proceedings of the polytechnic association. 567 



Inspection of Steam Boilers. 



The London Mechanics' Magazine for December 4, contains an interesting 

 leader upon the importance of inspecting steam boilers, suggested by a 

 single monthly report of the Manchester boiler association, which contains 

 the record of no fewer than 106 defective boilers out of 381 examined, 14 

 of the defects being of the gravest character and likely to lead to disas- 

 trous results. It thus concludes: " Those who employ steam power should 

 recollect that the duration of a boiler is far from being a mere question of 

 time; it depends on so many circumstances that it is impossible to say 

 what may be its condition, without frequent and careful inspection, by 

 those who can form a proper opinion; and every man who makes use of 

 steam-power is guilty of criminal negligence, if he disregards the means 

 of safety which inspection alone can place ready to his hands." 



Petroleum in Ru^ia. 



An oil producing district has been discovered in Kussia. Col. Gowan, 

 an American, who was engaged in raising the sunken fleet at Sebastopol, 

 has obtained a grant of 50,000 acres of land in which he is to make further 

 explorations. 



Flax Cotton Mill. 



A flax cotton mill is erected at East Toledo, Ohio, which it is expected 

 •will turn out daily 2,000 pounds from 4,900 pounds of raw flax. 



Oxidation of Alcohols. 



Berthelot, who made alcohol synthetically by means of defiant and 

 propylene gases, eight years ago, has been induced to restudy them, and 

 has found, according to his report in the " Comptes Bendus," no difierence 

 between ordinary alcohol and that from olefiant gas. There was a-charac- 

 teristic identity in the crystalline form of ethyl-sulphate of baryta, whether 

 derived from common or olefiant gas alcohol. The latter, treated with 

 chromic acid, furnished true aldehyde and acetic acid. On the contrary, 

 propylic alcohol possesses different properties, according to whether it is 

 produced by fermentation or prepared by means of propylene. According 

 to Freidel, alcohol obtained by means of acetone, wviuld represent a third 

 type. 



Hamburg International Agricultural Exhibition. 



At the recent agricultural exliibition at Hamburg, thirty-four nationalities 

 "were represented. Ex-Governor Wright, of Indiana, has made an official 

 report, in which he states that 3,000 machines and farm implements, and 

 15 steam engines were on exhibition. Although it was apparent that 

 America was ahead in nearly all the farming implements, she was behind 

 in steam ploughing, which he regards as a success. 



The Manufacture of Illuminating Gas. 



The subject for the evening was here taken up, when Dr. John B. Rich, 

 opened the discussion as follows : 



As the subject of illuminating gas is a very important one, and particu- 

 larly so to large communities like our own, I thought a few facts of an his 



