9^ 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



LMxBtB, 



This is an instrument which Mr. Buchanan stated he had found extremely 

 useful in inquiries connected with the prevalence of sea and river water in 

 different estuaries, and therefore he thought a short notice of it might not he 

 uninteresting to the Society. In the great question connected with the 

 salmon fislieries in regard to the respective limits of the river and the sea, 

 the prevalence of fresh or salt water had been considered an important ele- 

 ment ; hut finding the usual methods of measuring the specific gravity by 

 weighing the waters in a delicate balance, not very applicable where nume- 

 rous specimens were required to be tried on the spot, it occurred to him 

 that something on the principle of the hydrometer might be used, and this 

 was the iusirument which was exhibited, consisting of the bulb of a spirit 

 hydrometer, loaded so as just to sink the bulb in salt water, and having a 

 long stem attached, which, in fresh water, becomes almost wholly immersed. 

 Some difficulty was found at first in adapting the scale, as it must not only 

 be thin but liglit, otherwise it tends to overbalance the instrument. A slip 

 of whalebone or ivory answers sufficiently well, and several instruments were 

 shown of this description, and one entirely of brass. The use of the instru- 

 ment was clearly exhibited in several experiments with fresh water, and 

 with the waters of the Forth, some from Granton Pier, some from Queens- 

 ferry, and some from Alloa. From Granton Pier the water, even at low 

 tide, has a very little impregnation of fresh, as compared with the German 

 Ocean, which he had found, along the eastern shores of Scotland, seldom 

 to exceed the specific gravity of 102G, fresh water being 1000. At Granton 

 Pier the average of high and low water was found 1024i, or about one part 

 fresh in sixteen salt. At Queensferry it was found 102a, or about one part 

 fresh in eight salt. At Alloa the waters at low tide are almost quite fresh ; 

 and at high water the specific gravity was found nearly 1012, or nearly half 

 fresh, half salt. A considerable difference is found between the surface and 

 bottom waters. The specific gravities of different seas were then stated. 

 The .\rctic ocean 1027; the waters under the equator 1028; and the 

 Mediterranean, which is nearly the saltest of any sea, 1029. But the 

 heaviest ot all waters are those of the Dead Sea, which are strongly im- 

 pregnated with sulphurous and bituminous ingredients, as well as with salt, 

 and have been found about eight times heavier than sea water as compared 

 with fresh, having the extraordinary gravity of 1211. By the use of this 

 simple instrument, many interesting observations might be made by voyagers 

 in different seas. 



2. Description and Drawing of a Glass- Blowing Apparatus, being a new 

 invention in the Blowing of Glass. By Mr. William Cooper. 



This invention consists in efl'ecting the blowing of glass by means of 

 double bellows placed under the floor, acted on by the foot of the glass- 

 blower, and the air is carried to the blow-tube by means of a flexible tube, 

 easily attached and detached from the nozzle of the ordinary iron tube. 

 The advantages are stated to be, that larger articles can be blown, that the 

 glass is freer from " cockle," and that the lungs of the workman are saved, 

 and his muscular energies not being so severely taxed, he will be able to 

 produce a great deal more manufactured goods in a given time. The air 

 blown by the bellows being of a much purer quality than that from the 

 lungs, produces a better article. That larger sizes and a thicker substance 

 of blown plate may be obtained by this new process, and the sheet-glass 

 manufacturer will be able to compete with the cast plate-glass monopolist. 

 That " carboys" to contain twelve and sixteen gallons have been successfully 

 blown by this process. Mr. Cooper then recommended that this process 

 should be adopted in Edinburgh and Leith, where coal is cheaper than in 

 Staflfordshire by 4s. per ton, and where living and house-rent are about one- 

 fourth less ; the workmen all preferring Leith, from its healthy situation, cheap- 

 ness, and family conveniences. Locahty, he stated, is now looked at ; 

 economy in carriage is itself a profit to the manufacturer, now that the 

 duties are removed, and all the English manufacturers circumscribing their 

 connection. 



3. Description of an Elevator, for raising Building materials or other 

 bodies, — and capable of being used as a Fire-Escape — containing a new ap- 

 vlication of the Pulley. By Mr. Robert Davidson, Engineer. 



Mr. Davidson stated that this machine or elevator was applicable as a fire- 

 escape, and well suited to the raising of small weights to great heights, such 

 as in mills and factories ; or in the raising of scaffolding for workmen, such 

 as painters, plasterers, masons, &c. It consists of a number of sliders, 

 moving within each other by means of a fixed pulley attached to the top of 

 a fixed upright, which is hollow, containing all the other sliders, which are 

 hollow also, except the last one, which may be solid, the top of which con- 

 tains a platform enclosed by a railing. There is a chain or rope fastened 

 to a hook in the bottom of the top slides, passing over a moveable pulley, 

 made fast to the top of the next slide, and passing down the outside of it 

 and made fast to the top of the next slide following, on the top of which 

 is also a moveable pulley, over which passes a rope or chain made fast to a 

 hook in the bottom of the slide immediately preceding, the other end of 

 which is made fast to the top of the fixed hollow upright, on the top 

 of which is placed a fixed pulley, which guides the chain whereto the 

 power is applied ; t(ie one end being made fast to a crane barrel, and the 

 other end attached to the bottom of the slide next adjoining, which compels 

 a simultaneous movement of the whole machine. 



