The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-08-19

disaster IN the HudSOD River Iunnel
excites renewed interest in this great
the largest work of its kind IN the
world, being three times as long as the
Thames tunnels. The course of the tunpel
will be in a direct line from Pier No. 8,
jersey City, to Pier No. Fl, New York city,
a mile in distance aud three hundred feet
have already been completed. At the time
Of the accident the work was pushed on
by day and night with great vigor, relays Of
workmen succeeding each other without
interruption. The method of building this
tunnel by the use of compressed air to ex-
clude the water has never been before at
tempted. The pressure used is above twen-
ty pounds TO the square inch, and thus far
the workmen have been free from some OF
the serious difficulties which attended the
sinking Of the ~caissons of the East River
Bridge. The time set for the completion Of
this tunnels 1888, and if successful, it will
stand unsurpassed in the list Of subaqueous
works.
1t is well known that in America there is
a more skillful class of dentists and a larger
number than in any other country. and the
natural inference is that there is more need
of them. 1t may be a question, however,
whether Americans have more perishable
teeth than other nations-the English GER
tainly excepted-or whether they take bet
ter ca re of them. AS a rule, almost every.
body takes more or less care Of his teeth,
and has recourse to art when nature fails.
Consequently not less than twelve thousand
dentists find employment in the United
States. 1t is estimated that about half 4
ton of pure gold is used annually for filling
teeth. and nearly four times as much ma
terial of a cheaper kind, also that three mil
lion artificial teeth are made. Carefully
prepared statistics inform US that only one
person in eighty has perfectly sound teeth.
Quite an excitement was caused at Co.
ney Island, on the night of Arion Society's
ball, by the discovery that eight s~ea-lions
and three mammoth turtles had escaped
from their quarters at the Brighton Aqua
rum. The unusually heavy tide that ev-
enlng broke away the pile fence which
formed the inclosure where the" were kept
and with a huge believing. which bore the
air of a yell Of triumph, the largest Of the
s%ea-llons rushed into the ocean, followed by
all the others, which added their part to the
deafening noise. All attempts to recapture
them were t~ruit.ess. 1t is said they can
rush through the water at the rate Of sixty
miles an hour. The effect of this escapade
was to cause a decided falling off in the
number Of bathers.
After much deliberation the Park Com
missioners have finally decided upon a site
in the Central Park for the obelisk. The
place selected is a low knoll of natural gran
tie near the Museum Of Art. 1t may still
be a question with many whether a level
position, more In accordance with the origi-
nal situation Of the obelisk, would not be
more in consonance with the canons of good
taste, and whether an opportunity has not
been lost to make this wonder of the world
an Ornamant ia the streets of the mptrOnOliS
instead of burying it in the glades of the
Central Park.
The ex-Empress Eugene has been to the
st. Helena, and visited the house where
Napoleon |. died, and the tomb where his
remains were first deposited. She returns
to England to pay a visit to Queen Veto
ria and then goes to Switzerland to spend
the autumn at Arenenberg, her beautiful
place on Lake Constance.
1t is claimed that the new passenger train
lately placed on the Great Northern Railway
| Of England makes the most rapid speed of
any in the world. The trip from London to
Leeds, a distance Of l76 miles is accomplish
ed in three and three quarter hours an
average rate of ~forty-nine miles an hour.
Young authors should not be disheartened
Ia view Of the facts that Thackeray was not
known as an author until he was nearly for
ty; Scott was forty three when Wdrerley
appeared Defoe was ffty-eigh1 before he
wrote his first novel; and other notables
were equally tardy in gaining celebrity.