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THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



[OCTOBEB, 



Engineers* College, Putney. — Mr. Clegg, jun. has lieen appointed Professor 



of Engineering at this Coilege, and gave his Inaugurnl lecture on the 23rd ult. 



New Survey of England. — Government not being satisfied with the tri- 

 angulation of the Ordnance Survey of England, have decided upon meaeuring the angles 

 again. For this purpose, a party of Sappers aud Jlinera are now engaged on Salisbury 

 Plain in measuring the hase line. 



Screw Steamers. — The best proportion for the screw propeller has been 

 found by experiment to be— the pitch to be the same length as the diameter of the screw, 

 and that the vane or blade should not exceed one-sixth the length of the worm. 



Drainage of the Haarlem Lake — The difficult operation of draining the 

 sea or lake of Haarlem is being carried on with the greatest activity. The woriis are not 

 even suspended on Sundays or fete days; nay, they are sometimes continued during the 

 night. During the month of August, the waters of this immense lake were lowered to 

 the extent of '27'i inches, Dutch measure. It is hoped aod expected that they will be en- 

 tirely drained off before the month of March, IHOO. 



Novel Suspension Bridge at Chester. — As the bridge which has lately been 

 constructed by Messrs. Mc Kean and Co., of Liverpool, at Curzon-park, in this city, has 

 excited conaiderable attention and discussion, a description of so novel an example of 

 engineeiing skill may not be uninteresting. The situation in which this bridge was re- 

 quired rendered it expedient to do away with piers and suspensioo-bara projecting above 

 the level of the road ; and the ravine to be crossed, from the Grosvenor-road to the park, 

 being upwards of liiO feet span, while it was doubtful whether a proper foundation could 

 be oijtained for the erection of heavy stone piers capable of sustaining so great a strain, 

 the present self-adjusting principle was adopted, and has been found in practice to 

 answer admirably. This principlu is cap.ible of being carried out to a much greater extent 

 in point of strength aud durability, as well as in appearance; but the sum allotted for 

 the erection of the Curzon park bridge being limited to a small nraount, these improve- 

 ments could nut there be adopted. The chain rods are made of the best^ths round iron, in 

 lengths of \ft feet each, with secure lock-joints placed alternately, across which are fitted 

 flat bars, above and belou-', at about »> feet apart, and upon which the wooden planks 

 forming the platform, of 7 feet wide, are firmly secured by T-headed bolts and nuts, 

 screwed up from beneath. The chain-rods are secured at one end of a massive stone 

 ]iier, by stone cramp-plates and bars, built in from the toundiition on Lord Westminster's 

 embanitment, on the Grosvenor side; and the stone pier at the Curzon-park end of the 

 bridge is formed into a pit, upon the top of which, resting on cast-iron girder-beams and 

 pedestals, is placed a very strong grooved barrel, around which euch of the chains (in 

 these parts formed of short links), takes one turn, rlescenriing to antt being fixed in a 

 strong cast-iron plate, suspended near the bottom of the pit, at a depth of 30 feet, upon 

 ■which is built a mass of masonry, forming a weight sufficient to counter-balance the 

 whole, keeping the chain bars in a proper state of tension, as well as providing for every 

 degree of contraction or expansion. The bridge is also further secured by back stay-rods 

 at each end, running to a considerable distance from the piars to a great depth under 

 ground, and bolted to heavy blocks of oak ; having thus a resisting force of many hundred 

 tons of earth, exclusive of the massive stone piers on which the bridge rests. A light 

 iron trellis diamond fence is carried along the platform ou each side between double 

 standari's, and arched facia plates are fixed underneath, iriving a fiuish to the bridge, 

 which has altogether a lifht and neat appearance, remaik;d)ly well adapted for the situa- 

 tion in which it is placed ; while the nany thousands of ptrrsims who have already pat^sed 

 «ver it form a very fair test of its stability, aud the aounduess of the principle on which 

 it is constructed. 



