2j6 
[October, 1902.] 
IMPERIAL INSTITUTE JOURNAL. 
Vol. VIII. No. 94. 
OFFICIAL AND COMMERCIAL CONTRACTS. 
UNITED KINGDOM. 
Bury. — Tenders are invited until the 20th inst. for — 
Contract No. i : The Construction of a Storage 
Reservoir (including an earthen embankment, 1,200 ft. in 
length and 60 ft. in depth, with puddle trench and wall, bye- 
wash channels, waste weir, valve tower, outlet tunnel, meter 
house, and other appurtenant works) on the Ogden Brook, 
situate in the township of Haslingden and county of Lancaster. 
— Contract No. 2 : Providing and Delivering at Grane 
Siding of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company 
Sluice Valves, Girders, and Joists, required in connection 
with the construction of the Ogden Reservoir. — Contract 
No. 3 : Providing and Delivering at Grane Siding of the 
Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company 277 tons of Cast 
Iron Pipes, from 6 ins. to 36 ins. diameter, and 25 tons of 
special CASTINGS, required in connection with the construction 
of the Ogden Reservoir. Particulars (_£5 for Contract No. 1, 
£i each for Contracts Nos. 2 and 3) may be obtained from 
Mr. j. Cartwright, Peel Chambers, Bury, and 29, Old Queen- 
street Westminster. 
Great Western Railway. — Tenders are invited until the 
7th inst. for the Construction of the Portion of the 
Cheltenham and Honeybourne Railway from Honeybourne to 
Toddiugton (about io| miles). Particulars may be obtained 
from the engineer, Paddington station, London. — Tenders 
are invited, until the 7th inst., for the Supply of English 
Asii, Butts, and Flanks, Elm Butts, Planks and Boards, 
and Poplar Planks. Particulars may be obtained from 
G. K. Mills, secretary, Paddington station, London. 
London.— Tenders are invited by the City Corporation, 
until the 10th inst., for the Supply of New Sanitary 
Fittings and other works at the Artizans' Dwellings, 
Stouey-lane. Particulars may be seen at the office of the 
engineer to the Corporation, at the Guildhall.- — Tenders are 
also invited, until the 10th inst., for the Erection and 
Completion of New Baths at the Artizans’ Dwellings, 
Stoney-laue, according to plan and specification to be seen at 
the office of the engineer to the Corporation, at the Guildhall. — ■ 
The London County Council invite Tenders, until the 14th 
inst., for the Manufacture, Delivery, and Erection 
Complete of Eight Sets of New Condensing Plant, 
with Piping and all Accessories, for the Main Pumping Engines 
at the Abbey Mills Pumping Station, in Abbey-lane, West Ham, 
Essex. Particulars (^5) may be obtained at the Engineer's 
Department, County 11 all, Spring-gardens, S.W. 
Middlesex. — The Light Railways Committee of the 
Middlesex County Council invite Tenders, until the 7th inst., 
for the Work and Materials required in the Construction 
of the Permanent Way (for Electric Traction), Bridge 
Work, etc., of the following Light Railways, viz. : — 
Contract No. 1. — Railway No. 1. — A line of double track 
(with cross-overs, contingent works, etc.), to be laid along 
Lordship-lane and Bruce-grove, in the districts of Wood-green 
and Tottenham, in the County of Middlesex, having a length 
of 1 mile 7 furlongs 6'8 chains or thereabouts. Contract No. 3. 
Railway No. 3. — A line of double track (with cross-overs, 
contingent works, etc.), to be laid along the Archway and 
Great North Roads, from H igbgate-arch way to Whetstone, in 
the districts of Hornsey and Finchley, in the County of 
Middlesex, having a length of 4 miles 6 furlongs 1*5 chains or 
thereabouts. Contract No. 5. — Railway No. 5. — A line of 
double track (with cross-overs, contingent works, etc.), to be 
laid along the Edgware-road, from Crieklewood to Edgware, 
Hendon, Kingsbury, and Hendon Rural, in the County of 
Middlesex, having a length of 4 miles 6 furlongs S chains or 
thereabouts. Particulars (,£5) may be obtained from Ii. T. 
Wakelam, m.i.c.e., county engineer, Middlesex Guildhall, 
Westminster, S.W. 
