434 Chronicles of Science, [July, 



lodily across the channel on huge steam ferry-boats, built for the 

 purpose, and provided with suitable harbour accommodation on 

 either shore. The proposed route is from Dover to Andrecelles, at 

 both of which places there exist facilities for constructing the 

 necessary works. The laying down of a few miles of railway from 

 Andi'ecelles to Wimereux would ease the journey from Calais to the 

 latter station, and shorten the distance to Paris by fourteen miles. 

 A bdl for this " English and Continental Intercommimication " 

 project was deposited last session, but it has, we understand, been 

 postponed tiU next year for the adjustment of preliminary arrange- 

 ments and for the further consideration of details. 



Proceedings of Societies. 



Institution of Civil Engineers. — On the 2nd March last two 

 papers were read on the subject of bridge foundations — one by 

 Mr. Irvine Bell " On Sinking Wells for the Foundations of the 

 Piers of the Bridge over the Kiver Jumna, Delhi Eailway," and 

 the other by Mr. John Milroy, entitled " Description of Apparatus 

 for Excavating the Interior of, and for Sinking, Iron Cylinders." 

 In the former paper, the author, after describing the native plans 

 of sinking wells by means of a spade called a " phaora," and, after 

 the first live feet, by an implement called a " jham," proceeded to 

 describe the mode of forming the foundations of the bridge over 

 the Jumna at Sirsawa. In some instances the sites of the piers 

 were got clear of water by diverting the river at different points 

 during the dry season, while in other cases islands were formed by 

 driving a half-circle of piles on the up stream side, then lowering 

 t!and-bags on the down stream side, to the height of four or five 

 feet, and afterwards filling up with sand to five feet below low 

 w^ater. The curb was first sunk by men working with the 

 " phaora " and basket, till the upper edge was within three inches 

 of the level of the water, when a ring of brickwork was carried up 

 to a height of six feet. The excavation of the interior was then 

 proceeded with by means of the " jham " and divers in the old native 

 style. Afterwards a further height of ten feet of brickwork was 

 added, but the material was now removed by a sand-pump worked 

 by a steam hoist of 4-horse power. 



Mr. Milroy, in his paper, stated that the great desideratum, 

 in cyhndcr sinking, had hitherto been some method of excavating 

 the earth from the interior, without at the same time having to 

 take out the water, and to keep it out during the operations. This 

 object seemed to the author to have been attained by a machine of 

 his invention, which was used in the construction of the bridge over 

 the river Clyde, for the Glasgow Union llailway, a description of 

 which he then proceeded to give. 



