116 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



the tunnels would be free from that most disagreeable and obnox- 

 ious contamination, sulphurous acid. Journal Franklin Insti- 

 tute. 



* 



SLAG. 



Mr. Joseph Woodward has taken out a patent, which may turn 

 out to be of great importance to every iron-smelting district in 

 England. The millions of tons of slag running from the blast 

 furnaces, and piled up in such unsightly heaps in all such districts, 

 are to be utilized in the manufacture of a new brick. It is 

 stated that the brick is damp-proof, that it is very solid and firm, 

 without Haw, and pleasing to the eye. The inventor opines that 

 it is likely at once to take the place for ornamentation at present 

 occupied by the costly Staffordshire blue brick. Mr. Woodward's 

 brick can, it seems, be produced so economically, that they can be 

 offered at less per thousand than the ordinary clay and fire- 

 bricks. Van NostrancVs Eng. Mag. 



AN EARTHQUAKE-PROOF CHURCH. 



The people of California, since the earthquakes of 1869, have a 

 great fear of recurring shocks, and, as an indication of this whole- 

 some alarm and a desire to prevent loss of life, we have intelligence 

 from San Francisco that the Roman Catholics are building there 

 an "earthquake-proof church." This edifice St. Patrick's 

 Church is built on a plan to prevent loss of life in the event of 

 the shaking down of the walls. The side walls above the base- 

 ment are only 30 feet high. At this height a roof rises, which, 

 with the main roof, is supported independently of the walls by 2 

 rows of pillars inside of them. Both roofs are firmly bound to the 

 pillars, and the pillars are fastened together by iron cross-beams, 

 secured with heavy iron bolts, forming a network of great 

 strength. The theory of the plan of construction is, that, should 

 the pillars be shaken down, the roof would be launched off out- 

 side the walls, instead of falling inside, thus giving a chance of 

 escape from the ruins. In thus falling, the roof would be carried 

 aside a distance of 80 feet, the length of the pillars. Scientific 

 Journal. 



MONT CENIS TUNNEL. 



The state of the \vorks on Mont Cenis Tunnel, Jan. 1, was as 

 follows : From the south, 20,510 feet had been executed, and from 

 the north, 14,95o, making a total of 35,46oi feet, and leaving 

 4,914 feet to be accomplished. Van Nostrand^s Eng. Mag. 



[Jan. 1, 1871. News has been received of its completion. 

 Editor.'] 



