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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



[ArHii.' 



*uring it into iron and steel. He said that the ure used was the magnetic 

 oxide of iron combined -with quartz, in tlie proportion of fifty-two of oxide 

 to forty-eight of quartz ; that it occurs in the district of Salem, the prin- 

 cipal seat of the niaiuifacture, in the form of low hills ; and that the quan- 

 tity exposed above the surface of the coiuitry is so great that it was not 

 likely that undergrotnid operations would ever be required. It is prepared 

 by stamping, and' then separating the quartz by washing or winnowing. 

 The furnace is built of clay alone, from three to five feet high, and pear 

 shaped : the bellows is formed of two goat-skins, with a bamboo nozzle, 

 ending in a clay pipe. The fuel is charcoal, upon which the ore is laid, 

 without flux ; the bellows are plied for four hoiu's, when the ore will be 

 found to be reduced : it is taken out, and when yet red hot, cut through 

 with a hatchet, and sold to tlie blacksmiths, wlio forge it into bars, and 

 convert it into steel. It is forged' by repeated heating and hammering, 

 until it forms an apparently unpromising bar of ii'on, irom which an English 

 manufacturer of steel would turn with contempt, but which the Hindu 

 converts into cast steel of the very best quality. To effect this he cuts it 

 mto small pieces, of which he puts a poimd, more or less, info a crucible, 

 with dried wood of the Cassia miriciiluta, and a few gi-cen leaves of 

 Asclepias ginantea. The air is then excluded by a cover of tempered clay 

 rammed down close into the crucible. When diy, about twenty cracibles 

 are built up in a small furnace, covered wi(h charcoal, and heated for two 

 hoiu's and a half, when the process is complete. Mr. Heath observed, that 

 the quality of the steel was excellent ; but that the process of smeltmg 

 was so imperfect, that of seventy-two per cent., of wliich the oxide is com- 

 posed, only fifteen per cent, of iron was obtained by the natives. The 

 discovery of steel by the Hindus appeared one of the most astonishing facts 

 in the history of the arts; it seemed too recondite to be the effect of 

 chance, and yet could only be explained by the lights of modern chemistry. 

 In Europe the case was otherwise. In the early times, repeated hammering 

 after refining, appears to have been the only process ; and cementation by 

 charcoal was not adopted until chemical investigation had shown that steel 

 was a compoimd of iron and carbon. Two patents had been taken out 

 within the present century ; one for making steel by the application of 

 " any substance containing the carbonaceous principle;" and another, by 

 exposing the iron to the action of carburetted hydrogen gas at liigh tempe- 

 ratures ; and it appears that the Indian process combined the principle of 

 both these methods. The antiquity of the Indian mode was proved by the 

 present of thirty pounds weight of steel, made by Porus, to Alexander the 

 Great ; and the ignorance of the Western world was showii as well by this 

 as by the fact that the arras of the warriors of ancient Europe were com- 

 posed of alloys of copper and tin. The tools by which the Egyptian 

 obelisk and temples of porphyry and syenite were cut, were tmdoubtedly 

 made of Indian steel. Mr. Heath concluded with observing, that he did 

 not think the Hindu process influenced the quality of the steel ; but it 

 enabled the manufacturer to accomplish with very imperfect means that 

 wliich it would be hopeless for him to attempt by Etirtqiean processes. 



SIR CHARLES LEMON'S MINING SCHOOL IN CORNWALL. 



