for electrical purposes, which has been exhibited at their Lambeth showrooms during this week, will remain on view to engineers, on presentation of card, until August 5.

Manchester.-On Wednesday, at a meeting of the General Purposes Committee of the Manchester City Council, the question of telephones and traction was discussed. It was decided that in view of the decision of the Joint Committee, the municipal corporations must consider what action to take in regard to any Bills promoted to further electric traction.

Swansea.-The Property and General Purposes Committee of the Swansea County Council, at a meeting last week, reported that letters, which were read, had been received from the solicitors of Messrs. Crompton and Co., Limited, and Messrs. Hannford and Wills, respecting electric lighting in the borough of Swansea. The letters were referred for report to a sub-committee.

City Authorities and the Telephone.-The City Commission of Sewers decided on Tuesday, in view of the concessions asked for by the City of London Electric Lighting Company to lay telephone wires in the electric light mains, to grant the request on condition that telephones with double wires be supplied to the citizens at a cost of not more than £8 per annum. The charge at present is £20. Oriental Telephone Company.-The directors of this Company have resolved to recommend to the shareholders, subject to final audit of the accounts, a dividend for the year ending 31st December last at the rate of 21 per cent. on the entire paid-up capital of the Company. The dividend being payable only to holders of the ordinary shares is equivalent to £3. 12s. 2d. per cent. on each share of 11s. paid-the same rate as paid for the previous year. Derby. The Derby Corporation are laying down cables in the principal thoroughfares for lighting them by electricity. The generating station is erected on the site of Lombe's silk mill. At the present moment it has been arranged to erect 46 pillars and arc lamps in the town, and already the mains have been laid a considerable distance from the works. Messrs. Bramwell and Harris are the engineers, and Mr. Vernon, of Derby, the contractor. Edinburgh Tramways. At the last meeting of the Lord Provost's Committee of Edinburgh Town Council, a letter was submitted from the Caledonian Electric Supply Company, intimating their intention to apply to Parliament for powers to construct electric apparatus to run electric cars between Coltbridge and Corstorphine. The committee agreed to recommend the magistrates and Council to refuse to give their consent to any such scheme.

Johnson and Phillips.-Messrs. Johnson and Phillips, with deep regret, announce the death of Mr. Samuel E. Phillips, which took place on the 22nd inst. As is well known to most of their friends, Mr. Phillips had been in failing health for some years, and had of late taken no active part in the business of the firm. Mr. W. Claude Johnson henceforth becomes sole proprietor of the works and business, which will be carried on upon exactly the same lines as heretofore.

Windsor.-At the monthly meeting last week of the Town Council, some letters were read from the Board of Trade with reference to the Windsor Electric Lighting Company, to the effect that the company had failed to satisfy the Board of Trade that they were in a position to carry out the provisions of the order granted in 1890. The Council decided to appoint a committee from the authority of gentlemen not interested in the gas or electric lighting companies to consider the matter.

Aberdeen. The Town Council, by virtue of its provisional order, is now busily engaged in carrying out its provisions. The total cost, exclusive of land, but including buildings, was estimated by the engineer to be £24,400; but the actual cost, now that the tenders have been received, has been found to work out very considerably less than this figure. There is good hope that the work will be completed by the end of the year. It is proposed to charge 7d. per Board of Trade unit for current.

Ipswich. At a meeting of the Town Council last week, Mr. Pratt said the sub-committee on electric lighting had had a meeting, and that Mr. Catchpole and he were deputed to look for a site for the depôt, and he asked Mr. Goddard, as chairman of the Waterworks Committee, if they might visit the waterworks, for if room could be found there it would be a saving to the ratepayers of some £2,000. Mr. Goddard said there could be no objection to the sub-committee going to the waterworks.

Glasgow Telephones. The report by Councillor Starke on the municipalisation of telephones in Glasgow has been discussed at a meeting of the Finance Committee of Glasgow Town Council. It was decided to recommend the Town Council to adopt the proposal contained in the report, and apply to the Postmaster-General for a license to lay down a telephone system throughout the city. In the report the necessary capital is estimated at £50,000, and with 4,000 subscribers the rent per annum for each instrument is put down at £4.

