Locomotive, Volume 35, Number 2, Indianapolis, Marion County, 1 December 1855 — Page 1

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1 "iuri..M-1HL"l fc5 u i i 1:1. nrnTTTi

JOHN R. ELDER, Editor.

vol; xxxv. r it k loco m o x i v u IS PRINTED AND PUBLISHED EVERY SATTTRDAY BY ELDER & HARKNESS, At their Book and Job Printing Office, on Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Ind., opposite the Post Office. TERMS One Dollur n year. Twentj-flvo Cents for throe months, hix copies to one address for one vear, Five Dollars thirteen copies one year f.ir Ten Dollars, T'rpm uvari in all cSKS.,-JU No paper will be sent until pniil for, aud no paper will be continued after the time paid for expires, unless renewed. - Look out por thi Ckoss. All mail and county subscribers can know their time la out hen they see a large cross inarkod on theirpaper, and tint is always the last paper sent until the subscription is renewed. TERMS OF IDVERTliINO: Onesquaro, (8 lines.or less, 250 ins,) for I week 0.50 " for each subsequent insertion : O.as kt " for three mouth 3.00 " " , for six months tj. jijjn " " for one year, n ithout alteration ". . sioo " " for one year, with frequent changes ..12.00 A small reduction made on larger advertisements. Cuts and Special Notices double the above rates. TT73 'Adoertis ements must be handed in by Thursday of each week, or they will be deferred untit the next issue. HARRISON'S EXCHANGE OFFICE, Room JVo. I, Up Stairs, in Johnson Buildings Opposite the , , , Capital House, vJOTKS, Judgments, Lund Warrants, and City Orders bought. - Gold, .Silver, and Exehniifro bought and Sold. . rurticiiiiir aucnuitn von to (Jollnctmns. Interest p;ml on Deposits for a apocilled time. ' JyM-fimlT ALT II AIM! " gOWinTIIIG FOSt THT1 lTliri,IO f PROF. H WOOD'S HAIR KKSTOKATIVE. This ntmir,.l.lfl re paration is a most effective remedy for baldness and foiling of "is uttir. nusn;n:s it tu ils natural coior wnen (rrnv, onuses it to ffrow luxuriantly, making it very soft, glossy and' beautiful, and prevents it from turnine gray. As a wash for cleansing the bead and removing the dandruff, it stands unrivalled. Dear Sir: Having used your Hair Restorative for the last six months, and with complete success, I tliink it my duty to give you a certificate of its wonderful effects. Having: taken sick in Galveston, Texas, some four years since through which I lost my hair and having tried various articles and found no benefit from their use, I was requested by many to try yours, and after using two of your quart bottles I found my hair growing very fast, which any person or persons can see demonstrated by calling at No. 26 Olive street, St. Louis. To the public in general. I have no hesitation in saying this is a truly useful and wonderful article for the restoration of the hair. St. Louis, May 23, 3854. MORRIS "GOSLING. Rasin, Mich., A ugust 2, 18"3. This ii to certify that one year ago I was quite gray, and my hair so thin on the top of my head, that I feared its entire loss. In this condition I applied for and obtained a bottle of Prof. Wood's "Restorative." and before I had used one quart bottle the gray hairs had entirely disappeared, and it had thickened up so as to be as full us usual, and it assumed a glossy appearance, apparently more beautiful than it ever was before. I do, thorefore, cheerfully recommend it to all those ladies who value a beautiful head of hair. I will also state that I use it now, occasionally, for its healthy and beautifying effects. SARAH J. BROWN. TA very liberal discount made to, wholesale purchasers. N. B. To please all, we put up the Restorative with and without sediment, and request all to specify which they desire. Address O. J , Wood & Co., 31G Jiroadway, New Yo"k, and 114 Market St., St. Louis, Mo. Sold at manufacturers1 prices by all Druggists In New York and Philadelphia, and in Indianapolis, by Robert Browning, late Craighead & Browning, and all druggists throughout the United. States: also for sale Prof. Wood's Oriental Sanative Liniment, and Vegetable Magic Life Pills. See circulars in the hands of all agents. sep22-y : IJ. P. O C HUNT, DENTIST, OFFICE onlllinoisstreet,directl north from the Palmer House, three door? j froinTousey'aCorner. - jy2'53-y HAIL KOAD HOUSE, Corner of East and Washington street, ' ' Fays the highest market price for Wheat Oats, Corn, and ail kinds of Produce. 