PROCEEDINGS OF THE POLYTECHNIC ASSOCIATION. 547 



on each linear foot of railway, or 634,000 pounds on each mile. 

 Hence in 2Y hours the cars will molt a foot in depth of snow 

 from the whole surface of the way; but as the steam may be 

 thrown upon the rails alone, until they are cleared, and then 

 thrown upon the parts between them, there is little reason to 

 doubt that the cars will be able to melt the snow as fast as it 

 falls on the rails, and to clear the whole track in a day or two. 

 And all this may be done without the danger to public health 

 which is alleged to attend the melting of salt. 



The same means, to greater extent, may be used when omni- 

 buses, wagons and other vehicles are run by steam, because 

 more steam will be required. On stone pavements the steam and 

 gases of the carriages in a street like Broadway, would in a day 

 or two, or less, melt the snow that ordinarily falls in one storm. 



Not only M^ould there be little snow left to be carted from the 

 thoroughfares, but there Avould be a use for snow which would 

 partly pay the cost of carting it from private streets. Snow 

 would be better than water to make steam for carriages, because 

 it is pure, and because less of it is required. The steam, in 

 melting the snow and heating it to 212 deg., would be about one- 

 third condensed and returned to the boiler, thus saving a third 

 of the weight of water. 



We do not yet know whether steam cars and carriages will con- 

 dense their steam. Thus far the dummies have condensed it ; 

 but steam carriages have exhausted it into the air, keeping it 

 invisible by excess of heat in the chimney. If condensers be 

 used, snow and ice will be more important than when there is no 

 condensation. In this case snow will be accumulated during the 

 ■winter, to be used in warm weather; and to supply this the 

 private streets will be disencumbered of snow, paying but a part 

 of the cost of removing it. 



Mr. C. W. Smith. — I was not here, Mr. Chairman, at the first 

 .discussion of this subject, and, if I attempt to make any remarks, 

 I may occupy ground that has already been gone over. I happen 

 , to be one of those persons who, as the gentleman says, "enjoy 

 poor health ;" and I find very little enjoyment in it. Many years 

 since, I contracted a disease of the lungs, and I am very sensi- 

 tive to changes in the atmosphere. You may take me blindfold 

 through the city, and I can tell every street that is salted, as 

 Boon as I enter it, from the chilliness in the air, and its efi"ects 

 upon my system. Melting snow by mixing salt with it, doe 