Manchester. — Tenders are invited, until the 29th Novem- 
ber, for the Reconstruction of Prince’s Bridge over the 
River Irwell. Particulars (£$. 5s. ) may be obtained from the 
town surveyor, Town-hall, Manchester. 
Southend. — Tenders are invited by the Southend Gas 
Company for the Supply and Erection of a Viaduct, com- 
mencing at their Gas Works to and along the foreshore, to be 
constructed of Steel Girders and Cast Iron Columns, etc., with 
Wood Decking and Steel Tramrails complete. Particulars 
( guineas) may be obtained from the engineer at the Gas- 
works, Southend-on-Sea. 
Wallasey, Cheshire. — Tenders are invited, until the 
15th inst., for the execution of certain Boring Work at the 
Liscard Waterworks, Sea View-road, Discard. Particulars 
may be obtained from Mr. J. H. Crowther, Great Float, near 
Birkenhead. 
COLONIES. 
Malta. — Tenders are invited, until the 17th inst., for the 
Supply of Stationery for the service of the civil departments 
in Malta. Particulars may be obtained at the Government 
Printing Office, Valetta, or at the office of the Crown Agents 
for the Colonies, Downing-street, London. 
South Australia. — Tenders are invited, until the 29th 
inst., for the Supply of Railway Materials at Adelaide. 
Particulars may be obtained from the Agent-General for South 
Australia, Crosby-square, Bishopsgate-street, E.C. 
COMMERCIAL LAW INTELLIGENCE. 
Marine Insurance. — In the King’s Bench Division Messrs. 
Brown Brothers sued Messrs. R. T. Fleming, W. Scott, 
E. Vallance, and S. G. Hall, underwriters, to recover ^88 
for damage to 228 cases of whisky shipped by plaintiffs from 
Glasgow to Singapore on the 31st July, 1899. Defendants had 
insured the whisky, which was packed in straw, and bore a label 
stating that it was “Brown Bros.’ line old Glasgow liqueur 
whisky." When the goods arrived at Singapore it was found 
that sea-water had got to the cases, saturated the straw in which 
the bottles were packed, and had washed off or obliterated the 
labels, and discoloured the bottles. Plaintiffs were unable to 
sell the whisky as of the brand which the labels bore, and had 
had to sell it partly by auction and partly by private tender for 
a less price than it would otherwise have realised. Defendants 
Contended that they did not insure the labels, etc., but the 
whisky, which was delivered all right, and therefore they were 
not liable, as the loss was not covered by insurance. A month 
elapsed before the damages were notified to the agents at Singa- 
pore, and there was plenty of time in the interval to procure 
fresh labels. His lordship (Mr. Justice Bigham) held that it was 
not only the whisky which was insured but the labels and every- 
thing in connection with it. He gave judgment for plaintiffs for 
.£70 and costs. 
The Costs of a Patent Action.— 111 the Lord Mayor’s 
Court, before Mr. F. S. Jackson, the Assistant Judge, and a jury, 
an action was tried in which Mr. A. B. Robertson, anelectrical 
engineer, of Union-street, Aberdeen, sued the General 
Incandescent Company (Limited) for £32. os. 8d., being 
the amount paid by him as the taxed costs of certain proceedings 
brought by the Welsbach Incandescent Gas Light Company 
(Limited) against the plaintiff in the Scottish Courts, against 
which payment it was said the defendants had agreed to 
indemnify the plaintiff. Mr. Herbert Jacobs was counsel for 
the plaintiff ; and Mr. Glasgow for the defendants. The plain- 
tiff had purchased for the purpose of sale certain incandescent 
mantles from the defendants upon a. guarantee that the mantles 
were not an infringement of any other patent, and also upon 
what was said to be an undertaking to indemnify the plaintiff 
against loss by any action or proceedings of the Welsbach Com- 
pany. Afterwards the latter company took proceedings against 
Mr. Robertson in the Scottish Courts to restrain him from selling 
the mantles, and obtained an interim injunction against him. 