Electric and Automatic Engineering Company, Limited. This Company has been registered by A. Aylard, Portsea Villa, Manor Park, Essex, with a capital of £10,000 in £1 shares. Object: to acquire, develop, and turn to account certain patents connected with automatic boxes worked by electrical, mechanical, or other power. The first directors-to be not less than three nor more than seven-are to be elected by the signatories to the memorandum of association. Qualification, £100; remuneration, £75 per annum ; chairman, £25 extra.

Reading Tramways.-The tramways in Reading are the property of the Imperial Tramways Company, which has tramways in Bristol, Dublin, and other places. The company has just obtained electrical powers for working tramways, and it is

suggested that if the Caversham to Whitley line could be arranged electric power would no doubt have to be applied to work it. The question of a new depôt has engaged the attention of the directors, and a new and more advantageous site has been selected near the Barracks terminus, Grovelands-road East.

Lighting at Sevenoaks.--At a meeting last week of the Local Board, the Lighting Committee reported that they had before them the letter from Mr. W. Hemmant, of Bulimba, Sevenoaks, proposing to form a company for the purpose of lighting Sevenoaks by electricity, and enquiring whether the Board would support an application for a provisional order; and the committee recommended that subject to the provisional order, as suggested in Mr. Hemmant's letter, being satisfactory in detail, the Board do not oppose the proposal, but give the proposed company the usual permission in such cases.

Mr.

Agency for Scotland.-Mr. W. C. Martin has ceased his connection with Messrs. Paterson and Cooper as agent for Scotland. They have appointed Mr. E. George Tidd to take his place. Tidd has for many years been connected with the firm and has personally superintended many of the most important electric light installations carried out by them in England. Mr. Tidd has a thoroughly practical knowledge of electrical engineering, and is well known to electrical engineers in London. He is an associate member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and an associate of the Institution of Electrical Engineers.

Worcester.-A meeting of the Worcester Watch Committee was held last week, Alderman Hill presiding. Mr. Purches, city surveyor, reported strongly in favour of the generating station for electric lighting being at Powick Mills, on the River Teme, and pointing out that the extra power not required for lighting could be used for pumping at the waterworks, and for treating sewage at the contemplated sewage works. Mr. Preece confirmed Mr. Purches's conclusions. On the recommendation of the sub-committee, the tender of Mr. T. Rowbotham, of Coventry-road, Birmingham, for the erection of the generating station at Powick for £14,797 was accepted.

Madras Tramways.-The Bombay Gazette is informed by the secretary of the Madras Tramway Company that it is not true, as stated in one of the Madras papers, that the concession has been voided and that the deposit of 10,000 rupees paid into the municipal treasury has been forfeited. Nothing of the kind has happened. The final orders of the Local Government have not yet been issued. A special meeting of the Municipal Com

missioners will be held to ask the Government to reconsider the question of the extension of the period for beginning the work. A public meeting will also be held to express the opinion of the Madras citizens, who feel very strongly on the subject.

Lighting at Weybridge. -At a meeting of the Chertsey Local Board, Mr. Yool moved that a communication be addressed to the Weybridge Electric Light Supply Company, drawing their attention to the section of the order which limited the time for removing the electric line placed above ground, and stating that the Authority did not consent to any line remaining above ground in contravention of the order. It was very important that they should proceed with the matter, because the contract with the lighting inspectors had only 14 months to run, and if the company failed to conform with the terms of the order it would be necessary for the parish to make some other arrangement with regard to lighting. Of course some time would be required to do that, and they did not want the village to be in darkness. The resolution was adopted.

