Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-05

Is no drawback. The fabric. after having
been put in a frame. only requires paint
ing one to three times with the hot
chrome glue. and then 10 be exposed TO
the sunlight or daylight.
Another evidence OF engineering pro-
gress hitherto unknown I'm the region i'm
question is reported in the English pa
pers. The project in question is that
contemplated by the japanese authori-
ties-namely. the erection across the
strait Of ShimOnOseki of "a bridge to
connect the Kingsu railway with that
OF me Samyo railway, from Shimonoseki
TO HiOgo, thus enabling travel To proceed
without any interruption from the south
ern extremity Of kinsui to the extreme
north OF the mainland. AS the strait
referred 10 Is about a mile i'm width. with
a current often running eight miles an
hour. and as the bridge must be built
so as TO allow the passage of tho largest
steamships beneath IL. the colossal struc-
ture VIII, If successfully completed, pre-
sent an engineering feat so far I'M
equalIed. Of its kind. in the world.
An improved method Of treating leather
and greatly simplifying its manufacture
Is proposed 10y Daniel Hays. Of Glovers-
vile. n. y. This is brought about by a
special device for forcing air through the
skins or hides while contained within
the stock or vat, and subjecting them to
a beating or hammeTSng operation, oil
being applied TO the skins simultaneous
ly with the application of the air. This
feature OF the operation is brought about
by constructing the vat with a series OF
perfOrationS at the sides, ends, and bot
tom, arranging air trunks upon the ex-
terror of the vat, and covering the per-
forated portions; also. the ACKNOWLEDGING
pipes leading from a suitable blower into
the air trunks; by this means the air
is forced or carried through the skins
as they are beaten and turned by the
heaters. An effective heating apparatus
for the blower pipe. which regulates the
temperature of the air as it passes TO
the vat, is also provided, together with
the oiling arrangement.
The opinion Is expressed by experts. in
such matters that the use of gas-en-
gines is likely To increase largely i'm for
eign countries. especially in those where
fuel Is high. the innumerable uses to
which they may be applied being, of
course, a great recommendation, and
causing an extensive use Of the Ameri-
can machine in Europe; in fact, there are
now said 10 be, In Paris, engines of this
sort of 3OO-horse-power, that We're made
in the United States a long time ago.
and the economy thus gained is subject
Of emphatic remark. The principal uses
to which such engines have generally
been put are for pumping and for driving
dynamos i'm the case of small plants;
but. in view of the ~well-known fact that
gas-engines are now made all the way
from 1-2- to 3O0-horse-power. the many
uses TO which they may be put are well
characterized as extraordinary. Even in
Central and South America their intro
duction some time ago led 10 an impor-
tant demand.
The Importance attached TO the new in
dustry of beet-sugar manufacturing and
refining in some parts of California may
be judged Of by the following remarkable
dimensions, as published, OF the new es-
Enlistment now being constructed at
Salinas. In that State: Main building. 582
feet long. i02 feet wide. and five stories
high, the materials consisting of $500
tons OF steel. 100000 bricks, and 800
squares of slate; boiler-house, $50 feet
long. 6S feet wide. and % feet high, the
contents comprising nearly 100000 bricks,
II boilers. 4 econOmizers. . steel smoke
stacks PIG feet high. 10 feet diameter.
each stack with base weighing 1000 tons;
machine-shop and carpenter-shop, $50
feet long, 40 feet wide, p feet high, and
containing about $4,000 bricks; water
required to keep mill running, 100000
gallons per day; Will consume about 200
barrels of oil d~aily-that is. in twenty
four hours-or it's equivalent in wood or
coal; and will cut 5000 tons OF beets per
day, or twenty-four hours. The expected
daily sugar product Of this vast establish
ment is in the neighborhood OF 40 tons.
All the railway ties for the Santa Fe
Pacific road are for some years to come,
according TO contract, u undergo what
is known as the Wellhouse preserving
process. in which concentrated zinc chic
ride solution is employed, and which is
said TO extend the life of the tie to thir-
teen years. This treatment is given by
sealing the ties in iron cylinders or re-
torts. and, a vacuum in these being
pumped. steam is turned on for five
hours: Il vacuum is again created, and
then the chloride solution is forced into
the cylinders. this solution. as an anti
septic. entering into the wood and pre-
venting decay. A pressure of 100 pounds
10 the square inch is kept up two hours,
the entire treatment running from ten to
fifteen hours. Two tanks outside or the
pump-room contain 5000 gallons. one
carrying the zinc chloride solution. and
the other amin solution. both necessary
10 a complete execution of this method OF
treatment. after the wood has received
a steam bath. A tank lined with five
tons of lead stands beside the two larger
ones, this containing concentrated zinc
chloride. which is fed from another tank.
The whole process of handling ties. from
the loading on of the trucks and taking
a course OF treatment TO that OF piling
I'm aguin Iva the ward ready for delivery.