684 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



adequately and cheaply roughened so as to make slipping impos- 

 sible, and by means of machines having several vertical steel 

 pointed stampers, which shall be regulated so as to do the rough- 

 ening sufficiently, but not too deep. The machines to be operated 

 by any suitable power. The granite pavement, with this surface 

 will be the best pavement that has been suggested. 



Mr. Charles E. Seeley exhibited and explained his Photographic 

 apparatus. A convenient, adjustable three-legged stand, wliich 

 closed forms a sort of ■v\'alking cane, with a stand platform of 

 suitable size, (to support the camera) which is readily taken off 

 and carried. Gutta percha pans, very conveniently lipped at one 

 corner, for pouring off the liquids. Some fine photographs — one 

 photolithographic likeness of Mr. James A. Cutting, photographer. 

 Mr. Seeley believes that we shall soon make photolithographic 

 printing, &;c., immensely superior in facility and amount to all 

 known methods. 



Types, and Dr. Faustus & Co., will go to oblivion. 



IRON AND STEEL. 



Mr. Meigs— Although used by man more than almost any useful 

 thing whatever, although it is worth more than all other metals, 

 although it may be stated that millions of ingenious men have 

 eagerly sought for best iron and steel for several thousand years, 

 yet our scientific publications teem with new plans, as if now it 

 was first known how to make iron from its ores, and steel from 

 the iron. 



The American Mining Chronicle abounds in these new attempts 

 to improve on all former processes. We know that in India, in 

 Syria, in Spain, and many other countries, steel of most admirable 

 quality has been made at least, (in some of those countries) 

 three thousand years ! The sword blades of Damascus and of 

 Seville, are bent heel to point, without alteration in them ! 



It is true that iron is sadly mixed up, chemically and mechan- 

 ically, with some material or other usually foreign to its purity; 

 yet why has not experience, so immense, discovered what the 

 foreign element is, and communicated it ? It is well known that 

 those spurious elements are few in number, however variable in 



