182

"Come One, Come All!"-No less than five electric lighting companies have given statutory notices of their intention to apply to the Board of Trade for electric lighting orders, authorising them to supply electric light in the borough of Derby. This has driven the Corporation to decide to keep the matter in their own hands, by applying to the Board of Trade for an order to make and supply electric light themselves. It is contemplated to make a trial of the scheme in the town centre, before extending it throughout the borough.

Which is the Best Tramcar Starter ?—The London Street Tramways Company has fixed an apparatus to facilitate the starting of the cars, thereby lessening the strain put upon the horses; if they are desirous to still further minimise the strain, we should recommend an electro-motor, which would free the horses for ever

more.

Submarine Torpedo Boats.-A short time since we gave some particulars in a Note of an eight hours' submersion of a torpedo boat. A French contemporary, referring to the same vessel, gives us some further details, as follows:-"It is not of to-day that search is made, a little in every country, for the solution of a problem which seems now as impossible to solve as that of the steering of balloons; it is of the submarine boat that I wish to speak. M. Goubet has just concluded a long series of experiments with a submarine boat of his invention. This boat has been spoken of for a long time. The numerous preceding abortive attempts had put people on their guard against submarine vessels. Successful attempts were valueless against this state of mind until it became necessary to recognise the fact that a solution of the problem had been found when the Goubet, that is the name of the vessel, had remained eight hours submerged with two men on board, who smoked, ate, and played at cards without the slightest inconvenience. How is this vessel constructed which so well merits its name of fish-boat? This secret, like others relating to national defence, is well kept. But whatever the mechanism and the system which works the Goubet, the experiments which are being continued at Cherbourg prove that it is efficacious. The naval authorities have not such a tender feeling for inventors in general that it would have consented, if the invention had not appeared really practical and capable of rendering real service, to place at M. Goubet's disposal a basin at the port of Cherbourg, and also officers and sailors. The new boat was able, during the course of the experiments, to sink at command to variable depths and to maintain a perfect equilibrium. The sinking of the Goubet was brought about with the greatest regularity, without oscillation or shock, quickly or slowly, according to the orders transmitted through the telephone wire which communicated between the submarine boat and the pontoon. At the different depths the Goubet was manœuvred at will, and behaved as much like a fish as possible."

This

Telephone Extension at Portsmouth.-At the last monthly meeting of the Portsmouth County Council the Roads and Works Committee reported: "Your committee submit an agreement with the Western Counties and South Wales Telephone Company in reference to the erection of poles, to carry wires for placing this town in telephonic communication with Winchester, Bournemouth, and other towns. agreement provides for the poles to be erected in streets being considered as on suffrance only, and as your committee think the proposed communication will be beneficial to the town they recommend that the common seal be affixed to the agreement." Sir William King, in moving the adoption of the clause, pointed out that this would only necessitate the laying of one wire. Mr. Dittman suggested that the wires should be carried underground. The Mayor: You cannot lay telephone wires underground; it has never been done. After some further discussion the clause was agreed to.

[AUGUST 16, 1889.

Mr. Gibbens on Shocks.-Mr. Gibbens, of the New York Board of Electrical Control, the same gentleman to whom we referred in our leaderettes of the 2nd inst., is evidently a leader in science. He doubts if an electric current can be produced which will infallibly cause instantaneous death. He says: "I base my doubt upon the very different effects of electricity upon different organisms. Death by electricity, whenever it occurs, must, in my opinion, be caused by shock. If the shock is not sufficient to produce death, and the blood is merely polarised, the subject, though seemingly dead, is very likely to be kept alive and finally resuscitated by the depolarising effect of the opposite electricity with which the human system is stored." Bravo Mr. Gibbens! According to your theory every man has stored within him the electrical elements for his own destruction. The evidence on electrical execution will make pretty history in course of time.

Electric Lighting in Plymouth.-Much success has attended the visit to Plymouth of Mr. Bingham, engineer of the Devon and Cornwall Electricity Supply Company. Upwards of 3,000 incandescent lights have been definitely ordered for various shops, private establishments, and public places, which more than warrants the company in going forward with their operations. The plant to be laid down in the first instance will be only sufficient to supply 4,000 incandescent lights and 100 arcs, and when this has been ordered no further engagements will be entered into until additional plant is introduced. The canvass which has been made in Plymouth, Devonport, and Stonehouse has been remarkably successful; and before winter sets in the electric light will have become pretty general in the principal establishments of Plymouth.

