1839.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECTS JOURNAL. 



marines, w ho \\ ill have charge of Ihe guns, all of which move upon sliiles 

 and fixed pivoLs, Ihereby taking a much wider range than the ordinary car- 

 riage can give. .Slie will be schooner rigged, but licr foremast will be of the 

 same scantling and height as that of a 3l)-gun frigate. Her draught of water, 

 Willi all on board, inclu<ling six months' provisions, completely armed, and 

 wilh twenty days' fuel, will be fifteen feet. This quantity of fuel (100 tons^ 

 will be carried in the engine room, but there is space in the fore and after 

 holds for ten days' more coal, making in all SLifiicient fuel for a thirty days' 

 run. .She has an orlop deck below the gun deck, of dimensions so magnificent 

 lliat there is room to stou* with comfort eight hundred troops and their 

 olhcers. so that, taking her all in all, the Cyclops may be considered the most 

 powerful vessel in her Majesty's service. 



Strum in Jnifid. — The Vcnwii, a splendid frigate-built East Indiaman, was 

 Uuinched on ."^tilurday, Aug. 3, Irom the building yard of the Messrs. 

 Green, at Blackball ; she has a powerful steam engine to propel her in culms, 

 at the rate of five knots an hour, so as to accomplish tne voyage from the 

 Lizard to Calcutta in seventy -five days. 



Launch of an Iron Stctnner.^On Friday. 9th ult.. ime of the most handsome 

 steam vessels of her size ever built w as launclietl from Mr. llorrie's slip ad- 

 joining his foundry. Considering that this is the first vessel of the kind con- 

 structed by Mr. 15orrie, Iier mould and appearance hear unetjuallcd testimony 

 to his scientific skill. She glided into the water amid the cheers of a large 

 concourse of spectators. The following are the dimensions of this ve-.sel : — 

 Lengih of keel, 116 feet; length on deck, 130 feet ; breadth within the pad- 

 dle-ho.\es, 21 feet ; breadth over all, 37 feet ; depth of hold, 9 feet ; measure- 

 niiMit. 300 tons; draught of water when kiunched, l.J inches. Her calcukited 

 draught, when her engines, boilers, compliment of passengers, ^c.. are on 

 board, is 30 inches ; but it is expected that it will nut exceed 28 inches. This 

 is, we believe. Ihe lightest draught of w ater ever attained by any vessel of her 

 size in Great Britain. .She will be propelled by two engines of thirty-five 

 hor.se power each. The engines have exliansion valves attached, for diminish- 

 ing the consumption of steam in the cylinders; and the boilers combine two 

 arrangements in their constriuiion, the one calculated to consume the smoke, 

 and Ihe oilier to ensure a more rapid generation of steam than any marine 

 boilers hitherto in use. The symmetry of this vessel is greatly admired, and 

 seems to be as near perfection as can be attained, .She must be a very fast 

 smooth-water sailer, for which alone she is adapted. Altogether the vessel 

 is a new laurel to Mr. Borrie s increasing reputation as an engineer. — Dunilee 

 Chronicle. 



The iron stctnn-hoiit, Rolicrl F. Sioch/on, will not answer ffir service in the 

 Delaware and Rantan canal, for which she was built, on account of her 

 draught of water, which is upwards of seven feet. Her cost was more than 

 20,000 dollars. — New York paper. 



Latntclt of an Iron Sloop. — On Monday, r2th ult , a handsome iron slorip, 

 built by Jlessrs. James and Charles Carmichael, was launched 'from their 

 Iniilding-yard in Ihe Iron Works. Sea Braes. .She is name I the Tinker, and 

 measures sixty Ions. She appear.^ to be an e->ccellent vess.d ; and all present 

 at the launch admired her buoyant appear.ance in the w ater. This is the first 

 iron sailing vessel which has been built at ibis port; but it is probable that 

 the trade of building iron vessels lo be propelled Ijy sails, as well as by 

 steam, will speedily increase, and be carried on lo a great extent very soon. 

 In Ihe yard Irom which the Tinker was launched there is the frame-work ot 

 an iron sleamer of 200 tons, which, we und.'istand, is to be employed ou the 

 Mid-Lolhian and Fife Ferries. — Dundee Chronicle. 



PROGRESS OF RAIL'WAVS. 



