72 



XHE CIVIL EXGIXEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURXAL. 



[Febrcaky 



Tracing Paper. — Messrs. Waterloff and Sons have recently introduced a 

 very useful description of French tracinp paper for the engineer's office. It Is to be had 

 40 inches wide and UIJ yards in length, and ia remarkably transparent. 



Assyrian Antiquities. — Major H. Rawlinson, the E.I.C.'s Political Agent 

 in Turkish-Arabia, and H.M.'s Consul at Uapdad, who has lately arrived in this country 

 from Bagdad, has brought with him a quantity of casts of Babylonian inscriptions, and 

 also some packages containing figures of stone and terracotta, being reuiaios of Assyrian 

 antiquities; and they are intended to be deposited in the British Museum and other 

 scientific institutions of the metropolis. Lord Mahon exhibited some of the cnsts at the 

 Society of Antiquaries ou Ihe l'4th uU. 



Testimonial to Mr. Dockray, Resident Engineer on the North- Western 

 Bailway.— As a testimonial of respect for his \veIl-known aijd uniformintegrity of charac- 

 ter, Mr. Dotkray has had the proud gratification of being presented by his brother 

 officers in the Londcn and North- Western Railway, and by other gentlemen professionally 

 connected with him, with a half-length portrait of himself, painted by Phillips, accom- 

 panied by a purse of 00 sovereigns, and500/. of London and North- Western Stock at par. 

 Sir. Dockray was, moreover, presented at the same time with an elegant silver service of 

 plate, of the value of Ui8/. Both portrait and service bear the following inscription :— 

 "This service of plate, together with this portrait, and oOO/. London and North-Western 

 Bailway stock, was presented to Robert Benson Dockray, Esq., M.LC.E., resident en- 

 eineer of the London and North- Western Railway, by 700 subscribers, consisting of his 

 brother officers, and private friends, as a testimonial of their respect and esteem, Novem- 

 her, 1849." The portrait has been engraved in a most masterly style by T. L, Atkin> 

 son, Esq. 



East India Haihvays. — Mr. J. C. Melvill, the secretary of the East India 



Company, has been appointed the ex officio director of the India Railway Companies, in 

 pursuance of the Acts and the respectire contracts with these bodies, and three engineers 

 have been chosen by the East India Peninsular Company to go out to Bombay, for the 

 purpose of proceeding at once with these works. The gentlemen selected are Mr. J. 

 Betkeley, formerly a pupil of Mr. R. Stephenson, and subsequently a sub-engineer on the 

 North Staffordshire line ; Mr. C. Ker, resident engineer, under Mr. Locke, on the Aber- 

 deen line; and Mr. Graham, a nephew of Sir James Graham, and a pupil of Mr. 

 Stephenson- 



Monster Pontoon at New Ilothnd.— Another great step has been taken to 

 bridge across the Huniber. A floating island, half an acre in extent, has been launched 

 into the sea. This island is formed wholly of iron plates, in the form of a rectangular 

 pontoon ; and floats at the end of the pier of the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire 

 Railway station, opposite Hull. The pontoon is connected with the pier by means of two 

 tubular platforms or bridges, which always afford an easy descent, and the passengers 

 alight from the carriages and walk under cover to the boats, which convey them in ten 

 minutes, at the rat-i of fifteen miles an hour, across the ferry. This pontoon is part of the 

 great system of railway ferries designed by Mr. Fowler for the Hull station, the successful 

 and complete carrying out of which is a principal condition of the success of the railway, 

 which it connects with its most populous aastern terminus. The great mass was launched 

 on the -!th ult., with perfect success— and on going into the water floated at the exact line 

 marked out for it, thus proving the accuracy of the previous calculations of the engineer. 

 It was constructed by Messrs. Wilson and Co., of Leeds, as contractors, under the imme- 

 diate superintendence of Mr. Ikin, and it is an excellent piece of workmanship, as well as 

 a most successful engineering design. 



New Peninsular Steam-Fleet. — ^^^e understand that, in anticipation of 

 securing the contract for conveying the mails between India and Australia, and of per- 

 forming the whole of 4he Mediterranean and Bombay service, the Peninsular and Oriental 

 Company have determined on building seven new and powerful paddle-wheel steam ves- 

 sels. Todd and Macgregor, of Scotland, are to build two of the number, they having 

 succeeded so well with the Sultau, the ship last built. The vessels are to be built of 

 Iron. 



Navigation of ihe Ganges. — An iron steam vessel is now being built by 

 Mr. J. Laird, of Birkenhead, intended for the navigation of the Ganges. She is IJUO feet 

 long, and 30 feet beam, and will only draw, when loaded, about two feet of water. The 

 form is that of the canoe, shovel-shaped at both extremities, dnd the bottom, amidships, 

 without keel, forming an inverted gentle segment of an arch; the centre portion, how- 

 ever, or floor, being nearly flat. The rudder is applied at either end, as necessity requires. 