Electrical Resistance of the Human Body.-In Mr. Kennelly's article on the above subject in our present issue, it is stated that with the hands immersed in a caustic potash solution, the resistance between the hands was 30 per cent. less than was the case when an aqueous solution of zinc sulphate was used; this is a conclusive proof that the bulk of the resistance is skin deep only, as the potash, of course, could not effect the reduction by penetrating into the mass of the body which formed the circuit. The alkaline solution evidently eliminates the surface resistance offered by the oily nature of the skin.

Telephonic Extension in Hampshire. At - At the quarterly meeting of the Hampshire County Council. held at Winchester on Monday, under the presidency of Lord Basing, a report was brought up by the Main Road and Bridges Committee, showing that application had been made by the Western Counties and South Wales Telephone Company for permission to erect telephone poles and wires by the side of certain main roads in the county, as duly shown in plans. The committee recommended that the Council should give them authority to deal generally with the subject, so as to enable them from time to time to give the necessary permissions upon such terms as they might consider expedient. The recommendation was adopted.

A Railway Station Struck by Lightning.-On Monday afternoon, about five o'clock, during a severe and heavy thunderstorm, which passed over Stalham, the Eastern and Midlands Railway Station was struck by lightning and considerable damage done. It passed down the office chimney and struck the telegraph instrument, breaking all the wires, passing off on to the shelf and setting fire to it; it ultimately broke through the window and escaped. Fortunately no one was on the station at the time, the clerk having just left his office, but this alarming circumstance having been seen by some passers by, the news quickly spread among the inhabitants, while assistance was soon procured to extinguish the flames, which was done in about twenty minutes, and before they had got a very firm hold of the building.

AUGUST 16, 1889.]

hich has an area of 0225 of a square inch, and will arry at the Board of Trade capacity of 1,000 ampères er square inch, 22.5 ampères. But the wire in the above xample has to take about 25 per cent. more current an is permissible here, therefore we would recomend the users of Mr. Evans's formula to substitute quare mils. instead of circular mils.; in that case the arrying capacity will be well within the Board of 'rade limit. Of course, when a heavy current has to e used, the temperature coefficient must not be negected, so as to conform with the requirements of the nsurance companies.

A Present for John W. Mackay.-The New York imes of July 24th says:-John W. Mackay spent Monday evening with a score of his Commercial Cable mployés. They descended upon him unexpectedly at he Windsor Hotel, bearing a unique album as a gift to im. In the album were pen drawing of characteristic cenes in every city where his cable company has an office. There was a little speech-making and a good leal of cork popping, and Mr. Mackay's countenance couldn't have been one whit happier had his guests Deen millionaires and the gift a Prince's ransom.

The Prince of Wales and Electric Launches.-The Prince of Wales a few days ago ordered Messrs. Immisch & Co.'s electric launch, the Viscountess Bury, for the use of himself and a distinguished party. Starting from Kew Bridge for Sunbury, a visit was paid to Platt's Eyot, where the above-mentioned firm has a charging station. An electric torpedo boat in course of completion attracted some attention, and after a trip in several of the smaller launches the party proceeded down the river, landing at Chelsea. The electric launch scheme, which at Henley Regatta last year was but in embryo, has made great progress, and a considerable number of these graceful craft now enliven the river.

Oldham.-We notice that at the works of Messrs. S. Charlesworth and Co., Electrical Engineers, Richmond Hill, Oldham, there is increased activity, the firm being busy over a large number of various sized dynamos (Hall's patent) for home and foreign order. The demand for this dynamo (one form of which we recently illustrated as portion of a Suez Canal lighting plant) is gradually extending. Messrs. Charlesworth and Co. are also busy in general engineering work, and in the manufacture of special engines for electrical lighting. It has been necessary to considerably extend the present works, and as the business has still further increased an additional extension to their shops has

been decided upon.

NEW COMPANIES REGISTERED.

183

Universal Automatic Advertiser Company, Limited. -Capital, £10,000 in £5 shares. Objects: To manufacture automatic advertising machines, and to carry on business as mechanical, electrical, and general engineers. An agreement with the London Battery Company, Limited, will be adopted. Signatories: *R. J. S. Beeton, 29, West Hill, Sydenham, 100 shares; H. A. Jones, 14, Hendon Street, S.W.; W. J. Hallett, 7, St. Martin's Place, W.C.; E. F. Mogg, Wolfston House, Upper Tooting; J. T. Stainforth, 56, Adys Road, East Dulwich; Thos. Ivers, 2, Caledonian Street, Grosvenor Road, S.W.; *H. Upton, Furze Dene, Brighton (electrical engineer), 1 share each. The signatories denoted by an asterisk, and Willoughby Wallace, St. John's, Bishopstoke, are the first directors; remuneration, £50 per annum each, with an additional £25 for the chairman; also 10 per cent. of the balance of net profit after payment of 10 per cent. dividend. Qualification, £100 in shares or stock. Registered 10th inst. by H. P. Spottiswoode, 32, Craven Street, Strand. Registered office, Bridge House, 181, Queen Victoria Street.

