42

Reducing the Coal Bill.-An invention that claims to effect a saving of 50 per cent. in the cost of fuel should possess the greatest possible interest for all electrical engineers, opening up, as it does, a prospect of the possibility of supplying electric light and power at a price much less prohibitive than that rendered necessary under present circumstances. The Hopcraft furnace has been sufficiently long in use to have proved by actual results that it is a genuine and practical means for effecting several most important ends. The most prominent of these is the material economy in the cost of fuel; but in addition to this, less manual labour is required, a largely increased duty is obtained from the boiler, and the prevention of smoke is perfect. At the works of Sir Joseph Causton and Sons, Hopcraft furnaces have been in operation for over a year, giving the greatest satisfaction, and showing a saving of 50 per cent. in the coal bill; and the result of some tests by the National Smoke Abatement Institution was that this furnace evaporated as much water per hour with Welsh dust as an ordinary furnace did with hard steam coal, the saving in cost in this case also being 50 per cent. The interesting report of these tests by Mr. D. K. Clark, will be sent by the Hopcraft Furnace Company to anyone interested in the subject.

"Money" and the Electric Companies.-Money says: "House-to-house electrical supply companies and other similar concerns with different titles are springing up with mushroom rapidity all over the country. In a number of cases the capital is monotonously alike, and at first blush they all look a very fine thing for-the directors. It would need a fairly lengthy article to criticise their merits or demerits, so we content ourselves at present by strongly advising investors to be on the alert, and as the electricity tap has been turned on, to be careful that they themselves are not too readily tapped." While agreeing with our financial contemporary that investors should be wary-in other things as well as in electric lighting schemes-we hope that the time is now at hand when real honest work can be depended upon to bring returns into the pockets of shareholders and to also reward the promoter.

That very important difference-overlooked last week by our contemporary the Electrical Engineerbetween the companies forming now and those which blossomed so rapidly a few years ago, to, die just as quickly, should be borne in mind. At this juncture capital is required not for construction companies or to pay for questionable patents, but for real enterprise yielding profitable returns on the outlay.

Transference of Business.-We learn that the electric business of the firm of Clarke, Chapman, Parsons & Co. has been transferred by mutual consent to the Hon. C. A. Parsons, the well known inventor of the turbo-electric generator, who will now carry on the whole of their business in connection with electric lighting under the name of Parsons & Co., retaining the whole staff of the department. In addition to the turbogenerator the manufactures of this firm include slow speed dynamos, arc lamps, projectors for the passage through the Suez Canal, for harbour entering and for war ships, and all other requisites for electric installations on land and on board ship.

King, Brown & Co. v. Anglo-American Brush Light Corporation.-The Anglo-American Brush Light Corporation have lodged with the First Division of the Court of Session, Edinburgh, a reclaiming note or appeal against Lord Trayner's decision finding invalid their letters patent granted in October, 1878, for improvements in electrical appliances. As the Court rises For the summer vacation on the 20th inst., the reclaimg note cannot be heard until the reassembling of the urt in October. It is not likely that judgment will given before the end of the year, and thereafter, in probability, an appeal will be taken by the losing ide to the House of Lords.

[JULY 12, 1889.

The Shah and the Electrical Omnibus.—Mr. Radcliffe Ward and Mr. F. B. Behr, director of Ward's Electrical Car Company, exhibited their electrical omnibus to the Shah in the grounds of Buckingham Palace. Mr. Ward fully explained the features of his system of electrical traction as applied both to tramways, railways, and ordinary roads. The Shah seemed both pleased and astonished.

Parliamentary Bills for Electric Lighting.-Mr. Charles Harrison (as the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee) reported as follows:- "Four Bills have been introduced by the Board of Trade into Parliament for the purpose of confirming the Provisional Orders issued with reference to electric lighting in the metropolis. The Highways Committee has been in constant communication with the Board of Trade as to the frame of a model order, and many concessions have been made to meet the views of that Committee. Further amendments may, perhaps, be secured, but in order to reserve the position of the Council unimpaired a short petition should be presented against each Bill, and this should be done on or before Tuesday next. Your Committee have instructed the solicitor to prepare petitions, and they recommend: That the seal be affixed to the petitions, and that the solicitor be authorised to instruct one counsel to appear upon the first Provisional Order which may come into Committee."" This proposal the Council agreed to.

