The Sun.
London, England, 1849-02-08 00:00:00

INSTITUTION OF CIVIL ENGI-

VEERS.

THURSDAY, FED. 6.---JuAua Field, Esq., President,
in the Chair.—The paper read was a " Description of
the Abattoirs of Paris," by Mr. R. B. Gn.tritham,
M. I❑st. C. E. The subject was treated of chiefly in
connexion with the sanitary questio❑, at present occu-
pying so much attention; the author being of cpinion
Ghat much public benefit would be derived from the intro-
duction of similar establishments into the City of London.
The paper commenced by pointing out the adventuges
resulting from the method,in which the butcher's trade
was carried on in Paris. It was stated that this trade
was regulated by a number of restrictive enactments,
a❑d conducted under the controul of a Syndicate or
Guild, who advised with the Government upon all Ties-
Lions relating to the abattoirs and markets.

It appeared from the account, that, previous to the
opening of the Abattoirs, in .1818, slaughter-houses ex-
isted in the crowded and populous districts of the city;
and that (as at present in London,) the passage ot
the cattle through the streets, and the conse-
quent nuisances, were found to be intolerable.
The fire Abattoirs were designed with great care, to
obviate these evils, and were generally allowed to have
fully accomplished the purposes for which they had been
constructed; they had been of great public service, in
rendering Paris free from those nuisance, which were
still pet mitti d to exist as such blots on the general clean-
liness of the City of London.
The Abattoirs were erected within the Barriers, op-
pesite Montmartre, Mentl-Montant, Grenelle, Du Boole,
and Ville Juif; at an average distance of a mile, and
three quarters from the centre of the city.
The paper, which was accompanied by detailed plans
of each Abattoir, and a general drawing of their arrange-
ment, described minutely :their construction, as well as
the mode of slaughtering the cattle, the melting the
tallow, and other details connected with the trade car-
ried on therein. All the buildings were stated to be
abundantly supplied with water, well ventilated, and
kept in the highest state of cleanliness.
Tables were given of the number of cattle, sheep, and
pigs killed, and the amount of tallow melted during the
last four years; and a statement was appended, from
which it appeared that the revenue (derived from tolls,
charged upon all the meat killed, at per kilogramme,
amounted during one year to 47,608 L les., that
the total expenses were 4,9581. 125., leaving a
profit to the city of Paris of 42,6501. 45., or about
6i per cent. upon 680,0001., the original cost of all these
establishments. The paper argued that if this revenue
was obtained from the tolls, for slaughtering meat
for a population not exceeding one million souls, who did
not consume anything like the amount of animal food that
Englishmen habitually indulge in, how much greater would
be the profit of such establishments for London, where
there was a population nearly approaching three millions
of souls, in whose behalf such strenuous exertions were
now making for the increase of sanitary regulations and
more ample supplies of water, and everything tending to-
wards a higher state of cleanliness and health.
In the discussion which ensued, and in which Mr. E.
Chadwick, Professor Owen, Messrs. Leslie, May,
Allen, Ifansome, Elliott, Armstrong, and others, took
part, very interesting statistical facts were given,
in connexion with the present state of the Smithfield
Market, and the evils attendant upon the animals
being driven through the streets, and then killed in a
state of fever, when the blood was in a condition to induce
rapid decomposition of the meat, and render it unfit for
food. In proof of this, it was stated that, in the summer,
quantities of fine meat were frequently obliged to be
thrown by the butchers upon the offal heap, within 30
hours from the time of the animals being slaughtered—
putrescence being so rapidly induced by the deleterious
atmosphere of the slaughterhouse pervading the place
where the meat was kept.
Among the numerous advantages of a new and spa-
cious establishment, like that of Islington Market, to
which public slaughter-houses are to be attached, would
be the direct contact of the cattle-sellers with the
butchers, and, by thus avoiding the intermediate profit
of the middle men, the latter would be enabled to en-
abled to sell their meat in better condition, and at a
reorereasonable rate, to the public.
The present objectionable system of Smithfield ap-
peared to be upheld merely as a question of revenue to
the city, for which the public not only paid heavily, but
suffered severely by common anuo) exec, and by the
deleterious effect on public health.
Modifications of the Paris system were shown to 'be
perfectly adapted even to the actual state of the butcher's
trade in London; that the internal arrangements of the
slaughter-houses would not, in any way, interfere with
the employment of the services of the butchers, nor could
any inconvenience arise from their congregating together
at such places—nor any loss from theft. All these pre-
ventive arrangements had been fully explained by Mr.
Grantham, in his recent " Treatise on Public Slaughter.,
houses."

