20 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE 



[185'2. 



wliicli all the more recent and interesting researches are fully 

 noticed. Such, for instance, as the investigations of Natlerer and 

 Faraday, on the production of cold ; Regnault on specific heats ; and 

 many others still more recent. 



The chapters on the Effu.sion, Diflfusion, and Transpiration of Gases, 

 are exceedingly full and interesting, this being a part of science that 

 lias been more particnlarly studied and elucidated by the author. As 

 connected with ventilation this portion of the work is of great import- 

 ance. The chapter on Vapours and Hygrometers is excidlent, but wo 

 think that the treatise on light as well as that on the transmission of 

 heat, might with propriety have been considerably increased, inasmuch 

 as both these branches liavo been so materially extended of late years, 

 and are both intimately connected with Chon7istry. 



Wo are glad to observe that Professor Graham, in almost all cases, 

 adheres to old nomcnclatnro and rejects such newfangled names as 

 clilohydnc, snlphydric, which are in no respect preferable to those at 

 present in nse. 



After a clear digest of Isomorphism, Isomerism, and Allatropisni, 

 the salt theories are de.scribed and apparently the author is inclined 

 to favour the salt radical hypothesis, and adduces some strong argu- 

 ments in its favour; wo cannot but think, however, that the counter- 

 arguments brought forward by the American editor are of still greater 

 weight. It may be remarked that the notes appended by Dr. Bridges 

 are numerous, and tend greatly to increase the value of the work. The 

 chapter on chemical affinity, together with the explanation of tho 

 voltaic circle by means of chemical polarity, is perhaps the best in the 

 whole work. As a method of instruction, it seems far more simple 

 than any other plan, althongh few may be inclined to adopt so freely 

 the purely chemical theory of tho galvanic battery. We intend mak- 

 ing a few extracts from this and other portions of tho work — one on 

 Golding Bird's battery, will bo found at page IG, of the present No. 



Tho remainder of the work treats of ChomLstry proper, and extends 

 to the Earths ; it is equally excellent with the rest, and with some few 

 exceptions may be considered ns faithfully representing tho present! 

 stnte of our knowledge of these subjects. 



It is scarcely necessary to add, tliat the work is got up in Lea ife 

 Blanchavd's usual excellent style, and is illustrated with a largo num- 

 ber of engravings. Wcconsider it without exception thebost" Elements 

 of Chemistry " yet published. 



Ilrjmrt nf t/ie Toronto and G'lidjih Tlailway — by \V. Shanlcy, Esq., Chief 

 Kvybicff. 

 Wc have received a copy of the Report of the Chief Engineer 

 (Walter Shanley, Esq.,) just issued, and regret that lime will not per- 

 mit ns to consider it in detail. Wc have seen surticicnt of it, however, 

 to justify us in saying, that it is an able and highly interesting 

 document. We perceive that Mr. Shanley makes a proposition (open 

 to future consideration) in lefcrcnce to the location of the Toronto 

 Depot, which would involro the construction of a water frontage 

 throughout the length of the city, somewhat after the manner of the 

 long talked of " Esplanade." We should rejoice to see his suggestions 

 acted upon, but we think thai in a matter involving such extensive 

 public and individual interests, a unity of action should be required 

 iherein between all the Railway Companies proposing to establish 

 Depots, the Harbor Gommissicnicrs and the City authorities. It will 

 be highly important as well for the convenience of the public as of 

 the respective Companies that somo plan common and acceptable to 

 all should be adopted, and as the trade and revenues of the city are 

 involved in tho matter, such a coui.se should be pursued as would 

 secure to its inhabitants an arrangement suitable to their wants. Perhaps 

 tho economy of such a combination in the work would induce the 

 ready assent of all parties, at any rate wo may hope to hear more 

 about it shortly, as wc understand that nogociations are already entered 

 npon in Ihu mailer, between tho Chief Engineers of the Railways 

 having Termini in the City. We shall return lo Mr. Shanloy's Report 

 in our nexM number. 



MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. 

 3 O i«i £ » T I C . 



GREAT WESTERiS" RAILROAD. 



Sv.NOP.SIS OF THE RkPORT OF RoWSELT. G. BENEDICT, EsQ., ChIEF 



ENGiNEEtt, Jhne 10, 1852. 

 To i!-c Direclors of tho Great Western Hail lioad Company. 