Brush Electrical Engineering Company, Limited.Capital, £750,000 divided into 150,000 preference shares of £2 each, and 150,000 ordinary shares of £3 each. Objects: To take over the business of Anglo-American Brush Electric Light Corporation, Limited, in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, with all patents, premises, fixed and movable plant, and other property. To acquire the undertaking and business of the Falcon Engine and Car Works, Limited, at Loughborough, Leicester. To carry on business as electrical, mechanical and general engineers, carriage and car makers. To acquire, manufacture, and put up and sell telegraphs, cables, phonographs, and all electrical apparatus now known, or that may be hereafter invented. The signatories, each of whom subscribe for one ordinary and one preference share, are as follows: *Lord Thurlow, 33, Chesham Place; *J. S. Sellon, 78, Hatton Garden; Emile Garcke, 112, Belvedere Road, Lambeth ; *Col. F. G. Steuart, 16, St. James's Square; Ernest Cooper, 14, George Street, Mansion House; *E. Woods, C.E., 45, Onslow Gardens; J. S. Raworth, 112, Belvedere Road, Lambeth. The signatories denoted by an asterisk are the first directors, together with the Duke of Marlborough, J. B. Braithwaite, jun., and Aymor H. Sanderson. Qualification, £500 in shares or stock; remuneration, a sum not exceeding £2,000 per annum, and in each year in which 10 per cent. dividend is paid on the ordinary shares, an additional sum equal to onetenth of the amount of such dividend, but such additional amount shall not exceed £10,000 in any year. Registered 10th inst. by Messrs. Renshaws, 2, Suffolk Lane, Cannon Street.

Fowler-Waring Cables Company, Limited.-Capital, £200,000 in £5 shares. Objects: To acquire the businesses and goodwill of John Fowler and Company, (Leeds), Limited, and of Mr. Richard Solomon Waring, of 85, Queen Street, E.C., as manufacturers of and dealers in electric or other cables. To adopt a contract of 12th inst., between R. W. Eddison of the first part, John Fowler and Company (Leeds), Limited, of the second part, and R. S. Waring of the third part. To manufacture and deal in cables, wires, and all materials, machines, and appliances for telegraphs, telephones, or for lighting, motive power, and generally to carry on the business of electrical engineers, or of a telegraph maintenance and construction company. Signatories (with 100 ordinary shares each): Wm. Fowler, 43, Grosvenor Square; *George Fleming, 9, Billiter Square, E.C.; "The Hon. J. S. Gathorne Hardy, M.P., 2, Cadogan Square; *Walter Chamberlain, Harborne Hall, Birmingham; "Col. J. T. North, Eltham, Kent; *R. W. Eddison, Steam Plough Works, Leeds; R. S. Waring, 85, Queen Street, E.C. The signatories are the first directors; qualification £500 in shares; remuneration, £2,000 per annum, to be divided as they may determine. Registered 13th inst. by Paine, Son and Pollock, 14, St. Helen's Place,

184

OFFICIAL RETURNS OF ELECTRICAL COMPANIES.

Halifax and Bermuda Cable Company, Limited.— An agreement of 24th May (filed 28th June) with the International Cable Company, Limited, provides for the transfer to this company of the benefit of contracts of 12th April and 13th May relating to the construction of a submarine cable between Halifax and Bermuda. The purchase consideration is £44,965 in ordinary fully paid shares.

CITY NOTES, REPORTS, MEETINGS, &c.

United River Plate Telephone Company, Limited. THE 3rd annual meeting of this company was held at Winchester House yesterday week. Lord Thurlow in the chair.