Great Western Hnilwaij. — The works between Bath anil Bristol are proceed- 

 ing most satisfactory, two out of the three tunnels are all lait complete. The 

 arch of the bridge over the Avon 100 feet span is turned, and the piers of 

 two other bridges are formed, large quantities of timlier for the permanent 

 way are ready, and every thing indicates that this portion of the railway 

 will be opened in the ensuing spring. 



Manchester and Birmingham Raihcaij. — The viaduct across the vallc}' at 

 .Stockjiort, one of the heaviest contracts on the line, is now ra[i:dly progress- 

 ing. This work consists, in part, of 23 arches of 03 feet span. These arches, 

 or rather the centres on which the arches are lo be turned, re(|Uire 3, .500 

 cubic feet of timber for the construction of each, and there arc to be eight 

 arches completely finished before the centre of the first is struck. It will, 

 therefore, rciiiiire 30.000 feet of timber in the construction of this p.u't of the 

 work. The brick work is iheee feet in ihiekncss. The higlie.st arch will 

 overtop Mr, Ferneley's seven-story mill aljout 12 i<iel.— Staffordshire Adeer- 

 li.ier. 



Midland Connties liailu-aif. — The contract for the erection of the station at 

 Leicester has been undertaken by Messrs. M'aterfield and Smith, in cniijune- 

 lion with the building company, and it is expected to be covered in by Xo- 

 vcmbcr next. ThJ amount of the contract is under £1.5,000. The tunnelling 

 under the freemen's common is now extended to nearly hventy yards, but 

 woulil have been much more ere this, had it not been for the falling m of the 

 shaft some weeks ago. Tlie soil is hard clay. 



Lirerpool and Manchester liailwat/. — The fifteenth half-yearly meeting of the 

 sluuebolders was held on M'cdnesday, the 2'lih .July. By the lialance sheet 

 it appeiirs that Ihe total receipts for the half-year ending ihe 30ih of June, 

 1839, were £123,814. (is-. 8r/.; the expenses £75,002, 7i-. lil ; giving a net jiro- 

 lit fur the half-year of £48.211. 19.s. Id. ; to which is added, £;).089. l;5.v. 8d., 

 balance from Ihe last accoiinl, leaving a disposable sim ol £.53,o01. lo.y. ^d. 

 From which sum the directors recommeniled a di\idind of £1. lO.v. jier share, 

 amouiiliig to £49,023. is. Or/., leaving a babuice ur£f,278. 10s. 'Jd. lo be 

 carried to the credil of Ihe re.\t half-year's account, which proposition wivs 

 imaiiiraoiisely agreed to by the proprietors. 



Glasgow, Paislei/, and yfi/r Railivai/. — We have much pleasure in staling that 

 eleven miles of this line (from Ayr to Irvine) were yesterday week pissed 

 over by an engine and train, wilh a party of the directors and their friends. 

 The engine was one of iho.sc furnished Iiy .Stark an 1 Fulton, of Glasgow, and 

 performed remarkably well. The road was uncommonly smooth and firm for 

 one so recently laid, part of it having only been finished the previous even- 

 ing. This part of the line will be opened to the public on 'Thursday next. 

 The whole line from Ayr to (ilasgow, including the Arklestone tunnel and 

 other works constructed by the Glasgow and Ayr, and Glasgow and Greenock 

 Companies jointly, will, it is believeibbe completed very early in Ihe summer 

 of next year. — Hailway Times, Jiilif 27. 



Lancaster and Preston liailwai/. — The operations of this Ine of railway 

 arc in a very active slate of progress. At this end of the line the works arc 

 already beginning lo assume a very interesting and railway like appearance. 

 The viaduct across Water-lane promises to be a very li;in Isome structure, the 

 arches being exactly at riglit angles with the road. The skew bridge in 

 Marsh-lane is an excellent and substantial erection, and is in a forward state 

 of progress. On Messrs. Mullins and M'Mahon's contract the operations are 

 jirocceding most satisfactorily, and with all possible alacrity. — Preston 

 Chronicle. 



York and North Midland Railwai/. — The laying of the second line of rails is 

 proceeding with rapidity, and will be completed from this city (York) to the 

 junction in about four months. The other works from Milford to Altofls are 

 progressing very favourably, and no doubt exists that the contractors will 

 liave completed their respeciive contr.acts in March next. — Yorkshire 

 Goxelte. 



