463 
STEAM SUPERIOR TO - OTHER FORMS ^'OF. MOTIVE POWER. 
including net, but wiilvput gas, ballast, or 
passengers, will weigh about 7 cwt. 
IMPROVEMENTS AND EMBEL- 
lilSHMEN TS INuPA RIS.— ;The granite for 
llie ped.e'^ial of the obelisii of l.uxoi has an i ved, 
and only awaits the decrease of the waters of 
the Seine to he landed. It consists of .seven 
blocks, one of which weighs 120,0001 Is. I’he 
Hotel Dieu, it is said, will shortly be taken 
down, to carry on the beautiful line of quays 
which extend along each bank of the Seine. 
The sick will be removed to the Invaiides, 
which establi.'hment will be broken up. and 
formed into several bianche.s, in various parts 
of the country, where articles of provision, 
&c. are cheap. — Paris Advertiser. 
'BRITISH MUSEUM BUILDINGS.— 
With the exception of the interior finishings, 
the northern side of the British IVlu'eum is com- 
pleted: and when the inteiior of this part is 
finished, the temporary communication on the 
western side to the Elgin. Marble room, &c, 
will be lenioved, and made to correspond with 
the eastern sitle. It will he a tew yeais before 
the old soutbern Iront, and the buildings 
. 'round the entrance court-yard are taken down ; 
but when they are removed, and the new 
. buildings completed, the Biitish Museum will 
be one of the most elegant architectural 
.■edifices, in the Grecian style of aicliitecture, 
fin the metropolis. 'I’he architect to the new 
buildings i.s Sir Robeit Smiike. — Arclntectu- 
XtaL Magazine for July. 
APPLIGATION OF S IE AM -POWER 
TO THE CULTIVATION OF LAND. 
S' Sir,— During the last twenty year.s steam- 
ploughs have been frequently on the tapis, 
■ and perliaps ere long we .shall see them going 
about and undertaking to plough field.s for 
whoever may desire their assistance, and with 
very little more preparation than is now re- 
quired to place a portable thrashing-mill, 
i About the time that the Leeds Railway was 
• done, when high-pressure engines were much 
improved, the idea of thrashing by steam led 
me to think of making a portable plough, 
applicable to all kinds of land. Now that 
pu blic companies are forming that will requiie 
the use of such things, perhaps my old plan 
may t e useiul to some oi them. I send you, 
therefore, a description of it, that you may 
publish it as soon as convenient. 
The sketch (see plate. 3, fig, 6.) shows 
"my arrangements, made long ago, both for 
ploiigliing and harrowing land by steam-power- 
AA represent a piece of land to be plouglied 
B, a carriage on small wheels (or rollers it tlie 
ground is soft), which carries the steam-engine 
to work the wheel C ; D is another carriage, 
at the opposite end of the field, to carry 
; another wheel E. On these two wheels 1 put 
an endless chain or rope FG, which, when 
worked by the sieam-engine.willdraw a plough 
T1 and hairow 1 in different directions; and 
when they ariive at the end, 1 cause botlitiie 
‘ carriagesBand D to be nioved the width of the 
furrow, either to the right or'left, and reverse 
the motion of the engine to draw the plough 
a:ud harrow back again. In , placeof ah end- 
less chain, a coorraon.one with cylinders will 
answer the sarne purpose, by u^ing proper 
conducting pulleys on the opposite carriage. 
To mention any smaller details, Tpresume, 
is useless. . . 
I am. Sir, ' 
Your obedient'^ervant, 
J. Dickson, C. E. 
9, Charlotte-street, Biacldriars-ioad, 
- - Jxme, IHSG.-^MechaniCs'Mdgazine. 
STEAM VERSUS VVA:rER. , 
(From the American Mechanic's Magazine.) 
Few persons, even in this age of inquiry and 
improvement, seem to be awaie of tlie vast 
rmperiority of steam over every, other forrh of 
motive pow'er. Many aie still, by ibis asser- 
tion, reminded of tlie anecdote of the famous 
B indley- In giving evidence before a Com* 
riiitti-e of the Hou-e of Commons on the 
subject of Canal.s, bespoke of their superi- 
oiity as a mode of communication in such 
• locided terms, tliat a meml er asked for what 
lie tbouglii rivers were intended ? he unhesita- 
tingly replied, tofeed canals." Now, though 
we say that the manufacture will one day 
“ feed his boiler from tlie falls,’’ we think 
that the assertion is not a bold one, and tliat 
it floes admit of proof. 
Some time ago, our attention was directed 
to a comparison of the expense of the two 
forms of power in the village of Lowell, po.s* 
.se.^sed of the best water power in the Union- 
The expense of steam to water wa.s said to be 
as 100 to 125. 
VVe have since often had this subject in 
mind, in reference to the more improved use 
of steam, and particularly to the economy of 
the rotary-engine of Avery. 
Puisuing the comparison, we have collected 
some oftheniore piominent disadvantages, of 
the usual hydiaulic system, and the cories- 
poiidiiig advantage of steam-power- 
The first item of cost is that of the water - 
wrighr, over and above the value of the 
ground as increased by any other a(lvantage.s 
of locality. Thi.s expense is in no ca^e trifling, 
andsomelimes is positively enormous. 'I'here 
is. of course, no corresponding item of expen- 
diture in the use of steam, an engine work- 
ing as well on the top of a hill as in the bot- 
tom of a valley. 
2d. The outlay upon wheels, dams, and 
other hydraulic works- This is often much 
greater than would be necessary for the aver- 
age pressuie, provided it were constant — that 
i'^, we are to erect woiks to support much 
more water than we have supplied through 
three quarters of the year- Freshets, &c- are 
to be provided against, at an increased cost. 
It is well known that in some locations the 
provision for such contingencies is no small 
portion of the whole capital employed. 
It is tins expense, other things being equal, 
that is to be compared with the cost of an 
engine, and the comparison is favourable to 
the latter, .. . kj 
31. After every precaution, damages from 
floods are of constant occurrence, and their 
cepairis exceedingly costly. 