The present defendants, notwithstanding that, wished the 
present plaintiff to continue the proceedings, but as they failed 
to comply with Mr. Robertson’s request that they should deposit 
^50 towards his costs in the matter, contending that their 
guarantee was sufficient, Mr. Robertson declined to proceed 
further. He now sought to recover from the defendants the 
costs which he had paid. For the defence it was stated that the 
defendants were prepared to pay all the expenses if the plaintiff 
had allowed the defendants to conduct the action to a finish, 
although under the strict terms of the guarantee they were not 
bound to indemnify the plaintiff against such costs. The 
questions left to the jury were (1) whether it was reasonable for 
the plaintiff to ask the defendants to deposit ^50 towards the 
costs of the further litigation between the Welsbach Company 
and the defendants ; (2) whether the person who called on the 
plaintiff in April was an agent of the defendant company ; and 
(3) whether he entered into a contract with the plaintiff as con- 
tained in a circular which had been referred to. The jury found 
for the plaintiff on all issues, and judgment was entered in his 
favour for the amount claimed. A stay of execution was granted 
with a view to an appeal. 
War Risks : Confiscation of Goods for the Transvaal. — 
In the Court of Appeal, before the Master of the Rolls and 
Lords Justices Stirling and Cozens Hardy, the case of Dunn 
and Others v. Donald Currie and Co. and Bucknill 
Brothers was concluded. This was an appeal by both defend- 
ants from a judgment of Mr. Justice Mathew, given in the 
Commercial Court. The plaintiffs, Sir William Dunn and 
others, were shippers of goods by the defendants’ vessel, the 
Mashonci, from New York to ports in South Africa. They 
claimed damages for loss they had sustained from delay in the 
delivery of the goods at their destination, which they alleged was 
due to the reckless conduct of the defendants in loading on board 
other goods which were liable to confiscation. This part of the 
cargo mainly consisted of food-stuffs, which, it was said, were 
intended for the Boer troops. The Master of the Rolls, who 
read the judgment of the Court after stating the facts, said the 
first question in this caseivas whether the defendants had brought 
themselves within the exception for liability for loss from delay 
in the bill of lading, and they said that they had, because there 
was no evidence that although the delay was due to the fact that 
they had shipped cargo for delivery in the Transvaal, that they 
had any ground for supposing that the ship on that account 
would be arrested. They said that they never intended to land 
the food-stuffs unless they received the sanction of the British 
Government, and that they had reasonable grounds for assuming 
that they would be allowed to do so. It seemed to the Court 
that what the defendants had done was recklessly to take the 
risk of the ship being boarded and detained, and they could not 
see how their conduct was any defence to the plaintiffs’ claim, 
for it would be certainly a startling contention that a liability for 
consequences of an act done negligently would be excused if it 
was shown that the act was done deliberately. Therefore the 
plaintiffs were entitled to damages. The appeal failed, and 
would be dismissed with costs. On the application of Mr, Carver, 
a stay was granted. 
new port of Bruges will probably seriously affect the importance 
of Antwerp. Indeed, it is even rumoured that the Great Eastern 
Railway Company will be able thereby to shorten its services to 
the Continent by several hours. 
Hamburg — Alexandria. — New Service. — It is reported 
that the German Levant line will establish a fortnightly direct 
service from Alexandria to Hamburg at the beginning of the 
next cotton season in October, 
Russia.— Bounties for Shipbuilding.— The United 
States Commercial Agent at Vladivostok, in a late report to 
his Government, gives the particulars of a scheme for the pay- 
ment of bounties for shipbuilding in Russia. From this it appears 
that the Council of Mercantile Marine Affairs has had under 
discussion measures to develop Russian shipbuilding. It is pro- 
posed to issue loans or bounties to shipowners to induce them 
to build ships at home rather than have them built abroad, and 
to stimulate the purchase of Russian ships built of Russian 
material. This will be accomplished by a mortgage on the 
completed vessels at 50 per cent, of the actual cost, without 
interest, for a period not exceeding 20 years, in equal yearly 
payments. The cost is ascertained by estimating the expense of 
building ships in Russia according to certain regulations. The 
amount of the bounty depends upon the difference between the 
cost of building ships in Russia and abroad. The loans are 
issued to sea-going steamships under the following conditions : — • 
(<2) Plans and specifications of ships must be presented to the 
Minister of Finance ; (b) the steamers must rank in the highest 
