ENGINEERING.
11
ENGINEERING.
ENGINEERING NOTES.
DeLesseps, although over eighty years of age, still continues to stand at the head among modern engineers for daring and seemingly absurd enterprises. He has presented to the French Government a scheme, which he thinks is practicable for irrigating and rendering fertile the Great Sahara Desert.
The Academy of Science, Paris, invites scientific men of all countries to compete for the Volta prize, 30.000 francs, for the discovery of invention of means or method of making electricity economically applicable to either one of the following objects: heat, light, chemical action, mechanical force, the transmission of messages, or the treatment of the sick. This prize was founded by the decree of June 11, 1882, and will be awarded in Decemebr 1887. Nothing in competition will be received later than June 30, 1887.
The Stevens Institute of Technology will include in its course hereafter a separate department of electricity, under the direction of Dr. William E. Geyer. It is not the intention of the Institute to confer the degree of electrical engineer, but to send out mechanical engineers thoroughly skilled in all kinds of engineering work involving the intricacies of electricity.
The United States Lighthouse Board intend to build a tower, 250 feet high, at Hallet's Point, on which will be placed six electric lamps of 4000 candle power each, to illuminate the adjacent waters. This is expected to render the passage of Hell Gate as safe by night as by day. The estimated cost is $20,000.
Preparations are being made for increasing the facilities for dredging and derrick work on the Panama Canal. The Pound manufacturing company of Lockport, N. Y., are constructing for the Franco-American Trading Campany, limited, a full set of four dredges and derricks to be used at the Panama end of the canal. The machinery is all first class.
There is only one serious defect which is common to all technical and special schools of this country, and that is the lack of opportunity for the development of that quality of mind which is fostered by the study of the philosophy of history, political economy and of kindred branches of belles lettres. The great pressure of work of the special technical studies, crowded as they are in a four year's course, leaves little time for listening to lectures and cultivating broad philosophic studies, the acquisition of which makes the man of culture. The need of a broad general culture is important in social and professional standing. American Engineer.
The American system of railroad building is to be adopted in Japan, according to press comments. The National Railroad Company of Japan, under the auspices of the Japanese government, has been incorporated with a capital of $20.000,000, and is now constructing the main line extending from Tokio to Anderson, a distance of about four hundred and fifty miles. A length of fifty miles of this main portion is about finished and ready for opening. It is expected that the entire line will be finished in about three years, if the work progresses as steadily as it has thus far.