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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[Bkcembkr, 



finer particles are to be separated by wasliing in water, and left to settle ; the 

 sediment is to be placed in a crucible or earthen retort, with a receiver at- 

 tached to collect any chloride or mercury that may come over. When red 

 hot plunge it into frcsli boiling water, stir it well and leave it to settle, then 

 draw ok tlie water and add any chloride that may have come over into the 

 receiver. Then add one-f'ourtli of its weight of common black or red lead, 

 accordinj; to the colour desired. This composition is to be mi.\ed with boiled 

 linseed oil wiib one fifth of spirits of turpentine, and applied as thinly as 

 possible with a brush to the sheets of metal to be protected. The metal 

 coated in this manner is to be dried by the application of heat, beginning with 

 a low temperature, and gradually raised to about 300° of Fahrenheit, so as 

 to make the metal "imbibe'' the preparation. The claim is, for the invention 

 of the composition prepared as above described, for the prevention of corro- 

 sion in metals, and for other purposes. — Mech. Mag. 



STEAM NAVIGATION. 



The Cli/ile. — There was launched, on the 27th October last, at Clyde Bank 

 a new steam dredging vessel for the River Clyde trustees. This vessel is the 

 largest of the kind which has yet been built on the Clyde; she is 100 feet 

 long and 22 feet broad ; she is to carry an engine of 24 horse power, and to 

 work etl'ectively in 18 feet depth of water. The engine for this vessel has 

 been constructed by Mr. John N'lson, of Oak Bank Foundry, in accordance 

 with the specification drawn up ■■y Mr. Bald, engineer of tlie Clyde. This 

 vessel is now in the harbour of iJk' Broomielaw, for the purpose of receiving 

 the engine and machinery on bo ad. A very beautiful model of this vessel, 

 on a scale of one foot to an inch, was e.Khibited in the model room of the 

 British Association, and which was constructed under the direction of Mr. 

 Eald, before the steam dredge-boat was built. 



Navigation of the Mersey. — The Warrington, a new iron steamer, of 200 tons 

 burthen, builder's measurement, built entirely (engines and bull) by the 

 Warrington Bridge Foundry Company, made her first experimental trip down 

 the Mersey to Liverpool and back on Wednesday, Uth ult. On her down- 

 ward voyage she sailed remarkably well, and toolc in tow several flats bound 

 for Liverpool. On her return home, she steamed from the Old Quay Pier, 

 Liverpool, to the Old Quay, at Runcorn, in one hour and twenty-two minutes, 

 towing one of Messrs. John Hodson and Company s flats. From Runcorn 

 to Warrington, a distance of ten miles and a half, her speed was put to the 

 test. In spite of a heavy fresh, and the disadvantage of getting up her speed 

 after stopping at Runcorn, she completed the distance in forty-seven minutes. 

 As far as the navigation of the Mersey is concerned, all difficulties thrown in 

 the way of Wanington one day becoming a bonded port have now been made 

 to disappear. — Liverpool Times. 



The Mammoth Iron Steamer at Bristol. — A gentleman who has recently seen 

 the immense iron steamer buildini; by the Great Western Steam Ship Com- 



Eany at Bristol, infonns us that she will register about 3,000 tons, but that 

 er actual tonnage will e.\ceed 3, GOO tons, or about 600 tons more than any 

 ship ever built. An immense saving in stowage will be gained in consequence 

 of the adoption of iron for her hull, whilst her draught of water will be com- 

 paratively small, owing to the great buoyancy possessed by iron vessels. She 

 will consequently be able to carry coals sufficient both for her outward and 

 homeward passages,— a most important point, w hen the inferior quality of 

 coals obtainable in America, and consetjuent diminution in speeii, is con- 

 sidered. Her engines, we hear, are to be of 1000 horse power, and it is con- 

 fidently expected that the average voyage across the Atlantic will be reduced 

 to ten (lays. She will carry a vast spread of canvass, so that in all proba- 

 bility the engines will frequently be at rest. In consequence of the adoption 

 of Smith's Screw Propeller, this stupendous ship, the greatest experiment in 

 steam navigation ever made, will, we believe, be able to pass the present 

 locks at Cumberland Basin, and discharge her cargo in Bristol Harbour. We 

 congratulate our Bristol neighbours upon the enterprise which they are dis- 

 playing. Two magnificent steamers are now building at Bristol, by Messrs. 

