XIV. ABSTRACT OF PROCEEDINGS. 
Ten volumes, 233 parts, 2 maps and 2 reports were laid 
upon the table. 
THE FOLLOWING PAPERS WERE READ: 
1. ‘‘Pressure in relation to the solid components of the 
Harth’s Crust,’ by H. J. STATHAM, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E. 
Abstract.—A list of thirty test specimens of various 
rocks, as given in Molesworth’s Pocket Book of Engineer- 
ing formule, shows that the crushing strains per square 
inch vary from “Cheshire Red Sandstone”’ 2,185 fbs. per 
square inch to “‘ Welsh Slate’’ 21,000 tbs. per square inch. 
A paper by FRANCIS Fox, c.#.,' dealing with the construc- 
tion of the Simplon Tunnel through the Alps, gives 
interesting data in this connection. This great work 
penetrates to a depth of 7,005 feet beneath the slopes and 
crags of Mount Leone, the highest mountain of the Simplon 
Range, 11,684 feet above sea level: this is by far the 
greatest depth to which man has ever been below the sur- 
face of the earth. The rock consists chiefly of gneiss, mica 
schist, and on the Italian side of antigorio gneiss, but in 
some places limestone was encountered. Great pressures 
were experienced in places when the geological beds were 
horizontal, and much heavy timbering was required. The 
maximum temperature was 133° F. in proximity to the 
maximum depth of tunnel (7,005 feet). Formidable diffi- 
culties were encountered in unsound rock, which it is 
needless to detail, but the effect of pressure causing 
‘“‘ereeping of the floor’’ is pertinent to the intent of this 
paper. The rising of the floor occurred in several places 
even in solid rock, and it became necessary to construct 
inverts for a very considerable distance ; 54 feet of granite 
blocks being used in some instances. Under-pinning with 
similar granite blocks was also necessary where side thrusts 
were met with. It will thus be seen that all but the 
1 Proce. Inst. C.E. Vol. cxyim, poor: 