 The vessel is divided longitudinally, into three parts, by tight bulkheads; and traversing 

 these, there are other bulkheads, dividing the whole vessel into 30 water-tight compart- 

 ments, and adding greatly to her strength. The vessel, which is for the East India 

 Company, will, when finished, be taken to pieces, and sent in a ship to India, to be finally 

 put together. 



Mineral Veins. — MM. Malaguti, Durocher, and Sarzeaud, announce that 

 they have detected in the waters of the ocean the presence of copper, lead, and .silver. 

 The water examined appears to have been taken some leagues off the coast uf St. Malo, 

 and the fucuidai plants of that district are also found to contain silver. The F. serratus 

 and the F. ceramoides yielded ashes containing l-100(J00th; while the water of the sea 

 contained but vtry little more than 1-Uol<niu00th. 1 hey state also that they find silver 

 in sea salt, in crdinary muriatic aiid, and in the soda of commerce; and that they have 

 examined the rock salt of Lorraine, in which also they discover this metal. Beyond this, 

 pursuing their researches on terrestrial plants, they have obtained such indications as 

 leave no doubt of the existence of silver in vegetable tissues. Lead is said to be always 

 found in the ashes of marine plants , i;£ually alout an Ib-lOOOOOOth part, and invariably a 

 trace of copper. Should these results be confirmed by further examination, we shall 

 have advanced considerably towards a knowledge of the phenomena of tlie formation of 

 mineral veins. 



Improved Drilling Machine. — Mr. M. P. Coon, of Lansuyburgh, New York* 

 has taken out a patent for a new stone drilling machine, by which the drill can be worked 

 not only perpendicularly, but horizontally, and at any angle within the ])lane of a semi- 

 circle. This arrangement is effected by the employment of spiral springs, so arranged 

 that they are negative — that is, they are o: sufficient power of contruclion and extension 

 to counteract, or counterbalance, more than the entire gravit.itiog power of all the ma- 

 chinery required tc raise the drill shaft. Upon the same principle, a concussive power 

 is obtained an.i counteracted; and, consequently, the drill shaft maybe worked with any 

 amount of concussive power, and at any nng:e required. They are constructed of any 

 required size. The drill shafts, weighin;,' from lu to lOOO lb., will drill any size hole, 

 from i in. to 'J ft. diameter j and the concussion, or blow, for cutting the rock, is wholly 

 regulated by the weight of the drill and the height from which it falls. A Mr. Jack, of 

 Maine, has also taken out a patent for working a drill by springs; hut which is the 

 original idea, or whether they are identical or otherwise, we have no means of ascer- 

 taining. 



Burning JJ'ate?' instead of Lamp Oil. — The New Yor^ Sim has a letter 

 from Worcester, Massac husetts, in which the writer claims to have invented and put in 

 use an apparatus which sei)arates the oxygen of which water is composed, and produces 

 gases for lights. This it does at no other expense than that oi the machinerj-, as no 

 material but that of water is used. The water is decomposed by a current of electricity, 

 evolved by the apparatus. The labour of five minutes, once in two hours in the day, in 

 winding up the machine, is all that is required to produce 2ri0 cubic feet of gas. The 

 expense of the machine is 300 dollars, and it can be carried by a man under his arm. 

 £uch is the description of it— time will determine whether it is even so. 



LIST OF NE^V PATENTS. 



GRANTED IX ENCFLAND FROM DECEMBER 21, 1849, TO JANUARY 24, 1850. 



Six Months allowed for Enrolment, unless othenoiie expressed, 



Louis Cesuires Charpillion, of Rue de Luxembourg, France, for improveroeots in locks 

 for guns, and pistols. — December '_'y. 



John Read, of Park-terrace, King*8-road, Chelsea, for improvements in machinery fo 

 extracting fluids from animal, vegetable, and mineral substances, and in compressing t he 

 same. — December 29. 



William Palmer, of Sutton-street, Clerkenwell, Middlesex, manufacturer, for improve- 

 ments in the manufacture of candles, lamps, and wicks. — December '2^. 



William Karlow, of Blackheath, civil engineer, and William Henry Barlow, of Derby, 

 civil engineer, for improvements in the permanent ways of railways.— January 3. 



Albert Cratkell Waterlow, of London-wall, lithogriipher, for obtaining copies of writ- 

 ings, drawings, and other designs. (A communication.) — January .'^.. 



Alexander Brodie Cochrane, jun., and Archibald Slate, of Dudley, Worcester, engiueer, 

 for improvements in the manufacture of iron pipes or tubes. — January .'>. 



Thomas Lightfoot, of Broad Oak, within Accringtoo, Lancaster, chemist, for improve- 

 ments in printing and dyeing fabrics of cotton and of other fibrous materials. — January 2. 



William Buckwell, of the Artificial Granite Works, Battersea, civil engineer, for i - 

 proveruents in compressing or sohdifying fuel.— January 3. To extend to the Colonies 

 only. 



Joe Sidebottom, of Pendltbury, Lancaster, manager, for certain improvements in steam 

 engines.— January 3. 



Henry Doming, of Hearsley, near Bolton, Lancaster, brick and tile manufacturer, for 

 certain improvements in machineiy or apparatus for manufacturing bricks, tiles and other 

 similar articles from clay or other plastic materials. — January li. 