 Okxti.e.ven : — 



I liavo the honor to submit the following Report of the state and 

 pr.igre.=s of the work on tho line of the Great Western Railroad, as 

 called for in the Resolution of the Board of Directors, dale<l 13th 

 ultimo : — 



Since my report of May .^Olh, 1851, until Februaiy, 1852, the expen- 

 diture, for cmistruclion, upun the road, has been confined entirely to 

 the Cunlral Division helwuen Hamilton and London, a distance of 75 

 miles, and the Gnlt Branch, 12 miles; every effort being made to 

 expedite tho completion of llie road, by continuing the work to the 

 heavy points, leaviuir llio lighter nnti more easily graded sections, until 

 the position of the Company should warrant their commencement. 

 The work, up(ni eery section of these Divisions, is now in a forward 

 state, and the grading can be completed if necessary, ready to com- 

 mence laying the Superstructure, before next December, with the 

 exce|ition of a few deep cuttings, between Hamilton and Copctown. 



In February last, the contiactors for the Eiistern Division, from Iho 

 Niagara River to Hamilton, and for the Western Division, from London 

 to Detroit River, were notified to commence Iheir work and carry it 

 forwanl with energy. I have the pleasure of reporting, Ihat operations 

 have commenced, and that the work of construction is now being 

 vigorously carried on, on every section of the line from the Niagara to 

 the Detroit Rivers, and the Gait Branch, a distance of 210 miles 



The extreme and long continued high water in Lake St. Clair and its 

 tributaries, during the present season, has retarded ouroperations (m tho 

 Western Division materially, but I hope to be able to complete 100 

 miles of the road from the Detroit River east, by the 1st day of 

 Januaiy, 185;t. The work upon the remaining portion of this Division 

 is of a heavy character, and will require until the summer of 1853 to 

 Complete. Tho most formidablo part of it is within eight miles of 

 London, and consists of heavy excavations, two bridges over the River 

 Tliamos, and a large culvert at WoodhuU's Creek. 



Upon tho Eastern Division, the contractors are making every pre- 

 paration to secure an early completion of their heavy wm-k, and during 

 tho present month two Steam Excavators will be at work between St. 

 Catharines and the Niagara River. The grading from ITamillon to 

 tlio Twenty Mile Creek — 25 miles — will bo ready for the Superstruc- 

 ture by the 1st day of October next. 



The remainder of this Division, from tho Twenty Mile Creek to tho 

 Ni.igara Hiver, will require as long time for its completion as any other 

 part of the road, comprising as it iloes several heavy secti(nis and im- 

 portant structures. 



The bridge to be erected over the Twenty Milo Creek will be 12(10 

 feet in length anil GO feet high, and the bridge over the Sixteen Mile 

 Creek 800 feet in length and of the same height. These two bridges 

 are to be built with trusses of 100 feet span, and will contain upwards 

 of oTie niilli(m feet of timber, which is now being prepared and 

 delivered. The vallies of the Fifteen, Twelve and Tbti Mile Creeks 

 arc crossed by embankments of about the same heiglit, with culverts 

 of suflicient cai>acity to jiass the water of the Creeks at their greatest 

 flow. The stones for these culverts, as likewise for the bridge over the 

 W^elland Canal, the St. David's road viaduct, and a great number of 

 smaller culverts, are being placed upon the gfciund, and with three 

 exceptions I hope to have the masonry on the entire line of road out 

 of the way before next December, and to have tho whole completed 

 b) June, 1853. 



In January, 18.52, tho Desjardins Canal Company opened a negotia- 

 tion with the Directors of the Rail Road Company for the |iurpo.^e of 

 endeavoring to secure a new and direct channel througli Iho Burlington 

 Heights for their Canal, which would allow the l!aihoa<l Company to 

 fill up the present channel, and make a solid embankment for the traijk 

 of their road from tho Heights to tho opposite shore; this proposition 

 was rejected, your board preferring the iniginal plan, with the prospect 

 of ultimately having a bridge without a draw, although at an increased 

 cost. During the suspension of the work on said secliim No. 1, and 

 before it w.is relet, these negotiations were opened in different form, 

 and the Direclors of the Railroad, having satisfied themselves that 

 they could not obtain the bridge as they wis'^ed, closed an arrangement 

 witli the Canal Company, whereby the site of the bridge is to be 

 changed. This arrangement disposes of the only point on tho line of 

 the Railroad where the highest rate of speed could not be maintained 

 without liability to accident. By the alteration, the present bridge 

 will hi-t placed at o point where it can he seen by trains approaching 