The Electric Lighting Bills in Parliament.-On Wednesday, on the motion for the second reading of the Electric Lighting Provisional Order Bill, Sir M. Hicks-Beach, in reply to Sir G. Campbell, said the special report of the Board of Trade on this Bill had not been circulated owing to the delay of the printers. The Bill, and other similar Bills, were read a second time. A number of petitions in opposition to several London electric lighting provisional orders have been deposited in the House of Commons, among them being one on behalf of the Duke of Bedford and the Strand District Board against the Mid-London order; the Wandsworth District Board of Works petition against the South London order; the vestries of St. John the Evangelist and St. Margaret, Westminster, against the Kensington and Knightsbridge order, all the petitioners pray to be heard in committee; four by the London County Council against various orders, and ten on behalf of the Gas Light and Coke Company against the Westminster, the Knightsbridge, the Notting Hill, the South Kensington, the Mid-London, the South London, the West London, &c., schemes.

Ss. "Silvertown."-We learn that this cable ship, the property of the Silvertown Company, arrived in the Victoria Docks early on Sunday morning, the 7th inst. We are glad to hear that the health of all on board was exceptionally good throughout the voyage, with the exception of two or three slight cases of fever. This immunity from sickness is a matter of congratulation, seeing that a considerable portion of the work lay in the Bight of Benin and on the Gold Coast, localities famous, or rather infamous, even on the African littoral, for their unhealthiness.

Murray's Penny Pocket Guide to London.-The publisher has sent us a copy of this excellent little guide, which we think would be found useful by every one who is either a resident in London or a visitor. It contains a number of good illustrations from photographs, and an excellent map, divided in a most ingenious way for handy reference.

Revival of an Old Idea.-It is said that an invention which promises to revolutionise the method of discharging firearms has been lately under the consideration of the War Office. It consists in firing the cartridge by electricity, and experiments in connection with the new rifle are in progress.

JULY 12, 1889.]

Personal.-Mr. R. J. Browne, who was assistantelectrician at Glasgow International Exhibition, has left this country to fill an important engagement in India. Mr. Walter T. Glover is now in America, his partner, Mr. Henry Edmunds, having been very seriously ill in New York. We are glad to report that the latest news from the States is to the effect that a decided improvement is now manifest in Mr. Edmunds's condition.

--

What's in a Name!-The Financial News says:"They beat us in company titles in the United States. There has just been registered at Chicago 'the United States Vogel Kazophone and Electric Microphone Trumpet Acoustic Electro-Motor Power Musical Car Distance Loud-Speaking Transfer Instrument Company.' The object of the company is to acquire certain patents, rent-rights, and privileges of William Vogel, Adoph Gray, and Richard Dakin. The capital is $65,000,000, which, considering the length of the company's name, is little enough.

The French Government and the Parisian Telephones.-The Chamber on Wednesday adopted the Bill for the purchase of the telephonic system in Paris, which is to be managed by the Posts and Telegraphs Department.

Electric Lighting in Sheffield.-The Electric Construction and Maintenance Company, Limited, intimates its intention to apply to the Board of Trade for a provisional order to supply electricity within the dis

trict.

Central Blatt für Electrotechnik.-We notified in our last that this journal will for the future appear weekly, and in much larger size. In its new shape it is intended that it shall not only keep the lead in Germany, but be equal to the best of its class in the world.

Jack of All Trades.-The reading of the registration of the Henley Telegraph and Electric Construction Company is very funny. That the business of a pawnbroker should go hand-in-hand with electrical engineering is suggestive enough, but things have scarcely come to this pass yet with the trade generally. What would the late W. T. Henley have thought of the works he created being spoken of as "My Uncle's ?" The indefatigable Mr. Trotter has here a fine subject to report upon to the Electrical Section of the London Chamber of Commerce. The objects of the Northern Press and Engineering Company are scarcely less interesting; at all events, it can wash its own dirty linen.

Hastings Electric Lighting.-At a monthly meeting of the Hastings Town Council held on Friday afternoon last in the Municipal Buildings, Hastings, the Mayor (Councillor Stubbs) presiding, the following business was transacted: Electric Lighting. - Notice was received that the Hastings and St. Leonard's Electric Light Company intended to apply to the Board of Trade for a Provisional Order to authorise the supply of electricity by the company for public and private purposes within the area of the authority for such period as the Board of Trade may think proper. A similar notice was received from the secretary of the South of England House-to-House Electricity Company, Limited.

Perth and the Electric Light.-At the monthly meeting of the Police Commission held on Monday night, a communication was read from the interim secretary of the Scottish House-to-House Electricity Company, Limited, intimating that that company intended to apply to the Board of Trade for a Provisional Order, to be confirmed by Parliament next session, for authority to supply electricity for lighting for public and private purposes within the city, and requesting the consent of the commission as the local authority to their application.

NEW COMPANIES REGISTERED.

