243 



train. By this system the men at each end of a section cannot 

 make a mistake, and the men themselves are controlled by the 

 action of the train itself until it is clear of the section. 



TABLET SYSTEM. 



There is a very ingenious electrical apparatus used for 

 working single lines of railway, which works most admirably. 

 It consists of a box containing tablets, and is fixed at each end 

 of a section of the railway — say at every station. It is necessary 

 that the driver of the train should have one of these tablets 

 given to him before he can leave the station at which he is 

 standing. The tablet is given by the stationmaster to the 

 guard, and by him to the engine-driver, so that both may know 

 they have the necessary authority to start. But before the 

 stationmaster can remove one of these tablets from the box 

 containing them he must first communicate with the station in 

 advance, when the stationmaster there, if the line is clear, re- 

 leases one of the tablets by sending an electric current through 

 for the purpose ; and before another tablet can be taken from 

 the box at either station for a train to proceed in either direc- 

 tion the tablet in the possession of the engine-driver of the 

 train occupying the section must be previously placed in the 

 box at the station in advance on its arrival there, thereby ren- 

 dering a mistake almost impossible. 



ELECTRIC LIGHTING:. 



When in America I noticed with much interest the plan of 

 electric lighting adopted in some of the cities. It consisted of 

 mounting the light or lights upon a tall mast, or framework of 

 iron. If it is required to light a square, it is accomplished by 

 erecting a tall mast in the centre, and having a ring of arc or 

 other lamps fitted to it, and a very good and sufficient light is 

 thereby obtained. If it is required to light the intersection of 

 two thoroughfares, then a light iron framework springing from 

 each curb and uniting at the top where the lights are attached. 

 This forms an excellent method of lighting. The London and 

 South- Western Railway Company of England have adopted 

 the high-mast system for lighting their goods-yard at Nine 

 Elms, and it answers admirably, facilitating, as it does, the 

 marshalling of trains, and preventing to a considerable extent 

 the practice of thieving from the waggons and sheds. 



Time will not permit me to refer to many other subjects of 

 great interest, such as the nature and use of 



NATURAL GAS, 

 as found in Pennsylvania. It is used for domestic as well as 

 for manufacturing purposes, iron, steel, and glass factories 

 using it instead of coal. It also, when imperfectly burned, 



