44 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



tinually circulating about the fire-box. In this way, a moderate combus- 

 tion generates the necessary amount of steam, and the lire-box not being 

 subjected to that violent heat, which has been the real difficulty with other 

 engines for burning anthracite, is preserved, while it has been burned out 

 in all other engines in a few weeks. 



" The economy of anthracite engines is now in process of proof by par- 

 ties interested, and the result will doubtless be given to the public. Mr. 

 Cummings, the engineer of the Anthracite, informs us, that for its day's 

 work, of eighty-four miles, it requires 3,500 Ibs. of coal, being kept stand- 

 ing upon its fire about two hours and a half, in New Bedford. 



" Besides economy, there are several other considerations which should 

 recommend the coal engines. Smoke, dust and cinders are all avoided. 

 This not only adds greatly to the comfort of the passengers, but wood 

 standing upon land adjacent to the road, is not in danger of fire, which, in 

 dry weather, is often comnrunicated by sparks from the ordinary engine." 



RAILROAD AND STEAMBOAT ACCIDENTS COB1PARED. 



From a record of all the railroad and steamboat accidents, for a period 

 of fourteen and a half consecutive months, ending March, 1854, the follow- 

 ing results have been obtained : The whole number of railroad accidents 

 was 190 ; killed, 268 ; wounded, 624. The whole number of steamboat 

 accidents during the same period was 48 ; killed, 691 ; wounded, 225. It 

 would thus appear that in the above-mentioned time, the number of acci- 

 dents upon railroads has been 396 per cent, in advance of those upon 

 steamboats. The number of wounded upon railroads has been 270.07 per 

 cent, in advance of those from steamboat accidents, while the number of 

 deaths resulting from steamboat accidents is 260.50 per cent, more than 

 upon railroads. From this it would appear that railroad travelling is more 

 prolific in accidents, but less serious in deaths, than steamboat travelling. 



WETHERED'S IMPROVEMENT IN THE APPLICATION OF STEAM. 



The principle of this improvement is very simple, and is neither new in 

 its application nor construction, a similar contrivance having been used with 

 success at Lowell some years since, under the direction of Dr. A. A. 

 Hayes, of Boston. As it has attracted considerable attention during the 

 past year, we copy the following published statement : 



The purpose sought to be attained is, an augmentation of the propelling 

 power of the steam, by combining it with another current of steam which 

 has previously traversed the highly heated atmosphere of the boilers, and 

 thus raising it to a higher temperature. 



To arrive at this result, the steam, as it escapes from the boiler, is con- 

 centrated in the conducting pipe, whence it is taken by two other pipes 

 which, dividing it into two portions, lead it off in different directions one 

 directly into the steam-chest, and the other, by an interior chimney, through 



