344 THE SOUTHERN SHORES OF LA.KE SUPERIOR. 



serve the pressure at the balance, and watch the operation of the ex- 

 periment. In a few moments, steam had risen to a hundred, a hun- 

 dred and fifty, and two hundred pounds, and in less than half an hour 

 the balance indicated a pressure of two hundred and sixty pounds. 

 At this point, steam was observed to issue from underneath the copper 

 sheeting. The safety valve was drawn tighter, and the fire continued 

 for ten minutes, steam continuing to issue. The safety valve was then 

 loosed and steam blown off, and the fire put out. On first examina- 

 tion, the boiler seemed only to have opened at the seam around the 

 front head, and at the point where the safety valve was fastened ; but 

 subsequent careful inspection shewed that the iron had opened in little 

 fissures in several places which were perfectly tight under any ordinary 

 pressure, but gave vent at the high pressure to which this experiment 

 was carried. The ends of the boiler had bulged out to some extent, 

 and the impression of the square nut at one end was left very distinctly 

 crushed into the copper jacket. The day was clear and cold, with the 

 wind blowing from the "West. This experiment was repeated on 

 Saturday with the same result. Now, according to all ordinary ex- 

 perience, the boiler should have burst with great force. Yet we are 

 witness to the fact that it only ruptured and gave vent to the steam 

 as easily as a safety valve usually relieves an ordinary boiler." 



Such an experiment, if conducted on a larger scale with similar re- 

 sults, and with all particulars noted as mentioned above, would justify 

 us in attaching great importance to Mr. Harshman's theory. Such ex- 

 periments cannot be instituted in a satisfactory manner without the 

 expenditure of more money than can generally be spared by private in- 

 dividuals, and it will require the favourable opinion of those whose 

 knowledge of electricity fits them to pronounce on the probability of 

 such results being secured ere the requisite outlay would be made. 



THE SOUTHERN SHORES OF LAKE SUPERIOR. 



BY DANIEL WILSON, LL. D., 



PROCESSOR OF HISTOET AND ENGLISH LITERATURE, TJXIVERSITT COLLEGE, TORONTO. 



Read be/ore the Canadian Institute, March 1st, 185G. 



The vast inland fresh-water sea which constitutes the head reser- 

 voir of the great chain of lakes that sweep over the Falls of Niagara, 

 and find their way to the ocean by the River St. Lawrence, has been 

 as yet so slightly encroached upon by the pioneers of modern civiliz- 