It

The Secretary having read the notice convening the meeting, The Chairman said: As customary, I shall proceed to say a very few words. I think all must admit a highly satisfactory balance sheet, with one solitary exception, and that solitary exception, which is the key of the report and to the small dividend which we declare, is undoubtedly the loss on exchange. That is a circumstance which has been absolutely beyond the control of the Board. It has been unprecedently high and of unprecedently long continuance. We hope that in the future it will not occur again to the same extent. At the same time it is so very serious a subject that I think you will pardon me for referring to it. absolutely absorbs on the present occasion 5 per cent. on the subscribed capital, which shows a loss of £14,000, and which means that instead of recommending, as we are doing, a dividend at the rate of 3 per cent., it would have been in our power to offer you 8 per cent. in addition to the interim already paid. This is a grievous state of things and it behoves the board to do what they can to ensure that this does not occur, at any rate to the same extent, in succeeding years. Throughout the duration of the last year our attention has been drawn to it and we have always been hoping that the loss would be mitigated, instead of which, as you all know, it has been constantly aggravated as time went on. For my own part, I hold very decidedly that it will be necessary for us to take some steps to provide against this recurrence. Of course, there are two ways of meeting it; but neither of them should be adopted without very mature consideration. One is raising the rates for subscribers, and the other adopting the system of partial payments in gold and part in paper currency, because it is obvious if the payment were half in gold and half in currency, the one would act as a counterpoise to the other, so that what you lost on the paper currency would be gained in the gold. However, as I said, the matter, although ripe for consideration, cannot be decided hastily, and I am very glad to be able to say that we shall have the advice and experience of Mr. Fels, who has just returned from the River Plate, and is in this room to-day. He only arrived from Buenos Ayres the day before yesterday, and has not had time yet to give us the benefit of his views on this point; but you may, I think, take it for granted that we shall lose no time in consulting him, and adopting whatever means we may think wise and prudent to lessen this loss for the future. We now give 3 per cent. in addition to the 3 per cent. which has been paid, making at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum. One word by way of comparison with our report issued last year, which, as you know, represented a period of 16 months. For that period we paid 7 per cent. If you examine this carefully you will find that 7 per cent. for 16 months is only 5 for the 12 months, so that we are actually offering you per cent. more than for the corresponding 12 months of last year, so that notwithstanding the adverse exchange, we have actually done better during the last 12 months. I will say a few words on the subject of our general business, which I am glad to say is entirely satisfactory at the present moment. The company commenced with 3,150 subscribers in and immediately about Buenos Ayres; that figure has now been raised by rather more than 50 per cent., which is extremely satisfactory. Another satisfactory feature is the almost cessation of complaints, and the general satisfaction our service is now giving. That is a point to which we attach very great importance. We have had from the commencement a very high standard of perfection as the point to be aimed at, and I think we have arrived at a stage which, if it does not, so far as I am informed, actually come up to the very high standard we had fixed, at the same time is a certainly much higher standard than people are accustomed to in Europe. With regard to the sales business, which, as you may remember in the original prospectus was estimated to bring in a profit of £4,000 a year at the least, that estimate has been more than doubled, and this is likely to continue for several years. The working expenses have been raised to a higher figure than they would have stood at by the occurrence some months ago of a very severe storm or cyclone. These storms, hurricanes, and cyclones may be matters of frequent occurrence, and perhaps constant occurrence in the River

[AUGUST 16, 1889.