1 hnro put up pair of Fairbank's Patent Hay or Cattle Scales, which are as true as 84iy scales in the County, where I can weigh Hay or Corn. Also, I keep on hand all kinds of family Groceries, which I will sell a? low as any New York or Boston store in the Cjtv, or any Yankee house. . au!9-tf .. '.' .. JOHN WALLACE. BANK OF THE CAPITOL,. Interest paid on money deposited for a specified time. Bills of Exchange, Coin and Uncurrcnt Money dealt in generally. jan20-tf , r . , JOHN WOOLLEY, Cashier. VENETIAN BLINDS, rgjg MADE AND REPAIRED, , . feZf ' Second door North of Plaining mill, on Alabama si. ' J. BARK. nov23-3tn . ' S. MOKGAiV . MERCHANT TAILOR successor to Smith & Morgan has just received a splendid assortment of Spring and Summer Cloths, Cassimeres, Vestings, of the latest styles. Also, a fine assortment of Ready-Made Clothing, suited to the season; and also an excellent assortment of Gents' Furnishing Goods, to which he invites attention, and which will be disposed of atprices to suit. Garments made to order asheretofore, N. B. Those indebted to the late firm of Smith & Morgan, will please call and make immediate settlement, as we are desirous of closing the books as soon as possible. . April 7, - : ; v . II. H. COLLINS Sc CO., DEALEaS IN Foreign and Domestic i JUUBLE, 1 JVo. 94 East Washington street, A Indianapolis, keep constantly t:i nn hand, and manufacture to , fl Mab-work of nil kinds, and of A X H tl e latest and most approved ft ria. iijcj .v.. fijfc!ie ploy, workmen of superior KSslsjjij taste and skill, and use none (jftfS'ty i t"t the best of material, they RJ S 3 W ; run make it to the interest of an who wish io perpetuate Lite memory of lost friends, to (rive them a'call. . je2-ly L.1FA1ETTE & INIJIAIVAPOLIS BAll.KOAD TIME CHANGED! ' - o N and after April 23d, 1853, trains on this road will run as loiiows: " , .1 - MAIL TRAIN.' . ' Leave Indianapolis at 12 M. , A rrive in Indianapolis at 8 A. M. " " Lafayette at 3 P. M. - r EXPRESS TRAIN. Leave Indianapolis at 6 A. M. : . " Arrive in Lafayette at 9 A. M. ' , " Indianapolis at 3:30 P. M. t ' ' FRKIGIIT TRAIN. ... . , , Leave Indianapolis at 6:20 A. M. .. For through tickets, apply atthe Union Passenger Station, in Indianapolis. " apr28 .. . . . ; ;. . . . W, DURBIS, Sup't. : ; ' ' CIIA1VE OF TIME. INDIANA CENTRAL AND DAYTON AND WESTERN R. K. Three trains dailjCSundays ex- a qff; ISEs cepted. . .a i. as;' ' '-a-a-First Train Lightning Express. Leaves Indianapol i s at 3.30 A. M.; arrives ut Richmond at 5.30, and at Cinciunati at 9.30 A.M.; arrives at Davton at 7.00 A. M., connecting directlv with trains for Columbus, Zanesville, Wheeling, Baltimore, WashiuKton Citv, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, c; arriving in New York 1.5 hou rs in advance of any other route from Indianapolis. At llayton, also connects with trains directly for .Springlield, Urbaua, Bellefontaine, Forest, Clyde, Cleveland, Buffalo, Sandusky, Detroit, Fort Wayne, Trov, Piqua, &c., &c. , ' ' Second Train leaves at 7.30 A . M.; arrives at Richmond at 10 20 A. M.-, at Cincinnati at 1.30 P. M.; connects at Dayton at 1-2 M. with all trains for Columbus, Zanesville, Wheeling and all points east and north-east. Third train leaves ut 3.30 P. M., connects at Richmond at 6.31) with trains for Cincinnati, arriving at 9 P. M.; arrives at Columbus at 10.30 P. M., connecting directly with trains for Zanesville, Wheeling, Bnltimore, Washington Citv, York and Boston, and also with trains for Cleveland, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. Passengers, take notice ! This is the only route by wliicn von can leave Indianapolis in the afternoon, and reach Coiumbus, Newark, Zanesville and Wheeling the same evening. ' The only route having any connections at Dayton, either morning or evening. ; Passengers by this route go through to Cinciunati as quick as liv anv other. Columbus and Pittsburg Baggage checked through. Philadelphia Baggage re-checked at Pittsburgh. The only morning Train from Indianapolis to Dayton, or Columbus via Dayton. ' JA MRS M. SMITH, Snperintendant, , iaiiT Ind. Cent. & Davton & Western K. K.

