1819. J 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



311 



For calico printing the process is most advantageously adapted ; 

 it enables the operator, with the mere turning of the hand, to re- 

 gulate the heat and current so as to suit the style of goods which 

 are being thrown off from the machines. One heating apparatus 

 can be rendered available for one, eight, or more machines, each 

 printing perhaps a different kind of fabric, as well as a different 

 amount of colour; and when it is borne in mind that these ma- 

 chines are known to print from 4,000 to 6,000 yards per day, it 

 cannot be a trifling consideration to have a command of drying 

 power, as thus described. 



12. On a Patent Water-Meier. By Mr. Paekinsov. 



This instrument is constructed for measuring water as supplied 

 from the water-mains in the streets to private houses, factories, 

 and other places. Mr. Parkinson stated that it was simple in con- 

 struction, uniform in motion, nearly fi-ee from friction, and not 

 subject to derangement; it takes an accurate account of the water 

 passing through it, whether it enters under several hundred feet 

 elevation, or the smallest stream under half-an-inch ])ressure. The 

 measuring-wheel or drum is a modification of Crosley's gas-meter 

 drum; the water under pressure enters at the back, where a self- 

 acting apparatus reduces the pressure to that only which is neces- 

 sary to pass it into the measuring-drum. The quantity is recorded 

 on an index, similar to the gas in gas-meters. From the measur- 

 ing-drum it falls into a small cistern, which, in filling, shuts off 

 tlie supply to the meter by means of a ball-tap valve; from tliis 

 cistern the water is drawn off as required, the act of which draws 

 down the float and sets the meter to work, and supplies the quan- 

 tity drawn off, to be ready for farther demand. As the cistern is 

 only a small one, it is indispensable that the pressure from the 

 works should be always on, to be ready to enter the meter; but if 

 the supply be intermittent, as is now generally the case, a large 

 cistern, to hold a day or two's supply, must be provided. And it 

 would require a meter large enough to fill the cistern in the 

 allotted period allowed by the company for this purpose; but it is 

 expected now that companies can get paid for all they sell, that it 

 will be to their interest to keep tlie pressure always on. 



It is calculated that a meter to supply a twelve-roomed house, 

 will not cost more than 30*., and be able to supply water to the 

 extent of 50 gallons per hour. In fitting-up new houses, the cost 

 of the meter will be much less than the cost of a cistern on the 

 old principle; besides the advantages of a constant supply, no 

 annoyance from stoppages from frosts, &c., as the meter and pipes 

 may be all internal. 



[From some remarks that were made after the paper was read, it was 

 elioited that the pressure of the mains was reduced by allowing the water to 

 flow into a small regulator or cistera attached to the apparatus into which 

 the water 6rst enters before it passes through the drum to record the quan- 

 tity; and that when the small cistern was full, the water was shut ofif by a 

 ball-cock until it had discharged its contents. When this was done, the ball- 

 cock was again opened by a contrivance in a second reservoir, below the 

 first.] 



13. On the Present State of Telegraphic Communication in England 

 Prussia, and America. By Mr. F. VV'hisuaw. 



Mr. AV^hishaw first described the extent of telegraphic commu- 

 nication in England, and its direction. The whole length is about 

 2,000 miles, the course of the wires invariably following that of 

 railways. Not so in Prussia and America. In the former country 

 there were 1,700 miles of wire, in the latter about 10,000. In 

 both places it was not considered necessary to follow the course of 

 railways. In Prussia the wire sometimes skirted the highway, and 

 crossed the Rhine. In America the vast prairies and agricultural 

 districts were linked together in one chain of communication. In 

 Prussia the system recommended by Mr. Whishaw, of coating or 

 insulating the galvanised wire with gutta-percha, and burying it 

 underground, was partly adopted. He strongly recommended this 

 system, for besides the expense of posts, there were several disad- 

 vantages attending the present practice; they were liable to be 

 damaged by trains getting off the rail, the electrical action was 

 frequently disturbed by the state of the atmosphere, and the wires 

 were often damaged by malicious persons. This was more particu- 

 larly the case on the continent, where political inquietude often 

 assumes a formidable shape. It has been found after considerable 

 experience that gutta-percha so buried was as perfect when it was 

 dug up as the day it was put down. He had recommended this 

 system to the East India Company, who were preparing to lay 

 down no less than 10,000 miles of wire. Morse's telegraph was 

 the one principally in use in Prussia, and it was worked with the 

 greatest ease and facility by mere boys. 



