considerable; thus the evaporation per second on Huron and
Michigan, as given in the table above, is nearly 67,000 ft., but the
figures for another year show nearly 89,000 ft. per second, which
would represent a difference of 61/2 in. in water level. As a discharge
of 10,000 cubic feet a second into the new canal would lower the level
of these two lakes by 2.87 in. in a year, it follows that the
difference between a year of maximum and one of minimum evaporation is
more than twice as great as would be required for the canal, and even
under the most unfavorable conditions the volume taken from the whole
chain of lakes would not lower them an inch.

When the variations in level due to different causes--rain, wind, and
evaporation being the chief--are taken into consideration, the effect
of 10,000 cubic feet a second abstracted would probably not be
noticeable. That this would be so is the opinion, after careful
investigation, of many eminent American engineers. On the other hand
there is a similar unanimity of opinion as to the advantages that
would be obtained in the condition of the Mississippi by adding to it
a tributary of such importance as the proposed canal.--_Engineering_.

* * * * *

N.F. BURNHAM AND HIS LIFE WORK.

By W.H. BURNHAM.

The inventor and patentee of all water wheels known as the Burham
turbine died from Bright's disease of the kidneys at his home, York,
Pa., Dec. 22, 1890, aged 68 years 9 months and 9 days. He was born in
the city of New York, March 13, 1822, and was of English-Irish and
French descent. His father was a millwright and with him worked at the
trade in Orange county, N.Y., until he was 16 years old. He then
commenced learning the watchmakers' business, which he was obliged to
relinquish, after three years, on account of his health. He then went
to Laurel, Md., in 1844, and engaged with Patuxent & Co. as mercantile
clerk and bookkeeper. In 1856 he commenced the manufacture of the
French turbine water wheel. In 1879 he sold out his Laurel interests,
went to New York and commenced manufacturing his own patents. On May
22, 1883, he founded the Drovers' and Mechanics' National Bank of
York, and was elected its first president, which position he held at
the time of his death. In 1881, with others, he built the York opera
house, at a cost of $40,000. He was a Knight Templar, and past master
of the I.O.O.F., and past sachem of Red Men.

[Illustrati