Iron Roofing, — At the Liverpool Polytechnic Socipty, Mr. R. Turner, of 

 Dublin, furnished the foUi-wing interesting particulars of a new galvanised iron roofing 

 and other works of a railwtiy station at Livi-rpool, whicli he is now constructing. The 

 loof covers an area of f>,Uu square yards, being about 3(iU feet in length, and \>>'6 Jt 6 in. 

 in widtii. There are no intermediate co'.umus; but this great space is spaimed over by 

 one stupendous arch, rising in a segment of a circle to a central height of yU feet .'rom 

 the spring, or chord The roof consists of 17 curved girders ol wruugbt-iron, resting at 

 one side upon the walls of the offices, and at the other upon cast-iron columns of the 

 Doric order, connected by ornamental arches in perforated iron. These girders are 

 trussed vertically by a series of rudiating struts, acted on by tie-bars, connected with the 

 extremities of the girders; and they are trussed horizontally by a series of purlins and 

 diagonal rods— thus formim^ one rigid piece of framing from end to end. Upon th s 

 framing will be laid plates of galvanised corrugated iron, and three ranges of plate glass, 

 in sheets about 12 f'. f»in. in length, nnd of great tliickness, extending the whole length 

 of the roof. In consequence of the great extent of surface exposed to the variations of 

 temperature, provision has been made for expansion and contraction of the iron without 

 injury to its bearings. The roof, when finished, will weigh about 700 tons. The whole 

 of the work, with the exception of the cast-iron columns and ornamental arches, is of 

 wrought iron. The iron columns upon which the roof rests, on tlie south side of the 

 ywrd, are :; It. 3iD. in diameter at their bases. Six of the girders are fixed ; and having 

 struck the ci^ntres under three of these girders, it was found that in not one of them was 

 there the least perceptible detli-ction. Mr. Turner produced specimens of the various 

 parts of the ironwork employed in the roof in question, and explained the manner in 

 which they were npplied. so as to m-4ke a perfect whole. Though thest- samples are very 

 massive, it xvaa stated that the huge roof, though of great strength, would appear to the 

 eye as light as a cobweb. 



Ivory as an Article of Manufacture. — At the meeting of the West-Riding 

 Geological and Polytechnic Society, Mr. Dalton read a paper on this subject. He said 

 there were several sorts of ivory, differing from each other In regard to cnmposition, du- 

 rability and externid appearance, and also in value. The principal sources from wlience 

 ivory wns derived iveie from the Hesiem coast of Africa nnd Hindostan. Camaroo was 

 generally considered the best, on lucuuni *<\ its colour and transparency. In some of the 

 best tusks the transparency could be discovered even at the outside of the tusks Gen- 

 tlemen were apt to be deceived with regard to transparency because the manufacturer 

 could mislead them by making it transparent by a process of his own. But the finder of 

 time wuuld soon indicate the decepti m. It was as well not to insist on havii.g the most 

 trail sp.^^t'nt kind ; fnr if they got the genuine article, lhou^ h somewhat brown at first, it 

 would eventually become white. The AfriLan was the kind tif which the best cutlery was 

 made; and though its degree of transparency was not so great as the Camaroo, it was 

 sufficiently beautiful in its colour and fineness of grain as to render it suitable for the best 

 kind of cutlery. But there was a third description, called the Egyptian, which had lately 

 bewn biought into this country, which was 1.^ per cent. lower than the Indian, but was 

 very wasteful in working. Mr. Uallun next gave a description of the specific gravity of 

 the diflerent kinds of ivoi-y he had referred to. He had been furnished with an analysis 

 to show the relative amount of animal matter in the three princir'al varieties of ivory. 

