January ii, 1889.] 



SCIENCE. 



mately parallel to the Kongo, and crosses its affluents near their 

 mouths, the railroad either crosses these rivers near their sources 

 or keeps on the divides between these river systems. Thus the 

 deep gullies and valleys are avoided, gentle slopes prevailing on the 

 plateau. Considerable difficulty was encountered in climbing this 

 highland which falls abruptly to the river. It was found impossi- 

 ble to ascend it by one of the tributaries of the Kongo coming from 

 the south, as they run in inaccessible gorges. But fortunately a 

 depression was found a short distance below Matadi, from which 

 point the projected road ascends the highland. The road will 

 cross the tributary Mpozo on a bridge, and, after having avoided 

 the plateau of Palababa by a ditour to the south, it takes an east- 



about 300 feet above the Kongo, which are traversed through nar- 

 row and tortuous valleys. Later surveys show that a better line 

 may be found farther to the west. Although it will be some time 

 before work on this line is taken up, the results of these surveys 

 show that it may be constructed without incurring extraordinary 

 expense. Preliminarily the establishment of a regular connection 

 with the upper Kongo by means of oxen is contemplated. 



The commercial reconnaissance of the upper Kongo region, and 

 the tentative establishment of stations by the Belgian Company as 

 well as by the Sandford Exploring Expedition, have encouraged the 

 promoters of these enterprises to take more energetic action. The 

 two companies have recently joined, and formed the Compagnie 



i STANLEY POOL, KONGO FREE : 



north-easterly direction, until the river Lukunga is met. It seemed 

 at first that some difficulties would be encountered here ; but the 

 reconnaissances of the engineers showed that the valley of the 

 river takes a north-easterly turn, and thus they were enabled to 

 follow its left bank without crossing it. No serious obstacles are 

 encountered between the bend of the Lukunga and the Inkissi, the 

 country consisting of hills intersected by small ravines. Between 

 the line and the Kongo rises the plateau of Ngombi to an altitude 

 of 1.600 feet. This part of the country is intersected by deep val- 

 leys. The Inkissi, at the point where the railroad is proposed to 

 cross it, is about 350 feet in width. A number of rocks are found in 

 its bed, which will facilitate the construction of a bridge. 



East of the Inkissi the population becomes less numerous, and 

 the country is more elevated and sandy. The heights of the hills 

 are clad in forests, and deep ravines intersect the slopes of the 

 plateaus. Approaching Stanley Pool, the line has to pass over hills 



Beige du Commerce au Congo, with a capital of 1,200,000 francs, 

 which has for its purpose the establishment of regular commerce 

 with the Kongo basin. 



HEALTH MATTERS. 



The Schoolroom as a Factor in Disease. 

 A VERY valuable paper on " The Schoolroom as a Factor m the 

 Production of Disease " was read by Dr. J. A. Larrabee of Louis- 

 ville, Ky., at the last meeting of the American Medical Association, 

 and is reported in full in the Journal. Estimating that one- 

 third the lifetime of every educated person is passed in the school- 

 room, it follows that the location, construction, and surroundings 

 of the same are matters of importance. While there has been great 

 advance in these respects, much still remains to be done. In 

 Switzerland the summits of small hills are selected as school-sites. 



