154 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[April 



paved the disputed piece of ground. Now, the time during wliich the 

 parish had pa^ed llie place was too short to give the parish a right to the 

 soil, or to permit them to levy a penalty on an attempt being made to 

 resume an alleged right; for if the parish could claim under svirli ciroim- 

 stances, :tlien any one might have his property paved over by the parish, 

 and be called upon to pay a penalty if he attempted to take up what the 

 parish had laid down. With this view of the case he must dismiss the 

 uiforniatioii. 



STEAM NAVIGATION. 



ERICSSONS STEAM BOAT FROPELLER. 

 The experimental iron steam-boat, Robert K. Stockton, consU-ucted for 

 testing Captain Ericsson's propeller, which we noticed some time since, being 

 on the eve of departure for tlio Ignited Slates, at the request of a number of 

 scientilic gentlemen who were desirous of witnessing her performance, the 

 proprietor consented to another trial being made, and on Saturday, ths 9tb 

 ultimo, a large party was invited for this jiurpose. Among those present 

 were Major-OeneralSir John Burgojue, Major Robe, of the Royal Engineers, 

 Mr. James Terry, of Dublin, Messrs. VignoUes, Delafield, Reid, Napier, and 

 Thomas; several Swedish naval oflicers; Captain Stockton, of the United 

 States navy ; Mr. Ogden, Consul of the United States at Liverpool ; Blr. 

 Young, an American civil engineer, &.C., and about thirty other gentlemen 

 were nresent, and the result of the trial gave universal satisfaction. 



One of our correspondents having before described the construction of the 

 new propeller, we will now more particularly direct attention to the effect pro- 

 duced during the trial, which appeared quite conclusive as to the success of 

 this important improvement in steam-navigation. The distance from the 

 West India south-dock, to a point opposite Woolwich church and back, mea- 

 suring 37,000 feet, was passed in forty-five minutes precisely (twenty one 

 minutes with, and twenty-four minutes against the tide), the boat towing at the 

 time a heavy city barge on the one side, a large wherry on the other, and 

 another wherry astern. The speed of the engine being repeatedly timed by 

 Air. Young, it was found to average sixty-six revolutions per minute, or 

 2,970 during the forty-tivo minutes. The inventor demonstrated by .accurate 

 working drawings, that the spiral planes of the propeller are set at such an 

 angle, that had the resistance of tlie water been perfect, the progress of the 

 boat could only have been 132 feet at each revolution, or 30,201 feet dining 

 the time, instead of 37,000 actually performed, thus showing a loss of less 

 than 6 per cent. Respecting the engines for working the propeller, it was 

 observed, that they may be made much stronger and more compact than 

 ordinary marine engines, in conseiiuence of the power being applied directly 

 to the shaft which works very near the bottom : this for sea-going vessels 

 iiill bo very important, and their original cost must be considerably reduced, 

 as all the paraphernalia of shafts, wheels, wheel-guards, &c., will be dispensed 

 with. AVe were struck with the great regularity of the motion, not the slight- 

 est jar being perceptible. The engines consist of two cylinders sixteen inches 

 in diameter, with eighteen inches stroke, and arc worked by steam, of a pres- 

 sure varying from 3.Jlb. to S.ilb., to the square inch; their construction is 

 extremely simple, and evinces a knowledge of steam machinery in the inventor 

 which is calculated to give additional confidence in the success of his propeller 

 in all the varieties of its application for canal, river, or ocean navigation. — 

 Times. 



Gnat Wf&h-rn Sham Ship. — .\ half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors was 

 held in rrince's-street, Bristol, last week. Air. Maze took the chair. Mr. Claxton 

 read the report, which stated that the company's lirst ship had disproved all im 

 favourable auguries, and promptly rewarded the enterprise of the projectors. It wa^ 

 impossible to speak too highly of the (jualities of the (ireat Western steamship ; 

 after hanng run 35,000 nautical miles, and encountered 36 days of heavy gales, her 

 seams reiplired no caulking, and when she was docked she did not show a wrinkle in 

 her copper. The average of her passages out wan bjj days, and home 1 3 days; 

 the shortest passage out was 14^ days, and the shortest home 12^. About 1,00 » 

 passengers had gone in Ih.^ ship. Alter alluding to the grt-at expense necessary to 