Electric Traction in Liverpool. At the half-yearly meeting of the Liverpool United Tramways and Omnibus Company, held at the offices, Pudsey-street, Liverpool, last week, Mr. David Radcliffe, who presided, pointed out that during the 10 years of his chairmanship the shareholders had received dividends equal to 5 per cent., and in addition a very large sum had been put to reserve. The present lease with the Corporation of Liverpool had 11 years to run, and it was intended to make another attempt to apply electric power as a means of haulage of tramway cars. They should first seek an extension of their lease as the capital outlay consequent upon new cars and equipment would be very costly, and one that could not be fixed on a lease of only 11 years duration. Extensions were also required for residents near the city boundaries and outside, and when these were made the directors thought they could work useless and unused lines for which they had paid £54,810 rental in the past and were continuing to do so. Something should be done by the Corporation. They had carried in the half-year just closed about 7,000,000 passengers, and their cars and omnibuses had travelled nearly 3,000,000 miles. St. Pancras.-In the report of the Finance Committee of the London County Council on Tuesday, it was proposed that the Council should lend the Vestry of St. Pancras £15,400 towards the cost of its electric lighting works on condition that the sum was repaid in 42 years. A principle held dear by the Council is that no loan should be granted for a period longer than the probable duration of the works whose cost it is intended to defray, and in the light of this principle a diversity of opinion revealed itself as to the fitness of the conditions on which it was proposed that this particular loan should be granted. Several speakers thought the electric lighting works could not be expected to exist for 42 years, and more than one expressed a fear that the transaction proposed to be entered into would consequently be attended with financial risk. This prompted Mr. Westacott to the indignant enquiry whether any better security could be desired than the rates of St. Pancras. The debate was principally notable for the speech of Mr. Fletcher Moulton, Q.C., which reached a high oratorical level. Mr. Moulton held that 21 years was a

sufficiently long period of repayment for electric lighting works, though he was anxious to make an exception in the case of St. Pancras by reason of its being the pioneer parish in this important sphere of municipal enterprise. When it came to the vote, hostile amendments found but scanty support, and the recommendation of the committee was approved.

Electric Construction Company, Limited.-This Company has been registered by Linklater and Co., 2, Bond-court, Walbrook, E.C. The capital is £400,000, divided into 150,000 ordinary and 50,000 preference shares of £2 each. The objects are to acquire the undertaking, business, and assets of the Electric Construction Corporation, Limited, upon such terms as the Board think fit, to undertake all or any of the liabilities of the said corporation, to carry on the business of electrical and mechanical engineers, electricians, etc. The signatories with one share each are: Daniel Cooper, Bart., 6, De Vere-gardens, S. W.; David Plunket, Q.C., M.P., 12, Mandeville-place, W.; E. Garcke, Queen-street-chambers, E.C.; Henry C. Mance, K.B., C.I.E., Manora, Bedford; T. Parker, M.I.C.E.. Newbridge, Wolverhampton; Philip E. Beachcroft, 112, Portsdown-road, Maida Vale, W.; James W. Barclay, 5, Clarendon-place, Hyde Parkgardens, W. There shall not be less than three nor more than 10 directors (exclusive of the managing director). The first are: Sir Daniel Cooper, Bart., G.C.M.G.; Sir Henry Mance, C.I.E.; Right Hon. David Plunket, Q.C., M.P.; James W. Barclay, Philip E. Beachcroft, J. Irving Courtenay, James Pender, and Emile Garcke. Qualification: ordinary or preferred shares of £400. Remuneration: £1,500 per annum, and an additional sum equal to 10 per cent. of the net profits of any year in excess of the amount required to pay 6 per cent. on the ordinary paid-up capital.

A

Liverpool Overhead Railway.-The report of the Directors of this Company for the half-year ended the 30th ult. states that the railway was formally opened by the Marquis of Salisbury on the 4th February, and for public traffic on the 6th March. Owing to the delay in completing the electric signalling, only a 10 minutes' service could be worked until the 22nd May, since which date a five minutes' service has been established. The main structure of the line has been completed, and the electrical equipment has been working satisfactorily, the traffic being conducted with great regularity. The total number of passengers carried was 1,370,742, of which number 235,487 were first-class, 956,922 second-class, and 178,333 travelled with the cheap workmen's return tickets which the Company have recently issued. contract has been entered into with Messrs Holme and King, of Liverpool, for the extension of the railway to Crosby-road, Seaforth, from which considerable additional traffic is expected. The Directors have decided to ask the shareholders for authority to issue the remaining preference capital of £45,000, but they do not anticipate that more than one-half will be required to provide funds for completion of the northern extension and for working capital. The accounts for the period during which the railway has been at work show that the gross receipts have been £12,352, and the working expenses, £6,990, leaving a balance carried to net revenue account of £5,361. After providing £1,623 for interest on mortgage debentures from March 6, and £122 for interest on calls paid in advance, etc., the balance available for dividend amounts to £3,644, out of which the directors recommend a dividend of 5 per cent. per annum upon the preference shares, which will absorb £351, leaving a balance of £3,293 to carry forward.

