TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 137 



In regard to the importance of an additional or special electric telegraph and 

 attendance, which constitute the basis of all the suggested arrangements, it may be 

 observed that such addition is urgently called for on many lines of great communica- 

 tion, by reason of the almost perpetual employment, at certain times, of the common 

 telegraph for its variety of purposes. This must necessarily embarrass the best of the 

 existing arrangements, and cause recourse to the telegraph, either as to intelligibleness 

 or promptness, often to fail in its intention. 



In regard to the effect of the plan proposed on the speed of fast trains, it would 

 probably do little more than regulate the distribution of the other trains more system- 

 atically. Yet the public safety is of such paramount importance as would be well 

 worth some little sacrifice of time were it found necessary. 



As to the probable effectiveness of a system of the nature of that now suggested, 

 we may refer to a recent case of collision, which from the alarming risks involved in 

 it, may emphatically serve us in the way of illustration. In the case of the recent 

 collision at Hornsey, by the obstruction of the line by an accident in shunting, the 

 proposed plan must have been an effective preventive ; for before the shunting, notice 

 must have been given to the station at King's-cross, so that if the express train had 

 started, the shunting would have been delayed; or if the shunting had been sanctioned, 

 the express must have been delayed (or gone on hand speed only) till a " clear line " 

 had been announced. Such an accident, therefore, in this case would have been im- 



In regard to the provisions of this plan for the guidance and protection of trains 

 by the semaphore and other signals, I may, in conclusion, merely refer to one for 

 night-signals, being the employment (if it might be deemed of sufBcient importance) 

 .of a wire, with explosive or illuminating combustibles attached to different parts of it, 

 which could be ignited by the galvanic battery after the manner employed in blasting. 



The fearful calamity on the Great Southern and Western Irish Railway, which 

 occurred on the 5th of October (within a month of the reading of the above commu- 

 nication), may still further illustrate the character and probable effectiveness of the 

 plan here suggested for safety. — A passenger train was accidentally brought to a 

 stand betwixt Sallins and Straffan stations. A cattle- train, unwarned, runs into it 

 with a most appalling result. But, on the plan suggested, no such accident could 

 have occurred. The cattle-train would not have been allowed to leave Sallins station 

 till the line beyond Straffan was announced to be clear ; or, if it were passing Sallins, 

 without stopping, warned by the danger-signal there, it must have immediately brought 

 up its speed and awaited the signal "clear line." Thus a catastrophe, involving the 

 loss of fourteen or fifteen lives, with other serious personal injuries to the unfortunate 

 travellers (besides the heavj' loss and damage fensuing on the Railway Company), 

 must, on the system suggested in this paper, have been prevented. 



On the Consumption of Smoke in Furnaces and Manufacturing Premises, 

 By the Rev. Francis F. Statham, M.A. 

 Mr. Statham commenced by adverting to the fact, that all smoke consists of im- 

 perfectly consumed carbonaceous matter, and then proceeded to comment upon the 

 various plans which have been suggested for its more complete consumption, which 

 may be said to resolve themselves into one or other of the following systems : — 



1 . The more careful feeding of the furnace or fire, so as to ensure a gradual and 

 therefore more perfect consumption of the fuel employed. 



2. A skilful admixture of atmospheric air with the incandescent mass, so as to 

 effect a higher degree of heat, by which the smoke may be completely burned. 



3. The application of steam or water in fine jets, which seems to operate in a two- 

 fold way, partly by chemical and partly by mechanical action. 



And, lastly, by a process which it was the more immediate object of the paper to 

 explain, viz. by a subdivision of the current of smoke into small columns, each of 

 which may be dealt with more effectually than when united in one dense fuliginous 

 mass. 



For the suggestion of the first method, viz. the more careful feeding of the furnaces, 

 we are probably indebted to the illustrious Watt, who obtained a patent in 1785 "for 

 a method of constructing furnaces in such a way as to cause the flame of the fresh 

 fuel, in its way to the flues of the chimney, to pass, together with a current of fresh 

 air, through, over, or among fuel which has already ceased to smoke, or which is cob* 