43

- Henley Telegraph and Electric Construction Company, Limited. Capital £200,000 in £10 shares. Objects: To carry on business as electricians, telegraph engineers and contractors, submarine cable and telegraph instrument manufacturers, wire drawers, galvanisers, wire rope makers and engineers. To acquire the goodwill, patents, machinery and other property of W. T. Henley's Telegraph Works Company, Limited. To carry on the business of an electric light company in all branches. To carry on business as engineers, merchants, bankers, brokers, shippers, carriers, traders, pawnbrokers, manufacturers and contractors. Signatories (with 1 share each): F. Newton, 16, King William Street; Wm. Hays, 31, Abchurch Lane; H. Lescher, 6, Clement's Lane; Lieut.-General Sir J. Stokes, K.C.B., Good Rest, Hayward's Heath; Sydney Gedge, M.P., 1, Old Palace Yard; G. Baird, C.E., Travellers' Club, Pall Mall; the Hon. H. Stuart Littleton, 22, Rutland Gate, S.W. The signatories are to appoint the first directors. Qualification, 50 shares. Remuneration, £2,000 per annum, with an additional £150 per annum for every 1 per cent. dividend over 10 per cent. on the ordinary shares. Registered 3rd inst. by Newman, Hays & Co., 31, Abchurch Lane, E.C.

Northern Press and Engineering Company, Limited. -Capital £30,000, in £10 shares. Objects: To take over the business of the Northern Press Company, Limited, and to print and publish the Shields Daily Gazette and Shipping Telegraph. To carry on business as engineers, electricians, electrical engineers and suppliers of electricity for light, heat, motive power, or otherwise. To acquire letters patent granted to Robt. Cumming Annand for improvements in the inking apparatus of printing machines, and for improvements in washing machines. Signatories (with 1 share each): *James Cochran Stevenson, M.P.; *James Shannon Stevenson: Robert Cumming Annand, of South Shields; Mrs. F. M. Mackenzie, *James Annand, Newcastle-on-Tyne; *A. Shannon Stevenson, Tynemouth; Arthur Gavin Stephenson, York. The signatories denoted by an asterisk are the first directors; the company in general meeting will appoint remuneration. Registered 3rd inst. by Waterlow and Sons, Limited, London Wall.

Peru Telephone Company, Limited. - Capital, £100,000 in £5 shares. Objects: To acquire, construct, equip and work lines of telegraph, telephone, or other means of communication in Peru and adjoining countries; and to carry on the business of a telephone, telegraph, and electric light, heat and power supply company. Signatories (with 1 share each): J. D. Pearson, New Southgate, N.; H. E. Warner, Streatham Common; W. A. Pittman, 7, St. Helen's Gardens, North Kensington; H. Mann, 12, Woburn Place; S. E. Preston. W. Capel Slaughter and Wm. May, 18, Austin Friars, E.C. The signatories are to appoint the first directors; qualification, £1,000 in shares; the company in general meeting will appoint remuneration. gistered 4th inst. by Slaughter and May, 18, Austin Friars.

Re

Ecuador Telephone Company, Limited. - Capital, £100,000 in £5 shares. Objects: To acquire and construct telegraphic, telephonic, or other means of communication in Ecuador and the adjoining countries, and to carry on in all branches the business of a telephone, telegraph, and electric light, heat and power supply company. The signatories, who are the same. as in the preceding company, appoint the first directors, whose qualification is to be £1,000 in shares, and whose remuneration will be determined by the company in general meeting. Registered 4th inst. by Slaughter and May, 18, Austin Friars.

REVIEW

OFFICIAL RETURNS OF ELECTRICAL

COMPANIES.

Electric Tram Car Syndicate, Limited.-An agreement of 90th ult. between this company and Alfred James Jarman, of 2, Kellett Road, Brixton, engineer, confirms an agreement of 10th April, under which Mr. Jarman agreed to sell to a company then in course of formation under the proposed name of the ElectroMotor Syndicate, certain inventions and patents for £15,000, payable £2,000 in cash and £13,000 in fully paid shares. An agreement of 13th May cites that the company referred to in the previous agreement had been registered under the name of the Electric Tram Car Syndicate, Limited, and that the said agreement should be binding upon such company. The present agreement provides for the allotment of the stipulated number of fully-paid shares to Mr. Jarman. Registered office, 31, Lombard Street, James White, Secretary.

Chelsea Electricity Supply Company, Limited.-An agreement of 5th ult. provides for the allotment to the Anglo-American Brush Electric Light Corporation of 248 fully-paid shares of £5 each, being 50 per cent. of an amount of £2,480 due to the Brush Company for plant supplied and work done for this company. The registered office is now situate at Draycott Place, Chelsea.

Tonks, Limited-(metal workers and electro-platers, and manufacturers of electric fittings).—An agreement of 9th April, filed on the 18th ult., provides for the purchase of the business and assets of Edmund Tonks and Wm. Hy. Tonks, of Moseley Street, Birmingham, for £81,039 4s. 10d., payable £45,000 in fully-paid shares, £30,000 in 4 per cent. debentures, and the balance in cash.