Plate; still this one was of such unusual severity as to do very grest damage to the system of our wires, and caused an additiona expenditure of something like £2,000 to repair it. Notwithstanding that, taking into consideration our increased number of suiscribers, our working expenses do not stand at a higher figure than they did for the past 12 months. You will doubtless be anxious to hear something of the Rosario business which we hav acquired. Rosario is a most promising commercial place, and i hardly liable or subject to any falling off; those who know Rosar best ensure a most prosperous future. There were two companies then, and we were exposed, as you know, until we purchased this second one to competition and competitive rates. We entered into an agreement for the purchase of this opposition company with the parties who owned it, and I am thankful to say the these negotiations were carried out in a most amicable spirit, and at a very fair and reasonable price. We have now obtained the service of their company, and have installed in the business at Rosario a very competent manager who, I believe, is giving universal satisfaction. The number of subscribers has largely increased to something like 40 per cent. during the past sir months. There is every prospect before us of a continuou improvement, so that so far from there being any cause to regret the acquisition of that property we may fairly congratulate the shareholders on that arrangement having being satisfactorily carried out. I believe that the acquisition of that property and the absolute control that it gives us over the tele phone arrangements of that rising town, and the towns surrounding it, and growing up in the line of railway between it and Buenos Ayres-along which, as time goes on, w undoubtedly shall establish a trunk line-I say that the acquisi tion of this property, and having therefore absorbed the competi tion in Rosario itself, has done more to consolidate our position and our power and influence over the telephone arrangements in the whole of the Argentine Republic than any other step we could have taken. Owing to various circumstances during the past year we have been able to keep in the closest touch with our busi ness on the other side of the world; this is greatly due in the early part of the year to the presence here of Mr. Krabbe, our consulting director localised at Buenos Ayres. He came over to England for a well-earned holiday during the latter part of last season, and stayed several months; he attended our meetings and gave us the benefit of his ripe experience. He has now returned to Buenos Ayres, and has practically undertaken the supervision during the absence of our competent manager, Mr. Fels. Then, again, two of our directors at different times have this year visited the River Plate Mr. Coghlan and Mr. Le Rossignol. The former gentle man is not able to be here to-day to report upon his visit, having been ordered abroad for the benefit of his health; but I am glad to say that Mr. Rossignol is here, and after I have done he wil address to you a few words and explain shortly the satisfactory condition of affairs which he found when in Buenos Ayres, and which he left only a few weeks ago. Thanks to the circumstances to which I have referred, thanks to the energy that has been displayed in the management by Mr. Fels and by Mr. Krabbe, and to the successful acquisition of Rosario, our position leaves really nothing to be desired, except that prosperity that we enjoy should continue. But, while we have the satisfac tory results of the past 12 months to look back upon, I would ask to believe that a business of this kind at the other side of the globe cannot be conducted from London by responsible directors without a considerable amount of ceaseless anxiety, and their re sponsibility attaching the telephone business will, I think, render the argument that I have ventured to use specially applicable. That anxiety on the present occasion, I am glad to say, has been greatly mitigated by two circumstances, one at home and the other abroad, and which have made the responsibilities rest lightly on our shoulders: one is the knowledge that we have in the office Mr. Unwin, in whom we not only can place the utmost and con plete reliance for the due performance of the details of the bus ness, but in whose wisdom and experience of South America you all know we have the very greatest confidence. I have already referred to Mr. Krabbe and Mr. Fels for their assistance in Buen Ayres. Without the feeling that one can rely absolutely on the gentlemen that assist us in this enterprise, I can assure you that it would be almost impossible to manage a business of this de scription, and of this magnitude, from so great a distance as London is from Buenos Ayres. I have great pleasure in moving the adoption of the report.

Mr. J. Irving Courtenay seconded the motion.

Mr. Alfred Le Rossignol said he had found everything working satisfactorily; the complaints were extremely few. There was a rapid development, which was proved by the daily increasing list of subscribers. The town of Buenos Ayres during the past four or five years had increased 50 per cent., and was still increas ing, the company's prospects could not be brighter. The telephone was used there much more than in England owing to the absence of good roads and faulty postal arrangements. Private individuals living out in the country considered it necessary to make use of the telephone, in fact, it had become a universal necessity. He had not time to visit Rosario, but it was developing faster than Buenos Ayres in a way that was unknown in Europe. It might be called the Chicago of the River Plate. Business in Rosario might still be considered in its infancy, but as he said there would be a rapid development in all respects. The little competition they had he thought was doing more good than otherwise.

Mr. Lloyd addressed the meeting with regard to the acquisition of the Rosario business, and did not think the arrangements were carried out in an amicable manner.

AUGUST 16, 1889.]

Mr. Lawrence asked some questions as to the accounts. The Chairman expressed surprise at the action of Mr. Lloyd ho, until quite recently, was a member of the board, and had never efore spoken so adversely as to the Rosario acquirement. The motion was then put to the meeting and carried unaniously. Mr. Frank Jones, Mr. George Cooper and Mr. Alfred e Rossignol were then re-elected.

Mr. Duncan proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, and ongratulated the board on the very able manner in which they ad carried out the arrangements with the Rosario Company. The proceedings then terminated.

City of London and Southwark Subway Company.

IN the report presented to the shareholders at the tenth halfearly ordinary meeting of the company, held at Winchester House on Tuesday, the directors have the pleasure to report that he whole of the tunnels from the City to a point considerably beyond the Kennington Oval Station, a distance of about 2 miles, have been completed and the main underground works at the King William Street, Great Dover Street and Stockwell stations have also been finished, and those at the other three stations are n a forward state. The station buildings on the surface at Great Dover Street and the Elephant and Castle have been commenced and the necessary alterations of the buildings at King William Street, to fit them for the City station and for the company's offices are nearly completed. A short piece of tunnelling, about 250 yards in length, between the Oval and the terminus at Stockwell is still incomplete, owing to the existence of a wet bed of gravel through which the work is being carried on under air pressure, a somewhat slow and tedious process.

The boiler house at the Stockwell depôt is approaching completion, and the boilers are being placed in position. The other works at this depôt in connection with the electric supply, the hydraulic power for working the lifts, the carriage sheds and workshops, are also making good progress.