 The African showed a proportion or animal over earthy matter ot 101 to lUO; the Indian 

 7'» to 100; and the Egyptian "0 to 100. Thus, though the composition was much alike, 

 yet there were those differences between the animal and earthy matter. He also shuived 

 the difference as to the quantity of dust used in the manufacture of gelatine. With re- 

 spect to the iu'jrease in the manulacture of ivory, he said that It was now within the 

 memory of man tlint there were not more than 15 per cent, workers of ivory in Sheffield ; 

 l)ut now they were upwards of 40 per cent. Forty years ago there was only one dealer of 

 ivory in Sheffield ; at present there were five or six. The value vl the annual consump- 

 tion in Sheffield was about ;^O.tiOO/., and about r)00 persons were employed in working it 

 up for trade. The number of tusks tn make up the weight consumed in Sheffield, about 

 180 tons, was 46,000, the average wfight id each being only Ulb. Many weighed from (!0 

 to loo lb., so that some must be vtry fruiall indeed. According to this the number of ele- 

 phants killed every year was 22,501) ; but supjjosing that some tusks were cast and ; ome 

 animals died, it might be (airly estimated that 18.000 were killed for the purpose. This 

 was a matter which was not generally known, it being a prevalent opinion that the tusks 

 used for ivory were such as were cast by the elephants when alive. 



Steam Factory in Sweden.— The largest mechanical work in Sweden, is 

 the Motala Factory on the Gotha Canal, It is said to be fitted-up with pood steam ma- 

 cninery, and ot late has been greatly improved. It builds steamboats and marine engines, 

 among other works, ai.d has turned out the steamers " Svithiod," *■ and Guuthiod." as 

 well us the "Laubeck," which runs on the East Sea. 



I*IST OP WE^V PATENTS. 



GRANTED IN ENGLAND FROM AuGUST 23, TO SEPTEMBER 20, 1849. 



SijT Months allowed for Eurolmeiit, unless otherwise expressed. 



Malcolm Macfarlane, of Thistle-street, Glasgow, coppersmith, for certain improre- 

 ments in machinery or apparatus for the drying and finishing of woven fabrics.— Sealed 

 August ;io. 



Thomas Symes Prideaux, of Southampton, gentleman, for improvements in puddling 

 and other furnaces, and in steam-boilers. — August 'Ai). 



James Robinson, of HuddersfiehJ, orchil and cudbear manufacturer, for improvements 

 in preparing or manufacturing orchil and cudbear.— August 30. 



Isidore Bertrand, of France, engineer, for an improvement in protecting persona and 

 property from accident in carriages.— August 30. 



Onesiphore Pecquer, of Paris, civil engineer, for certain improvements in the manufac- 

 turing of fishing and other nets. — August 30. 



A grant of an extension for the term of five years from the 23rd of October, 1.S49, of a 

 patent to George Baxter, of Chirterhouse-square, Middlesex, engraver, for his invention 

 of improvements in producing coloured steel-plate, copper-plate, and other impressions. 



Charles Morey, of the United States, now residing at Manchester, gentleman, for cer- 

 tain improvements in machinery or apparatus for sewing embroidery, and uniting or or- 

 namenting, by stitches, various descriptions of textile fabrics.— August 30. 



Alexander Haig, of Smith-street, Stepney, engineer, for an improved apparatus for ex- 

 hausting and driving atmospheric air and other gases, and for giving motion to other ma- 

 chinery. — September tJ. 



Alexander Robert Terry, of Manchester-street, Manchester-square, engineer, for im- 

 provements in the manufacture or preparation of firewood. — September 6. 



Josiah Marshall Heath, of Hanwell» Middlesex, gentleman, for improvements in the 

 manufacture of steel. — September fl. 



Sir John Macneill, Knight, of Dublin, and Thomas Barry, of Lyons, near Dublin, me- 

 chanic, for improvements n locomotive engines, and in the couatructiou of railways. — 

 September tJ. 



John Hosking, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, engineer, for an improved pavement. — Sep - 

 tembertJ. 



Richard Ari?hibald Brooman, of Pie t-street, patent agent, for certain improvements in 

 draught-horse saddlery, harness, and saddle-trees. (A communication.)— September 13. 