Northern Electric Wire and Cable Company, Limited. An agreement of 20th ult., filed on the 1st inst., between Blakey, Emmott and Company, Limited, of Halifax, and James Duff (for this company), cites that the former have agreed to transfer to this company the machinery, stock in trade, goodwill, and all contracts connected with the electric light and telephone, cable, and insulated wire department of their business, for £4.300. The purchase consideration is payable as to £1,000 thereof in cash, and the balance in fully-paid shares. Registered office, Square Road, Halifax.

Series and General Electric Traction Company, Limited. An agreement between the Series Electrical Traction Syndicate, Limited, and Stephen Hy. West, the liquidator thereof of the first part, Hy. Foote and Carl von Buch of the second part, and this company of the third part, cites, that by agreement of 12th January, 1888, the Telpherage Company, Limited, granted to Messrs. Foote and von Bnch the option until the 29th June, 1889, to acquire several patents and patent rights with a stipulation that the Telpherage Company should be entitled to licence of such patents without royalty or other payment, provided always that the licence should only apply to aerial lines with hanging loads, and that Messrs. Foote and von Buch should have the first refusal to contract for the construction of such lines, and subject to the provision that the owner for the time being of the Telpherage line at Glynde, Sussex, shall be entitled to use such patents. The syndicate was incorporated on the 31st January, 1888, and obtained from Messrs. Foote and von Buch a licence to use the patented processes for the purpose only of traction on tramways and not on railways. The syndicate acquired a lease of tramways at Northfleet, and are possessed of certain other patents. The syndicate, in conjunction with Messrs. Foote and von Buch, have formed this company for taking over the undertaking of the syndicate, and the interest of Messrs. Foote and von Buch in he said patents. The purchase consideration is £22,500 cash, and 40,500 fully paid shares of £1 each to the ndicate, and £12,500 cash and 29,500 fully paid res of £1 each to Messrs. Foote and von Buch. Electric Trust, Limited.-The registered office of this mpany is situate at Palace Chambers, Bridge Street, stminster, S.W.

CITY NOTES, REPORTS, MEETINGS, &c.

Crompton and Company, Limited.

THE first annual general meeting of this company was held at Cannon Street Hotel yesterday, Viscount Torrington presiding. The Secretary read the notice convening the meeting. The Chairman said: Gentlemen, the directors feel they may fully congratulate the shareholders upon the satisfactory condition of the company, as shown by the statement of the accounts which has been laid before you. The company has been barely a year in existence, yet the net profits are above the average of the preceding years. It will be seen, by a perusal of the accounts, that the directors, while maintaining the plant in complete repair, have written off a sum of £1,554 as depreciation; they further propose to carry forward a further sum of £1,500 for any possible contingencies that for may arise, and doubtful debts, though this latter can hardly be expected as the accounts are not a year old. They then propose to place the sum of £568 to the reserve fund for the purpose of equalising future dividends. It may be said that this is not a large sum, still it is a beginning, and considering that the company has only been working 8 months, it may be looked upon as a fair start. In making these deductions before declaring a dividend the directors feel they are acting providently as men of business, and are doing their best to make the position of the company a strong one. It is only fair to add that the holders of the ordinary shares cheerfully acquiesce in these proposals. After setting aside this sum, the board propose to pay a full dividend of 7 per cent. upon the preference shares to 31st March, then to pay the managing directors their fees, which they are not entitled to draw until the dividend is paid on the preference shares, and, finally, it is proposed to pay a dividend on the ordinary shares of 5 per cent. So much for the past; the future looks very promising. The works are busy and orders are increasing. There is just now a great revival of the electrical industry, consequent upon the passing of the Electric Lighting Act Amendment Bill. Many new companies have been formed, and the Board of Trade have held an enquiry into the applications for Provisional Orders and licences which have been made under the Act, and has officially sanctioned many of the projects. Manufacturers are consequently very busy, this company, in common with others, having a large increase of orders. The directors believe that a very prosperous future is before them, and every effort is being made by the careful attention to details to ensure that the work shall be executed in such a manner as to keep the company in the front rank of reliable makers. The circular and prospectus of the Australian Company, referred to in the report, have been sent to the Press, and these papers fully explain both the objects of the new company and the reason for its formation. We believe that this Australian Company has every likelihood of being a properous one. Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen have done good work in Australia, and the business has grown rapidly; directors have every confidence in recommending subscriptions for the shares of that company. I may mention that the Australian Company which has been formed, and over which I have agreed to be chairman, is merely another form of having a house in Australia where our business will be transacted, perhaps better than if we had a firm out there to look after it. The Australian Company are bound to get all their materials from the parent company. At the date of the report only 16,781 shares were allotted, but up to this date the shares placed number 18,816; there are less than 1,200 left, and these will no doubt be placed very shortly. I think it is a question whether we ought to put a premium upon the balance that we have still left; but that is a matter which the directors will take into consideration. There is a question which has appeared to be somewhat knotty to some of our shareholders, and that is the question of patents and goodwill for the sum of £37,765. That is the value of the goodwill and patents; it represents a value of the business for the realisable assets handed over to the company by the vendors. I have no doubt the secretary will answer fully any questions as to this. I move then that the report of the directors and audited statement of accounts be adopted.

