508 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



The Chairman. — The difficulty in making paper out of wood, is that the 

 alkali dues not remove all the silica. The experiments which I have seen 

 of Mr. L3anan's plan, was to grind the wx)6d under pressure, and this pres- 

 sure was continued until the operation was complete. 



Mr. Page. — I would like to inquire if the subject of ghosts would be a 

 proper question to be discussed here. It is a subject that is creating con- 

 siderable excitement at present. I see it has been taken up by some 

 scientific societies in London, illustrated by optical experiments. M}^ ob- 

 ject in mentioning this subject is, that we may throw some light on a mat- 

 ter that is very little understood by the majority of the people. I am satis- 

 fied that a scientific discussion of this question, such as I know it Avould 

 have here, would do much good. I have lived in a community where men, 

 could not be prevailed upon to plant potatoes, or other kinds of produce, 

 when the moon was going down. We all know with what dread some 

 people pass a grave yard, or lonesome place, at night. Now, if by a scien- 

 tific discussion, we could succeed in removing some of these superstitious 

 ideas, I think we would be benefiting mankind. 



■ Dr. Parmelee. — Tliis inward dread, superstition, or whatever else we may 

 call it, is inseparable from our nature; we might as well try to do away 

 with the instinct of the young duck, which, immediately after the egg is 

 hatched, strikes a bee line for the nearest pond. It is implanted within 

 us, and controlled by judgment resulting from education, but still it some- 

 times gets the better of us. 



The Chairman announced the subject for discussion, " Street and Sub- 

 urban Locomotion," and said: 



It was undoubtedly the intention of the gentleman who proposed this 

 question that we should confine the discussion to locomotives. The full 

 meaning of street and suburban locomotion would seem to fairly embrace, 

 First. The power used in locomotion. Second. The size and form of ve- 

 hicles used. Third. The qualit}'^ of the roadway ; and Fourth. The direc- 

 tion of the great lines of travel. I therefore propose to say a few words 

 on the last two heads, leaving the questions of locomotion, and form of 

 vehicles, for the general discussion. The last division of the question is 

 an extremely interesting one to the city of New York, just at this time, 

 when it is proposed to grant a charter for a railroad in Broadway. The 

 ostensible object is the relief of that magnificent avenue, and the first 

 query which presents itself is, whether increasing the facilities for travel 

 in Broadway, by means of railways, will increase or diminish the number 

 of persons passing through it daily ? 



The narrowness of Manhattan Island, compared with its length, and the 

 position of the financial center, the city hall, the courts, the Merchants' 

 exchange, near its southern end, will account for the great pressure in 

 cars and stages, during the business hours. Many thousands reach their 

 places of business by the Staten Island, Brooklyn, Jersey City, and Hobo- 

 ken ferries. Still a greater number reside above Union Square. For them 

 Broadway is the most direct route, and should they all take it, the street 

 would be entirely monopolized by a class of persons who never lived nor 

 did business in it, to the exclusion of the occupants of Broadway property 

 and those who desired to trade with them. This evil, arising from the 