 David Stephens Brown, of the Old Kent-road, gentleman, for certain improvements in 

 apparatus or instrumeuts fur the fumigation ol plants.- September 13. 



Henry Atwood, of Goodman's-fields, Middlesex, engineer, and John Renton, of Brom- 

 ley, in the same county, engineer, for certain improvements in the manufacture of starch 

 ar.d other like articles of commerce, from fiirinaceous and leguminous substances. — 

 September 13. 



Edme Augustin Chameroy, of Rue du Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, for a new system of 

 railway (denominated Helicoide), heliacal railway, and a circular chariot. — September l.'l. 



Napoleon Pierre Preterre, of Havre, in France, for improvements in the cons ruction of 

 coflee and tea pots, and in ajjparatus for cooking; also iu apparatus for grinding aud 

 roasting coffee.- September 13. 



Edwin Heywood, of Glosburn, Yorkshir-e, designer, for improvements In plain and or- 

 namental weaving. — September 13. 



Robert Griffiths, of Havre, engineer, for Improvements in steam-engines, and in pro- 

 pelling vessels.— September 13. 



Thomas Mars "en, of Salford, Lancaster, machine-maker, for improvements in ma- 

 chinery lor liackling, combing, or dressing flax, wool, and other fibrous substances. — 

 September 13. 



Benjamin f.'oodfe'low. of Hyde park, Chester, engineer, for certain improvements in 

 steam-engines.— September 13. 



James Potter, of Manchester, mechanist, for certain improvements in spinning and 

 doubling machinery. — September 13. 



Charles Marsden, of Kinc;sland.road, for improvements in traps to be applied to closets, 

 drains, sewers, and cesspools. — September 20. 



William Edward Newton, of Chancery-lane, civil engineer, for certain improvements in 

 pumps, and in machinery and apparatus for wnrkinp the same, which latter iniprovementa 

 are also applicable for working other macliinery. (A communication). — September 20. 



William Handley. of Chiswell-street, Fi sbury, confectioner, George Duncm, of Batter- 

 sea, engineer, and Alexander Mc (ilashan, of Lung acre, engineer, for improvements in 

 the construction of railway breaks. — September 20. 



Henry Bessemer, of Baxter-house, Old-street, St. Pancras-rond, engineer, for improve- 

 ments in the preparation of fuel, aud in apparatus for supplying the same to furnaces.— 

 September 20. 



Elijah Galloway, of Southampton-buildings, Chancery-lane, engineer, for improvements 

 in furnaces.— September 20. 



Joseph Rocke Cooper, of Birmingham, gun and pistol maker, for improvements in fire 

 arms. — September 2(). 



Edward Staite, of Lombard-street, gentleman, and William Petrle, of King-street, gen- 

 tleman, for improvemeuts in electric and galvanic instruments and apparatus, and in 

 their application to lighting and motive purposes.— September 20. 



Willi m Pearce, of Haigh, near Wigan, Lancaster, and Edward Evans, of Wigan, en- 

 gineers, for improvements in steam-engines and in pumps. — September 20. 



Josiah Lorkin, of Ivy. lane, merchant, for an improved instrument or apparatus for 

 beutnig or triturating viscous or gelatinous substances.— September 20. 



Benjamin Wren, of Yarm, Yorkshire, miller, for an improvement in cleaning and treat- 

 iu'- certain descriptions of wheat — September 20. 



David Owen Edward, of Sydney-place, Brompton, surgeon, for improvements in the 

 application of gas for producing and radiating heat.— September 20. 



Juhn Baplisie Vauldy, of Mile-end, dyer, for improvements in giving a gloss to dyed 

 silU, in skeins or hanks.— September 20. 



'I'homas Griffiths, of Islington row, Birmingham, for improvements in the manufacture 

 of tea and other pots and vessels, and other articles made of stamped metal. — Septem- 

 ber 20. 