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The Chariots shall rage In the streets, INDIANAPOLTS, Cast Iron Shot Tower Sht Making. A tall cast-iron shot tower lias just been erected in Center street, this city, and is the only one of the kind in the world, "it is under thesuperi intendence of J. McCullough, who for thirty years has been celebrated for the manufacture o'f shot. We paid it a visit a few days since, examined its construction, and witnessed the various processes connected with shot making. The designer and builder of the tower is James Bogardus, the original inventor of cast iron houses his factory on the corner of Dunne and Center sts. being the first entire cast-iron house story upon story ever erected. The plan of the tower is novel. Its base is 25 feet in diameter, and 18 feet deep below the surface of the ground resting upon a hardpan of sand. The walls of the underground foundnlion are of solid masonry, four and a half feet thick. The cast-iron tower above is anchored to huge stones in the wall, each having two holes bored through it near the centp r, and eighteen inches apart. These are twenty in number, and extend eighteen feet down through the wall.' A wrought-iron shaft, two inches in diameter and 18 feet long, is secured in each hole. These shafts terminate above the stone foundation in holes at the base of the lower tier of cast-iron columns, which are firmly keyed to them. There are ten cast-iron columns on each tier; each of the lower columns is anr chored to two of the wrought-iron shafts. The lower tier of cast-iron columns support the entire superstructure, and they are of sufficient strength to sustain a weight of 28,000 tuns. Upon the tops of the first ten of the columns there rests a cornice made in ten sections every pair of sections meeting over the center of a column. Upon the lines of juncture stand the succeeding tier of columns, in the same line with the lower tier.. All the cornice pieces are bolted together, making them as it were one piece, and each upper column is bolted to both the corner sections on which it stands, and also to the column underneath. Upon the second row of columns rests another cornice, and upon it a third row, and so on to the bight required, each ascending tier of columns standing and bolted on a cornice, and supporting a cornice above. The columns are 15 feet 3 inches long each, making, with a cornice, 18 feet as the bight of each story of the tower. There are 1 1 stories composing the entire structure, which, with the extra top cornice, makes the whole hight of it above ground 174 feet with the Iff feet depth of well 192 feet; this allows of a sufficient altitude for casting the largest sized shot : ; , .,.,,,: For the first two stories of the tower the spaces are left open; the remaining nine are filled in with brick, four inches thick, in which are inserted five windows in each story. This brioUwoi-U is only a panueliug, uoi Intended lo add to the strength of the building, but merely to shelter the workmen from the weather. The columns have flanges on them, with corresponding sections of cornice, so that each pannel of brickwork is neatly and firmly inserted and cemented into the cast-iron work. Each pannel has therefore great strength in itself, aud does not depend for security upon another part of the building. The outside diameter of the tower, is 21, feet at the ground. It tapers at the rate of six inches to the story. The outside diameter at top is J 5 Jfeet the inside diameters are two feet less. The total weight of the iron employed in its construction is 308,300 pounds. Its entire weight is less than the 170th part of what the first story coluins can sustain. Indeed, such is their strength, that the lower might be continued with safety until, with the same taper, it would terminate in a point over six hundred feet high. We really would like to see such a tall tower or steeple erecled. . . ., , , The columns and cornices it will be noticed from the description given of their method of fastening and combination are so united as to render the tower equal in strength to what it would be we'-e it a single casting of metal." This is the principle on which all Mr. Bogardus' buildings are erected. Every alternate column , may be broken, and the stability of the remainder not endangered. Making the Shot. The casting of the columns for this tower was commenced on the 15th of August last, and shot, was cast in it on the 22d of last month. On entering the tower from Center street, the first thing which arrests the visitors' attention is a large circular wooden tank on the middle of the floor, filled with water, and boiling as violently as jf it were heated with a steam pipe at its bottom. On a little closer inspection it will be observed that the ebullition is caused by a constant shower of shot falling into the water from an elevated story of the