Mr. Crompton, in rising to second this, said: I have great pleasure in addressing you for the first time since the formation of the company, as I was unfortunately absent from the first meeting. To me it is a somewhat nervous moment, being the original founder of the business which is now turned into a limited company. As a private concern I was very proud of it, and I am and shall continue to be equally proud of it as a limited company. There has been among some people a sort of prejudice against the Limited Liability Company Act; they say that firms which have done extremely well as private firms do not continue to do so when turned into companies. That is a statement which has been often made, and in some cases it is only too true, but some of the finest businesses in this country are worked on the lines that we are working this company, that is, the original founders who have built up the business remain the principal shareholders. When I look to such a firm as Marshalls, of Gainsboro', the finest engine works in the world, I only hope we shall follow in their footsteps and have our name so well known. I am sure that the objects we had in view in obtaining the additional capital by the formation of the company have been partially attained. We have been able to take up many large contracts which we could not have dreamt of doing so long as we were hampered by the lack of

capital, and as a result each order is better executed than from the time this business commenced. I quite corroborate what the chairman has said for the future prosperity of the company. We are doing our best to increase the number of companies, and are negotiating with several towns in addition to those named in the report, but, for reasons which we all appreciate, we do not name these towns here, as they are not absolutely completed, and our rivals are apt to step in and snatch the cup away before we get it to our lips. I have said all I think is necessary, and conclude by seconding the chairman's motion.

Mr. Tufnell asked what was the percentage of depreciation charged upon the plant, building, &c. He considered the sum of £15,554 appeared, at first sight, rather small.

Mr. Reeves (secretary) said 2 per cent. had been written off the building accounts, and 7 per cent. off the plant and machinery, which was ample considering they maintained the building in full repair.

Mr. Allbright, who was called upon by the chairman, said: I did not contemplate that I should have been called upon to speak, but as our chairman has asked me I am very pleased to have an opportunity of addressing you. I will give you an incident which occurred this morning which may interest you. An engineer on one of the most important railways in America called upon me this morning, and referred to a certain order which had been recently placed with us. He incidentally mentioned that the plant which we had supplied to them upwards of two years ago had already considerably more than paid for itself in the saving which had been effected by using the electric light. They could now unload waggons, and, generally speaking, carry on their business by night as well as by day, and he further remarked that our plant was so satisfactory that although lower tenders than ours had been submitted, there was no hesitation whatever in going back to the people from whom they had had satisfaction in the past.

The motion was then put to the meeting, which was carried unanimously.

The Chairman said since the formation of the company they had put upon the direction two gentlemen whose names would be well received, Mr. Bernard Gibson and Mr. C. F. Tufnell. would like the meeting to confirm their appointment.

He

The Rev. O'Brien Hodge moved, and Mr. J. Hill seconded their election, which was carried unanimously.

Messrs. Duncan Bryce & Co. were re-elected as auditors. A vote of thanks to the chairman brought the meeting to an end.

India-Rubber and Gutta-Percha Company.

THE half-yearly meeting of this company was held yesterday at Cannon Street Hotel, Mr. S. William Silver in the chair.

The Secretary read the notice convening the meeting. The Chairman then said: I may say we have pleasure in meeting you here to-day, and that we have to report to you that the general trade has been quite equal-somewhat in excess of any previous year. Our electrical and telegraph departments have been fairly occupied; the steamers, too, have been employed, one returned only last Saturday after laying a little short of 1,000 miles on very difficult ground. The expedition, under the direction of our engineer-in-chief, Mr. Matthew H. Gray, was successful in every respect, notwithstanding the peculiar character of the coast; the mouth of the Congo River delta, and the varying nature of the work all showing us, and the public generally, that a practical knowledge of the manufacture of the cable is not only desirable, but essential, to carry out such an undertaking as this successfully. I may take upon myself to say that in uniting practical knowledge with scientific skill, the Silvertown Works will not be found wanting. I think, on behalf of my friends, I am justified in moving that a 5 per cent. dividend, or 10s. per share, free of income tax, should be payable.

Mr. Matthew Gray seconded the motion, which was carried without dissent.