Hobart Electric Tramway.—A definite stage has been reached in the construction of the Hobart electric tramway system. The machinery at the generating station is now completely erected, and has been tested. There are four boilers of Marshall's multitubular 60-h.p. type, designed to give steam at a working pressure of 160lb. to the square inch. For the purpose of having a liberal tepid supply on hand, a huge water-tank has been erected and connected with a Worthington steam-pump, which forces the water through two of Marshall's 100-h p. water-heaters into the capacious reservoirs of the boilers. The necessary heat is supplied by the exhaust steam. There are three dynamos and engines. The latter are Willans's patent central-valve high-speed compound engines connected direct with Siemens H B. 36.21 compound-wound dynamos. They run at a speed of 350 revolutions per minute, giving off 500 volts and 250 amperes. The system adopted is the overhead type, and small galvanised steel wires have been used. These are stretched tight, and unsightliness from slack is avoided. But they lose power as the extremities of the circuits are approached, and to make up for this loss heavy feed-wires are carried direct along each route on the poles. This makes the current of somewhere about equal strength over the whole line. The electricity passes down from the central overhead wire by a rubbing contact arrangement, which projects prominently aloft from the roof of each car. An insulated wire conveys it through a hollow standard to the terminal of the motors, fixed to the car carriage. From these wires the incandescent lamps for illuminating the cars are also fed. The cars were built for Siemens Bros. by the Lancaster Waggon Company, and will seat 48 passengers, divided equally between the lower and upper decks. Attached to each car are two of Siemens's electric motors of 15 h.p. each, so that the motive power on a car is equal to that of 30 horses. The plant will be strong enough, with the addition of another dynamo, to light the Tasmanian International Exhibition, and there is no little probability of this being carried out. The company's Act of Parliament empowers them to light the streets if required, but of course nothing is at present contemplated in this direction. The work of laying down the system has been done under the superintendence of Mr. C. A. Parker, who was assisted by Messrs. J. Wilkinson and T, Henwood.

Mr. Lee L. Murray represents Messrs. Siemens Bros. in the

colonies.