 Acraman. for the Royal Mail Company ; and, altogether, the ancient port 

 seems to be "going a-head.'' — G/oneester Chronicle. 



Iron Steamer.— On Saturday the 21st ult., was ktunched from Messrs. Ditch- 

 burn and Mare's building yard, at Blackwall. a wrought iion steam vessel of 

 160 tons, named the " Mermaid," to be propelled by an engine on an entirely 

 new principle, if 50 horse power, invented e.\-pressly to drive the Archimedes 

 screw without the aid of geering-wheels. Should its power equal its simpli- 

 ciiy, it is likely to cause a change in steam engines. The engine is making 

 by Messrs. Rennie's. 



Prevention of Steam Packet Coilisions.— The Corporation of tlie Trinity 

 House has deemed it right lo frame and promulgate the following rules, 

 " which, on communication with the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, 

 the Elder Brethren find have been ah'cady adopted in respect of steam-vessels 

 in Her Majesty's service." Rule first — "When steam-vessels on different 

 courses must unavoidably or necessarily cross so near that by continuing 

 their respeciive courses there would be a risk of coming into collision, each 

 vessel shall piit bt?r " helm to port,' so as always to pass on the larboard side 

 of each other.'' Rule second — " A steam vessel passing another in a narrow 

 channel must always leave the vessel she is passing on tlie 1 rboard hand." 



Steamers Wanted. — We had hoped that the cry of " steamers wanted" which 

 we have continually kept up for the last two years, would before this have 

 been responded to by the arrival of steamers from England ; but as we see 

 that that the subject was alluded lo in several London and Liverpool papers 

 of November and December last, we .still hope that many months will not 

 elapse before several steamers ai-rive in the colnny. The following steamers 

 are now urgently wanted, in fact we are suHering much from the want of 

 them :— Two large steam-boats to run from Port Pliilip to Sydney ; a large 

 boat to run from Sydney to New Zealand ; a second to be added in about 12 



months; three boats to run to Hunter's River; a boat to run to William's 

 River; a boat to run to Brisbane Water; a couple of small boats to run be- 

 tween Newcastle and the different towns on the Hunter, Williams, and Pater- 

 son. Besiiles tlie above, a boat will be rc(|uired to run to Twofold Bay very 

 shortly, .as the country between there and il.anaroe, called the Bija country, 

 is beginning to attract attention ; boats for Jervis's and Bateman's Bay will 

 soon be required. We consider the above boats are required at once, in addi- 

 tion to those now here, for there will always be some of the vessels meeting 

 with accidents, and otherwise requiring repair, and it is of the greatest im- 

 portance that boats should run regularly. Although the above are urgently 

 required, we believe that the only boats tb.at can be depended upon, as sure 

 to arrive during the present year, are two for the Hunter's River Company, 

 and one for Port Philip. Half a dozen vessels of different burdens sent to 

 this colony would be a splendid speculation.— 5i/(/«(i/ Herald, May 15. 



PROGRESS OF RAII.'VirAYS. 



America. — There are now 2,270 miles of railroads completed, or nearly com- 

 pleted, in the United States, besides 2.346 miles of railroads in progress of 

 construction, making a total (when finished) of 4,616 miles. — Times. 



Greenwich Railway. — Tenders as delivered on Tuesday. 3rd November, for 

 widening the Greenwich Railway, fr.jm the Croydon Junction to Tooley Street, 

 (extending nearly a mile for the present contract.) 