The opinion of the meeting appeared to be pointedly
in favour of so desirable a measure as the establishment
of Islington Market; and hopes were expressed strongly
that, by showing to the trade that their interest was so
intimately connected with the measure, their co-operation
would be obtained, to their own ultimate profit, as well
as for the public good.
The Papers announced to be read at the meeting of
Tuesday, February 13th, were :—No. 788, " On the Coal
Field of South Wales;" and No. 799, " An Account of
an Explosion of Fire-Damp, at the Euglesbash Colliery,
Neath;" by Mr. J. Richardson, M. Inst. C.E,

WONDERFUL, IF TRUE.—We translate from the
Ncto Orleans Courier of the 3d of January the article that
follows, giving an account of a subterranean canal that
has been discovered, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. We believe little or nothing of the whole story
ourselves, but publish it for the information of those who
may believe, if any such there be, and for the amusement
of those who do not. It improbably been got up as a hoax,
Here it is :—"A French physician established at Vera Paz.
who, besides practising medicine, has the charge of ex •
tensile) farming estates, upon making some excavations,
undertaken with the view of forming a canal through
which to carry his produce to the sea, discovered at the
bottom of the Bay of Honduras, the open-
ing of a monumental canal 75 metres wide (about
240 feet), and running in a straight line towards
the south-west, its sides being constructed of enormous
stones rudely cut. The two walls, which continued
parallel, bad been followed to the distance of several
leagues. Having reached the foot of the mountain,
where the volcano of Fuego is now in activity, and
having cut away huge trees that obstructed the en-
trance, they passed under a vault of 100 metres in
height (about 335 feet), and of the same width as the
canal. Nothing among the ancient Cyclopean struc-
tures in Greece could give an adequate idea of the tre-
mendous masonry of the walls of this vault. The canal
was filled with salt water 20 metres deep. Our intrepid
countryman did not hesitate to embark with some In-
dians in a piregue, which he caused to be brought to the
spot, and 18 hours afterwards (if his story is to be
believed) he entered the great ocean (the Pacific) be-
tween Guatemala and San Salvador, through an immense
nrtural grotto, called by the fisherman of that coast the
Devil's Mouth, which superstition had deterred them from
over entering. The whole vaulted part of this super human
structure was lighted by shifts, cut through to the sur-
face above, and through its whole extent it is navigable
tor the largest ships. M. Alexander Humboldt had al-
ready mentioned American edifices whose architectu,
indicated a very high antiquity, and revealed a peculiar
civilisation; but his learned descriptions give us no idea
of the existence of such a monument. What great
people, then, has inhabited these regions? Should
this news be confirmed, then a maritime com-
munication is at once established between the two
hemisphere, through the centre of the American conti-
nent, and Europe will have nothing to do but to cut
through the Isthmus of Suez. Perhaps England will be
equally fortunate in the discovery of a monumental
canal and a ' superhuman grotto' through the Isthmus
of Suez which will connect the Mediterranean and the
Arabian Gulf."— Washiu9ton Union
WATERFORD, WEXFORD, AND WICKLOW RAIL-
WAY —Some blasting operations of an extensive cha
ratter took place on Saturday last, at Bray Head,
where the works for the formation of this railway
are in active progress. It was necessary to remove
a huge mass of rock, to do which in detail would oc-
cupy considerable time. The resident engineer, Mr.
Purdon, resolved upon effecting it by one great effort,
add accordingly three large drifts were made, 25
feet in depth, 5 inches in diameter, and two supple-
mental ones of smaller dimensions. They were bored
15 feet from the sea-face of the rock, and about 6 feet
apart. About 4501b5. weight of gunpowder were used
in charging them, the principal part being of
the quality known as Government powder, by many
per cent. stronger than the ordinary blasting powder.
They were connected with a 10-pair battery of Callan's,
and after due precaution had been used to guard against
accident, they were fired, and an immense displacement
of rock was effected. The explosive noise was not loud
but rumbling, and the spells were not driven any
distance. It was found, on examination after-
wards that ten feet to the landside of the drifts were
carried away, and fissures extended much further, which
will enable the workmen to remove the rock with the
crow- bar. The length of the rock displaced was 45 feet,
the breadth 25 feet, and depth 25 feet, which gives an
idea of the cubic contents. Mr. Copeland, the local en-
gineer, was the operator. Several minor blasts were made,
showing the activity with which obstacles formerly consi-
dered impracticable to be overcome are disappearing.
The long tunnel at the southern end of the head can be
passed through walking upright. The scene of these
most interesting engineering operations is now most
worthy of a visie under favourable circumstances of
weather; the public will the better be enabled to appre-
ciate the indomitable courage the engineer has had
to face such a field of operations, and how the iron-
bound coast is falling into the track for civilization
and enterprise. The original intention of crossing
the deeply indented ravines made by the sea, by
means of bridges, is abandoned, and all will now be
filled up at an incredibly less amount of expense,
and with equal stability, and safety for this great
project. The road along the head over the works affords
ready access for any pedestrian. On Saturday several
ladies and gentleman enjoyed the excitement which a
most glorious spring day presented, without reference
to the operations is progress for the furtherance of the
work of this gigantic undertaking.
FIRE AT SAWTRT, HUNTS.—Upwards of 170 per-
sons have been rendered homeless by the destructive
fire which occurred last week. Out of the twenty-seven
houses destroyed only half were insured, and the loss to
many of the villagers is completely ruinous. A com-
mittee met on Tuesday, when a subscription was com-
menced on behalf of the 'sufferers. Amongst the sub-
scribers are J. M. Heathcote, Esq., 25/.; Rev. G. Heath-
cote, 201.; and Mr. Ballard, a gentleman connected with
the Great Northern Railway, 10/. The ladies of the
parish and neighbourhood, under the superintendence of
Mrs. Birch, the lady of the rector, have distributed
clothing to those in need.