He concluded that only two lines were deserving of consid- 

 eration, because of the expense for constructing and working 

 them. The two lines were, first, from Aspinwall along the line 

 of the railway to Panama, with an extreme elevation of 269 feet, 

 a length of 35 miles through rocks of porphyry and basalt, and 

 with but middling ports of entry ; second, from the Gulf of Darien 

 through the rivers Atrato, Caiarica, Paya, and Tuyra, to the Gulf 

 of San Miguel, with an extreme elevation of 186 feet, length 52 

 miles, through soil composed of alluvial deposit, with some thin 

 ranges of grayish sandstone and schist, and with very good 

 ports of entry. The speaker urged upon Englishmen a greater 

 interest in this canal, which would so materially shorten the 

 marine passage to Australia, the west coast of America, and the 

 islands of the Pacific Ocean. 



This year marks the completion of the Mount Cenis Tunnel. 



The use of artificial stone is on the increase. In many regions 

 of our country, where stone and timber are scarce, the use of 

 concrete in building would seem to find favor. Among the later 

 inventions may be instanced that of the Rev. H. Highton, of 

 England, which utilizes the refuse of granite quarries. 



A paper on International Communication in the present vol- 

 ume will prove of interest to all who are afflicted with sea-sickness. 



Mr. Bessemer proposes to construct a chamber or state-room 

 which shall accommodate itself to the motions of the ship, 

 somewhat as a lamp hung upon gimbals. This chamber is to be 

 luxuriously fitted up, and to be carefully shut off from the air of 

 the boilers and engines. The expense of such an arrangement 

 seems to be the only feature that will militate against so desirable 

 an improvement. 



The watering of streets with chemicals has attracted favorable 

 attention abroad. At the meeting of the British Association, 

 Mr. J. W. Cooper, who has given much attention to this subject, 

 stated that three streets in the city of Liverpool were watered with 

 salt during the month of July, 1869, with very favorable results, 

 so much so, that the experiments were continued this year. 



Mr. Cooper proposes to add a certain portion of the deliques- 