Mr. Jackson 



Messrs. Grissell and Peto 



Messrs. Baker & Son 



Messrs. Little &. Son 



Mr. Lee 



Messrs. Piper &. Son 



Mr. Bennett 



Messrs. Ward 



Mr. M'Intosh 



Mr. Grimsdell 



£34.900 

 37.791 

 38,734 

 38,800 

 38.850 

 39.300 

 39,972 

 43.320 

 43.500 

 46,596 



Taff Vale Raihnay. — We are glad to perceive that the promoters of the 

 prosperity of this tbwni, are not unmindful of the inducements which its great 

 natural advantages hold out for the accomplishment of railway communi- 

 cation with other districts of the kingdom, as well as the importance of 

 meeting other places in the race of competition by the aid of this grand 

 achievement of modern science; The progressive commercial importance, 

 and the exhaustless mineral wealth of Newport and its neighbourhood, have 

 been so frequently the theme of observation in this journal, that it would be 

 superfluous at present to dwell on facts, admitted uy all, as incentives to 

 action during the railway undertakings now completed or in course of ope- 

 ration through the leading districts of the kingdom. Our position is com- 

 manding, our advantages great, and our exertions shoidd be commensurate 

 to obtain a participation in the benefits for our town and port, and for the 

 county at large, that railway communication with the great arteries of the 

 traffic of the kingdom, is now diffusing. A railway is projected between 

 Newport and Gloucester, taking the circuit of Monmouth and Usk. We 

 understand that Mr. Barber, late of the Tafl" Vale Railway, a gentleman 

 highly spoken of as possessing great talents in his profession, is directing 

 his best energies to the subject, and with the support he has already received, 

 we augur well for the maturity of his plans. The question shall be resumed 

 in our columns. — Monmouthshire Merlin. 



South-Eastern. Raihvay. — Tills great undertaking is now proceeding with 

 tlie utmost vigour ; all the works between Tunbridge and Redhill are in a 

 state of great forwardne s, it being the intention of the directors to open the 

 line as far as Tunbridge, with the least possible delay. The tunnel, near the 

 village of Bletchingly. wdiich is a particularly arduous and heavy structure, 

 is also progressing considerably. This is one of the most interesting works 

 upon the line, particularly to the geologist, as it passes under ground near 

 the foot of Tilburston-hill. which it is well known has been subjected to some 

 powerful subterraneous action, the strata upon some parts of the hill being 

 singularly distorted. All the phenomena observed by the engineer in the 

 progress of the work shows this spot to have been peculiarly subjected to the 

 upheaving and disturbing powers which, at some remote period, liave been in 

 active operation. Mr. Simms, the engineer, who resides at Bletchingly, is 

 in possession of several interesting fossils, which he has found in the progress 

 of his work. — Sussex E.vpress. 



Gloucester and Monmouthshire Railway. — Agreeably lo our promise, we this 

 week recur to the subject of a railway from Newport to Gloucester. It ap- 

 pears that two lines have been surveyed, the one by Usk and Monmouth, the 

 other by Chepstow and Newnh:ira ; and it is a matter of the greatest moment 

 to arrive at a sound conclusion, as to which line will best subserve the in- 

 terests of the public, and of the districts through which it passes. We have 

 been long impressed with the importance, and indeed, the necessity for 

 a railway communication through this rich and greatly improving district ; 

 and having attentively considered the subject, it appears that there can be but 

 one opinion as to the eligibility of the centr.il line, and of the impolicy of 

 allowing a trifling difference of cost, to weigh in the consideration of a ques- 

 tion involving results of such paramount advantage Tlie line pro| osed, to 

 follow the banks of the Severn, is open to so many objections from its being 

 parallel with a fine navigation, and with a probability of another railway from 

 Gloucester to Bristol being carried along the opposite bank, that we think it 

 will not bear comparison ,with a line embracing towns of importance, and 

 laying open a splendid district of country, greatly needing the facilities of 

 raihvay communication, i he traffic from the important districts of Ponty- 

 pooi, Abergavenny, Brecon. &c., largely flow into Ihc line near Usk, and the 

 City of Hereford would doubtless communicate near Ross. The central 

 character of this line atlbrds a guarantee that traffic will be derived on every 



