TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION G. 755 



all branches of Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering is chiefly interesting 

 to us in Section G. In this department tests are now undertaken of the strenoth 

 of materials of construction, of pressure and vacuum gauges, of indicators and 

 indicator springs, and of length gauges and screw gauges, and photomicroscopic 

 investigation is made of metals and alloys, and especially of steel rails. 



But beside the ordinary work of testing, various investigations are in proTess, 

 such as measurement of wind pressure, elastic fatigue in nickel steel and other 

 materials used by engineers, and the magnetic and mechanical properties of 

 aluminium-iron and other alloys. For the British Association a set of platinum 

 thermometers has been constructed and subjected to stringent tests, and an 

 investigation has been undertaken for the Engineering Standards Committee into 

 the changes in insulating strength of various dielectrics used in motors, trans- 

 formers, &c., due to continued heating. In the language of Dr. Glazebrook, F.R.S., 

 the Director, who it may be mentioned was previously Principal of University 

 College, Liverpool, science is not yet regarded as a commercial factor in this 

 coimtry, but it is one of the aims of the National Physical Laboratory to bring 

 about the alliance of science with commerce and industry. The expenditure of 

 the National Physical Laboratory is met by an annual Treasury grant of 4,000/. ; 

 500/. a year from an endowment; fees for tests, now amounting to about 8,600Z. 

 annually ; and from donations and subscriptions. 



The Director is anxious that the revenue derived from fees for testing should 

 be larg-ely augmented, and I would urge on engineers, contractors and manu- 

 facturers, as well as on private individuals, that they should avail themselves of 

 the opportunity to have tests and experiments of interest to them, and which will 

 be generally accepted as unimpeachable, conducted at this laboratory. I may add 

 that an appeal has been made for further donations and annual contributions, as 

 the funds now at the disposal of the Board of Management are insufficient to carry 

 on the work of the laboratory on a sound financial basis, and I venture to hope 

 that many of those who are interested in the practical applications of science will 

 assist in supporting the work of this national institution. 



Intercommunication. 

 General Progress. 



At the commencement of the nineteenth century, Southport, which now has 

 its parks, a promenade, and a pier over three-quarters of a mile in length, its halls, 

 free library, art gallery and science and art schools, and railway connection 

 with all parts of the kingdom, was not even to be found on the maps, the first 

 house having been erected in the year 1792. In 1861 the population of Southport 

 and the adjoining place Birkdale was 6,390, whereas at the census of 1901, 

 Southport had a population of 48,083 and Birkdale 14,197, together 62,280. Here 

 is evidence of great local enterprise, resulting in a development of which its people 

 may be justly proud. 



At the commencement of the nineteenth century the population of the United 

 Kingdom was nearly 15| millions, at the beginning of the twentieth nearlv 

 41^ millions. Then there was not a mile of railway in the United Kingdom": 

 now there are about 22,000 miles. Here, too, is evidence not only of the 

 prosperity which has prevailed throughout Great Britain during the century that 

 has passed, but also of the enormously increased demands which have arisen 

 during the same period on the means of locomotion. 



It was towards the latter half of the eighteenth century that the formation of 

 good roads was commenced in Lancashire and the adjoining counties by John 

 Metcalf, the blind road-maker, and that Palmer in 1784 introduced mail coaches 

 travelling at from six to seven miles an hour on the main roads. In 1601 the 

 mail coach from London to Holyhead occupied nearly 46 hours on the journey, 

 and the mails reached Dublin on the third day after leaving London. Now 

 the journey from London to Holyhead is performed in b\ hours, and Dublin 

 is reached in 9^ hours after leaving London. 



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