 combiuf! speed, security, and enjuymeiit, it c\[)rcsscd a hnpc that thruugh the lil'e- 

 rality of the American Congress the duty of "^d. per liTishel on coals would be gi\en 

 up, and thus a saving of nearly 1,000/. a-year would be effected. The comi)any 

 have decided on constructing their next vessel of iron, for which the preparations 

 are far advanced. It appeared from the statement of accounts, that aiter paying 

 2,000/. for additions to the ship, and insurance to October next, l,/»0(»/. for goods 

 damagi'd in the hurricanes in Octobur last, and njiw ards of 2,000/. beijig set apart 

 for a reserve fund, there remained from the profits suifieient for a dividend of 5 per 

 rent., making, with the former one of 4 per cent., per cent, for the year. The re- 

 port was unauiinously adopted. 



Launch of the Steamer Nicholai. — The ceremony of launching a splendid 

 steam-vessel, named the Nicholai, took place on Saturday, the Itith ult., at Deptlbrd, 

 and, nothwithstauding tbe unsettled state of the weather, attrat-ted a large concourse 

 of spectators. Among those present were Count Lubiuski, Count AV'orouicow, several 

 attaches of the Russian embassy, and other foreigners of distinction, Sir J. Brand, 

 Captain Hayinan, Captain Rowland, and many inlhiential individuals connected 

 with steam navigation. The Nicholai, whicli is 800 tons burden, has been built for 

 the Eiuperor of Russia, after whom it has been named, and whose bust, said to be an 

 admirable likeness, adorns her ligure head. She is the largest steamer belonging to 

 Russia, and iiUcnded to ply as a packet between Lubeck and St. Petersburgh. The 

 Nichidai was built in fom- months aher laying her keel. The vessel has been re- 

 moved to Messrs. Seawards' establishment at lamehoiise, for the purpose of having 

 her engines put on board, which are to be of 2 10 horses power. 



The !^.ta^, a new iron steam boat, intended for the passage trade between Shields 

 and Newcastle, is reported to be a line vessel, and draws only 23 inches water. She 



is Uie tot Uon slcamw tliat has bc«n laiuiched from the \i\ak^ of coaly Tync. 



A splendid little iron steain boat, of about 120 tons burthmi, was on Monday, the 

 ISth ultimo, launched from the iron works of Messrs. Summers, Groves, and Day, of 

 Wdlbrook, near Southampton. She is built for tlio Lisbon Steam Navigation 

 Conq)any. 



SIfum Conveyance to America. — Government have entered into a conlract for con- 

 veying the mails by large and powerful steam-vessvis from Liverpool to Halifax, and 

 thence by branch steamers to Boston, and in the siuiuucr to Quebec. The mercantile 

 interests, not only in tbe North .\merican colonies, but also in the United States, 

 will be gratified to learn that, instead of a monthly conunuuication, as formerly, 

 steamers will now be despatched on the 1st and lath of each month. The enter- 

 ]»rising contractor has engaged iwith those able and scientific builders, Messrs. 

 Wood, at Port Glasgow, to build three shipsof 1,000 tons each, in which Mr. Robert 

 Napier is to place engines of 400 horse poi\er. From the past success of Messrs. 

 Wood and Napier we doubt not, when these vessels are on their station, in April, 

 1840, they will be quite unrivalled ; and, moreover, that the acute observation of 

 " Sam Slick, " that " the route via Halifax is the shortest way to New York," will be 

 verified to demonstration. — tjlatgow Paper. 



Royal Xaral Sfeani Service. — A splendid biulding, under the name of the " Eugiue 

 Factory,'* is nearly completed in Woolwich duck-yard, with a large adjacent mast 

 and timber pond, and a .short canal cut for its communication with the great basin, 

 vvitli a cas.soon and bridge to allow tlie steam-boats to be brought up alongside the 

 factory, instead of being sent to the private mauufactm-ers'. The boiler department 

 is not yet, hovvever, organised. 



Mediterranean Steam Xavi'jalion. — The /Vustriau government continue to pay 

 assiduous atteution to this important branch, and, by a recent regulation, they have 

 obviated the necessitv of quaranliue, by placing a sworn government otficer of health 

 on board each of their steamers, — a regulation which, it is to be hoped, will be adopted 

 by other powers. 