David Blair White, of Newcuslle-upon-Tyne; doctor of medicine, for an improve d 

 mode of ballasting and stowing cargo in ships and other vessels. — January 8. 



Matthew Urlwin Sears, of Burton-crescent, St.Pancras, Middlesex, commission agent, 

 for the improved construction of guns, and cannons, and manutacture of cartridges for 

 the loading or charging thereof. — January 11. 



Samuel Newington, of Knole, Frant, Sussex, doctor of medicine, for improvements i 

 sowing, manuring; and cultivating land, and of certain of the implements used therein, ^ 

 January 11. 



Bennett Alfred Burton, of the firm ot Bennett, Burton, and Burton, of John's-place, 

 Holland-street, Southwark, engineer, fur certain improvements in apparatus connected 

 with sewers, drains, and ctsspools, also in suction and delivery pipes, and in connecting 

 such pipes or hose; tha apparatus connected with sewers, drains, and cesspools being 

 applicabl.- to other like purposes. — January 11. 



John Fayrer, of Surrey-street, Strand, commander in. Her Majessy's Navy, forim- 

 provements in steering apparatus.— January 11. 



Alfred Cooper, of Romsey, Hants, grocer, for improvements in steam and other power 

 engines, and in the application thereof to motive purposes; also in Che methods of, and 

 miichinery for, arresting or checking ihe progress of locomotive engines and other car- 

 riages. — January 1], 



James Macdonald, of Chester, coachmaker, for certain improvements in the method of 

 applying oil or grease to wheels and axles, and to machinery ; and in connecting the 

 springs of wheel carriages with the axles or axle-boxes.— January 11. 



John Glasgow, of Manchester, engineer, for certain improvements in machinery or ap- 

 paratus for shearing, shaping, punching, and comnressing metals. — January 12. 



John Mtlwain, of Manchester, joiner, for certain improvements applicable to the 

 closing of doors, windows, and shutters. — January 12. 



Andrew Barclay, of Kilmarnock, North Britain, engineer, for improvements in smelt- 

 ing of iron and other ores, and iu the manufacture or working of iron and other metals, 

 and in certain rotary engines and fans, machinery, or apparatus connected therewith. — 

 January 15. 



Richard Smith, of Clitheroe, Lancaster, manufacturer, for certain improvements in 

 looms for weaving. — January 17. 



Henry Cowing, of Stamford -street, Blackfriars, gentleman, for improvemenes in ob- 

 taining motive power, and in steam and other ploughs, in land carriages, in tire-engines, 

 iu raising water for draining and other agricultural purposes, and iu apparatus for evapo- 

 rating saccharine and other liquors.— January 17. 



Joseph Nye, of Mill-pond Wharf, Piirk-road, Old Kent-road, engineer, for improve, 

 ments in hydraulic machinery; parts of which machinery are applicable to steam-engines 

 and machinery for driving piles. — January 17. 



William George Henry Taunton, of Liverpool, civil engineer, for certain improvements 

 in obtaining motive power, and iu u means to ascertain the strength of chains and ships* 

 cables.— January 17. 



Robert Barbor, of Chatham-place, Lock's-fields, Surrey, metal melter, for certaiu im- 

 provements in artificial fuel, and in machinery used for manufacturing the same. — Janu- 

 ary 17. 



Macgregor Laird, of Birkenhead, gentleman, for improvements in the construction of 

 metallic ships or vessels, and in materials for coating the bottoms of iron ships or vessels, 

 and in steering ships or vessels. — January U*. 



William Beadun, jun., of Taunton, Somerset, gentleman, for improvements in convey- 

 ing away or decomposing smoke and products of combustion from stoves or grates, and 

 iu ventilating rooms of residences. — January 19. 



George Simpson, of Buchanan-street, Glasgow, civil and mining engineer, for a certain 

 improvement or improvements in the machinery, apparatus, or means of raising, lower- 

 ing, supporting, moving, or transporting heavy bodies.— January 19. 



William Wood, of Over Darwen, Lancashire, carpet manufacturer, for improvements in 

 the manufacture of carpels, and other fabrics.— January 23. 



Christopher Nickels, of York-road, Lambeth, Surrey, gentleman, for improvements in 

 the manufacture of woollen and other fabrics. — January 23. 



\\'alter Westrup, of Wapping, Middlesex, miller and biscuit baker, for improvements 

 in cleaning and grinding corn or grain, and in dressing meal or flour. — January 24. 



Auguste Reinhard, of Leicester-street, Leicester-square, Middlesex, chemist, for im- 

 provements in preparing oils for lubricating purposes, and in apparatns for filtering oil 

 and other liquids.— January 24. 



Joseph Long and James Long, of Little Tower-street, London, mathematical instru- 

 ment makers, and Richard Patlenden, of Nelson-square, Surrey, engineer, for an im- 

 provement in instruments and machinery for steeriug ships, which is also applicable to 

 vices, and other instruments and machinery for obtaining power. — Januar 2 