It is hardly necessary to repeal the observation that the proposed course of 

 instruction is not undertaken with the view of teaching Mining, for that can 

 only be ac<iuired in the mine itself, and llie best o)iportunities are already 

 afforded in various and extensive works throughout the county. But with 

 respect to those arts and sciences, which, from their close connexion with 

 mining, are most valuable to a Cornishman, equal facilities do not abound, 

 nor are they generally within the reach of that large class of miniu? agents, 

 engineers, and others, who woitld be chielly benetited by them. It is pro- 

 posed experimentally to supply this deficiency ; and to afford facilities for 

 attaining useful scicnlific and practical knowledge iu tlie midst of the Cornish 

 milling district, nn the following plan : — ■ 



The principal course will commence early in July, and will comprise sepa- 

 rate series of lectures and examinations in Mulheniatics, IVIeclianics, IMetal- 

 lurgic Chemistry, and Mineralogy — a detailed programme of this course will 

 be submitted to the public in due time. At present it is only necessary to 

 point out by what steps the student may prepare himself to enter on these 

 studies with the best efiVct. 



Probably two classes will be formed, according to the attainments of the 

 pupils. But, as the ]u*ofessors conducting this course can remain in the 

 county only a few months, it is of the greatest importance that, as far as 

 possible, the students should be prepared at once, to take their places in the 

 higher class. 



The subjects taught *ill comprise Algebra ; the elements of Geometry, 

 which forms the only basis on which an accurate knowledge of planning and 

 drawing sections of mines or machinery can be obtained, and which is indis- 

 pensable in the execution of many most important works connected with 

 mining. 



Tlic Elemenls of Lniid and Mine Surveying will be studied with reference 

 to general principles; and iK.? students will also be required to assist in actual 

 surveys, and will be instructed in the construcUon of Geoloyical plans and 

 sectiona. 



purpose of considering the propriety of forming a society for promoting and 

 advancing the scientific improvement of railways throughout the kingdom, 

 and for protecting generally the interests of railway proprietors. 



Mr. George Carr Glyn, the chaii-nian of the London and Brighton and 

 North Midland Railway Companies, was called to the chair, and opened 

 tlie proceedings by adverting to the great and manifest importance of the 

 proposed society, as aforduig a means of bringing the imited experience 

 and influence of the principal persons connected with railways to bear 

 upon all questions which may arise respecting them. 



The honourable chairman further iilluded to the very great ignorance 

 which exists among many, even at this day, on the subject of rail- 

 ways, and the consequent prejudices, which prevail against them, and 

 pointed out the great advisability of having some regularly orgauized as- 

 sociation which would be looked up to as an authority on all subjects in 

 which their interests were involved. 



The meeting was subsequently addressed by several other gentlemeu 

 present, who all concurred in the importance of the proposed association, 

 and dwelt on the advisability of foruiiiig, at its outset, a collection of maps, 

 reports, models, and other scientific and statistical details relating to rail- 

 ways, Mhich should be accessible to the several members of the society, 

 ami which would in time become a most valuable and interesting museum 

 of reference on matters coiuiected with railways. 



Some discussion took place as to the amount of the subscriptions, and 

 the name to be given to the proposed association, viz. whether it should be 

 called the "Railway Society." or the " Railway Institute," but eventually 

 this, with all other matters ol' detail, was left to a committee of management 

 formed of some of the directors of the principal railway companies 

 present, who were empowered to add to their number, if they should 

 see fit. 



Resolutions, embodying the substance of the foregoing remarks, were 

 unanimously passed, and the several persons present, having enrolled 

 their names as Ihe first members of the society, the meeting separated. 



MEETINGS OF SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES FOR APRIL. 



Royal Society, Thursday, half-past eight, m f., 11th, 18th, and '25th. 



Society of Antiquaries, Thursday, eight, p. M., Ilth, 18tli, and 23th. 



Institution of Civil Engineers, 25, Great George-street, West, Tuesday, 

 eight, p. M., 2.3th, and 30th. 



Royal Institute of British Architects, l(i, Grosvenor-strcet, Monday, eight, 

 p. M.," 8th, and 22th. 



Architectural Society, Tuesday, eight, r. M., 9th. 



Society of Arts, every Wednesday, half-past seven, r. M., 'Jth. 

 Ditto, Illustration, Tuesday, eight, r. m., 'Jth. 