Lighting of Birmingham.-The question of electric lighting came up for consideration on Tuesday at a meeting of the City Council. The Mayor (Mr. Lawley Parker) moved, in accordance with the recommendation of the committee, that the notice of the Birmingham Electric Supply Company to apply for a provisional order extending their area of supply should be referred to the General Purposes Committee. with power to take such action in relation thereto as they may think desirable for protecting the interests of the consumers and the Corporation. He said the committee had devoted much time to the consideration of this subject. A year ago they recommended that the matter should be delayed for 12 months, in order that further information might be obtained as to the success of the electric light from a commercial point of view, both in Birmingham and elsewhere; but they were agreed that, such information being obtained, they would then be bound to come to a conclusion one way or another, whether they should apply for a provisional order themselves, or whether they should grant on fair and proper terms power to the present or to some other company to extend electric lighting in the city. The Birmingham Electric Supply Company were seeking to obtain power to supply the electric light in Edgbaston and the jewellery district, and in due course they would have the details of the proposed order to deal with. It appeared to the committee that there were two ground which might justify the Council seeking for powers themselves. The first ground was a reasonable anticipation that the profits to be derived would be large, and the second was that it was necessary in order to safeguard the interests of the consumers and the public generally. In case the Corporation should decide on seeking a provisional order to supply the electric light in any part of the city, and especially the Edgbaston district and the jewellery quarter, they would have to acquire the present company's undertaking in order to make it succeed. They would have to acquire it by agreement, and he thought it was not unlikely that the company might require a considerable premium in anticipation of the future which they believed to be before them. Then they had to consider this aspect of the case, that while electric lighting was a success in some directions, they did not know that they had reached a point at which they could say, so far as the supply was concerned, that one or another was the right system, and that it might not be superseded by a better system in the future; and if they acquired the present plant, and laid down mains and so on for a new district, they might find there was a considerable deterioration in consequence of the discovery of some new system. This was a risk that ought to be taken into account before they came to a conclusion. Then they had to remember that electric lighting was a very technical matter, that they would be largely in the hands of engineers, and that the cost of working expenses would not be less, but probably greater, under the Corporation than they would be under a company. The General Purposes Committee, therefore, saw no encouragement to embark upon the enterprise so far as profit was concerned. Then with regard to the second point-the safeguarding of the interests of the public and the consumers -the Corporation had power to apply to the Board of Trade to revise the prices charged every seven years, and the period of appeal was now only three years distant. Besides this, there was no monopoly of supply; and the best safeguard was competition. The Corporation might at any time grant a concession to another company, or undertake to supply the light themselves. Large consumers could also lay down their own installations, so that altogether ample safeguards already existed. On the whole the committee came to the conclusion that it would be better, for the present at least, that they should not become suppliers of the electric light and power themselves; and, therefore, that they should not oppose the application of the company for a further provisional order, except upon clauses; and here, from past experience, he believed they would not find the company unreasonable in negotiation with the Corporation. Mr. Reynolds seconded the resolution, which was carried.

Lighting of Chester.-Another report, this time by Mr. Preece, has been placed in the hands of the Watch Committee of the Chester Town Council, and was referred to last week at a meeting of this body. Alderman Gilbert, in view of the valuable information contained in the report, moved that it be printed and circulated among the members of the Council. Mr. J. J. Cunnah seconded. The Town Clerk (Mr. Saml. Smith) read the minutes of the Watch Committee meeting held on the 11th July, at which a notice was submitted to the effect that application was intended to be made on or before the 21st December next by memorial to the Board of Trade for a provisional order to be confirmed in Parliament in the ensuing session, authorising the Holloway Electricity Supply Company, London, to supply electricity for any public or private purpose within the area of the city of Chester. Letters were also read from Mr. Preece, in one of which he described Dr. Hopkinson as "the best man in Europe "; also his report on the prospects of electric lighting in the borough. After referring at some length on the advantages of the electric light, and urging the Corporation to take the matter up in a bold spirit, Mr. Preece said in no case where the electric light had been adopted had the Corporation found it necessary to fall back upon the rates, and in no case had the introduction of the electric light injuriously affected the gas interest; indeed, it had generally the reverse effect. In Chester, with coal cheap and with water for condensing, there was no reason why the charge should be more than 6d. per supply unit, and as the gas was 3s. 4d. per thousand cubic feet, they would be able to compete with gas successfully as

NOTES.

Telephone Wires.-It has been decided to permit the telephone wires in Manchester to be placed underground.

New Engine.-A new petroleum engine has been brought out by Messrs. Stephenson, of Newcastle-on-Tyne. Liverpool Electric Railway. It is suggested that it would be advantageous for the company to introduce season tickets.

St. Pancras. It is suggested that arc lighting should be introduced in Gray's-inn-road and in the neighbourhood of King's Cross.

Traction in Westphalia. It is said that Messrs. Siemens and Halske are to lay down a series of electric tramways in Rhenish Westphalia.

Lemberg.-Two lines of tramway are to be constructed and electrically equipped by Messrs. Siemens and Halske, and are to be ready for an exhibition next May.

Junior Engineering Society.-The summer excursion this year to Wilts., Devon, and Cornwall, is to commence on Friday, the 11th inst. Copy of programme may be obtained of the secretary.

Remscheid. The electric tramway started last month has become so popular that the cars and plant are unable to deal with the traffic; hence the number of cars is to be increased from 11 to 20, and additions made to the generating plant.