Brazilian Steam Navigation. — Two boats of the Brazilian Steam Navigation Com- 

 pany have arrived at Bahia, where they have excited the greatest sensation. 



PROGRESS OP RAILWAYS. 



EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY. 



Report of the Engineer to the Directors. 



GENTl.EMr,N,^In compliance with your iustrucliotiR, I beg leave to submit the 

 following report as to the state of the works, and the line, coH)raencing at London 

 and terminating at Springfield, a distance of thirty-one miles. 



The wdiole of the London Viaduct, commencing at Farlhing-street, within 300 feet 

 of the terminus, has been let to four respectable contractors. 



That portion between Devonshire-street and Dog-row, for a length of 31 chains, 

 the whole of Ihe foundations are laid, and the abutments and piers, are nearly all 

 carried springing bif^h, and sever.d of the arches ai-e turned. 



The iron-w ork for the three bridges. Dog-row, Ann-street, and ,Globe-lane, is in a 

 V eiy forward-state. 



Nearly the wiiole of the portion from Dog-row to Winchester-street, a distance of 

 28 chains, is fenced ort'; several of the foundations arc excavated, concrete forming, 

 and brickwork for the piers and abutments commenced ; large quantities of 

 materials are on the ground. A further distance of 1 1 chains, extending to Bethnal 

 tireen Workhouse, is in possession of the contractor, and the house are being 

 pulled down. 



I'rom Devonshire-street, eastward, to Angel-lane, at Stratford, the whole of the 

 embankment is fjrmed, with the exception of a small portion adjoining the Aiaduct ; 

 also small portion at Tredegar-scpuire, in the Fair Field at Old Ford,, and east of 

 llie river Lea Bridge, in all anumnting to less than 30,000 cubic yards on, which is being 

 supplied from three lUtferent places, tendering the completion within a Ibrtnight an 

 easy-task. 



'Ihe embankment from the River Lea Bridge to Angel-lane is ballasted, and the 

 permanent way laitl. 



Westward of Lea Bridge, a considerable portion is ballasted, and the laying of the 

 permanent rails is commenced. 



By means of ;a temporary stage or tippiug frame, this eudiankment'containing 

 upwords of 270,000 cubic ywds, has been formed in less than nine months, 

 nothwithstauding the winter season, and the more than ordinary diificullics pre- 

 sented by the yielding nature of the marsh lands over which it crosses, and which 

 has occasioned a serious subsidence for a distance of nearly half a mile, and which 

 would have rendered the foruuUion of this embankment an extremely dilUeult, tardy, 

 and expensive operation without the introduction of this useful, and I am happy 

 to add, successful expeihcut, which has not only enabled us to deposit the large 

 quantity of 231.000 cubic yards iput of the above quantity over one tip in so short 

 a space of time, but has been ^the means of completing the work much under the 

 estimate. 



It mav bo here gratifying to remark, that .'although the present subsidence of 

 the embankment is within but 15 feet of one of the groat reservoirs belonging to 

 the East London Water Works Company, I have succeeded in preventing any in- 

 jurv to it. 



'fhe cutting from Angcllane to tbe Ilford Valley is opened the whole ihstance, and 

 the ballasting and permanent wav formed, all but twenty chains. The embankment 

 over the Ilford vallov has been completed for more Oian six months; the 

 ballastuig and pernjau'cut way laid. The cutting east of the valley, with the 

 exception of a small portion in Cinlis's field, and the crossing of the Essex turnpike 

 road, at Ihe eighth mile-stone, is open to the tenth mile stone, and the pei-manent 

 rail laid through Ilford for a distance of half a mile from the valley. About 10 

 chains east of this cutting, tbe'gullet leading to the Chadwell cuttuig is open. The 

 cutting from Chadwell to Whalebone lane is completed, the road ballasted, and the 

 permanent way laid. 



The embankment at Whab-bonedane, oxUiuHug towards Romford, is completed 

 and tbe pennanent wav hud for a distance of tiO chains. 



In order to expedite" the IbriMation of this embankment, a side cutting contiguous 

 to the Barrack field at Romford lias been opened. I therefore anticipate that the 

 whole embankment up to Romford will be completed in less than six weeks. 



Up to this poi«t, the m?.5oiiry comjBeuciug at the east ejid of the X<oudou Viaduct 



