The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-07-25

PUT not your trust in bridges New
York is afraid that its expensive struct-
ure will not stand the test of use and
now at London, Waterloo bridge, one Of
the finest and most elegant bridges Cross
ing the river Thames, has lattery be
come 80 insecure that it will have either
TO be repaired at an enormous cost or else
pulled down. 1t was built soon after
the celebrated battle, and opened with
great ceremony by George Nv.
uAwN-TENNIs is now the" fashion
able game in England 1t has superseded
rinking and croquet in popular favor,
and pervades the country like an epi
demic. IL has even been introduced by
English colonies in different parts of the
continent, and is said to excite the live.
liest wondermeut and interest among
the staid Germans of Hamburg, who,
however, do not exhibit the least inten-
tion or desire of participation in game
requiring 80 much useless exertion.
A CHICAGO honey dealer, Perrine by
name, has undertaken to develop the
industrial habits OF bees by arranging a
barge for the accommodation of two
thousand beehives. This was sent down
the Mississippi early in the year and
anchored within the borders of Louisiana,
where the bees could reach the first
flowers of spring. Thence it has been
towed northward, keeping pace with the
early flowers OF different attitudes II
will 60 as far north as Minnesota. This
is rather severe test OF the homing
instinct of the bees, but 50 long as they
are kept at the north in the winter they
probably will retain their provident
habits.
The proposed tunnel between Spain
and Africa would appear to be no longer
matter of doubt. This tunnel, accord
ing TO the plan at present contemplated,
is TO extend from within short distance
of Algisiras, on the Spanish side, to be.
tween Tangier and Centa, on the African
side, Inc length of the submarine tun.
mel will be nine miles, with an inclina
tion Of one foot per hundred, and the ap,
proaches will have an extent of six OF
seven miles. The greatest depth OF the
sea is 5000 feet; and, IS it is intended tc
have thickness of some 300 feet of rock
left between the roof of the tunnel .and
the sea bottom, the greatest depth OF the
tunnel will thus be $500 feet below the
level of the sea. This tunnel, with that
between Dover and Calais, will form a
"lsnd route" between England and
Africa.
OBSERVATION shows that rails in use
corrode less than those out of use, the
difference, however, constantly decreas-
ing with the lapse of time. The absolute
amount of corrosion is, OF course, a
source of destruction of the rail greatly
inferior to that due to traffic. 1t is also
regarded as highly probable that the
electric and magnetic forces developed in
the rails by terrestrial magnetism, and
by rolling traffic, react in some way
upon the chemical forces concerned ir
their corrosion, and that, therefore, the
direction of lines of railway in szimutf
is not wholly Indifferent as respects the
question of the durability of rails. o.
whatever quality iron rails are rolled, il
is found that they are improved by
being subjected prior to use, to uni
form course of hammer hardening al
over The top surface and sides; and, be
fore they are laid down, after gauging
. and Strengthening, be heated to abou
400 degrees Fahr., and then coated will
boiled coal tar.