rsal language.

Admiral Pim pointed out that a red light would show four miles, while a
green light was only visible for two miles and a half, so that, if a
green light were seen, it indicated that the two vessels were within two
miles and a half of each other.

Sir James Douglass said there was undoubtedly a weakness in regard to
these lights; and he held that in the manufacture of lights effect
should be given to the difference that existed in the various lights, so
that, by making the green light more powerful, it could penetrate as far
as the red, and in the same way making the red and green lights
proportionately more powerful, so that they would penetrate as far as
the white light.

Sir James Douglass said he had seen a parabolic reflector for sound
tried, but, unfortunately, the reflector so intensified and focused all
the sounds about the vessel and the noise of the sea that the operator
could hear nothing but a chaos of sound.

* * * * *

A PLAN FOR A CARBONIZING HOUSE.

The operation of carbonizing woolen rags for the purpose of obtaining
pure wool, through the destruction of the vegetable substances contained
in the raw material, maybe divided into two parts, viz., the immersion
of the rags in acid, with subsequent washing and drying, and the
carbonization properly so called. The first part is so well known, and
is so simple in its details and apparatus, that it is useless to dwell
upon it in this place. But the second requires more scientific
arrangements than those that seem to be generally adopted, and, as
carbonization is now tending to constitute a special industry, we think
it is of interest to give here a typical plan for a plant of this kind.
It will be remarked that this plan contains all the parts in duplicate.
The object of this arrangement is to permit of a greater production, by
rendering the operation continuous through half of the apparatus being
in operation while the other half is being emptied and filled.

Figs. 4 and 5 give plans of the ground floor and first story, and Figs.
1, 2, and 3 give vertical sections. The second story is arranged like
the first, and serves as a drier. As we have said, there is a double
series of chambers for carbonization, drying, and work generally. These
two series are arranged on each side of a central portion, which
contains the heating and ventilating apparatus and a stone stairway
giving access to the upper stor