The rails are now laid in the tunnels between King William Street and Great Dover Street Stations, and an experimental train worked by electricity is nearly ready for trial on this section. During the half year a further sum of £75,000 in ordinary shares has been placed, making the total share capital subscribed £500,000.

The committee of the Stock Exchange have granted a quotation for the company's shares.

At the meeting Mr. Charles Grey Mott occupied the chair. The Secretary having read the notice convening the meeting,

The Chairman, in moving the adoption of the report, said he was glad to say that during the past half-year they had carried out some very extensive works without any serious accidents whatever. The whole of the tunnel forming the subway, with the exception of the small portion between the Oval and the terminus at Stockwell, were complete. The underground work at the three stations, King William Street, Great Dover Street, and Stockwell stations were also finished, and the work at the other stations was proceeding very rapidly, and in about eight weeks they hoped that the whole of the stations would be complete. They had also commenced the erection of two surface stations at Great Dover Street and the Elephant and Castle. As the shareholders were aware, the buildings at King William Street were already erected and the lower part was being altered into the permanent station and the upper part fitted out for offices for the company. The work in the wet ground was delaying the opening of the line. There was practically no difficulty beyond the question of time. Were it not for this delay, they might congratulate themselves upon everything being perfectly right. But, as expressed in the report, it was a slow process-one which had hardly ever been used in a similar way-and there was therefore no experience to guide them in that respect. They had recently decided to take measures by which the progress would be considerably expedited. They had to provide a vast amount of machinery for the working of the line and had purchased a large piece of land at the Stockwell end for placing that machinery. Great progress had been made on the works there, and a very large boiler house below the level of the surface had been constructed and three boilers were now in position. They had also in progress an engine house, a house to contain the dynamos and all the hydraulic engines and works connected with the hydraulic supply for working the lifts, also sheds for carriages and engines, and workshops for the general purposes of the line. For these extensive works considerable time was required, but they would all be ready long before they were required. The permanent rails were laid almost the entire length in one tunnel, and partly in another. The carriages and engines for the experimental train were already in the tunnel, and the contractors' preliminary trial would doubtless take place before many days were over. The station at King William Street would shortly receive the tile lining, and would then be as complete as they could make it. During the last half-year they had raised in additional capital the sum of £75,000, and they considered that would be sufficient for the purposes of the line until it was opened. They had raised it not by advertisements, but by arrangements with financial houses in the City, and had thereby saved the expenses of advertising, although some concession had to be made in the question of commission and price. When he (the chairman) last stood before them, he expressed the hope that he should be able at the next meeting to tell them what day the line would be opened for traffic. No one could be more

185

disappointed than he and the directors that there should be any further delay, but when the shareholders considered that the construction of the whole subway was perfectly novel, and the working power and the arrangements, in many cases were entirely new, they would understand how much thought and consideration had to be given to every detail, in order that there might be no failure when they came to the opening of the line. In almost all railway works contractors very seldom completed the works in the specified time, and in such unusual works as these the shareholders must have a little more patience than in ordinary kind of works. Everything had been done to carry out the work with absolute carefulness, and with as much expedition as the nature of the undertaking would allow. The chairman then formally moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. Hubbard. A few questions were asked by shareholders, which were satisfactorily disposed of by the chairman.

A vote of thanks to the chairman and the directors brought the meeting to a close.

Anglo-American Brush Electric Light Corporation, Limited.

THE adjourned meeting was held at the offices of the Company, Belvedere Road, on Wednesday. Mr. J. B. Sellon occupied the chair.

The Chairman said: This is, as you are aware, an adjourned meeting to supplement that held last Wednesday. It was called in anticipation of the new company being registered by that date, but as it was found impossible to complete all the formalities in time, it was necessary to adjourn until to-day in order to confirm the three resolutions which were passed unanimously at the meeting held at the Cannon Street Hotel on the 26th July. The resolutions were explained on that occasion very fully by the chairman, Lord Thurlow, who I regret is unable to attend to-day, and after discussion, met with general approval, and you will, I hope, feel assured that they would not have been put forward by your directors had they not, after mature consideration, arrived at the conclusion that they would be advantageous to your individual interests as well as the general welfare of the corporation. The new title, The Brush Electrical Engineering Company, was registered on the 10th inst., and will take over the business of the corporation as from the 1st of August, which was arranged in the agreement. The Falcon Company will hold their confirmatory meeting tomorrow, after which the agreement of that company will be exchanged and completed. With regard to the proposed agreement with the Australasian Company, it will be remembered that the chairman explained at the meeting on the 26th July that some difficulties had presented themselves which it was hoped would easily be removed. Those troubles have been found to be greater than was anticipated, and although the negotiations have been continued in the interval, the only basis which in view of adequately protecting your interests we have thought it right to demand, has not yet been agreed to. Negotiations are, however, being continued in an amicable spirit, and we hope that an understanding satisfactory to both companies will be arrived at. The majority of the debenture holders have already given their assent to the scheme of reconstruction, and everything else that is necessary to carry into effect that scheme is in a satisfactory condition.