£ s. 

 82,054 19 



139,185 7 10 

 453,648 12 



NEW PALACE OF WESTMINSTER. 



Return {dated December 20, 1847) of the Aggregate Amount already 

 paid, or agreed to be paid, to Contractors and other Persons for the Purchase 

 of Land and Houses for the Erection of the Palace of U'estminster (or 

 Houses of Parliament). 



1. The cost of the purchase of the lands and heredita- 

 ment . . 



2. The cost of the wharfing, terrace, and foundations 

 fur the building.. 



3. The cost of the carcase or shell already executed 

 (exclusive of alterations as under) .. 



4. The cost of the principal alterations made from 

 time to time. These alterations (involving changes in 

 the original plan) consist of official residences for the 

 librarian and clerk of the House of Commons, accom- 

 modation for the law courts, alterations of the Victoria 

 tower, offices for the clerk of the crown, and works con- 

 tingent upon the warming and ventilating arrangements, 

 &c., which were severally reported to her Majesty's Com- 

 missioners of Woods, &c., and sanctioned by parliament 

 in March 1843. Also, of an increase in the size and 

 height of the Victoria hall, sanctioned by her Majesty's 

 Commissioners of Woods, &c. 



5. The cost of interior finishings 



6. The cost of the internal decorations of the House 

 of Lords and its adjuncts, as far as they have been com- 

 pleted (including preparations for lighting) . . 



7. The amount of commission and other charges paid, 

 or to be paid, to the architect on account of works and 

 services already executed' 



8. The amount paid to surveyors, valuers, clerks of 

 the works, and all other persons who have been em- 

 ployed, and not included in the architect's or builder's 

 charge 



The amount of the whole expenditure of every de- 

 scription, under these principal heads, for pur- 

 chases made and work done at the Palace of 

 Westminster, and its appendages, up to 31st day ^-^— ^— — . 

 of December, 1846. .. .. .. £833,268 13 3 



Estimate /or the Sums which will be required to pay for such other Lands 

 a)id Hereditaments intended to be purchased for the completion of the Palace 

 and the Approaches thereto ; of the Sum required to finish the Houses of 

 Lords and Commons and their Appendages ; of the Sum necessary for the 

 Victoria Toioer, and all other Works proposed to be executed to finish the 

 Palace. 



25,469 

 74,134 



21,600 



26,315 2 11 



10,861 S 8 



a 



1. The cost of lands and hereditaments intended to £ 

 be purchased 2 .. .. .. .. .. — 



2. The cost of the completion of the terrace and foun- 

 dations of the buildings .. .. .. .. 18,747 



3. The cost of the carcase or shell yet to be executed 356,328 



4. The cost of the principal alterations. None pro- 

 posed . . . . . . . . . . . . — 



5. The cost of the interior finishings .. ,, 172,648 



6. The cost of the internal decorations of the House 

 of Lords and its adjuncts (including lighting and furni- 

 ture) .. .. .. .. .. .. 20,044 10 



7. Amount of the commission to be paid to the archi- 

 tect:'.. .. .. .. .. .. — 



8. Amount to be paid to surveyors, valuers, clerks of 

 works, and others, not included in the architect's or 



builder's charge . . . . . . . . . . uncertain 



Brought forward , . 



567,767 10 

 833,268 13 



Total Cost .. ..£1,401,036 3 8 



The total cost of works executed, and estimated cost of the works to be 



executed to finish the New Palace of Westminster, is thus £1,401,036 3 8; 



but which is exclusive of extra finishings, works of decoration, fittings ia 



libraries and refreshment rooms, &c. ; fixtures, furniture, and upholstery ; 



J Tflia amount includes (besides tlie prot'essioniil remuneration to the architect on 

 account of woiks executed to the general building) the commiasion upon works to the 

 cofferdam, river wall, &c., aud the sum paid for a detailed estimate, in accordance witll 

 the approved design. 



2 It is proposed, under Treasury authority, dated November 28th, 1842, to obtain pos- 

 session eventually of the buildings on the south side of Bridge-Street, Westminster: the 

 probable cost of these buildings has not been ascertained. 



3 By Treasury letter, doted February 2.'i, 1839, the sura of .^25,000 was directed to b« 

 paid to the architect as professional remuneration for superintending, directing, and 

 completing the Houses of Parliament in conformity with the original design and esti- 

 mate, (It is right to state that the principle of this arrangement has never been acceded 

 to by Mr. Barry). The remuneration to the architect on account of works not included 

 in his original estimate, but subsequently authorised, has not yet been the subject of 

 consideration. 



