88 Chronicles of Science. [Jan., 
Preparations are beiug made for the erection of a complete 
system of lights and beacons along the Chinese coast; in all, fifteen 
points have been chosen. 
American Tube Wells are beginning to attract attention in this 
country. They are constructed by driving an iron tube, perforated 
at its lower end, down to where water may be found beneath the 
surface of the ground. Trials on this plan have been made recently 
in Manchester and Glasgow; in the former case water was reached 
in five minutes from the commencement of operations, and in 
twenty-two minutes a depth of 10 feet had been reached. Several 
of these Tube Wells have been sent out with the Abyssinian 
expedition. 
Mr. Charles Randolph, of the firm of Randolph and Elder, of 
Glasgow, has recently patented a new hydraulic propeller for ves- 
sels. This appartus consists of a fan, or centrifugal pump, placed 
in a casing connected with a couple of channels or ducts, leading 
the one to the head, and the other to the stern of the vessel. The 
fan-shaft is placed horizontally, and the fan is driven by a simply- 
arranged engine without reversing gear ; the reversal of the action 
of the fan being accomplished by moving its shaft in the direction 
of its axis, which brings it alternately to one side or the other of a 
diaphragm, in a casing communicating with the bow and stern 
passages on either side of the diaphragm respectively. 
An ingenious water-jet pump has recently been designed by 
Mr. E. Reynolds, one of which is now employed at Messrs. Vickers’ 
works, at Sheffield, for raising water from the race in which the fly- 
wheel of the engine driving the tyre mill runs. The wheel-race 
from which the water is raised is 14 feet deep, and the pump is 
worked by water supplied under a head of 240 feet. 
Sir John Brown, of the Atlas Works, Sheffield, signalized his 
new knighthood by rolling an armour plate 15 inches thick, 20 feet 
long, and 4 feet wide, which weighs no less than 21 tons. 
Mr. Krupp is about to construct at his Works at Essen, a 
single-acting steam-hammer, far exceeding in size any now in exist- 
ence. It will have a head weighing 120 tons. 
| 7. GEOGRAPHY. 
(Including the Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society.) 
Tue last six months have not been very fruitful in Geographical 
discovery. More has been done in investigating the works of 
ancient geographers than in adding to their knowledge. 
In Africa Mr. Gerhard Rolphs and M. Miani are crossing the 
continent in different directions, but with what success tidings have 