Perseverance.-The result of perseverance is shown by the public statement made the other evening by a wellknown electrical engineer that 15 years ago he was trying to eke out a living by teaching elementary science, whereas now he is an inventor and a prosperous man.

Accumulator Plates.

In a new composition M. Worms takes 945 parts of lead, 22 of antimony, and 13 of mercury. The lead is first melted, then the antimony is added, and finally the mercury is poured in only at the moment of running the composition in the mould.

Siam. To keep up with one of the leading questions of the moment, a news agency telegraphed from Washington on Wednesday that an electric tramway, three miles long, has been put in operation at Bangkok by American capitalists. We believe the tramway was started some months ago.

The Institution.-Among the papers to be read during the next session will be one on "The Electrical Transmission and Distribution of Power at Niagara Falls," by Prof. George Forbes, F.R.S., member. A paper upon "The Electric Lighting of the City of London" has also been promised by Sir David Salomons, Bart., vice-president.

Owen's College, Manchester.-We are informed that the prize for the best essay on the technical applications of electricity has been awarded to Mr. J. R. Ashworth. This prize, of the value of £10, was given in the present year by Dr. Edward Hopkinson, the subject of the essay being "The Testing of the Efficiency of Dynamos and

Motors."

Railway Station Lighting.—The Northern Railway Company of France-in accordance with its practice as already carried out on many of the stations along its linesintends shortly to arrange for the electric lighting of the station at Montneuil-sur-Mer by means of accumulators, the necessary power being supplied by an engine used at the present time for pumping water.

captive" aerial castle," proposed to be used at the projected exhibition in Antwerp next year, is to be illuminated at night by many thousands of electric lights.

Traction in Leeds.--The majority of the Corporation, as the mayor recently mentioned, is in favour of electric traction, and probably, when the town acquires the tramways, electric traction on one system or another will be adopted. In this connection it may be well to record the fact that arbitration proceedings in the direction of purchasing the lines have taken place, and the decision of Sir Douglas Galton on the matter is expected in a month.

Chicago Electrical Congress.-The Royal Commission for the Chicago Exhibition has appointed MajorGeneral C. E. Webber as one of the delegates to the electrical congress to be held at the exhibition. We understand that General Webber's name has been forwarded to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for transmission to Chicago through the American Ambassador, and that Sir Henry Woods, secretary to the Royal Commission, who is now at Chicago, has been informed of the appointment.

Lighting in Manchester.-The generating station of the Corporation is now being set to work. It is situated in Dickinson-street, and on Monday the Free Trade Hall was lighted for the first time. On Tuesday arrangements were completed for the turning on of the light at the Bank of England, and other buildings within the area of supply will be connected to the mains as expeditiously as possible. It is expected that so far as the orders already received are concerned, the work will be completed by the end of this

month.

South London Railway.-It is noteworthy that the percentage of working expenses to gross receipts is gradually diminishing. The first half-year the line was worked the expenses were 79 per cent. of the receipts, the second half-year 76 per cent, the third half-year 70 per cent., the fourth 670 per cent., and the fifth and last 64.6 per cent. These figures included the lifts, and if these were deducted the expenses would only be about 56 per cent., which is very nearly the same as on ordinary railways.

Koenigsberg.-Those interested in central-station work will find a full illustrated description of the municipal lighting of Koenigsberg, Prussia, by F. Uppenborn, in the Electrotechnische Zeitschrift for July 21. The installation was carried out by Naglo Bros., of Berlin. Vertical engines driving the dynamos direct are used. Diagrams of connections are given. Not the least interesting parts of this installation are the switchboard, worked by handle and gear, and the ventilation of the junction-boxes in the streets by air-shafts.

Traction in Vienna.-A commission of the Municipal Council has, in consequence of the proposals of the Vienna Tramway Company for improving the facilities for transit, been considering the subject. The commission regard the introduction of electricity as the motive power on tramways as a suitable method for removing the many difficulties encountered in the working of the lines, for facilitating the continuation of separate lines through the inner town, and for increasing the speed and carrying capacity of the tram ways. A change in this direction was, however, not to be entirely carried out as proposed by the tramway company, but the system must be extended in all parts of the city