Mr. J. L. Harrison moved, and Captain Verey seconded, a vote of thanks to the chairman and directors for their efforts, which was carried unanimously.

The proceedings then terminated.

The Crompton Electric Supply Company of Australia, Limited.

THE capital of this company is fixed at £50,000, in 9,500 “A” shares and 500 "B" shares of £5 each, the "B" shares not participating in the profits until 10 per cent. is paid on the "A" shares, after which they are entitled to one-half of the surplus. Subscription is now invited for 4,000 "A" shares, more than one-half of which are already subscribed.

The prospectus states that "the well-known firm of electric light engineers and contracters, Messrs. R. E. Crompton & Co., of London and Chelmsford, have established, through the assistance of their agents, Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen, of Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne, a sound and rapidly increasing business in the Australian Colonies.

"It is well known that electrical work is extending enormously, and the colonists are fully alive to the many advantages of the electric light. The amount of work in progress and the importance and magnitude of the orders and proposals lately received by Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen necessitate the introduction of addi

tional capital. It is therefore proposed to form this company for the purpose of supplying the capital necessary to further develop this profitable business, and Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen themselves subscribe for one-fourth of the present issue of the "A" shares, Messrs. Crompton and Company, Limited, subscribing for a like amount.

"In the case of many orders received payments have to be taken by instalments spread over 12 or 18 months; and some of the now proposed contracts are so large that it is imperatively necessary more capital shall be available to guarantee the execution of the orders. The general business of electrical engineering has greatly increased during the last year or two, and large profits are at present being made from this work.

"Messrs. Crompton and Company, Limited, have granted to this company during the continuance of the agreement specified below, the exclusive right of representing them in the Australian Colonies and Tasmania, and have undertaken that they will not, without the consent of this company, supply electricity or electrical plant or machinery in those colonies, except through this company, and they agree to allow this company favourable terms in respect of price. They have also undertaken to give to this company, in manner more fully described in the agreement, the benefit of their existing patents in the Australian Colonies. Two members of their board become directors of this company.

'Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen agree to continue as agents for the company, under the directions of the Australian Committee. They are to be paid for their services by a small fixed commission upon the amount of the company's receipts, and in consideration of this commission, Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen are also to defray the expenses of the company's office and staff in Australia, other than the engineering staff. This agreement with Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen, therefore, will have the effect of limiting the working expenses of the company to an amount proportionate to the actual business done.

The company enters at once into the possession of a going business, with estimated profits of a considerable amount attached to the contracts. The consideration agreed to be paid for the sale of the business, and for the exclusive right to sell the electric appliances of Messrs. Crompton and Company, Limited, in Australia, is 500 "B" shares of £5 each, issued as fully paid. These shares will not participate in the profits of the company until 10 per cent. is paid on the "A" shares. Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen are also to receive payment in cash for the plant, machinery and stock in trade, which is to be taken over by the company.

The contracts entered into are one dated the 24th June, 1889, and made between Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen of the first part, Crompton and Company, Limited, of the second part, and the company of the third part, and another of the same date, made between Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen of the one part, and the company of the other part. It is not practicable to give particulars in this prospectus of all the trade contracts which have been entered into by Messrs. Harrisson and Whiffen, and applicants for shares must therefore waive the specification of such particulars. The two contracts mentioned above, together with the memorandum and articles of association, may be seen at the offices of the company's solicitors, Messrs. Deacon, Gibson and Medcalf, 4, St. Mary Axe, London."

The National Telephone Company.-Mr. Frederick R. Leyland has been elected president, and Mr. Forbes and Col. R. Raynsford Jackson vice-presidents, under the new organisation, and the following gentlemen directors-Charles Swain Agnew, John Winterbotham Batten, James Brand, John Bruce, Peter Garnett, Eli Heyworth, Joseph Bond Morgan, Dillwyn Parrish, William Cuthbert Quilter, M.P., George Hunter Robertson, Samuel Herrick Sands, and Alderman Joseph Thompson.

The Edison and Swan United Electric Light Company, Limited.-The directors have had the accounts for the year ending 30th June, 1889, before them, and subject to audit, they have decided to recommend, at the meeting of shareholders to be held on 30th inst., a dividend of 7 per cent. for the year on the "A" shares, and a further distribution of 3 per cent. against arrears of cumulative preferential dividend on those shares.

The West Coast of America Telegraph Company, Limited. At a board meeting this week, the directors of the West Coast of America Telegraph Company, Limited, declared an interim dividend of 53. per share, free of income tax, in respect of the first half of 1889, payable on the 18th inst.

TRAFFIC RECEIPTS.

