New-York tribune., 1900-12-31

describes in detail the circumstances that led to
the conception Of the project, and the short
sighted and unfortunate management that made
almost every step in the first decades of it's his
tory wrong and false, and necessary to be cor
rected later at ruinous expense; the subsequent
facts in the physical development of the prop
erty, and, of course the great financial and
stock jobbing operations that made Erie" for
so many years foremost topic in the financial
and legal worlds Mr.. Mott relates the story
consecutively, taking up the administrations of
the different presidents in order. and detailing
the engineering and financial policy of each.
The long and complicated story is told with the
aid of documents, and is told graphically. There
are portraits given of the presidents, and bio
graphical notes of men prominently connected
with the railroads history; also financial and
other tables; so that the book appears to
form the authors purpose of making complete
history of the Erie Railroad.
A good deal OF useful information about horse
less carriages may be found in Lees American
Automobile Annual" Chicago: Laird &, I,ee) for
l9Oo 1t describes the three principal types of
such vehicles, those propelled by gas engines
electricity and steam. The matter is treated
from the American point of view, although oc-
caslonal references are made to foreign mechan-
isms and methods. Not the least important
feature of Tine Annual" is the introduction of
the New-York and Chicago ordinances relative
10 the operation of automobiles Kilburns
standard Handbook for Railroad Men, (Chi-
cago: Laird & Lee) is intended more particu-
larly for locomotive engineers. 1t contains
catcchism regarding the yarious narts of the
frame of an engine and the proper course to pur-
sue in case of a breakdown II discusses tha
setting of valves and the operation of airbrakes
at considerable length and gives a few general
rulcs Tor the care of locomotive At the end
Vi 'ne VoIume are number of ruled time
siee's "hereon TO record the mileage made each
| day. as well as a few pages for personal ac-
| counts The time sheets will prove particularly
uselul. Many recruits added to the ranks of
| 'Ae 'eiesrdphers every year, and both students
ana young operators have need for such a
| Handbook of the Electro-Magnetic rale.rorb,.
as that which A. E. Loring has prepared for tho
| van Nostrand Science Series and of which
Iourth edition has just been issued The bool,
| - written IN simple STYLE and is Thoroughly
piac'icdl. II clearly describes the apparatus
used including the ''quadrupIex offers sugges
'ionS LOT testing wire for breaks, briefly de-
scrlpes the proper construction of a line and
furnishes few exercises for beginners.
"A maine Cotton Mil Run by Glacial Water
Iali' and great number of other nic+uras a
produced from photographs of familiar fea+,,ros
Vi the landscape, contained in Richard Elvoo6
Dodges Reader in Physical Geography" give
an idea of the methods employed 10 teach
physical geography in that book Thev are dis
unctvely modern methods, and serve % ,,taI;uo
study formerly regarded as dry. Profassor
Ei"ood Is member of the Teachers College
iacul.y IN this city, and his book is to be pub-
lshed by Longmans. Green & Co
iiai peis announce an attractive undertake
ing which they will begin next p,o,th 1,,,. =
the publication, once a month tbrongho,,+ -
year iSol' OF novel by a new and unknov,,
"u'"or' bearing on life and conditions in differ
en- parts OF this country. They have already
arranged Tor six of these books: the first which
wih appear next month. viii be called ,.Fastove.
oour'house by Kenneth Brown He is a yir.