The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-09 00:00:00

PREPARED WOOD FOR RAILWAY

SLEEPERS.

In the Paris Academy of Siences, at its last sitting,
M. Ar ago read a long communication from M.Boucherie
on the preservation of wood for railway and other pur-
poses. It is now four years since M. Boucherie com-
municated to the Academy a series of experiments,
proving that he had discovered a cheap means of forcing
into the pores of woods liquids capable of giving to it
great durability and entirely new properties. Since
that time many patents have been taken out in
France and England for different modes of pre-
serving wood, and each discovery has been pro-
claimed as infallible, as Kyan's process was thought to
be for a time. Of all these discoveries, however, one
only has been practically worked to any extent, viz.,
Payne's process, which consists in forcing out the air
and juices of the wood by an exhausting pump, and
supplying the vacuum by a mixture of iron and lime.
As to M. Boucherie, the public, although thankful to
him for the activity with which he had demonstrated
his theory by experiments, had begun to infer that he had
(in the presence of Payne's process, a patent for which has
been taken in. France by Mr. Banner, who is at this mo-
ment forming a company for working it on a large scale),
abandoned all idea of turning his discoveries to a practical
account. It would appear, however, from the present cc -
munication to the Academy, that M. Boucherie has not
been idle. He has, on the contrary, been continuing his
experiments, and submitting them to the test of time, in
order that any objection which might be offered should
be replied to by facts. In November, 1842, one hundred
pieces of wood, of different kinds, of the length and size
used for railway sleepers, were prepared by M. Boucherie.
It is known to all persons who read the account given at
the time of M. Boucherie's process, when he presented
his first paper to the Academy, that it consists in the in-
troduction of solutions by a sort of filtration. A tub,
containing the liquid, is placed in contact with one
end of the wood ; the pressure produced by raising
the level of the liquid a little above that of
the wood, suffices for its perfect impregnation, with
the exception of the central part, or heart. Some of these
pieces of wood were left in their natural state ; others
were impregnated to only half their length, and others
in the entire lengths. The liquids used were pyrolig-
neous acid, sulphate of copper, chlorurate of pyrolig-
nated calcium, double chlorurate of sodium and mer-
cury. The wood was buried in the ground, at the
depth of a few centimetres, in an enclosed yard, at Com-
, piie4ne, where they remained nearly three years. On
taking them up recently the prepared wood was found
perfectly sound, and that which had not been prepared
entirely rotten. As the process of preparation, inter-
ment, and disinterment, was performed in the presence
of the authorities of Compiifigne, who have given a cer-
tificate to the effect stated by M. Boucherie, no doubt
can be entertained as to the results obtained. M. Bou-
cherie's mode of preserving wood is not very expensive,
and it is attended with this great advantage—the cheaper
sorts of timber, which are never used in their natural
state for railways or building purposes, on account of
their want of durability, may, he says, be used with a
much better effect when thus prepared than the dearest
imber in its natural state ; and thus, even after deduct-
ng the cost of the process of preservation, the saving
s very great. We confess, however, that we are by no
means convinced as yet that M. Boucherie's process,
which is, in fact, but a modification of that of Kyan,
Marjery, and others, is the best. Within the last few
days we have seen in the journals a paragragh,
stating that the Directors of the Paris and Rouen Rail-
way have been compelled to take up, in consequence of
decay, some of the sleepers which had been prepared by
the introduction of metallic salts. The mode of im-
pregnation may not have been the same as that of M.
Boucherie, but the results must be nearly the same.
Payne's process is essentially different. He places the
wood to be prepared in a receiver, where the air and
juices are driven out by exhaustion, and the cavities are
then filled up with a material that is comparatively in-
destructible. The cost of the operation must, besides,
be quite as small, if not smaller, than with the process
of M. Boucherie.

ACCIDENT TO THE LANCASTER IND CARLISLE

MAlL.—Yesterday (Friday) morning, as the Lancaster and
Carlisle mail was coming down the hill on the other side of
Farleton, on its way to Kendal, one of the wheels came off,
and the horses were thrown to the ground. Fortunately the
coach was not upset, but remained on the three wheels, and
the passengers sustained no injury. The bags were forwarded
to Kendal in a post-chaise, which was procured with all
speed from Burton, and the passengers were conveyed on-
wards in a carriage from the same place.—Westmoreland
tte.