London, Southampton, and Portsmouth Rifilieai/. — Mr. T. Brassey has taken 

 the contract for the formation of the railway from Bishop Waltham to Fare- 

 ham, and has engaged to complete that portion by May next, 



Bristol and Exeter Railwai/. — On Tuesday, 30th July, the first stone of the 

 Bristol and Exeter railway bridge, over the river Parrett, at Bridgewater, was 

 laid in the presence of some of tlie directors, and of a numerous body of 

 workmen employe 1 by Ihe contractor Mr. Bromhead. The ijridge is to be 

 of stone, a single arch of 100 feet span, and is to bear the name of the 

 " .Somerset Bridge," — Bristol Journal. 



Opening of the Versailles Rriilwai/. — This railway branches from the St. Ger- 

 main railway, and was undertaken in 1838 by the Paris Rothschilds. It has 

 been two years anil a half in iirogress, ;md passes through a diffleult country. 

 It was opened on Sunday the 4lh instant, and carried 12 or 15 thousand per- 

 sons, giving a return of 2000/. 



Railroads in Belgium. — Wo are assured that Ihe negocialions between the 

 government and the assignees of Mr. John CockeriU are terminated, and that 

 the Minister of Public M'orks intends to make .Seraing the general and sole 

 manufactory for every thing necessary for Ihe continuation, &e., of the iron 

 railroads. The compact, it is said, is drawn up in such a manner as not to 

 require he approbation of the Chambers, the two ministers who have drawn 

 it up having confined themsilves to Ihe limits of the votes of credit, which 

 they suppose will be annually given for the iron railroads. This cannot be 

 admitteil ; for if such an eslabhshinent is purchased by the state, the minister 

 cannot apply the sums voted for the iron railroads to the payment of real 

 property, the purchase of which has not been legally sanctioned In such a 

 case the Treasury w ould incur risks which conuot be recovered by the re- 

 sponsibility of the ministers. A file or an inundation might destroy Seraing 

 and all it contains. Who then would insure for Ihe loss, if the acts of minis- 

 ters had not been ratilied by a law? — Brussels paper. 



Rniheaijs in Gernaini/, — That part of the Taunus Railway which lies between 

 Frankfort and Hiichst w as opened on the 7th inst. The first train started at 

 five in Ihe morning. The two places, formerly two hours asunder, have been 

 brought within a distance of eight minutes of each other. On the same day 

 (the 7tb) the Emperor l'"erdinand's Railway, from Vienna to Brunn, a distance 

 of about nineteen German (eighty-five English) miles, w.as opened wilh great 

 solemnity. The first tr in performed the distance m a few minutes over four 

 hours. The day appears Is have been celebrated, particularly at Brunn, as a 

 civic feast, and the ticke s which had been sold were disposed of by Ihe first 

 purchasers of them at a considerable adv;mcc. to those who were anxious to 

 be able to boast that they had been among Ihe first travellers by the new 

 railway. We regret to find that ihe day did not pass over wi:hout an acci- 

 dent. In the evening, as one of the returning trains had stopped at a station 

 to take in water, the locomotive engine of tlie train next in succession r;m 

 into the hindermost carriage, by which means several persons were seriously 

 hurt, though none dangerously. The engineer to whose carelessness the 

 accident w as altributed. was immediately pbiced under arrest. 



ENGINEERING 'WORKS. 



NEW HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT. 



We are happy in being able to state that the works connected mth Ihe 

 embankment for the new Houses of I'arliaiiient are now rapidly drawing to 

 a conclusion. The twelfth and last comse of the granite facing of the river 

 w:dl has been coimueiiced, and \vc hope ere long to announce that the entire 

 of this great hydraulic work has been completed. .\s there has not been 

 any material alteration in the coiistructioii from the cb'awings and sjjecifica- 

 tioii given in our first vol. pajic 31, we refer to them for a full description of 

 this solid and beautiful structure. 



The coffer dam, whieli is one of the largest ever executed, has remained 

 perfectly entire, and, we may say, almost free from leakage since it was 

 closed in Uecembcr last ; the greatest ((iiantity of water collected in it, iii- 

 cbidiug land springs and drainage, has not exceeded, we understand, twenty 

 cubic feet per minute, which frpni a mass of work upwards of twenty thou- 