The Brazilian Submarine Telegraph Company, Limited. The traffic receipts for the week ended 28th June, 1889, amounted to £3,156; and for the week ended 5th July, 1889, amounted to £4,068,

The Cuba Submarine Telegraph Company, Limited. The estimated traffic receipts for the month of June were £3,300 as compared with €3,027 in the corresponding month of last year. The receipts for the mouth of March, estimated at £4,500, realised £4,540.

The Great Northern Telegraph Company, Limited. The receipts in June, 1888, £22,000; January 1st to June 30th, 1889, £129,400; corresponding months, 1888, £132,000; and of 1887, £127,120,

The Western and Brazilian Telegraph Company, Limited. The traffic receipta for the week ending 5th July, 1889, after deducting the fifth of the grořa receipts payable to the London Platino-Brazilian Telegraph Company, Limited, were £2,791.

PROBLEMS IN ELECTRIC TRACTION.

By Dr. LOUIS BELL, Purdue University.

THE preliminary stage of electric tramways is to-day quite gone by. While three years ago such an application of electricity was regarded very dubiously, that doubt is now displaced by the certainty that the electric road is a success and has come to stay.

The live question to-day does not involve the chances of the electric road but the chances of its competitors. There are now something like 50 electric roads in regular daily operation in the United States, covering about 200 miles of track, employing all sorts of systems, working under all manner of adverse conditions, climbing grades of pitch equivalent to 400 feet and 500 feet to the mile, taking curves of all possible radii, and there has been with all this no report of failure anywhere.

On very many of these roads electricity has replaced horses, and nearly every week brings reports of similar substitutions elsewhere.

No inroads have as yet been made on the cable systems, but it is an open question whether they can hold their own, even in the favourable localities where they are already established.

No one need ask, in face of these facts, whether electric traction is practicable or successful, but rather such questions as these: How efficient is it? What is its first cost, compared with horse or cable traction? How do its running expenses and repairs compare with these? What grades and curves can safely and economically be taken? What accidents is it liable to, and how can they be prevented? What are the conditions of efficient and economical running?

It was for the purpose of attempting to answer some of these vital questions that the present investigation has been carried on. To obtain thoroughly practical results applicable to the everyday working of an electric tramway I have not concerned myself with theoretical motor tests and curves such as are detailed in Mr. Sprague's now famous paper on his Richmond road, but have confined myself quite closely to actual car tests of power and efficiency, and to the evidence of the ammeter and the indicator diagram at the power station. I do not at all underrate the value and importance of the above-mentioned theoretical curves, but that ground was so thoroughly covered in the paper in question that a repetition is needless. Furthermore, the man who contemplates putting his money into an electric road does not particularly care about the characteristic of the motor used, but he does want to know how much power must be developed on his cars, how much coal he must burn at the power station to obtain it, what efficiency he may expect from the system, what are its weak points, and how they may be strengthened.

Through the kindness of Mr. Hawter, superintendent of the La Fayette (Ind.) Street Railway, every facility has been afforded me for making a thorough and detailed test of the road, and such of the results as may properly be published are recorded in this paper, only such details as directly concern the private business of the company being omitted.

Before taking up or discussing these experimental results, I purpose considering the general conditions under which electric roads must operate, the general difficulties to be met and the relations of this method of rapid transit to those with which it has to compete. There are many requirements for street railway work which are not met with in any other kind of traction. For most of these the electric motor is admirably adapted, while for a few it is not. Consider, then, the conditions to be met in street railway work and the properties that a motor of any kind must have to be thoroughly suited to these conditions.

1. To meet public convenience a tramway line must in nearly every case run through the most frequented business streets of a town, and outside the business portion must pass through, or very near to, the thickly populated residence streets and on to the larger suburbs. It, therefore, is generally not at liberty to pick out a route of the easiest grades and curves, but must be able to surmount quite severe grades readily, and take without much danger of derailment any curves that the streets require, sometimes of radii barely above 20 feet.

2. It should be thoroughly reliable, i.e., track and motor system should be so constructed that the system will be of very little danger, first, of a complete breakdown, interrupting travel throughout the line; and, second, of local accidents sufficient to pile up cars at any particular point.

3. It should have a considerable flexibility in the matter of speed. In any line where the cars run on anything like a fixed schedule, as will always be the case in anything except the very largest lines, they must be able to make up lost time within reasonable limits in case of a trifling accident or unusually frequent stops. For this reason the maximum speed should be considerable. 4. It must be able to stop and start quickly and easily. Running through crowded streets and liable at any moment to find its tracks blocked, the only security against serious and frequent accident is in the ability to stop quickly, even when running at full speed. Easy and quick starting, too, is quite necessary, since so much of the running time is taken up in just this way.

5. Track and motor system should be of such a kind as will cause the minimum amount of obstruction to the streets and annoyance to the travelling public. For this reason the rails are very low and unobtrusive, consequently somewhat less secure. Since most of the traffic is and will continue to be carried on by means of horses, any system that renders it difficult or dangerous to drive in the same street is open to objection.