class according to the British Lloyd’s regulations ; (c) the average 
speed of boats of over 1,000 tons register must be not less than 
ten knots on six hours’ trial ; of under 1,000 tons, not less than 
eight knots at Lloyd’s lower load line. To enable shipowners 
to repay the loans two measures are proposed. First, the loans 
will be on long time — ro years — without interest ; secondly, the 
Government will bear part of the expense of insurance. To 
facilitate the export of Russian goods by steamers built in Russia, 
it is proposed to allow a rebate of half the expense for Russian 
coal used on all steamers carrying less than three-fourths of a 
full cargo on export and one-half of a cargo on import. It is 
estimated that the unavoidable calls made on the Government 
treasury by these plans to foster home shipbuilding will not be 
so large as they would be in case of payment of direct navigation 
and shipbuilding premiums. The issue of these regulations was 
fully discussed, and they were considered ready to be sanctioned 
by the Government Council. It was, however, decided that the 
proposals should first be published in the press of the Russian 
Empire, in order that the authorities might have the advantage 
of criticisms or suggestions from interested companies or 
individuals. It seems that this had to be done on account of 
the diversity of the interests involved. In the meantime, how- 
ever, it has been decided that all Russian merchant ships shall 
be registered, and that comparative statements of the methods 
of navigation in Russia and in other commercial countries of 
the world shall be compiled. 
Russo-Italian Service to America.— The new steamship 
service between Odessa, Naples, and New York will be opened 
at the beginning of November next. Three large steamers 
belonging to the Russian Volunteer Fleet, the Peterburg, 
Saraioff, and Orel, have been detailed for the service. 
Siam, — Railways. — The American Consul-General in 
Siam devotes an interesting report to the position of railway 
enterprise in that country. He says that the three great high- 
ways of Siam from remote times ha ve been three splendid rivers, 
which penetrate the country to its northern boundary, and with 
their numerous tributaries bring its plains into communication 
with the sea. To these natural highways, in later years, were 
added canals that intersect the alluvial plains of the south in 
every direction, making a vast network of waterways, thousands 
of miles in length. About ten years ago the first effort towards 
railway construction was made. This resulted in the Paknam 
line, which was opened to traffic in 1893. It is owned by a local 
company and is under Danish control. It is about 16^ miles in 
length and runs between Bangkok and Paknam, a flourishing 
village at the mouth of the Menam, at which all vessels stop on 
the way in and out of Bangkok. The line is now paying about 
7 per cent, dividend. In 1892 the Government began the con- 
struction of the line from Bangkok to Muang Khorat, a good- 
sized town north-east of the capital. This was formally opened 
in December, 1900, when the work was completed over the 
entire distance of 102^ miles, traffic being carried on over the 
western end of the line as it was built. The country through 
which this railway runs is in part a rich alluvial plain, which 
improved communication will convert into a valuable rice- 
producing and grazing area. The Khorat hill region may also 
yield minerals, and some valuable woods are found there. From 
this line, 57 miles north-east from Bangkok, another branches 
to the north. This is completed about 26 miles to the town of 
Lopburi and will be extended in time to the town of Kiang-mai, 
a distance of 373 miles. The Director-General is sanguine that 
the road will be completed to Kiang-mai within six or eight 
years, and will advise its immediate extension to Kiang-Sen, 
124 miles farther, on the Siamese border. It will pass through 
some rich agricultural regions, will probably open valuable 
mineral lands, and will penetrate the great timber areas of the 
country. On the other hand, it will have the river to compete 
with in almost its entire length, and the latter will no doubt at all 
times monopolise the timber traffic. As a political measure, the 
road will no doubt prove a good investment, and will do much for 
the commercial development of the country as well. The supplies 
are ready, the surveys completed, and the construction is being 
pushed on of a narrow-gauge line that will run from Bangkok 
south-west to Pechaburi, a distance of 94 miles. The preliminary 
surveys are also being made on another Government line, which 
it is proposed to run east and south from Bangkok through 
Paatrewand Bang-pla-soi to Si-ma-ha-ra-tha on the coast, about 
87 miles distant. This line will, for perhaps 56 miles, serve a rich 
and well-populated region. For the rest of the way it will skirt 
the coast. Besides these Government lines there have been two 
private concessions for railways recently granted to Siamese. 