Gaze.
CoNVES—THE Fox NUISANCE.—The warren near the
Needles has from time immemorial supplied this island with
rabbits of exquisite delicacy of flavour. We regret to hear
that in consequence of the depredations of the foxes which
harbour in great numbers in the cliffs in that neighbourhood,
they have been exterminated, so that not a single couple
has been taken for sale or for the table of the pro-
prietor during the present season. Within four or five years
there were no foxes in the island, and it is really very much
"to be lamented that such vermin should have been intro-
duced into the Isle of Wight, where there is no country for
fox-hunting, for the amusement of the few to the injury of
the many. In the present case we understand the loss to
the lessee of Headon Warren, this season, will be not less
than eighty pounds, and to the poor warrener of twenty
pounds.—Hampshire Telegraph.
THE BRIGHTON AND CHICHESTER RAILWAY.—The
works on this line between Worthing and Chichester (the
other portion to Brighton having been opened last week) are
proceeding with the utmost expedition, and the company are
in expectation that the entire line will be completed in the
course of the ensuing spring. Plate-layers are now engaged
laying down the second line of rail on that portion already
opened for public traffic. The line joins the Shoreham branch
of the Brighton and Kingston, and crossing Buckingham-
lane on alevel proceeds to ariver, which it crosses on a bridge
constructed on piles. The country here is almost a complete
flat, so that there are scarcely any cuttings or embankments
more than two or three feet.—Hcanpshire Telegraph.
SUPPOSED MURDER.—Ann Meyrick, the wife of
John Meyrick, a young woman, aged twenty-three, was, on
Tuesday morning last, drawn from the Merthyr and Cardiff
Canal, quite dead. On being taken out of the water, the
body bled profusely ; and upon some examination the blood
was found to issue from several frightful gashes on the lower
part of her person ; and the bank of the canal was literally
covered with blood from the place where she was taken
out to an old archway crossing the canal, a distance of forty
yards. There is reason to believe that she was mutilated in
the shade of the arch, and that a struggle ensued between the
victim and murderer along the banks of the canal leading to-
wards her home, ending in the plunging of the unfortunate
being into the canal. There is no positive evidence to the
commission of the deed, As far as we have been able to
ascertain, the following is all that the authorities are yet
possessed of, which it will be seen is purely circumstantial.
The unfortunate victim of brutality was last seen at one
o'clock on Tuesday morning, when, in company with her
husband, she left the Heathcock Tavern, both being at the
time quite intoxicated. He was seen coming home about
that time alone. In the morning he was found asleep in his
own house, his head resting upon a table, and he had evi-
dently not been to bed. He affected not to know what had
become of his wife; and stated, that on their way home he
had turned one side, while she went another, and he had not
seen her since, until she was drawn out of the canal. This
is his statement. So much suspicion, however, attaches it-
self to him that be was secured and taken into custody.-
211tenaumithshire Merlin.
THE ISLE OF WIGHT RAILWAYS.—The deposits of
21. 2s. per share are offered to be returned, minus 2s. for ex-
penses—a very equitable offer.—HampshireAdvertiser.
FOUL AIR IN A PIT.—An accident occurred on
Tuesday last at a pit belonging to John Dodsley, Esq., near
Skegby, which has been standing some time. It was just
got to work again ; and on Tuesday evening two men
(Christopher White, of Skegby, and Henry Smith, of Huck-
aniarll)wwheicrhe
bdeurscnetntdhienmg,
Nw.ehryendrtehaedfiraiTyLl._dleivsoetttifnicirehatl
jtoh.erfimi.oul
—lGmooenuwEriaxlatato psLirnaT. O
Peel h WORKas been P o
gr su
plNanAdllsLiLgen,ad&bcy.
the work people of different departments in the employ of
Edward Hollins, Esq., of Stockport, praying for the opening
of the ports for a free admission of all the necessaries of life,
and that Parliament may be immediately conveneled:m4prf2acieoolnrylriaremooeiwirtsedhiignntheetiotirgrf
to have submitted to it by Government a proposition for the
nssudei
should
InitonpBriui,
tenl.ll:. as
wbhaaenedda Thewi
recurrencelnem Bmtt
ftett,
rhhonotteo
samhacjleetu
eimrateg rightsn repealh grievousrti
greatest
awhotefhsipattchrtll
dac eai:nnroomtd nfel
privationsrt
eolfseao
food
afsnewttddnti
express in the course of their call on the Right Hon. Baronet,
e
yCA" vLEe Re Ts
afflicted themselves and the manufacturing districts
gene-
teif provision renhhoir
dneve
DEFECTIVE SIGHT AND
rall
RSA HINE RIELIITI.....STICTACLIS ANA INSTRUMENT* SINT
FITE, SY POST, INTO T/lIK COUNTRY.—Testimonials—From
the Hon. George Cavendish, to Messrs. S. and B. Solomon.,
39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly, opposite the York HoteL
Gentlemen—l approve verylmuch of the spectacle. I purchased
from you ; I have made use of glasses for many years, and
never met with any to enable me to see equal to yours, and with
less inconvenience to my eyes; I have sent you a frame, and
please to put in a pair of yours, exactly the same as the former,
and you will oblige, yours obediently, George Cavendish,
Leixlip Castle, Ireland. Major-General Sir Howard
had Berne Elphin-
stone begs to say, that the Spectacles he -has now
time in use, have fully redeemed the assurance of the Messrs.
S. and B. Solomon* as to their excellence, and having found
so much comfort and advantage from their use, far preferable
to every other kind of glasses i
which he has been in the con-
stant habit of making use of for a great number of years.
e General Browne Clayton feels
13, Norfolk-street, Park-lan
desirous to express the comfort and advantage he has derived at
his advanced age of 70 years, and after two years' trial,
from the use of Messrs. S. and B. Solomon' newly invented
spectacles. Their valuable invention fully merit the patronage
they have received. Address, Adlington Hall, Lancashire.—
Improved Achromatic Telescopes, Opera Glasses, Micro-
scopes, &c.—Caution—Not in any way connected with a person
of the same name in their immediate neighbourhood. To pre-
vent mistakes be cautious, and observe—Only to be had at 3R,
Albemarle-street, Piccadllly, opposite the Yorii