TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION O. 



891 



ulraost raatlionialically coirect and frivinp eijual leads, ports, and points, if cut off 

 for both ends of the cylinder, at the same time tliat it gives n much more rapid 

 action at the moments of admission, cut ntl", and release than is usual with the 

 back 1,'ear ; while the machinery for attainin<r this result is less costly and lesw 

 complicated than by any of the ordinary methods. This consists of a lever attached 

 8t its loufrer end, throufrh a parallel motion, to the connectinp[-rod alx)ut midway, 

 tliefulcnnn of that lever slidiiift- in the direction of the vibration of the connecting- 

 rod, in a curved path, which can be angled to either side of its centre line. From 

 the outer and shorter end of this lever a rod is taken direct to the valve-spindle. 

 That part of the movement of tlie valve due to ' lop' and ' lead' is elfected by the 

 action of this lever as a lever, and tlie nu)venieut required for port opening is 

 imparted by the sliding of the i'ulcrum of the lever in the curved path ; and accord- 

 ing' to the angle given to tliis path, fonvard or backward motion, or any degree 

 of expansion, is given. 



Since its introduction in 1880 t his gear has been applied and tested on almost 

 every kind of steam-engine. For locomotives, especially for express work, it has 

 done good service, many of such engines having already run heavy mileages, while 

 doinfr very high speeds, and witli lighter repairs than the ordinary types of engines. 



Also for marine engines, from the smallest launch engine running GOO to 700 

 revolutions per minute, up to the ponderous engines of war-ships running up to 100 

 revolutions, and indicating upwards of 6,000 horse-power, it has been ap])hed with 

 success. It is also bemg built for even larger sizes, where the aggregate indicated 

 iicrse-power in each ship will be 10,000 horse-power. 



The distribution and treatment of the steam in the cylinder, as shown by the 

 indicator cards from such engines, is all that could be expected from the peculiar 

 action imparted to the ralves ; and the continued endurance and freedom from 

 repairs promise a continued adoption of this new system. 



Oti Heating Buildinys by Steam from a. (Icidral Source. 

 By J. H. Baimli:tt, 



SAT I R J) AY, AO'aCST 30. 



Tin' Section (lid not meet. 



MOXDAV, SEPTJJMJiEJl 1. 



Tile following.* I'apers were read : — 



1. On the Lii/hthouse System of Canada. By WiI;LIAM Sjiitu. 



Tn Canada, no light dues are exacted from shipping, and the cost of maintaining* 

 4e lightliouses is a direct charge on the general revenue of the Dominion, and is 

 provided for annually by a vote of Parliament. 



iJuring the iiscal year ended June oO, 1S84, the total cost of maintaining the 

 i>l9 light-stations in ( Canada, with the fog-signals, buoj's, and beacons, and four 

 steamers required to attend on the light service, was ^541,'J91. 



The system of free lights was adopted by the public men of Canada with the 

 view of reducing the charges on shipping trading to the St. Lawrence, and thereby 

 tlieapen freight by this route, liy adopting this policy, the shipping and forward- 

 "1? interests of '"'• -lada have secured a fair share of the carrying trade of the West, 

 > large portion '''ch, however, finds its way by New Yorlc and other United 



Jitates routes. 



