The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-06 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING,

markable spectacle to see so large a body of people
approaching in so many different ways, some slipping
down columns, others skipping across joists, and ba-
lancing themselves dexterously along girders, At last
they all formed in a semicircle round the spot where
the Royal carrige was drawn up. As they waited
in respectful silence the Prince's appearance, a
brewer's dray entered the gates with 250 gallons of
beer, and, as if by instinct, they recognised that the
grateful supply was for them. Of course they wel•
corned the dray with cheers. His Royal Highness,
on taking his departure, was saluted with enthusiastic
hurrahs.

We are glad to announce that the Committee of the
Exhibition have been so fortunate as to secure the ser-
vices of Mr. Thomas Belshaw, of Manchester, whose
great practical experience in the arrangement and
management of the various exhibitions of manufac-
tures at Manchester, at Birmingham, at Dublin, and
at various other towns, renders his uid as an organizer
of the greatest possible value.

INSTITUTION OFCIVIL ENGINEERS.

Nov. 26 AND DEc-.-3, 1850.

(William Cubits., Eq., President, in the Chair.)
'The discussion on Mr. Struve's paper, on " Mei-Ven-
tilation of Collieries, theoretically and practically
considaed,' was continut-d throughout both the
evenings, to the exclusion of any other subject.
Tne principal pinta ot the paper were explained
to the members who were present at the rrading of
the paper. Great stress was laid on the advantages
of splitting the current of air, so as to reduce the
velocity ot its transit through the mine, and to afford
a full supply to the most remote points of the
workings.

The nigh temperature in the upcast shaft, necessary
to produce the requisite velocity of current in the gal-
leries of mines, when furnaces were employed, was
adduced in favour of the employment of Struve's
mine ventilator, or other mechanical means of draw-
ing out air through shafts which were also used for
drawing the coal, or raising the men to the surface.
The wasteful applioation of steam, in the form of
a jet, was insisted on, and contrasted with the small
power actually employed at the Eaglesbush Colliery,
for giving motion to Struve's mine ventilator.
These statements were fully confirmed. It was
shown that the speed of the mine ventilator could be
regulated to produce any requisite velocity of current
in the galleries, and that it was an efficient indicator
of the occurrence of any stoppage in the air passages,
as on the supply of air being arrested the machine
would soon be stopped.
In the best mines of the north, furnace ventilation
was found to be most efficient, and the stated danger
apprehended from the tiring of the gas at the furnace
was concluded to be more ideal than real. Never-
(latices it was admitted, that a good simple mode of
mecnanical ventilation merited the best attention of
the owners of collieries. Fans for forcing air down
into mines had bee❑ tried, but were found inefficient,
although considerable power was consumed in pro-
pelling them.

rue difficulties found in using mechanical exhaus
ters were then attributed in a great degree to the
small size of the inlet and outlet valves, and the im-
provements introduced by Dr. Arnott in the appa-
ratus fur ventilating the New County Hospital, at
York, were instanced as examples of the necessity for
using curtain valves, of large area, for the machines,
as it had been found, that as the dimensions of the
valves were increased, the power required to work
the machines diminished. The most beneficial effects
bad resulted from the use of ventilating machines
similar in principle to Struve's Mine Ventilator, in
hospitals, and on beard crowded emigrant and con-
vict ships, and by proper attention to the area of the
valves the power required to work them was very
small. The applicati,n of small water-power engines,
like those made by air. Armstrong (ot Newcastle),
for giving motion to the ventilating machines, was
recommended as very effective, and most economical.
The importance of large air channels in short
lengths, for furnishing ample supplies of air under
ground, was admitted "y other speakers, who, how •
ever, objected to the application of mechanical venti-
lation, preferring its being effected by natural means,
which it was contended could be attained by a judicious
system of "winning" arrangements. When, however,
this was not practicable, Stru% e's apparatus was approved
us the be-t mtnerto introduced. A somewhat similar
nut less perfect system had been used for some years
in Germany, Prussia, Belgium, and in some mines in
England.

Tne system of sinking 5 tufts on the dip, for the
advantage of collecting water, without considering
the tendency of gas to accumulate in the upper
cavities of the workings, was deprecated, and the
more advantageous pain proposed of having the down-
cast shaft on the dip, and the upcast on the crop,
whereby an easier exit would be provided, and a
more effective ventilation be established.

The application of the steam jet was advocated, and
instances were given of its efficiency in clearing the
after-damp trout pits were explosions had occurred.
It was argued, from experiments, that the steam jet
could he rendered much more efficient than the fur-
nace; but no statement of the relative expense of this
plan, as compared with mechanical ventilation, was
entered into.

