Chapter 12

PLYMOUTHWILLIAM BRENDON AND SONPRINTERS

FOOTNOTES:[1]This is by no means the oldest steam-engine at work in the kingdom, the doyen being one built as far back as 1767, and used continuously ever since at Charles Clifford and Sons’ Metal-rolling Mills, Birmingham. It is of beam type, and the oak beam was only replaced at the end of last year by one of iron. In 1812 a new cylinder was put in, but the rest of the engine remains as it was 136 years ago, even to the connecting-rod for rolling-mill purposes. It is said that this G.O.M. is more economical than many of the modern engines used in the trade.[2]The biggest and most powerful locomotive in the world is stated to be the “Bessemer,” built in 1900 at the Pittsburg Locomotive Works, U.S.A., weighing with its tender 175 tons. Its height is 16 feet from rail to top of smoke-stack, and it is capable of easily drawing a train of 4,000 tons at 25 miles an hour, or 8,000 tons at 15 miles an hour. Its hauling power is therefore enormous, and so it ought to be, as the diameter of the smallest ring of the boiler is 7 feet 10 inches. The nearest approach in size to this monster was constructed in Great Britain for the Santa Fé Railway in Argentina, and weighed 150 tons.[3]SeeChapter I.[4]These have since given place to motor-cars built in America.[5]Report of Parliamentary Committee on Housing of the Poor, 1902.[6]videChapter V.[7]One of the largest tramway schemes ever promoted is contained in the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Tramways Bill, which came before Parliament in March last. The routes have a total length of 80 miles, and pass through a district with a population of close upon three-quarters of a million. The idea is to connect, by means of electric tramways, the towns of Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Ilkeston, Ripley, Alfreton, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Pleasley, Mansfield, Eastwood, Bulwell, and Hucknall Torkard.[8]In England the motor-car is beginning to play an important part in country parliamentary elections. Motor-cars are used by commercial travellers, and are being tried for the official work of the police about the metropolis. The General Post Office is also giving motor carriers a trial for letters and parcels; and motors are utilised for dust-carts.[9]A very curious and, to the superstitious, significant coincidence was recently reported from Ireland.Last year, when permission was asked to repair the road between Newcastle and Kilcoole, a member of the rural council opposed, declaring that it was good enough for farmers, and they did not want to encourage “galoots in motor-cars” and “go-boys on bicycles” in their neighbourhood. This councillor was, not long since, killed through the wheel of his cart catching in one of the ruts complained of![10]Both Brunel and Scott Russell, the eminent shipbuilder, argued that from scientific theory and actual experience there need be no limit to the size of a ship when constructed on the tubular principle, except that which the quality of the material imposed.[11]The Hamburg-American Line’s luxurious yachtPrinzessin Victoria Luisehas a splendidly-equipped gymnasium, where the passengers can indulge in horse-riding, cycling, and rowing, on the various apparatus installed. On one of the decks is a first-class “cricket-pitch,” a tennis-court, and an archery ground.[12]A heater devised by Mr. E. G. Rivers, chief electrical engineer to the Office of Works, brings the problem of electric heating for domestic purposes well within the bounds of practical utility. It renders possible the employment of electricity for heating buildings, for cooking, and for other uses in a manner hitherto impossible. Mr. Rivers is engaged in developing his invention in the direction of applying it to cooking-ranges, and expects very shortly to adapt it to that use.

FOOTNOTES:

[1]This is by no means the oldest steam-engine at work in the kingdom, the doyen being one built as far back as 1767, and used continuously ever since at Charles Clifford and Sons’ Metal-rolling Mills, Birmingham. It is of beam type, and the oak beam was only replaced at the end of last year by one of iron. In 1812 a new cylinder was put in, but the rest of the engine remains as it was 136 years ago, even to the connecting-rod for rolling-mill purposes. It is said that this G.O.M. is more economical than many of the modern engines used in the trade.

[2]The biggest and most powerful locomotive in the world is stated to be the “Bessemer,” built in 1900 at the Pittsburg Locomotive Works, U.S.A., weighing with its tender 175 tons. Its height is 16 feet from rail to top of smoke-stack, and it is capable of easily drawing a train of 4,000 tons at 25 miles an hour, or 8,000 tons at 15 miles an hour. Its hauling power is therefore enormous, and so it ought to be, as the diameter of the smallest ring of the boiler is 7 feet 10 inches. The nearest approach in size to this monster was constructed in Great Britain for the Santa Fé Railway in Argentina, and weighed 150 tons.

[3]SeeChapter I.

[4]These have since given place to motor-cars built in America.

[5]Report of Parliamentary Committee on Housing of the Poor, 1902.

[6]videChapter V.

[7]One of the largest tramway schemes ever promoted is contained in the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Tramways Bill, which came before Parliament in March last. The routes have a total length of 80 miles, and pass through a district with a population of close upon three-quarters of a million. The idea is to connect, by means of electric tramways, the towns of Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Ilkeston, Ripley, Alfreton, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Pleasley, Mansfield, Eastwood, Bulwell, and Hucknall Torkard.

[8]In England the motor-car is beginning to play an important part in country parliamentary elections. Motor-cars are used by commercial travellers, and are being tried for the official work of the police about the metropolis. The General Post Office is also giving motor carriers a trial for letters and parcels; and motors are utilised for dust-carts.

[9]A very curious and, to the superstitious, significant coincidence was recently reported from Ireland.Last year, when permission was asked to repair the road between Newcastle and Kilcoole, a member of the rural council opposed, declaring that it was good enough for farmers, and they did not want to encourage “galoots in motor-cars” and “go-boys on bicycles” in their neighbourhood. This councillor was, not long since, killed through the wheel of his cart catching in one of the ruts complained of!

[9]A very curious and, to the superstitious, significant coincidence was recently reported from Ireland.

Last year, when permission was asked to repair the road between Newcastle and Kilcoole, a member of the rural council opposed, declaring that it was good enough for farmers, and they did not want to encourage “galoots in motor-cars” and “go-boys on bicycles” in their neighbourhood. This councillor was, not long since, killed through the wheel of his cart catching in one of the ruts complained of!

[10]Both Brunel and Scott Russell, the eminent shipbuilder, argued that from scientific theory and actual experience there need be no limit to the size of a ship when constructed on the tubular principle, except that which the quality of the material imposed.

[11]The Hamburg-American Line’s luxurious yachtPrinzessin Victoria Luisehas a splendidly-equipped gymnasium, where the passengers can indulge in horse-riding, cycling, and rowing, on the various apparatus installed. On one of the decks is a first-class “cricket-pitch,” a tennis-court, and an archery ground.

[12]A heater devised by Mr. E. G. Rivers, chief electrical engineer to the Office of Works, brings the problem of electric heating for domestic purposes well within the bounds of practical utility. It renders possible the employment of electricity for heating buildings, for cooking, and for other uses in a manner hitherto impossible. Mr. Rivers is engaged in developing his invention in the direction of applying it to cooking-ranges, and expects very shortly to adapt it to that use.

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