tower. The larger the shot tobe cast, the greater the distance required for its fall. At the top of the fail a quantity of lead is kept in a molten state in a large iron pot heated by a furnace. This is poured with a ladle into a hollow colander having holes in it corresponding to the size of shot to be made. The surface of the lead becomes covered with a spungy crust called, cream; which is used to coat over the bottom of the colander, to prevent the lead from running through too rapidly, whereby it would form oblong spheroids, instead of round drops. The lead passes thro' the holes of the colander in fine .threads, but forming in globules at the under surface of the colander, and dropping down in a spherical show er into the large tub of water described, cooling . m .1 J f 1 . in its descent. Tins meinoa ot mamng snoi is said to have originated with a plumber named Watts, in Bristol, England, who, about the year 1782, dreamed he was out in a shower, and the clouds rained lead instead of water. This incited him to try a successful experiment from the tower of a church with some molten lead. This story may be true, and it may not. ihe process, how ever, requires both care and skill in the management of the colander into which the molten lead is poured. : . The shot is lifted with a copper ladle' from the tub into which it falls, and placed on an inclined board to drip; from this it slides into an open iron box, heated with steam, where it is dried. The color of the shot is now a dull gray, and although it might answer perfectly foruse.it must be polished for market like a piece of furniture. This is done by placing it in an angular iron barrel on a rotating shaft, with somo fine

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they shall seem like torches, they shall run

LD. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1,

plumbago. The action of the shot upon one another, in this rotating rumble, polishes them finely, nnd gives them a dark clear surface. Three of such polishing barrels are used in this tower. The process of separating the perfect from the imperfect shot is the next in order. 'The shot, after coming from the polishing barrels, is placed in small quantities on very smooth inclined ways, having sides, but open at the upper and lower ends. Two of 6uch ways are at present used in this manufactory, each requiring one attendant. When placed on these inclined ways, the perfect shot run rapidly in straight lines to the bottom into a bin, while the misshapen shot move with a zig-zag motion, or do not move at all. the attendant, who uses a brush !of the width of the incline, knows about the time required for the perfect shot to run into the bin, and he then sweeps back those that are defective into a receptacle at the head of the incline. Tlie shot which we saw separated, contained a very small amount of defective ones in proportion to the quantity separated. ' After the perfect shot are thus separated from the imperfect, the next process is the separating of the dill'ercntsizes they not being uniform "in one casting. This is done in vibrating metal sieves, or bolts of different sizes. Two of these were in operation; they resemble a chest of drawers hung upon rockers. The sieves are set one above the other, the largest size uppermost, and the shot is fed in by funnel (two on each separator) on the top.. When it is poured into the funnel, the nttendant rocks the sieve chest by a handle, when the largest shot are retained in the top drawer, and the smaller pass through their separate sieves or bolts into their respective drawers. From these they are taken and placed in small canvas bags, according to their number, -from one upwards, and are ready for market. These are the whole processes of shot making. Mr. McCullough calculates that the capacity of his tower is equal to the making of five thousand tuns of shot per annum. The business of shooting shot must be great and very active in our country, as a large number of persons are now employed in this establishment, and the building is not yet quite finished. - We saw more than $20,000 worth of lead in bars, on the floor, waiting to be made into leaden rain drops, to carry death to thousands of pigeons, partridges, plovers, prairie-hens, turkeys, snipe, wood-cock, duck, and other fowl. Three hands were also employed in this establishment moulding bullets of different sizes each mould piece contained 132 moulds of varying size. The molten lead was poured in like tallow into common tallow moulds; the moulds opened horizontally, and dropped the formed bullets into receivers below: this work was earned .on. with great rapidity. There are now three shot lowers in this-city, one of brick, one of wood, (gaunt, ungainly structures,) and this cast-iron one, which, from its fluted columns and beautiful cornices, is an object of ornament to the city. Scientific