Items and lbvelties. 79

it cool in wbrking. By this device the tool is much more effectually cooled than by the ordinary plan of a drop of water falling upon the Upper surface of the shaving, in which case little or no water reaches the point of the tool itself. The result of cooling the tool by deliver- ing the water jet direct upon the cutting edge, is that the surface speed of the tool can be increased as much as four times in heavy cuts, and light cuts can be taken at as much as eight times the speed that is practicable with ordinary tools, without any risk of the temper of the cutting edge being destroyed by over-heating. It was stated that the plan had been tried in practice with perfect success.

New Steamship for Laying Cables.-A project which, if consummated, may effect an important decrease in the expense of laying submarine telegraphic lines, is said to be in prospect ; a cable manufacturing company of England having the design of building a steamship expressly fitted for their work. This vessel, it is proposed, shall be smaller than the Great Eastern, and much less expensive to ;un, and shall be capable of carrying 3000 to 4000 miles of cable.

The Niagara Suspension Bridge.-A doubt having wiseri ti,s to the safety of the Niagara Suspension Bridge, the director& of the Great Western Railway ordered an investigation to be made. The caps on the towers covering the cables ha.ve been removed, arid the cables found to be as perfect in all respect.s as ever they were. But, most important of all, the anchorage of the cables was thoroughly inspected. The masonry over one of them was removed for about twelve feet, or below where the wire is attached to the anchor chains. A portion of the cable is imbedded in water lime cement. For twent$ years this has been there, yet, on removing it and rubbing the paint off the wires, the latter were found as bright and perfect as when placed there, the cement having preserved the wire and anchor chains intact. The examination was made in the presence of competent en- gineers, who have expressed themselves as above to the directors of the bridge company.

Canadian Wooden Railways,*-The wooden railroads built in the vicinity of Quebec have deservedly attracted much attention. The following data regarding them was given to us by Mr. Hurlburt, the projector and contractor of several of these roads. There tire now over a hundred miles in operation. The gauge is 4 ft. 84 inch&

* Railroad Gazette.