The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-10 00:00:00

RAILWAY REGISTER.

The present number opens with the third of the se-
ries of articles on " Irish Railways," and goes at large into
the consideration of " a very material point, which has
not yet met with that deliberate attention which its im-
portance seems to call for. We allude to the supply of
fuel by which the necessary steam power is to be kept
up, and the mode in which that power should be ap-
plied." While all the fuel used in locomotives must be
obtained from England at a heavy cost, Ireland possesses
extensive fields of anthracite and beds of turf, which
may be most effectively and economically used as fuel for
stationary engines. From experiments made by the
Dublin Steam Packet Company on board the steamer
Lansdowne, which plies on the Shannon, it appears that
the same duty was done by turf as had been previously done
by coal, at a cost of 661. 12s. 3d. per month less than the
cost of coal. She had two engines, 381 inch-cylinders,
at three feet six inches stroke; she ran daily, Sundays
excepted, a distance of 46 miles. Under these circum-
stances, and considering also the scarcity of skilled
labour in Ireland, and the cheapness of unskilled labour,
ae agree with the writer of this article considering that
" of it is a question worthy grave consideration," whether
the locomotive or the atmospheric principle of traction
should be applied to this country. In addition to full
descriptions, accompanied by maps, of the various rail-
way projects of the month, British and Indian, the Re-
gister contains the second of a series of papers on "Metro-
politan Improvements," which is well worthy the attentive
perusal of every practical philanthropist, suggesting, as
it does, many measures for securing the health and in-
creasing the comforts of the poor, who will be ejected
from their dwelling places by the alterations in progress.
The following valuable suggestions will, we hope, meet
with proper attention from those in authority :
" Costly experience attests that towns are easier made
than unmade, more easily built up than pulled down and
changed in general arrangement. Therefore, before a hoard
is erected, or a paving-stone dug out, it is desirable that
certain needful preliminaries should be obtained and defini-
tively settled.
" First, we ought to have a correct and authorised map of
the capital as it stands above and below ground ; not only of
its squares, streets, lanes, and public edifices, but of its sur-
face levels, sewers, water-courses, gas pipes, and other leading
subterraneous machinery. We should thus have a know-
ledge of the enemy's country, as it were, before the campaign
opened, and might master some of its chief difficulties, as Na-
poleon won his battles, in the bureau. Next, a bird's-eye
view is at least desirable, of the more likely and feasible pro-
jects of vehicular, thoroughfare, and architectural improve-
ment. Thirdly, we ought carefully to consider, in mass and
detail, the probable results in case of their adoption of these
various suggestions, first on the conveniences and enjoyments
of those who permanently dwell or trade in London ; and
next of outsiders—the stranger, occasional visitor, and every-
day sojourner."