18 



Announced by enthusiastic congratulations, and the whole scerig 

 was one of the greatest animation and novelty. A large number 1 

 of gunpowder explosions were prepared to exhibit the mode of 

 winning the salt, and at every discharge — sometimes eight of 

 nine blasts at a time — the reverberations through the mine were' 

 awfully grand, surpassing the fiercest Cannonade of artillery, and* 

 continuing for several minutes, died away in panting throes, like 

 the rumbling echoes of distant thunder. After one of those 

 discharges the members of the club were called together under 

 the presidency of Professor James Thomson, C.E.; and John 

 Miller, Esq., of Lisburn, moved a vote of thanks to William 

 Valentine, Esq., for his kindness and attention to the members 

 and friends of the club during the day, and having been seconded 

 by Charles Bagnell, Esq., C.E., Castle Espie Works* it was 

 passed by acclamation, and the most enthusiastic cheers were 

 given to Mr. and Mrs. Valentine, and the best Wishes expressed 

 for the success of the Salt Mine Company. Under the guidance 

 of the good-natured foreman of the pit, the ascent was as safely 

 accomplished as the descent, and the party left the mine 

 thoroughly gratified with their visit. 



EXCURSION TO PURDY'S BURN", 



On Saturday, 3rd August; 



On this occasion a large van was engaged to convey the members 

 and friends to the demesne of Purdy's Burn, visiting other points 

 of interest en route. The first halt was called at the Gas Works, 

 for the purpose of examining a Very large excavation now making, 

 intended for a gasholder* capable of containing about a million 

 cubic feet of gas. The excavation exposes a very good section of 

 the tertiary beds of the locality, which are here about 18 or 20 

 feet thick, and rest upon the New Red Sandstone • the latter is 

 also cut into a depth of about 10 feet* making a total of about 30 

 feet. The cutting is circular* and is about 160 feet in diameter: 

 The earth is removed by barrows worked on a very novel and 

 ingenious plan- the runs are almost perpendicular' down the sides 

 of the excavation* yet the barrows of earth are wheeled up the 