The expense of laying down a mile of wire in these countries 

 varied considerably. In England it was about 150/., in America 



20/., in Prussia 40/. In the two latter places a single wire was 

 used. The charges in America and England differed considerably, 

 and considering that in the former place a dividend of 6 per cent. 

 is paid, he could not help coming to the conclusion that the eco- 

 nomical system of cliarges is by tar the most profitable. 'The dif- 

 ference is the following: — 



American Scale of Charges. 

 From WashlnglOB Dlstame. 20 Words. 50 Words. 100 \VorJs. 



to s. d. 8. d. 8. rt. 



Alexandria .. 10 miles ..11 2 4 4 5 



Fredericksburg.. 60 miles .. 1 3i 2 6J 7 /j- 



Raliegh .. 292 miles ..2 8 5 2 9 4 



Columbia .. 509 miles ..4 7 9 14 



Macon ..1,107 miles ..7 9 15 3 27 9 



Columbus ,.1,200 miles .. 8 GJ 16 9i 30 6-i 



Mobile ..1,523 miles .. 10 3^ 20 z\ 36 11 



New Orleans ..1,716 miles .. 12 6 25 45 10 



Electric Telegraph Compang*s Charges. 

 Distance. 20 Words. 50 Words. 100 Words. 



s. d. • B. d. B. d. 



10 miles ..2 6 9 OJ 20 



60 miles ..4 7 12 7| 26 1 



100 miles ..6 3 15 71 31 3 



200 miles ..8 4 2U 10 41 8 



South-Eastern Raihoay Charges. 

 From London Distance. 20 Words. 60 Words. 100 Words, 



to 8. d. E. d. 8. d 



14. On the Copying Electric Telegragh, and other Improvements in 

 Telegraphic Communicutl-n. By Mr. Fkedebick C. Bakewell. 



In the copying telegraph the corresponding instruments are 

 made as exactly alike as possible, so as to impart equal and steady 

 movements to a cylinder on each instrimient. Motion is given to 

 the cylinders by weights, accelerated velocity being prevented by 

 rapidly-revolving fans. Parallel to the cylinders are screws which 

 turn with tlie cylinders, and carry traversing nuts. To those nuts 

 ivory arms are attached, at the end of each of which there is a 

 binding screw to hold a metal point tliat presses on the cylinder, 

 and is carried by the revolution of the screw from one end to the 

 other. Upon the cylinder of one of the instruments, the message 

 to be transmitted is written on tin-foil with a pen dipped in spirit 

 varnish, which is quite sufficient to obstruct the passage of the 

 electric current. On to the cylinder of the corresponding instru- 

 ment the paper to receive the message is applied; it is moistened 

 thoroughly with a solution which electricity will readily decompose, 

 so that a mark may be made on the paper whenever the electric 

 current is completed. The solution used consists of a mixture of 

 muriatic acid and prussiate of potass; the marking point being 

 steel wire. The metal points which press on the cylinders are 

 connected with the poles of a voltaic battery, and are insulated 

 from the other parts of the instrument by the ivory arms. The 

 cylinders are also placed in the electric circuit, which is completed 

 by the electricity passing from the point to the cylinder of each 

 instrument. By this arrangement, when the point of the trans- 

 mitting instrument is pressing on the exposed tin-foil, the electric 

 circuit is completed through the moistened paper of the receiving 

 instrument, and a mark is made; but when the point of the trans- 

 mitting instrument is pressing on the varnish writing, the marking 

 ceases. In this manner, as the cylinders rotate, and the points are 

 moved gradually along by the traversing screw nuts, spiral lines 

 very close together are made on the paper, excepting in those 

 places where the electric current is interrupted by the varnish; 

 and if both cylinders rotate exactly together, the point of the 

 transmitting instrument, by passing several times over different 

 parts of each letter, will cause the marking point to produce forms 

 of the letters on the paper, as in the specimens shown. By this ar- 

 rangement, copies of writing may be made at any distance to 

 which an electric current can be conveyed, provided the two in- 

 struments are moving exactly together. ' To obtain synchronous 

 movements in the two separate rapidly-revohing instruments, 

 there is attached to each cylinder an electro-magnet, to the keeper 

 of which there is a detent, which catches against projections on a 

 wheel fixed to the euber of the cylindei-, the projections on both 

 wheels being placed at exactly equal distances. The electro- 

 magnets are brought into action at regular intervals, by means of 

 half-second pendulums, actuated by clockwork. These pendulums 

 are connected with separate voltaic batteries, in such manner that 

 at each connection they make and break connection, and put the 

 magnet into and throw it out of action: thus affording the means 

 of regvilating the cylinders every half-second. 



