The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-14 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—In your impression of the Gth inst. I noticed a
letter from a correspondent, signed J. J. Cole, Esq., relat-
ing to the impurities of water occasioned by the practice of
having one and the same cistern to servo both water-closet,
sinks, and for drinking purposes.
The remarks he makes are quite correct, but only refer
to the old system of water-closets, which require a service
box at bottom of the cistern with a valve, which is opened
when the handle of closet is raised by means of wire and
cranks. Attached to the service box is an afir pipe, which
causes the foul air to pass from the closet into the cistern.
This is entirely obviated by my patent W.C. apparatus,
as service box, wires, cranks, and air pipes are entirely
dispensed with. My patent W.C. apparatus consists of a
valve and brass air regulator attached to the closet, allow-
ing a column of water to remain in the supply pipe, which
immediately flows into the basin of the closet upon the
handle being raised. Tho supply pipe is fixed at the bot-
tom of supply valve, forming a dip or trap of about six
inches, and thereby preventing the possibility of any foul
air passing up the supply pipe into the cistern shoal(' the
cistern at any time become empty. The valve is a safety
one, opening with the expansion of the water in frosty
weather and preventing the pipes from bursting ; whereas,
according to the old system, the water in the pipe is en-
tirely discharged, allowing foul air to accumulate, which
forces itself into the cistern, causing the water to be affected,
and producing the scum mentioned by your correspondent.
I beg to remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
F. Cr. UNDERIIIY, Engineer, Clerkenwe]l.

The Value of British America.

(Front the London Review•)

General Banks, of Massachusetts, out of his own
State, is not known to fame. In the days of the
American cilil war he was heard of for a moment as
the cause of ignominious failure and disgrace to the
Federal arms; and he subsequently attracted some
attention by his absurd conduct in connection with
the Paris Exhibition. He now comes to the surface
again, and we find him bringing a bill before Con-
gress to annex British North America to the United
s
States. The proposal, however, that the United rote.,
should purchase British North America clicn
merely
ginate in the brain of Banks. The General.a
gave the coinage currency. The author is alpre.pult.
W. Taylor, special agent of the Treasurytbe
admitted,
ment in Minnesota, who
has, sitil of a statesman.
approached the subject in
to be
leeaspt unfriendly feeling
Nor is it put forth with the
c
to this country,
for
~ But nevertheless we have
vernment of Great toonsult
ai sti
oa vno with Ythe Go-
made l
" upon
Britain.thefu
a schemeperfected. Lands unconeeded,the harbours,
t
s, all the proper y of the Canadian
and other G o-
v
the lighthouses, the canals, the river and lake improve-
ineernntments, with their lien on railways, are to be
given over to the United States Government, who will
thereupon assume the debts of the province. The
transfer has only to be made, for the territorial divi-
sions are already established. Even the number of
members to be sent to Washington is determined,
and, with two slight exceptions, viz., the consent of
the population of British America and the concur-
rence of the Imperial Government, there is nothing
to impede the measure. But as there may be some
difficulty in obtaining these conditions, the scheme
has been temporarily allowed to drop, to be revived,
doubtless, from time to time, when the Mama-

sible indifference—the enlargement of the Canadian
canals. Mr. Taylor proposes to appropriate fifty
millions of dollars " to aid the navigation of the St.
Lawrence and the Great Lakes, that vessels of
1,500 tons burden shall pass from the Gulf of St.
Lawrence to Lakes Michigan and Superior."
Although ignored and neglected by the Canadian
Government the scheme is quite feasible. At pre-
sent the produce of the West passes by the great
lakes to the foot of Lake Eric, where it has an en-
trance at Buffalo, which is the point of entry of
the route at Lake Erie. On the other hand, it
takes the Welland Canal on the Canadian side
to Lake Ontario—to Oswego—passing by the
canal of that name to the main Erie Canal. The
latter connects Lake Erie with Albany—the waters
of the Hudson. Such is the pressure of the trade
that a vessel is eleven and twelve days passing from
Lake Erie to the Hudson. New York is thus the one
seaport of the West, but it would cease to be so to a
great extent if the Canadian canals were deepened,
and the navigation improved, as Mr. Taylor, who is
a Western,man, has the sagacity to see. No little
of the trade would then be transferred to Boston,
which, indeed, might become the depot of the west.
But the greatest benefit resulting from this work
would accrue to Canada. If the canals were deepened
so that a sea-going vessel could pass, without breaking
bulk in its cargo, to the Far West, the maritime high-
way would be through that province. For it may be
said that the Erie Canal can be improved only to a very
limited degree, owing to the difficulty of obtaining
water, which is now admitAedtobe baxelysufficient. It
is true that the work would cost millions eidollars, and
that the shallow waters of Lakes St. Louis and St.
Francis would require a large expenditure to dredge
them ; further, the necessity of keeping the naviga-
tion open while the enlargement was in progress
would add greatly to its expense. But no one has
doubted the feasibility of the scheme, or, at all
events, has put his objections in such a form that
they can be examined and answered. On the other
hand, the condition of improving the navigation has
been examined both by American and Canadian
writers of eminence, at length, and with ability, to
the extent that the information at the disposal of the
writers would admit. It is plain that the American
authorities are conversant with the value of the St.
Lawrence as a highway, and General Banks may be
considered to represent the public opinion of his
State when he proposes that it shall be developed.
Here lies the value of his extraordinary pro-
position to the English statesman. Even its ridicu-
lous side disappears when it is so considered. The
well-wisher of Canada ought, therefore, to be thank-
ful. But to judge by the tone of indignation which
without exception, characterises Canadian journal-
ism, British America is not particularly grateful to
the General at the offer of incorporation in the great
republic. If, however, Canada, and the maritime
provinces would examine it from our standing-point,
they might thing differently. Very probably the
attention of English statesmen may be directed to
the subject by it; and, what evidently is more diffi-
cult to effect, Canadian politicians may be turned
away from their bickerings and intrigues to consider
a policy which will advance every interest in the
province, and will give a healthy stimulus to trade,
so that progress will really be effected. It is hard,
indeed, to unlerstand the indifference with which
this important project has been treated.