Geological, Wednesday, half-past eight, r. >r., 4th and 2Sth. 



Royal Geographical, Monday, nine, r. m. 8th, and 2yth. 



Graphic, Wcclnesday, eight, r. m., 25th. 



RAILWAY SOCIETY. 



A private meeting, very numerously attended by the deputations from 

 moat of the leading Railway Companies, was held on Saturday last, at the 



A'fvr Lofonwtirc Engine. — Wc have rcccivril a letter IVom a IVieud in America 

 culling unr attention to a new locomotive engine calcid;Ued to a.',ceiHl tin incHned 

 jtliine, a niuilcl ot'which he has seen. The following is a brief account uf it, su far a* 

 the iuvcutur w ill at present .illow it to be made public : lor it appeal's he had not pro- 

 cured a patent for it. It is described as a locomotive engine of eight or ten tons 

 weight, cylinder 12 by IS inches, of the ordiuaiy construction. In ascending or 

 descending inclined planes, the driving wheels are raised from the ordinai'v irack. and 

 the locomotive is partly sustained on small wheeU (well represented by the onlinary 

 hubs of a carri^ige) on raised rails each side of the track two feet high. The invention 

 consists in a mode of guiuiug adhesion, which can be increased to any e-\tejit with 

 vpi'y little increase of ti-ietion The poM er being transferred from the large driving 

 wheels to small ones, the velocity will of course (iu ascending) depend upon the 

 steepness of the ascent, which will regulate the size of the small wheels. M'e calcu. 

 late, according to Pamboiu:, to ascend a plane of 200 feet rise in the mile, at the rate 

 of four miles the hour, with 100 tons burden. The apparatus to gain the adhesion 

 caiuiot add :JO0 dolhu-s to the cost uf the l'»L'omoli\e -. it is nevi-r in action except 

 when overcoming inclined planes ; ^vill last longer than the locomotive, is simple, 

 ea.sily managed, and not at all liable to get out of order. The e.\pense of the raised 

 rails will depend upon the materials used iu their construction, which may be of wood 

 or iron. Two hundred feet in the mile is the ma.\imum of ascent recommended ; 

 but by reducing the velocity and load, 400 or more may be overcome. The apparatus 

 is within the Incomofive, which, with the raised rails, constitute all that is necessary 

 to overcome the ascent. There >vili be no time lost in commencing the ascent. — 

 Scotsman. 



Blastiiifj bjf the aid of Galvanism. — .\n experiment was made with complete -success 

 ^^ ith one of Daniel's galvanic batterie^, under the superintendence of Colonel Pa.sley, 

 of the Koyal Engineers, at halt'.past two o'clock last .Saturday, off the gnn-whorf, 

 f 'hatham. 3.31bs. of powder were exploded in about 1 fathoms of wather, the length 

 of the wire conveying the electric flind being oOO feet : it caused a most tremendous 

 exiilusion. Three smaller ones were after\\ards tried, but only one succeetled. There 

 was a numerous assemblage of spectators. The Royal George, at Portsmouth, wo 

 understand, is to be blown up iu a similar manner, and this experiment was pi-eparatory 

 to tlie attempt. — Maidstone Journal. 



Inm Houses. — The efficiency of iron to the application of steam- vessels has been so 

 successfully introduced, that we notice an elegant plan of a sea-coast cottage of that 

 description hung up in the Tontine Coffee-room, which seems so admirably adapted 

 that we have no doubt they will soon be in very general u.se. The plan referred to 

 seems til have sis rooms, Idtchen, and laundry, and other conveniences, for the small 

 SI nil uf '.^jO/., or if a double house of fourteen rooms, 500/. This is not half the price 

 iif ;l i-ommou hou.se with similar accounnodation, and can be ready to possess in two 

 munilis. The iron tiade of this neighbourhuod should etwhset down one by way of 

 iutivducuig Uisiu,— CiiasjDiv CkviMk, 



