154 REPOKT— 18G7. 



rod were measured by the aid of two mirrors clamped to tlie rod. In tlie earlier 

 experiments, these mirrors were made to reflect a dark line placed in front of a 

 lamp-flame, and the displacements of the images were measured on a screen. In 

 the later experiments, two telescopes were placed almost vertically over the two 

 mirrors, so as to look down into them, and a sheet of paper (cross-ruled) was 

 fixed in a horizontal position overhead. The displacements of the lines on this 

 sheet as seen in the telescopes were then observed. From the measurements of 

 flexure and tension thus obtained, the coeiHcients of elasticity and rigidity for 

 the substances operated on were calculated. 



On the Iron and Steel sJioivn at tlic Paris Exhibition. By Jo5N Feknle. 



The author stated that a great deal had been said about the advance the French 

 had made in this department, but he thought this was erroneous. Coal was sent 

 into France free of duty, and English raw iron -^-ith a veiy small duty. When, 

 however, the English came to send their finished iron into France, it was practi- 

 cally prohibited by the duty imposed. The only iron in the Exhibition from 

 England was from the best Yorkshire houses, and a very few others. He first 

 called attention to the large girders. There were several specimens of these 

 exhibited in the French department, which were larger than any ever rolled in 

 this coimtry. These girders were 3 feet 7 inches in depth, but only 12 feet long — 

 a length wholly inadequate in proportion to their depth. The length for all prac- 

 tical purposes should be at least fifteen times the depth. These were mere tours 

 cle force. He believed that the process of building up snch masses of iron, and 

 the frequent reheatings and coolings necessary for the purpose, would not produce 

 a girder anything like equal to a girder made in the ordinary way — of boiler-plates 

 riveted together. These girders, in the opinion of the author, had been made for 

 the purpose of going beyond the English people, and not so much for their prac- 

 tical value— in short, to excel the English in this respect. Another process of 

 the manufacture was that of stamping, lately introduced, and which has been very 

 largely carried out by the French. This process was to make a complicated forg- 

 ing in small pieces, then fix them together, put it in the furnace, and raise to a 

 welding heat, bring it under an immense die or hammer, and thus complete the 

 process of forging. This process had not come into general use in this countrj^ ; 

 but one English house had shown several specimens quite equal in manufacture 

 to those exhibited bj^ the French. The manufacture of steel in large masses, ex- 

 hibited by Krupp and the Bocuni Company, far exceeded in size anything as yet 

 manufactured in England. The specimens from the Bocum Company were, in the 

 opinion of the author, deserving of special mention. Twenty-two railway-wheels 

 of" cast steel, in one casting, were, he believed, the finest ever exhibited. So far as 

 France is concerned, England had not been excelled in any department in the ma- 

 nufacture of iron or steel. 



An Account of Berv/stroenis Boring MacJune, used at the Perseherg Mines, 

 Siueden. Bij Dr. C. Le Neve Foster. 

 The author described a small machine for boring holes for blasting. The ma- 

 chine had taken the place of human labom\applied to the maUet and ordinarj' 

 borer or drill. It weighed only 122 lbs., cost £22 10«., and was worked by com- 

 pressed air. The air-compressor, pipes for conveying the air, and other details, 

 were described ; and the author then proceeded to an account of tlie general 

 results which had been arrived at by careful experiment, showing that it liad 

 been found that the driving of a level was done twice as quickly by using the 

 machine as it could be done by hand labour, and with a saving of 20 to 25 per 

 cent, in money. 



On the Stowage of Ships' Boats. By Geoege Fawcus. 



On the Application of the Funds derived from Patent-Fees. 

 By G. B. Galloway. 



