BOOK NOTICES. Transition Curves.-A field-book for engineers, containing rules and tables for laying out transition curves. By Walter G. Fox, C.E., New York: D. Van Nostrand Company. 1893. Van Nostrand's Science Series, No. 110. 80 pages. 50 cents. The author here submits six tables, each representing a different transition curve. These curves differ from one another in the rate at which the curvature increases with the number of chords laid off. The tables give the co-ordinates for locating the points at the ends of the chords, as well as the deflection angles, in order that the curve may be run by offsets, if desired. The usual tables of radii and apex distances are also given. T. Encyclopédie scientifique des Aide-Mémoire. Dirigée par M. Léauté, Membre de l'Institut. Librarie Gauthier-Villars et fils. Quai des Grand-Augustins, 55. Price, per volume, 2'50 francs, un bound; 3 francs, bound. Since our last notice of this capital technological series, the following additional volumes have appeared: Hennebert. Lieutenant-Colonel du Génie, ancien Élève de l'École Sorel, E. Ancien ingenieur des manufactures de l'État. La rectifi cation de l'cool. Alheilig. Ingénieur de la Marine. Résistance et construction des pieces des Machines. Dwelshauvers-Dery. Ingénieur, Professeur à l'Université de Liège. Marchena, R. de. Ingénieur des Arts et Manufactures. Machines Marchena, K. de. Ingénieur des Arts et Manufactures. Machines frigorifiques à air. W. Franklin Institute. [Proceedings of the stated meeting, held Wednesday, November 21, 1894.] Hall of the FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, PHILADELPHIA, November 21, 1894. MR. H. R. HEYL, in the chair. Present, seventy-six members and four visitors. Additions to membership since last report, twelve. Mr. John C. Trautwine, Jr., described, with the aid of lantern projections, the subway which is about to be constructed jointly by the City of Philadelphia and the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, and which has for its principal object the abolition of the numerous grade crossings of the Reading Company's tracks which now exist on Pennsylvania Avenue, between Broad Street and the entrance to the Park at Fairmount Avenue. The dominant feature of the plan is the depression of the railway below the street level, from a point east of Broad Street westward to Twenty-sixth Street, whence the tracks will rise to the present surface level at Thirtieth Street. From Broad Street westward to Twenty-first and Hamilton Streets, the railroad will occupy an open subway, over which the several north and south streets will be carried upon iron bridges, while from Twenty-first Street northwestward to Twenty-sixth Street it will be in a tunnel, which is to be surmounted by a boulevard. The operations now under way are confined to the construction of the two elaborate systems of low-level sewers necessitated by the plan. These empty into the Schuylkill River at the foot of Powelton Avenue, whence they extend, respectively, eastward along Callowhill Street to Thirteenth Street, and northwestward along Pennsylvania Avenue to Thirtieth Street. Their maximum depths below the street surface are, respectively, about forty and fifty feet. Mr. J. L. Gill, Jr., gave a description of the remarkable explosion of a battery of steam boilers, which occurred in October last at a colliery near Shamokin, Pa. The speaker illustrated his remarks by the exhibition of a number of projections of photographs taken on the scene a few days after the disaster had occurred. The subject was freely discussed. Mr. W. N. Jennings exhibited a series of pictures of the launch of the ocean liner, St. Louis, from the Cramps' shipyard, which took place on November 5th. The Secretary's report included a reference to the several projects for bridging the Hudson River at New York. A view, showing a plan of cantilever bridge of 2,100 feet span, and a suspension structure of 3,100 feet span, was exhibited, and estimates of the cost and other details were stated. Adjourned. WM. H. WAHL, Secretary. PENNSYLVANIA STATE WEATHER SERVICE. UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, CO-OPERATING WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, WEATHER BUREAU. T. F. TOWNSEnd, Weather BUREAU, OBSERVER IN Charge. MONTHLY WEATHER REVIEW. FOR OCTOBER, 1894. HALL OF THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE, GENERAL REVIEW. The average temperature for October, 1894, 53°6, is 4° above the average [49°6] for the past six years. The highest recorded temperatures occurred on the 1st, 2d, 3d, 19th, 20th and 21st, and were as follows: Lock Haven, 88°; Chambersburg, 84°; Coatesville, 83°; Carlisle, 83°, and York, 83°. The lowest were on the 12th, 15th, 16th, 18th, and 19th. Shingle House, 24°; Wellsboro, 24°; Saegerstown, 25°; Dyberry, 25°; Hollidaysburg, 26° Smethport, 26°; Selins Grove, 26°, and Somerset, 26°. From January 1, 1894, to October 31, 1894, the accumulated excess in daily mean temperature at Philadelphia was 521°; at Erie, 762°, and at Pittsburg, 673°. For the same period the deficiency in precipitation at Philadelphia was 1*57; Erie, 4'17, and Pittsburgh, 8.83. 3 Hail.-Cassandria, 13th; Johnstown, 14th; Emporium, 13th; Grampian, 13th; Lock Haven, 13th; Coopersburg, 14th; Greenville, 13th; Logania, 13th; Shingle House, 13th, 31st; Wellsboro, 13th; York, 13th, 14th. Snow.-Hollidaysburg, 14th; Le Roy, 14th; Towanda, 14th; Cassandria, 14th; Johnstown, 14th; Emporium, 14th; Grampian, 14th; Saegerstown, 14th, 15th; Smethport, 14th; Blooming Grove, 14th; Shingle House, 14th; Dyberry, 14th. Frost.-Pittsburg, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th; Hollidaysburg, 7th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th; Le Roy, 14th, 15th; Towanda, 2d, 7th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th; Quakertown, 7th, 12th, 16th, 19th; Cassandria, 2d, 6th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 15th, 18th, 19th, 28th; Johnstown, 7th, 11th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th; Emporium, 12th, 18th, 19th, 29th; Mauch Chunk, 12th, 19th; State College, 6th, 12th, 15th, 19th; West Chester, 12th, 15th; Coatesville, 7th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 19th; Kennett Square, 7th, 12th, 15th, 16th; Westtown, 12th, 15th, 16th, 19th; Grampian, 7th, 19th; Lock Haven, 1st, 2d, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th; Saegerstown, 15th, 16th; Carlisle, 12th, 15th; Harrisburg, 2d, 7th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 28th; Edinboro, 7th, 18th; Uniontown, 7th, 9th, 11th, 18th, 19th, 26th; Huntingdon, 12th, 15th, 16th, 18th; Coopersburg, 7th, 19th, 28th; Wilkes-Barre, 29th; Greenville, 7th, 15th, 18th, 26th; Pottstown, 12th, 16th; Easton, 7th, 15th, 16th; Philadelphia [Weather Bureau], 12th, 15th, 16th; [Centennial Avenue]. 12th, 15th; Shingle House, 18th; Selins Grove, 2d, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 14th; Somerset, 6th, 11th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 24th, 26th; Wellsboro, 2d, 7th, 12th, 14th, 15th, 29th; Dyberry, 2d, 7th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 18th, 19th, 28th; Honesdale, 3d, 6th; Hamlinton, 15th, 18th, 19th, 28th; South Eaton, 7th, 12th, 15th, 16th, 19th, 28th; York, 2d, 7th, 12th, 19th, 28th; Lancaster, 6th, 7th, 12th, 15th, 28th; Lebanon, 12th, 15th, 16th, 18th; Phoenixville, 7th, 15th, 16th; Lewisburg, 11th, 12th, 14th. Sleet.-Wellsboro, 13th. Corona.-Saegerstown, 9th; Lebanon, 18th. Solar Halo.-Philadelphia [Centennial Avenue], 19th. |