The evidence given before the House of Commons
in 1835, the House of Lords in 1849, and to the
yi t t
analysed,ee on Acc iwdietaht st
en
intoeanl n
use-
lessi;n of
to force furnace ventilation, under certain cir-
tuleiwiaut beyond certain limits, it was litidi Sue uulB:4
demonstrating,
wailsilletil
od
g3c r
cuinstances, a current of cold air was found to descend
the upcast shaft, torming a false brattice, and arrest-
ing the ventilation. The steam jet was stated to be
capable of such increase of power, and of such varied
application, as not to be subject to this inconvenience.
it was contended, on the other hand,that in reality
this
whenit
naturaldid occur
ritchee wsyasstseemldoofmscpaelricnesi perceived, and and that
air, at some distance up the shalt, sufficed to destroyportion it.of
It was shown that mechanical ventilation was es-
sential to clear away the choke or after-damp, so as
to enable a mine to be entered after an explosion,
when it might be dangerous to light the furnace at
the bottom of the pit; but by setting the machine at
work with increased velocity a much greater circula-
tion of air could be caused under any circumstances
of barometrical pressure, and the mine could be
cleared in a short time. Had this system been adopted
the dreadful effects of the choke-damp after explosions
would have been frequently obviated, and much waste
of human lite might have been avoided.
The discussion was adjourned until the next meet-
ing, Tuesday, December 10,b, when the following
paper was announced to be read :—" Description of
the ' Royal Border Bridge,' built over the river
Tweed, on the line of the York, Newcastle, and Bar-
wick Railway," by Mr. G. B. Bruce, M. Inst. C. E.
At the monthly ballot the following candidates
were duly elected :—Messrs. J. Barrett, T. W.
Booker, M.P., T. I3ouch, D. Brandon, J. P. Budd,
E. Clark, A. B. Cochrane, jun., L. Elliot, W. Exail,
C. Geach, E. Grove, m.p., J. Hanvey, H.
W. Harman, C J. Mare, J H. Porter, K. Turner,
C. H. Waring, F. H. Window, and M. D. Wyatt, as
associates.

WATE - -
re eesett;rs.
F.
itLoo-BRIDGE.
The halt-yearly meeting of the proprietors of Water-
lro
ao -vbe rr ind,gGe wad t eda lyr at the
JenkFinreseminasotnhse'
chair. The report stated that tnere had been an increase
in the receipts of the tolls to the year amounting to
3531. 7s. 3i. over the corresponding period of last year,
of which increase 2571. bad been derived from horses and
carriages, and 96t. from foot passengers. After paying
the current expenses, providing for the interest of the
company's bonds, and giving a dividend of 3s. in the
pound to the mum:tants, there remained a balance of
7601. 12s. The committee beg to call the attention of
tiro meeting to a cruse in the Act of Parliament autho-
rising the proprietors to reduce or raise the horse-gate
toll, not exceeding the tolls authorised to be taken, as
they might find it necessary for the protection of their
interests to raise some of the carriage traffic. The
structure continued in a sound state, without any appear-
ance of detect or settlement. The statement of accounts
showed that the income for the half-year had been
9,0391. 15s. The foot toll amounted to 4,6761. 17s. 11d.,
and the horse to 3,7581. The rest comprised rents and
interest, &c. Their total disbursements had been
1,5541. ; 5,6251. was to meet the dividend to the annul-
tauts of 3s. in the pound, and 1,2951. was fur the inte-
rest on bonds, leaving a stock surplus of 5641. The re-
port was adopted. (A proprietor having complained of
the inconvenience occasioned by the crowding of cabs at
the toll-gates at the hours when the trains were about
to leave the Waterloo station, the Chairman said that
necessary precautions bad been adopted, and new hands
had been put on in consequence of the increase of
traffic.) A resolution was then passed giving the com-
mittee power of raising the tolls on certain vehicles. It
appeared that it was the intention of the South-Western
Company to run omnibuses from their station across the
bridge to the Strand for a very low fare. This would
evidently be to the loss of the company, as, supposing
the omnibus carried twenty persons, it would be telling
101 from their tolls. It was merely to be used as a
meastfre of self-pr .tecti and would affect no private
carriages. Four of the committee were then reelected,
and a vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the
proceedings.

The parish church of Allhallows, Barking, was bur-
glariously entered on Tuesday evening and some mischief done.
Although the depredators only succeeded in taking away
some black cloth and the communion table cover, they de-
stroyed, however, two very old candelabra that were upon
the altar, and did other damage. It is presumed that
some one was secreted in the church.

yV
We have much gratification in being able to state,
that the returns of the revenue for the current quarter,
during the eight weeks of it which have elapsed, are of a very
encouraging kind; and should the remaining four weeks be
correspondingly productive, the Chancellor of the Exchequer
will have great reason to felicitate himself on the financial
position of the country. It is not improbable, that at the
close of the cur ent financial quarter, the Commissioners for
the &Auction of the National uebt will be able to announce
their intention of investing in the public funds a sum little
short of 1,000,0001. At all events, we can state with confi-
dence, that the amount will be much larger than it has been
for many years past.—Advertiser.