TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. Il7 



being from 4 to 8 feet above the water-line. Separate sets of engines, as well as 

 separate boilers, would be applied to work the screw distinct from those working the 

 paddle-wheels ; so that in the event of the derangement of any of the engines, those 

 in working order would be available for the ship's progress. 



Railways. — In this department of practical science Mr. Fairbairn noticed several 

 improvements that had been effected in the extension of power to the rolling stock. 

 On the London and North- Western and Great Northern Railwa3's, several large and 

 improved engines had been made to meet the demands of the greatly increased traffic 

 on each line, and the accumulating passenger traffic on the southern division of the 

 London and North-Western had been met by the introduction of an improved and 

 immensely powerful engine of an entirely new construction invented by Mr. J. E. 

 McConnel, the Company's engineer. Other lines were progressing in a similar ratio 

 both in this country and in Ireland, and steam locomotion, the great promoter of 

 civilization, was now extending itself in every direction and amongst all the nations 

 of the earth. 



Manufactures. — In this branch of known industry the same spirit of progress had 

 been observable as in other departments of practical science. The cotton, wool, silk 

 and flax manufactures, were never in a more flourishing condition. New mills were 

 rising in different localities, and Mr. Fairbairn stated that the industrial classes were 

 never at any former period so well paid for their labour, or in such comfortable cir- 

 cumstances as they had been for the last two years ; and this great and important 

 measure of comfort and prosperity was in a great degree owing to the improvements 

 in machinery, and the power which had thus been given for producing every description 

 of manufacture at a cheap rate. Amongst the most recent and probably the most 

 important improvements that had taken place in the manufacture of the textile fabrics, 

 was the new combing machine, which appeared to apply with equal effect to cotton, 

 flax and wool. This machine was of French origin, ingenious in construction and 

 beautiful in performance. 



In reference to national industry, Mr. Fairbairn noticed one of the most extensive 

 erections ever undertaken by a single individual or even by a company, in this or any 

 other country, the splendid manufactory then erecting by Mr. Titus Salt, at Saltaire, 

 near Bradford. This magnificent building covers an area of six acres, comprising 

 one large mill or building 550 feet long, 50 feet wide and six stories high, besides 

 offices, warehouses, weaving and combing sheds, and other erections which would 

 render it one of the most remarkable and most convenient buildings in the kingdom. 



It was intended for the spinning and manufacture of mohair and alpaca wool, and 

 other mixed fabrics in that new and important description of manufacture. Motion 

 was given to the machinery by steam-engines of 400 nominal horse-power, but of 

 sufficient strength to be worked to 1250 horse. The establishment would employ 

 about 3000 hands. 



Mining and the Manufacture of Iron. — These, like many other branches of industry, 

 have greatly increased in value, and the different mechanical and chemical applications 

 which had been brought to bear upon the subject, have not been without their use 

 and influence upon the community. Amongst other improvements was that of 

 Mr. Grace Calvert of Manchester, for removing the sulphurous vapour from coal and 

 coke during the process of smelting the ores in the furnace and the meltings in the 

 cupula; by this process not only a considerable increase of strength was obtained, but 

 a great saving in the iron was effected. In the application of the purified coke 

 to the cupula, the increase of strength was found, by carefully conducted and 

 repeated experiments, to be as the numbers 233 and 193, an increase of strength of 

 about 20 per cent. 



On Improvements in Organ Machinery. By J. A. Forster, Hull. 

 The first great principle to be kept in view in all machinery is simpUcily ; but in a 

 large organ, where there are thousands of small pieces of wood and metal, joined 

 together by means of centres, it is of the greatest importance. The second, is to 

 avoid friction as much as possible and to prevent stickings and cypherings ; and lastly, 

 to make the touch light and elastic to the organist's finger, at the same time avoiding 

 all noise. Many attempts have been made to lighten the touch of large organs, and 

 with various degrees of success. In 1831, Mr. Hamilton of Edinburgh, and Mr. Barker 