[JULY 12, 1889.

6. The motor system should be tolerably silent, and of such a kind as not to prove a nuisance to the streets through which it passes. This condition and the last practically preclude the use of anything like the usual steam motors, except in the rare cases where the line can be carried through unfrequented streets.

7. It must be so arranged as to meet readily the demands of an unusual crowd at some one point. It frequently happens that most of the cars of a system must be started under nearly full load within a few minutes. This is specially true of lines connecting with suburbs, where the traffic is likely to be very uneven.

With all this, any tramway system must be tolerably economical in operation, and its first cost must not be prohibitive.

These conditions cover most of the points in street railway work, although in special cases they may be considerably modified. To meet these requirements all sorts of devices have been brought out. Of course, the use of horses is the principal method even now. Next in order come those motor systems which are modifications of the ordinary locomotive; then the cable traction systems, and finally the various electric systems. We have no concern here with the second class of motors above mentioned; they occasionally serve a useful purpose, but for every day use in crowded streets they have been adjudged by common consent a nuisance.

Taking, then, the three systems in extensive use, let us see wherein they do, or do not fulfill, the above conditions, specially seeking out the weak points and difficulties of the electric systems. So far as grades are concerned, the cable system easily takes first rank, for its power of hill climbing is limited only by the power of the grip and the tensile strength of the cable. The grip is usually of the toggle joint form, and consequently, if necessary, a cable car can be made to take a grade practicable for nothing else except a cogwheel road. Of course such excessive grades are neither desirable nor economical but now and then they are almost unavoidable. Sharp curves can, of course, be employed on a cable system, but with disastrous effect on the life of the cable and the efficiency of the system. The wear and tear on a cable with many curves is very severe.

With horses very steep grades are exceedingly objectionable, but by the aid of hill horses can be taken, except in slippery weather. At best horses are far inferior to the cable system for grade work, though a horse car can safely take a curve that nothing else can, for the horses tend to guide and pull round the head of the car, while in any motor system there is a certain tendency to jump the track even in spite of guard rails.

With electric roads the case is quite different. The motor cars depend on adhesion alone for hill climbing, and beyond a certain point adhesion fails. In such a car, however, the whole weight of car and contents rests directly upon the driving wheels in most cases, and consequently theoretically the possible grade per cent. should be numerically equal to the coefficient of adhesion. This can hardly be estimated exactly except by experiment in a given case, and street car tracks are generally not carefully enough laid to give good results. The data obtainable, however, would assign something like 20 per cent. as the maximum practicable grade and the real limit probably lies below this. As to the evidence offered by actual experience under working conditions, it is certain that with proper care of the track grades as high as 400 feet per mile can be operated with entire success. This presupposes that the rails are kept in good order and clear of sleet and snow. With extra vigilance in this respect, aided now and then by a little sand, I think it would be feasible to take grades of 500 feet per mile if necessary. Above a 10 per cent. grade the case is rather precarious when we consider the effect of rough weather. Occasional grades of greater pitch may be taken if they are not too long and conditions are favourable. As to curves, the electric roads are practically unlimited, but curves on grade are particularly undesirable, and in any case the speed should be reduced and the track well supplied with guard rails. Save on a steep grade there is no likelihood of trouble.

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As regards reliability, one may divide the various systems into two general classes-those in which each car is an independent unit, and those where all the cars have a common source of power. The former class comprises horses and the electrical accumulator system; the latter, cables, and all other modifications of electric traction. All traction systems are liable to occasional local mishaps, but a general breakdown is very improbable in the first class, while in the second it is likely now and then to occur. the cable system this is most likely to be caused by breakage of the cable itself, either as a whole or in part, i.e., the snapping of one or more strands. In the former case the system is paralyzed until the cable can be repaired, a period usually of several hours; while if the trouble comes from a broken strand or two, the loose wire can be cleared away in a few minutes and the cable run until stopped for the night, when a new strand can be inserted.

With the usual electrical systems a general stoppage, except in very rare cases, is due to a single cause, a serious short circuit at some point on the line. The wiring is usually arranged so that a broken wire, aside from the contact wire, causes no serious trouble, and even if the contact wire breaks, only a short section of track is thrown out of service. If a bad short circuit occurs, however, it may become necessary to shut down the entire line. But such an accident can be remedied almost as soon as the scene of it can be reached, and a broken wire is very easily mended. Electrical roads are, however, quite liable to minor accidents to single cars. Brushes will turn, trolleys will come off, gears will occasionally break, field coils will now and then burn out and local short circuits occur. Most of these mishaps can be soon remedied, and not a few of them averted by a vigilant system of car