112 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 



The new line of railway hotween Suez and Alexandria, via 

 Azazieh, was opened on 8th September. Passengers by the Indian 

 mail will now proceed by that route, which will occupy only ten 

 hours in transit, including stoppages. 



Bridges. — The Quincy Railroad Bridge across the Mississippi, 

 connecting the Chicago, Burhngtou, Quincy, and the Haunilial and 

 St. Joseph Eailroads, was opened for general traffic on the '7th 

 November last. This bridge has been built to supersede the ferry, 

 formerly the means of communication between the two lines which 

 are now joined, and an unbroken route is obtained to the Missouri 

 river, and westward to such lines as are constructed in Nebraska 

 and Kansas. 



An iron railway biidge is under construction between Louisville, 

 Kentucky, and Jeffersonville, Indiana, which will be just one mile 

 in length. It will have 24 spans, two of 370 feet, and six of 245'5 

 feet each. It is expected that this bridge will be completed by 

 September 1st, 1869, 



Water-supply, Drainage, dr. — During the last excessively dry 

 summer several towns, including Liverpool, Manchester, and 

 Edinburgh, were at one time apprehensive lest there should be a 

 failure of theu' water-supphes, and this became more particularly 

 felt in the two latter towns. We shall therefore probably soon hear 

 of works being undertaken with the view of rendering available fresh 

 sources of supply. 



The works for giving an additional supply of water to the town 

 of Preston were set iu operation during the last week of August. 

 The water is taken from the river Hodder, on the borders of Lan- 

 cashire and Yorkshire, at a point thirteen miles from Preston. The 

 total additional supply thus obtained amounts to 2,200,000 gallons 

 a day. 



The Kirkaldy and Dysart Waterworks are progressing favourably. 

 It was expected that the whole of the works at Ballo would be 

 finished by the 1st January, after which a commencement would be 

 made in laying the pipes for the town. 



A company recently formed for the utilization of the sewage 

 of Liverpool has made considerable progress with the necessary 

 works. Pipes have already been laid down to the extent of four 

 miles, and it is expected they will shortly be carried out as far as 

 Nice Blundell, where the distribution of sewage will first commence ; 

 the pipes will then be carried on to Southport. The deposit well 

 at Sandhills has been sunk, and the pumping station immediately 

 above it will soon be completed. 



Miscellaneous. — Tenders have recently been invited for putting 

 in the foundations of the New Fort to bo erected on the middle 

 ground-shoal in the Bombay Harbour. The fort is semicircular in 

 plan, of a radius of 100 feet, the circular face fronting the mouth 



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