One of these will extend from Taurua, a station on the Lopburi 
line, to Prabat, a distance of about 10^ miles. This is a narrow- 
gauge line, and will probably be finished this year. It passes 
through a promising agricultural area, and it" is proposed to 
extend the line, as trade develops, into the region beyond 
Prabat, which is rich in minerals and forests. The other line, 
beginning at Bangkok, will extend south-west through one of 
the richest and most thickly-populated areas of Siam and find 
its terminus at the mouth of the Tatien river. The capital has 
already been raised in Bangkok, and the company is under 
Siamese control. This is also a narrow-gauge line, and will be 
completed before the end of next year. So far it has been the 
aim of Siam to keep her railways in her own hands. 
Steam Turbines. — The use of the compound steam turbine 
was commenced in this country in 1884 for driving dynamos ; 
by 1890 about 360 such plants had been set to work ; by 1896, 
600 turbo plants had been sold, the total aggregate at that date 
being 40,000 horse-power, and the largest individual plant 
was 600 horse-power. According to Engineering at the 
present time 800 turbo plants have been sold, aggregating 
200,000 horse-power, the largest being of 3,000 horse-power. 
INDIA. 
Bengal-Nagpur Railway. — Tenders are invited, until 
the 9th inst., for 1,000 Coal Wagons. The wagons are to 
be of steel throughout, on underframes 19 feet 3 inches by 
9 feet 4 inches. Wheels and axles are not required. The 
specification and form of tender can be obtained at the Com- 
pany’s office, No. 132, Gresham-house, Old Broad-street, E.C. 
FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 
French Indo-China. — Tenders are invited until the 8th 
November for the Supply of Three Steam Lighters for 
the port of Haiphong. Particulars may be obtained at the 
offices of the Inpector-General of Public Works of the Colonies, 
or the Minister for the Colonies, France, or at the offices of the 
“Service de la Navigation ” at Saigon, Hanoi and Haiphong. 
Norway. — Tenders are invited until the 7th inst., for the 
Supply of Army Clothing and Equipment. For particulars 
address, Hovedforvalteren, Arnieens Munderings Depot, 
Christiania. — Tenders are also invited until the 7th inst., for 
the Supply of 15 Station Clocks. Particulars may be obtained 
from the traffic director, Norwegian State and Main Railways, 
Christiania. 
Peru. — The Corporation of Callao invite Tenders for 
about 2,400 tons of Straight Cast-Iron Pipes varying in 
diameter from 21 ins. to 2^ ins., also a quantity of special 
castings, tees, crosses, valves, hydrants, etc. Particulars (£5) 
may be obtained from Messrs. Graham, Rowe and Co,, Mersey - 
chambers, Liverpool. Tenders to* be sent in by the 15th inst. 
in order that they may be delivered at Callao by November 29. 

BRITISH CONSULAR REPORTS. 
Guatemala. — In a recent report on Guatemala, the British 
Consul states that the general condition of the country has 
undoubtedly improved during the last two years. Foreign 
trade has increased, improvements are being made in agri- 
culture, the crops have been satisfactory, the area under 
cultivation has increased, and it is hoped that soon it will no 
longer be necessary to import products such as wheat, maize, 
beans, and rice, which can be grown with little expense and 
labour in the country itself. The construction of the northern 
railway and carriage road has progressed, and these, when 
completed, will not only largely increase the trade of the 
country, but will develop and bring under cultivation large 
tracts of country through which they pass. A drawback to 
progress has been the damage caused by the earthquakes of 
April last, by which many towns were almost wholly destroyed. 
The injury to plantations, houses and machinery also was so great 
that it must seriously affect the coffee crop, especially as the 
districts which suffered most are those in which coffee is grown. 
There is a considerable importation of machinery to Guatemala 
for the planting industries. The plant required on the coffee 
plantations is mostly from the United Kingdom, while that for 
sugar js from the United States. The Consul enters into some 
detail on this point, taking the use of one large and well- 
equipped plantation, and specifying the various machines used 
and the quarter from which they are obtained. He also gives a 
list of the machines imported (and the manufacturers supplying 
them), by two German, one Dutch, and one Belgian importing 
houses in Guatemala. The financial condition of the Republic 
