PUBLISHED BY THE EDITORS AND PROPRIETORS, 120 Nassau-st.-(Upstairs.) Chesapeake and Ohio canal, Crank, theory of, 161, 204, 241, Coast survey, Hassler's report, 270 road curves; es; cubical quantities, 100 [262, 264, 324, Laws of trade, C. Ellet, Jr., 122, 145 L New York and Erie railroad, 3, 266 Mohawk and Hudson railroad receipts, N Nashua & Lowell R. R. report, 213 Serrell's, H. R. & J. E., means Shotwell, E., survey Long Is- S 179 Safety brake, King's, 367 226 for extinguishing fires, 243 17 15, 36, 45 State works, 3 New York & Harlem railroad, receipts, 52, 173, 252 New York and Albany railroad, 373 Steamboat Lexington, burning of, 97 59 "Archimides," United States, discussion on, 193, 257, 290 [322, 335, 357 63 371 Norwich and Worcester railroad extinguishing fires, 243, 317 Pennsylvania appropriation bill, 375 Stuart, C. B., on specifications of ving power, 181, 206 181, 206 Stone, breaking, 229 cars, fire on, prevented, 328 Tracy, H., on crank motion, 262 chair & rail, Fessenden's, 331 Travelling statistics, and canals, comparative Tunnel, Port Clinton, corporations in Massa- Water, to purify, chusetts, report of, 171, 174 Ward, J. D., criticism on Ren [188, 210, 244 wick, 193, 257, 290, 322, 335, 350 54 Reading R., performance on, 144, 159 Western and Atlantic railroad, Reduction of fare, 256, 259, 294 Western railroad report, 220, 244 Reynolds, L. O., report of Cen[256, 294 tral railroad, 342 369 Turnbridges, 51 372 Tunnel through the Alps, 181 287 W 23 Roebling, J. A., theory of the crank, 161, Roads, common, 24 West Stockbridge railroad rep., 251 Welland canal, improvement of, 366 264 Williams, L., railway constants, 203 293 Wilmington and Raleigh R.R., 269 In commencing a new volume it may not be amiss to refer to the labors of another year, and to throw out a few hints as to what may be expected as matter of interest and discussion. The difficulties consequent upon the commercial embarrassments of the past year, have retarded, for a time at least, the progress of internal improvement. While the delay is but temporary for all useful and necessary public works, it will have the effect of bringing about a more cautious examination of projected improvements than has hitherto prevailed. A stricter estimate of the resources of proposed public works will hereafter be required, and we conceive that Mr. Ellet has done the profession a service in giving to the public his "Laws of Trade," being the first attempt to reduce to rules and fixed laws, a class of computations hitherto made with the utmost latitude of conjecture. The difficulty of procuring funds, while operating to the permanent obstruction of injudicious projects, will require much economy in the management of those based upon more solid foundations than mere paper revenues. The assistance of the State authorities becomes more than ever necessary, but before granting this, a very important question has to be settled. Shall the State adopt one or two works and thereby be deprived of the power of giving aid to any other works? The question has been freely discussed in the public prints, and is now very nearly separated from party considerations. There can be no doubt that the best results have been attained where a complete and extensive system of public works, has been definitely arranged before commencing. Belgium affords a fine example of this. Now, it is impossible with us, for State governments to accomplish such a task with their own resources. How, then, shall the enterprise of individuals or companies be assisted by the State, without defeating the formation of a connected system of improvements? Obviously by the formation of a State board of public improvement, who, discarding exploded no. tions in regard to canals shall be able to moull out of the various in ivid. ual projects asking aid of our legislature, such a system as shall satisfy all |