American. , , : From the Chicagq Daily Press. . . l ' Grain for Europe. ' , ; ' ; Strange as it may appear to such of our readers as do not keep themselves posted as to the course of trade, France and England have competed in our market for nearly a month past with New York City with the non-producing States of the Union for the products of Western Agriculture, and this is the secret of the highly remunerative prices which our farmers have been and still are able to command for the fruits of their lrtbor. . .i I-"..:-; , , , ; A little more than a, year ago, we' prepared and published in tabular form a statement of the annual grain trade of the principal cities of the Mediterranean, the Black. Sea and the Baltic, comparing their respective aggregates with the grain transactions of this city, by which the astounding fact was for the first time made public, that Chicago (which twenty years ago imported her breadstuff's) had become the leading primary bread depot of the world. This statement was copied by the Mark-lane xpress, and from thence into the leading papers of Great Britain and of Continental Europe.. . Consequently, when the partial failure of the grain crop ; in England, France and Germany, and other countries, came to be understood there, it was very natural for those countries to look to this newly-discovered grain mart as most likely of all; others to make good the deficiency. ; Hence, . the agents of the European Governments appeared upon 'Change in Chicago. - How many such agents we have had among us during the season we have no , means of determining definitely, as their interests were best subserved by moving quietly, and, as far as possible, secretly; but the transactions of some of them have been on, a scale of such magnitude as to render concealment entirely out of the question, although the operations were conducted wholly ': through some of our own dealers. Through the kindness of parties entirely reliable, we have be. n put into possession of the operalions of a single dealer, E. H. Hadduck, Esq., of tins city, understood to be on Jtreneh account. Within the last eighteen days the Marine Bank has paid checks of Mr. Hadduck to the amount $1,200,000 all ot which have been given for the purchase of wheat. Among these checks was one to a well known grain and commission house of this city for $92,000, and one to another extensive business house for $68,000.; Mr. Hadduck, we understand, is still in the market, as are other parlies also, and we presume will continue to purchase as long as shipments can be made by lake. , . . ' 1 ' The total amount of grain bought in our market on European account, we are, for the reasons above stated, unable to give, but it Las been large. Probably it would be safe to say that nine-tenths of the purchases for the last twenty days are for transatlantic consumption. The fact is, the presence of these- buyers in our market caused prices to advance to a point which rendered operations for the New York market entirely out of the question.. . For once in its history New York merchants have failed to come in as middle men between the producers of the West and the consumers of Europe. The hundreds of thousands of dollars which would have been retained in their hands had European or

like the lightnings. ' A"Aum,ti, 4.

JLCJ ders been filled in the New York market, as heretofore, are now safely lodged in the pockets of our Western farmers. Railway Fares. No amount of devotion to the policy of "Low Fares" will allow its believers lo advocate a tariff of prices that will not, on the whole movement, pay a living profit on the real cost of the railway. A given rate of prices may pay on one road, when it does not on another, because the circumstances of operation may be different. One road may be run economically, while the other may be carried on in that slip-shod, careless and heedless system, or want of system which has caused so many business enterprises to bite the dust. A rijrorous applica tion of system and economy for any length of time, will show the cost ot transportation on any road. When the cost is reached, the tariff of prices should be predicated upon the cost, so that a fair business profit shall be saved to the owners. That this rule has not been adopted, is one reason, among others, why many of our railways have not proved as profitable as they should. It was this belief that induced the managers of the railways in the northern States, to come together in Convention and arrange a tariff of prices. In this movement they were backed up by the almost united opinions of the great mass of the stock holders, and had the stockholders the immediate power they would have insisted upon an entire conformity with the decision ot the Convention Other interests, however, together with personal feeling, pride of opinion and private speculation, stepped in, and in many cases the arrangement