Mr. Lane-Fox: I think it only right to mention that I have certain unsettled claims against the Brush Company. The liquidation of the company makes it imperative that these differences should now be dealt with, and I am afraid that unless we can come to an immediate understanding the whole question of my early connection with the Brush Company, down to the present, will have to be reconsidered. I have done everything that was possible to get them settled amicably; hitherto, however, I have allowed myself to be put off with vague assurances. I should add that quite recently a very equitable proposal has been submitted to them on lines which I understood from the manager they were willing to agree to, but as I have not received from them any satisfactory assurance of a settlement, I am compelled to refer to the matter at this meeting.

The Chairman: Any claims whatever that Mr. Lane-Fox has against the corporation will in due course come before the liquidation and be properly considered. With regard to the special proposition which he refers to, a verbal communication came before the board at the last meeting on Wednesday and we very naturally desired that it should be put into writing. That writing only reached our general manager on Monday last, and of course has not come before the board since, as the board has not met in the interval, I, therefore, do not feel in a position to discuss the question. Mr. Lane-Fox has had my sympathy in his grievances, for to him belongs the honour of having been the first to foresee and solve the difficulties which surrounded the problem of producing a good incandescent lamp.

The following resolutions were then unanimously confirmed :"That it is desirable to re-construct the Anglo-American Brush Electric Light Corporation, Limited, and that with a view thereto the corporation be wound up voluntarily, and that J. B. Braithwaite, jun., and E. Garcke be, and they are hereby, appointed liquidators for the purposes of such winding up."

"That the said liquidators be, and they are hereby, authorised to consent, if required, to the registration of a new company, to be named The Brush Electrical Engineering Company, Limited,' with a memorandum and articles of association which have already been prepared with the approval of the directors of the corporation, but which are to be subject to such alterations and modifications (if any) as may be found expedient."

186

་

"That the draft agreement submitted to this meeting and initialled by the chairman for the transfer of the business and property of this corporation to the new company shall be and the same is hereby approved; and that, pursuant to section 161 of the Companies Act, 1862, the liquidators shall be, and they are hereby, authorised to enter into an agreement with such new company (when incorporated) in the terms of the said draft, and generally to carry the same into effect, with such (if any) modifications as the liquidators may find expedient."

Falcon Engineering and Car Company, Limited.— A meeting was held yesterday at Coleman Street to confirm the arrangement with the Brush Company. The proceedings were entirely of a formal character, and lasted a few minutes.

[AUGUST 16, 1889.

height, and weight of the subject were recorded with each observa tion. No dependence of the resistance upon these qualities could be noticed, but the boys had apparently a higher resistance and stoutly built men a low resistance. Thus the four boys of ages under 16 gave an average of 1,218 ohms, while the nine cases of men, whose weight exceeded 175 pounds, gave an average of 770 ohms.

The average of all the 220 measurements was just 1,000 ohms, and the sum of the divergencies from this mean value taken without regard to sign was 27,920.

From these data we obtain by the application of the usua approximate formulæ of probability the following table in which the actually observed and calculated divergencies are compared.

TRAFFIC RECEIPTS

The West Coast of America Telegraph Company, Limited. The gross earnings for the month of July were £5,350.

THE LAW OF PROBABILITY OF ERROR AS APPLIED TO THE OBSERVED ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE OF THE HUMAN BODY.*

By A. E. KENNELLY.

