'- r ' ^ Chronicles of Science. [April, 



Men, it was also said, could earn more by the use of the small 

 tram, which is therefore advantageous to them as well as to the 



Civil and Mechanical Engineers Society. — On 8th December 

 last Mr. B. M. Bancroft read a paper before this Society " On the 

 Renewal of King's Gross Station Boof." When this station was 

 opened in 1852 its roof created some little sensan:::. ifi it was the 

 largest span-roof of the laminated type constructed in this conn 

 After a period of eighteen years' existence it was found that the 

 timber which formed the ribs was in a state of rapid decay, and it tie- 

 came necessary to replace them with something more durable. The 

 wronght-iron main ribs were formed and accurately curved bo as to 

 fit in exactly between the old cast-iron shoes built in the walls on 

 each side, the cast-iron spandril fillings of the old roof being cut 

 shorter to suit the new wrought-iron ribs. The scaffold for the 

 construction of the roof was designed so as not to interfere with the 

 traffic constantly passing beneath it, and the large wrought-iron 

 plate-girders forming it were constructed of such section that they 

 might hereafter be used in bridges down the line. 



Institution of Engineers in Scotland. — Professor W. J. Mao- 

 quorn Eankine read a very interesting paper before this Sock 

 upon being called upon to fill the presidential chair until the next 

 election. This paper partook of the nature of a presidential address, 

 and consisted of a review of the pies at rate of engineering progress 

 in its various and numerous branches ; but it is on the subject : 

 • Engineering Education " that Professor Bankines paper dwelt 

 with most force. In alluding to common errors under existing 

 systems of education, the Professor stated : " One is led to expect 

 results from the scientific branch of education which it is not really 

 capable of accomplishing. The purely practical par: : : :,ineering, 

 such as the use of tools and the superintendence of works, cannot 

 be soundly and thoroughly learned except through experience in 

 real business; and it is a mistake to endeavour to teach them 

 during a universny course. The true laboratory for student- 

 engineering science is to be found in the workshops of such cities 

 as Glasgow, and amongst the earthwork, masonry, carpentry, and 

 ironwork of engineering structures in progress-" 



Institution of Mechanical Engineers. — At the anniversary meet- 

 ing of this Institution on the 27th January last, a paper "On Le 

 Cnatelier's Plan of using Counter-pressure Steam as a Brake in 

 Locomoti~- En.ines," by Mr. C. W. Siemens, came under discus- 

 sion ; and a paper was read by Mr. C. Cochrane, of Dudley, ;; On 

 the further Economy of Fuel in Blast Furnaces, derivable from 

 the High Temperature of Blast obtained with Cowper's Improved 

 Eegenerative Stoves at Ormesby. and from increased Oapacifcy of 

 Furnace, &c. J * M. Le Chatetiera plan for counter-pressure working 