was violated openly in some cases and privately in others. A few months more of the disastrous results from active competition, and opposition has proved the folly of it, and we are now glad to see a disposition exists to go back to some arrangement that will insure something near a fair return for the work done for the public. We are glad to learn that the managers of the New York Central and New York and Erie roads have come to an arrangement whereby they cease to become active competitors, so far as price is concerned. They have again agreed upon the rate of fare to be charged this winter, putting it up from one to two dollars more than at the past season, to take effect Monday, Nov. 5. The fare on the railway either way from Suspension Bridge or Buffalo to New York is to be $8.50, and $7.50 by the Peo ple's Line of steamers, or by; the. morning trains on the Erie road from Niagara Falls or Buffalo. To Boston by Albany and Boston road, or New York and Erie, and steamers on the Sound and railway, $10. This is a return to the dictates of common sense, and we trust that no underhanded means will be taken to vitiate the agreement that promises so much beetter for the stockholders, atld ttl llic ociiuc timt dvio no injuotioo to tlio public. The railway movement in this country will not increase witl.put the finished enterprises can pay a fair dividend upon the actual invest ment, and it will be the better for all parties concerned, when it is universally agreed not to build roads except for cash and at cash prices, and not to run them except upon a fair return upon the amount of cost. American Railway Times. The Duty of Railway Companies Regarding Freight Transportation. We find in the Chicago Press some account of a decision in the Winnebago (111.) - Circuit Court, upon an action brought by Rea & Dow against the Galena and Chicago Railroad Company,' to recover damages for negligence on the part of the defendants in receiving and carrying grain belonging to the plaintiffs from Rockford to Cnicago. It was proved that the plaintiffs had sustained a loss by a fall in the price of wheat after a reasonable time had elapsed for the shipment of theirs; that preference was given by defendants to farmers, and that all grain direct from the producer was shipped without delay. The Court held that it was the duty of the defendants to receive and carry, with reasonable diligence, all freight offered them, and they had no right to favor one set or class of persons over another, or give any superior advantages to. one person or class of persons over an other; and that such favoritism of other persons over the plaintiffs, if it caused the plaintiffs unnecessary delay in getting their grain to market, whereby the plaintiffs suffered injury, . would make the defendants liable to damages to the plaintiffs. , It was also held, that, if the defendants' had a general custom to receive , grain at their warehouse, a delivery of such grain "at such warehouse, with notice to the defendants, received by them without objection, would amount to a delivery to the defendants such as would raise the obligation on their part to carry the grain. We find no account of the amount of damages returned, but, as the principle upon which the decision is given has been acted upon in similar cases in other States, we have but little doubt it is well settled, and our railway companies may take heed of the danger of doing anything that conflicts with it. American Railwav Times. Curious Property of Water Divested of Air : - Boiler Explosions. In a lecture recently delivered before the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic Society, by Robert Hunt, F. R. S., attention was directed to some most remarkable points in connection with the action of heat on water that contains no air, stating that, arising from this circumstance, as well as from. the spheroidal condition of the steam generated, we have two very active and predisposing causes of boiler explosions. Water we know in three conditions as a fluid, as steam, and as ice or as solid, liquid, and aeriform. Water is frozen by the loss of heat necessary to maintain its fluid state; ice formed during agetation contains no air-bubles, but under ordinary circumstances (as Wenham Lake ice,) the upper portion is filled with air-bubles in straight lines, as it, in endeavoring to make their escape, thev became entang led among the crystals. It is a remarkable fact that water in the process of congelation has the power of rejecting everything; consequently, all the air the water contains is expressed. If we get water which contains no air, and prevent the access of air to it, it will not boil at 2123 Fah. In this state, we see the temperature increasing to 230, 240, or even 250, and advancing to between 270 and 280 about these points the whole mass will explode with the violence of

ELDER & HARKNESS, Publithera.