Ir is generally admitted that all social phenomena are in the aggregate controlled by the general law of probability of error, and statistics, it is claimed, show that the proportions, weight, intelligence, and, in fact, all measureable properties of animated beings, at any given time or place, centre about some mean value, the divergencies from which follow the law of probability of error in observations. This leads to the inference that nature endows all organisms with slight variability of type in a high degree, any one quality being the resultant of a great number of factors, so that the general mean is reached through the summation of all possible variations of those factors, as many variations being ultimately positive as negative. The law has probably not been stated for the measured electrical resistance of the human body, but the following observations may fairly be said to indicate its application:

Two hundred and twenty men and boys were measured at Mr. T. A. Edison's laboratory for the resistance they offered between the hands with liquid contact. The measurements were all made on the same day, and as nearly as possible under the same conditions. Two glass jars, 15 centimetres (6 inches) in diameter and 20 centmetres (8 inches) deep, containing an aqueous solution of caustic potash (density 1·10), were connected by immersed copper sheets, 15 centimetres × 29 centimetres (6 inches x 15 inches), with a Wheatstone bridge. The reason for adopting caustic potash solution was that in a previous test with 39 men their mean resistance between the hands immersed in this solution was found to be 30 per cent. less than when aqueous zinc sulphate solution, of density 1.13, and zinc electrodes were used, all other conditions remaining unaltered.

The testing battery had a low resistance and an E.M.F. of 8 volts. The bridge ratio was 1888, and with the dead beat galvanometer employed, readings could easily be taken to one ohm in 2,000.

The measurements were made in such a manner as to eliminate almost entirely the effects of polarisation. Under these circumstances it was found that between the limits of the feeblest current by which an observation could be obtained and the strongest current that on starting or interruption could be conveniently supported by the men (about five milliampères), the measured resistances were practically independent of the current strength, and, consequently, of the battery power employed. The resistances, however, decreased with the surface area of immersed skin, and also with the period of immersion, in many instances falling about 100 ohms in the first 30 seconds. To obtain comparable results, therefore, the hands of the person tested were plunged, pointing vertically, downward in the jars until the tips of the middle fingers rested on the bottoms, and the measurement was made as closely as possible 30 seconds after immersion. The readings were carried to the nearest 10 ohms, units being negligible even if the resistance had been steady enough to render them distinct. The variations in these measurements would include not only differences in the resistance of the arms and trunk, but also the variations of thickness in the epidermis, area of hand surface, as well as errors of observation and time. All these disturbing conditions, however, may be regarded as belonging to the class of observational error, and simply tend to make the measurement of the resistance within the body less precise. The age,

*Electrical World.

The agreement is seen to be very fair, except that there were more large discrepancies of over 500 ohms than theory would account for.

The highest observed resistance was 1,970 ohms and the lowest 660 ohms.

Under the conditions of this test, therefore, it was an even chance by the theory of probability that any man's resistance would be within 108 ohms of 1,000, i.e., would lie between 892 and 1,108. As a fact, 115 out of the 220 observations fell within those limits, so that the final result of all the measurements was 1,000 ohms 108.

THE TELEPHOTE.

[From the Indépendance Belge.]

EDISON'S arrival has stirred the scientific world of Paris; this astonishing savant, whose brain, disdaining the twelve labours of Hercules, has introduced 610 inventions, comes to France bearing in the folds of his mantle an innovation which has already been much spoken of-I refer to the telephote. I must add that the telephote is already claimed by a young French savant, M. Courtonne, who, moreover, has drawn up a report carefully enclosed it a sealed wrapper and confided to the care of the Academy of Sciences. M. Courtonne has worked at his discovery for about five years, and he does dream of being wronged in his rights by Mr. Edison, who has many other glorious titles to his name.

This is what, according to M. Courtonne's own explanations, the telephote consists of:-It is an apparatus which consists in trans porting sight to a distance; it is not naturally the question of a telescope, as that would not offer anything very original as a discovery. The visual ray will be simply transported to the place it is desired to contemplate by electric wires which will be attached thereto; thus Marseilles being united to Paris by these wires, one could, so to speak, transport his eyes to the Cannebière and follow without effort everything passing at that point.

M. Courtonne avows, however, that he has not yet made experiments up to so great a distance as that which separates Marseilles from Paris, but that he has already extended his radius of action up to about 200 kilomètres, and that before three months be engages to solve the problem for even greater distances. Edison. who does not ignore M. Courtonne's works, has written to his young confrère to announce his arrival and asking for an interview. It will be, I think, a moment of inexpressible emotion when these two savants mutually communicate their researches and examine together if they have arrived at the same result by different means, or even if there is between their labours à quite fortuitous coincidence. In a fortnight the learned world will be fixed on this question.

It may be said that the day when this invention shall have received an official application (and we have every reason to thick that the interview between MM. Edison and Courtonne will accelerate this result), there will be produced to a certainty a profound commotion in human life, from which industry, strategy, the Press, and everything playing a part in human mechanism will draw an inestimable profit. One believes he dreams when br thinks that one day the eyes will plant there the human body, and will go travelling incognito in different places they are ordered to explore.