Year: 1865




other; and in connection with this it may
be mentioned that the wrapping of jutc
yarn, which forms the padding, around
which the external wires are spun, instead
of being soaked in tar, as in other cables
which has the effect of temporarily stop
ping up and concealing minute flaws, has
been simply tanned to preserve it from de-
cay, thus admitting the water to search
out every part of the cable, and keep it,
in fact, constantly surrounded with a
wrapping of wet yarn. Toward 5 o'clock
yesterday the last few fathoms of the
great coil began to be drawn into the
machine, and in few minutes after the
end was wound up self,acting bell rang
to give notice that the machine was emp
ty. and at the same moment the end came
into the tank, and the last coil was slowed
away.


The next great object of Interest was
the inspection of the paying-out appara-
tus, which has been already fixed up, and
by means of an endless band, kept con-
stantly running This beautiful machine
is an improved and extended copy, as far
as general principle is concerned, of that
used on board the Agamemnon during the
first memorable attempts. Its improve
ments and notifications, however, are
very great. Though stronger and much
larger, it is very much lighter, being al
most entirely of wrought-iron. 1t has
six leading wheels, around which the ca
BILE passes in deep grooves before reaching
the main wheel or drum. from which it
will be finally submerged. Each groove
in these six wheels is surmounted by what
is called a jockey.pully-that is to say,
solid wheel which keeps the rope down in
the groove and prevents it overriding or
getting out of place. The main drum is
about 7 feet in diameter, and in paying
out it will have three coils of cable round


it. with a guiding piece Of wrought-iron


pressing on them sideways to keep them


compactly together. AS the friction on the


guider is great and constant, duplicate


is provided in case of beating which can


be put in gear with the rest of the ma


chinery without the slightest stop on any
part. A second drum has also been fitted


in case of anything going wrong with the


first Each of these drums is fitted with
distinct set of simple and most ingen-
ious brakes, invented by Mr. Appold for
the first expeditiod The ordinary con-
dition of these brakes is to MAINTAIN suf-
ficient check upon the drum to keep a
strain of say 80 cwt upon the rope going
, out; but it constantly happens that a sud
| den rise of the ships stern from a wave
, gives the cable strain that requires the
, instant removal of the brakes to relieve
it. This is accomplished by dynameter
placed on the cable after it leaves the
5 paying-out machine and before it passes
. over the wheel astern into the Atlantic
r This dynameter is only a heavy whee
r resting on the rope, but fixed in an up
q right frame, which allows it to slide freely
, up aud down, and on this frame are mark
e cd the figures which show exactly thu
t strain in pounds on the cable. Thus
e when the strain is low, the cable slackens
a and the dynameter sinks low with it
Y when, ON the contrary, the strain il grea
the cable is drawn "taut,' and on it th,
G dynametor rises to its full hight WheI
o it sinks too low, the cable is generally
running away too fast, and the brake
o have to be applied to check it; when, OF
G the contrary, it rises rapidly the tension
!. is dangerous. and the brakes have to b
a almost removed to relieve it, The SIMPLE
k ity of the arrangement for opening an'
,e shutting the brakes is the most beautiful
!. of all. Opposite the dynamcter is place.
!. a tillcr.w wheel, and the man in charge o
n this never let's it 60 nor slackcns his at
=. tention for an instant, but watches tn
}. rise and fall Of the dynamcter as sailo
!. at the wheel watches his compass. A sin
!. gle movement Of this wheel to the righ
i. puts the brakes on, turn to the lei
+. opous them. A good and experience
!. brakeman will generally contrive to avoi
:. either extreme Of high or low strair
r though there are few datits connected wit