1852.] EDITORIAL. 



On tlio economical application of native materials of constnic- 

 tion, by Mr. Thomas, 



On the varieties of native timber with specimens, by Mr. J. S. 

 Dennis. 



On the application of Screw Piles and Moorings, by Mr. Brunei. 



€\)t €mMm S^tirnii 



TORONTO, AUGUST, 1852. 



We cannot more appropriately introduce the Canadian Journal 

 to the public, than by submitting a brief exposition of its claims 

 to suppoi-t, conjointly with an appeal to the professional men 

 scattered throughout the country, whose experience and oppor- 

 tunities confer on them that power of co-operation upon which 

 the ultimate success of this journal mainly rests. 



If proof were wanting of the necessity which exists in this 

 Province for a publication devoted to the Arts and Sciences of 

 practical life, in addition to what is foreshadowed in the intro- 

 duction to the present volume, it woidd suffice perhaps to enu- 

 merate the numerous foreign scientific and artistic periodicals 

 •which meet with a liberal patronage in Canada, and which are 

 not unfrequently made the medium of communicating to the 

 world the discoveries and inventions of the " sons of the soU." It 

 might, with equal force, be urged that many useful additions to 

 knowledge — especially the knowledge of our own country — are 

 withheld from the light by the absence of that encouragement and 

 assistance which the Canadian Journal aspires to contribute. 



We do not, however, appeal to a spirit of nationality, deeply 

 rooted, and most worthily so, as that sentiment is in the breasts 

 of Canadians, — nor do we rest oiu- claim to public encouragement 

 upon the meritorious object of snatching original thought from 

 obscurity, we have a more extended and far more practical design 

 in view. We are endeavouring to supply such a publication as 

 will afford a medium of communication between all engaged or 

 interested in scientific or industrial pui-suits, will assist, lighten 

 and elevate the laboui-s of the mechanic, will afford information 

 to the manufacturer, and generally administer to the want of that 

 already numerous and still increasing class in British America, 

 who are desirous of becoming acquainted with the most recent 

 inventions and improvements in the Arts, and those scientific 

 changes and discoveries which are in progress throughout the 

 world.* 



It were vain to suppose that the professional man generally, or 

 the enterprising manufacturer, much less the scientific farmer, or 

 the enquiring mechanic could command needful information 

 respecting foreign or domestic progress in practical science and 

 art from the pages of those pubhcations which, out of the abund- 

 ance of their resources, necessarily limit their range to one or two 

 departments of industry or knowledge; which are not generally 



•Vidu Prospcclua. 



accGssible on .account of their expense, and which aim .at a stand- 

 ard adapting them to the demands of a highly artificial and 

 wealthy condition of society, rather th.an to the exigencies of a 

 young and rapidly progressive people. 



Even were the excellencies of foreign periodicals presented to 

 the Canadian public in a form accessible to all classes, yet, such a 

 publication would not meet the demands of the present day. As 

 a thriving agricultural and commerci.al people — sprung, as it were, 

 into existence during the last half century — we require special 

 adaptation of many artifices and inventions to those unavoidable 

 conditions which attach themselves to communities in new and 

 extensive countries. We require information respecting many 

 physical features of our territory, which, in the couree of time, 

 must impress with their influence our industry and prosperity. 

 Our commercial relations demand an intimate and widely diffused 

 acquaintance with the advantages we enjoy in relation to geo- 

 graphical position, soil, climate, productions, economic mineral 

 resources and means of communication ; and lastly, the imposing 

 increase in the population of the Canadas, which numbei-s, while 

 we write very nearly two million people, imperatively solicits that 

 exertion which, if rightly directed, may place our literary and 

 scientific achievements usefully and even.prominently before the 

 world. 



Where may we hope to look for information relating to the 

 Canadas if Canadians themselves do not supply the materials and 

 furnish the record ? How sh.all we elevate our position in the 

 world of science and of lettere if the " sons of the soil" do not 

 arouse and exert themselves ? 



In every part of Canada men are to be found possessing high 

 scientific attainments or profound practical knowledge. To many 

 such we look for co-operation with confidence, now that a fitting 

 medium for the publicity of the information they possess and are 

 daily acquiring is hopefully offered to them. 



The stupendous railway operations now in progress in many 

 parts of both Provinces, present rare opportunities for obtaining 

 much needed information respecting the geological features of the 

 country through which they pass. The frosts of a single winter 

 will, in many instances, obliterate all surface traces of strata 

 possessing economic importance, until accident leads to their 

 discovery at some future and perhaps distant period. We earn- 

 estly desire to enlist among-st the conti-ibutors to this journal 

 the gentlemen engaged in the construction of those extensive 

 linos of communication. 



The ample opportunities for observations of the most useful 

 description which are enjoyed by surveyoi-s, induce us respectfully 

 to solicit their correspondence on all mattei-s relating to the 

 physical features and natural history of the districts in which 

 they may be engaged. 



To the operative, deriving from experience a purely pr.octical 

 knowledge which experience alone can give, we address ourselves 

 in the hope of obtaining .assistance and counsel in matteis wherein 

 the busy lessons of the workshop arc far more v.aluable than the 

 unapplied sj^eculations of retirement and study. 



It is not our intention to tresp.ass ujwn the field now occupied 

 by our contemporary the Agriculturist, yet so vast and uncx- 



