544 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



ficient value to justify the use of even so I'are and costly sub- 

 stances as the oxides of rubidium and cassium. For instance, if 

 the lustre of the glass imitated more closely than any other the 

 lustre of the diamond and other precious stones, the cost of the 

 materials would be of trifling importance. 



The Chairman announced that the subject of the next meeting 

 is "Salting the Streets," continued from a previous meeting. 



The Association then selected for discussion, a fortnight hence, 

 " Naval Warfare," and adjourned. 



American Institute, Polytechnic Association, ? 



Jipril 2, 1862. \ 

 Prof. Chas. A. Joy in the chair. 

 The regular subject of the evening was called up, viz. : 



salting the streets. 



Mr. J. K. Fisher. — At the first discussion of this question — the 

 utility of salt as a means of clearing snow from the streets — 

 it. was claimed that salt is cheaper than the other means allowed 

 and used for the purpose; and it was also claimed that no injury 

 to persons or horses results from it. 



On the other side, it was claimed that the mixture of snow 

 and salt sensibly chilled the feet of men, and probably injured 

 the feet of horses. 



As to cost, it was said that the salt cost somewhat more than 

 the shoveling of snow from the railway to the sides of the street. 

 It was also said that the companies were prohibited from throw- 

 ing snow into the docks. This prohibition would increase the 

 cost of removing snow by cartage. 



I do not intend to say much on the comparative merit of these 

 two ways of getting rid of snow. It is obvious that if snow is 

 melted, and runs away immediately, it is better for the public 

 than when it is thrown to the sides of the street, and left to melt 

 in the sunshine, and to keep the streets wet for a long time, pro- 

 vided there be not in the salted water something more injurious 

 than in an equal quantity of fresh water. It is also cheaper than 

 the means used to clear Broadway during the past season. The 

 snow was frozen ; then broken up by picks; frozen again ; then 

 broken up again, and the remains carted ofif. Had it been shov- 