NO 2. gunpowder. This condition of water is not unirequcntly found formed in steam boilers, and that during the process of ebulition, the steam carries off with it the air, the water in the boiler containing very Jittle remnant of the air itself. It often happens that a 6team boiler explosion occurs after a rest of the engine, and that, when the men return, the feed-water being applied to the water, explosion takes place. Professor Donno has found that, if we tako water of this peculiar character, bringing it up to 230, and place a single drop of ordinary water into it, the whole will boil with extreme violence. Supposing that ordinary water contains no air, and the feed-water is turned on, the entire quantity will then burst into explosive ebullition. We shall probably find, therefore, in connection with boiler explosions, that to the acsence of air may be attributed many boiler explosions, so frequently happening, which otherwise cannot possibly bo accounted for. It may be farther stated that if we take a glass of water, and add any poison say corrosive sublimate, or a strong acid, or even an ardent spirit and then freeze the water, agitated during the process, we shall find the ice gets tasteless, colourless, and inert, and that the poison, the acid, or the spirit, will bo gathered into an intense drop in the centre of the ice, and all the body will be perfectly pure. To a knowledge of this fact may be attributed the. practice of the Russian nobles, who when they desired lo have more ardent and intoxicating drink than usual, plunged their bottles of wine or spirits into their frozen rivers, until the contents became solified, and then drank the ardent drop which remained within the centre of the glass. Scientific American. The Cost of Gas in Various Cities. A correspondent of the Washington Intell iyeneer gives the following as the cost of gas to private consumers in forty-two of the largest cities in the United States: "Boston, $3' per 1000 cubic feet; Hartford, $3,50; New Haven, $4; Providence, $3,50; New York, S3; Brooklyn, $3,50; Albany, $4; Troy, $4; Rochester, $3,50; Buffalo, $3,50; Auburn (rosin,) $7; Schenectady, $4; Syracuse, $4; Newark, $3,50; Paterson, $4, Philadelphia "City Works," 32.25; Northern Liberties, $3,50; Spring Garden, $3,50; Moyamensing, 3,50; Reading,. $3,50; Lancaster, $4; Baltimore, $3; Charleston, $4; Savannah, $4; New Orleans, $5; Galveston, $5; Mobile, $5; Nashville, $4; Memphis, $4; Louisville, $3,50; Cincinnati, $3,50; ' Indianapolis, $3,75; Chicago,' $3,50; Milwaukie, $3,50; St. Louis, $3,50; Lexiegton.Ky. $4; Cleveland, $3,60; Springfield, $5; Dayton $4; Columbus, $3,50; Wheeling, $3,60; San Francisco, $10 being an' average of $3,97, or 17 cents per 1000 more than the cost of gas to private consumers m WacViingrfnn nity. which is $3,80 and 47 cents more than is paid by the government, the city hotels, &c." A gallon of pure . sperm oil produces light, equal to 217 cubic- feet of coal gas; a gallon of whale oil produces light equal to 175 cubic feet of coal gas.l Therefore gas at $4 per 100 cubic feet gives 250 feet for a dollar, and is therefore i much cheaper than whale or sperm oil. .The ap-, partus used for making gas, and the labor attending the production of it, however, involves an expense (it is considered) greater than the use of oil in lamps, under 100 burners. Over that number it is considered that gas is more economical than oil. Any village, factory, or mill, therefore, using more than 100 burners, will find it more economical and certainly much more con-; venient to use gas rather than oil. Scientific; American. Commerce of New York. The importations at New York from foreign ports, for the month of October last, were $15,605,031,-$4,573993 larger than for October of last year, and $3,-; 422,106 larger than for the same period of 1853.. The total foreign imports at New York for the ten months ending October 31, 1855, were $140,398,531 $33,034,253 less than for the corresponding ten months of last year, and $27,194,902 less than for the same period of 1853. The exports from New1 York to foreign ports : for the month of October last, exclusive of specie, . were $6,847,590 $1,730,781 more than for the same month of last year, and $604,968 more than for October, 1853. The total exports from New York to foreign ports for the ten1 months ending Oct. 31, 1855, exclnsive of specie, were $53,895,098 $635,503 more than for the same perion of 1853. The exports of specie from January 1 to October 31, 1856, were $25,627,305 $7,935,836 less than for the corresponding ten months of 1854, and $5,861,581 more than for the same period ' The New York Journal of Commerce, from an article in which ; we gather these figures says: , . .. t ; : .. 1 . , . ,; . - ; ... : "We do not see how, out of the above, the most ingenious 'bear' can find any materials for a panic. On the contrary, the result is more favorable than could have been "anticipated A falling off in the foreign imports since January7 lstof $38,034,253 as compared with last year,; ; and $37,149,902 as compared with the previous . year, while there is a positive gain over either ; of those years in the exports of produce arid merchandise! With abundant crops forourQ;n use, a large surplus for export, peace and plenty in all our wide, extent of territory, we may keep , the approaching Thanksgiving with devout and , grateful hearts." , . A Stampede of Ladies. -At Boulogne, durino- the reception of her Majesty, a number of. English ladies in their anxiety to see everything, ' pressed with such force against the soldiers who were keeping the line, that the latter were, in, some instances, obliged to give way, and gener-, ally were to use the expression of our police-, men impeded in the execution of their duty. The officers in command, seeing the state of ' affairs, shouted out: 'One roll of the drum;, then if they don't keep back, kiss them all." At the first sound from the parchment, the English ladies took flight. If they had been French, says a Parisian journalist, "they would have remained to a woman."