Part 4 (1/2)

A disadvantage in the ereat nuion, with consequent loss of work at the mines, but apparently there is no rereatest curse of the place, however, is gin Although the district is under the Scott Act, and the sale of liquor consequently prohibited, like every other place where the sale is interdicted there is no difficulty, if you kno to go about it, so as much as you please At any rate I never yet was in any such place where I did not find it to be so

Here is an instance: On one occasion I had been out driving in the pouring rain for several hours, had got drenched to the skin, and was bitterly cold I pulled up, therefore, at a likely-looking house, went in and called for soust was told no liquors could be supplied, as it was against the law As I turned to go out again, in no very cheerfulthe state I was in, evidently took compassion ontoa bitter cold day, which only proves the rule, I assented He then pushed over a tumbler and a black bottle, when I at once poured out and sed a pretty strong dose, feeling when I had done so as if I had sed a streak of forked lightning As soon as I had recovered my breath I muttered my thanks and paid up ”Have another?” says he, with a twinkle in his eye ”No, thanks;” I replied ”Guess you'll re the name of the place, which I afterwards found was in a district where prohibition was very strictly enforced, and which I therefore purposely o no doubt saved erous effects of a chill

The hip pockets in the men's pants form very convenient receptacles for the bottles, and are always pretty well filled after pay days and holidays The liquor in It is supplied in the regular square Dutch bottles froreen-painted boxes in which ”Hollands” is exported, and which are labelled ”De Kuyper;” but the vile stuff is not entleman's manufacture if it be so, which is much to be doubted

FOOTNOTES:

[4] _Ante_, p 13

[5] ”Geol Hist Can,” 1880

[6] See _ante_, p 12

[7] See _post_, p 33

[8] ”Geographical Survey of Canada”

[9] _Ante_, p 27

USES TO WHICH ASBESTOS IS APPLIED

In regard to the many varied uses to which this mineral is now put, foremost must be placed the nu purposes

Were I to atte, ines, for steaes, &c, this part of my little book would have the appearance of afavour hich high pressure steaineers, recently necessitated the introduction of a packing capable of resisting the higher temperatures and pressures; as a consequence oods had to devise improved methods of s, and this they succeeded in doing in a way to give universal satisfaction

For washers asbestos has ht is less, they can be frequently used, and half the thickness of rubber is mostly sufficient

The fibre, Sir Frederick Abel says, is as effectual for closing the breeches of big guns so as to prevent the passage of gas, as for ensuring safety, in the sa tiood joint between the reatthese joints in such a way that air should not be able to pass through In many cases, the air was contaaseous material which would be likely to render the whole explosive, and if this got through the joint between the glass and the metal, there would be very serious risk of explosion After a great number of substances had been tried and found unsatisfactory, some hundreds of experiton Smyth, with asbestos washers, which, in the end, were found to ard to closing the breeches of big guns, we are informed also on the authority of Sir Frederick Abel, that the only contrivance which could be called an approach to a perfect arrangee, which consisted of a kind of pad of asbestos fibre attached to the breech-closing arrangement This, from its mineral nature, was nearly indestructible, and, consequently, lasted without th of ti that it was subjected to the enormous pressures which are now developed in the bores of very heavy guns

In connection with the Whitehead torpedoes, we learn from the same authority, that in these and other siun cotton are enclosed, the use of asbestos is now found to overco the damp cotton have to be soldered, in order to keep theht, and thus prevent the water fro safety, the space between the gun cotton and the metal surfaces which have to be soldered, were formerly filled with damp felt wads or discs This answered the purpose; but Sir Frederick Abel states that it was found after they had been stored for some time, that the effect of the o a kind of decay or feras to such an extent that the vessels were distended, and threatened to burst, and sometimes actually did burst with considerable violence Asbestos millboard was then substituted for the felt, and the difficulty and danger were then reer evolved, whilst the operation of soldering could be perfor perfectly unaltered

In the ain, asbestos washers are found most valuable Washers of india-rubber and wash-leather were formerly used, but these in time became hard, and acted on the metal surfaces hich they caether, instead of keeping them mobile, and it was not until the introduction of asbestos washers that difficulties in connection with the proper action of these ingenious contrivances for the explosion of shells in a given tie, were removed

One of the latest uses to which asbestos has been proposed to be applied in connection arfare is as a coating for ironclads It is alleged by the inventor of the process that if asbestos be packed between the armour-plates it will arrest, or certainly minimise, the infloater after the penetration of a shi+p's side below the water-line This has already been tried by the Ad account of the trial may be found in the _Arust 28, of last year, and in the _Globe_ of the previous evening Should the results of further trials corroborate the success of the first, it is iven to the asbestos trade, whilst it will, at the sa shi+ps, by practically preventing theed in action

An eminent firm of manufacturers in New York have recently supplied, under contract with the United States Govern for boiler covers for their o_, _Atlantic_, and _Boston_ These quiltings weigh about two pounds to the square foot, and are at all tis a speciality

Certainly so put are sufficiently astonishi+ng Who, for instance, could have iravity as crude asbestos could have been manufactured into a cloth available for aeronautical purposes in which absence of weight is of such pri wanting to give success to that despair of aeronauts,Many years have now passed away since scientific military men first turned their attention to this subject; and it is now long since the War Department of the Government first authorized experi balloons in warfare, and notwithstanding all the time and money which has been expended, until now the result in the way of practical success has been _nil_ No use of balloons was n, which shows that up to that date English reat faith in their usefulness or availability

The difficulties to be encountered are doubtless sufficiently formidable Gas, it is clear, could not be carried into a hostile country or into remote and nearly inaccessible districts Even if procurable at all near the battle-field it could only be obtained by a long and difficult process of generation at the very time when speed and simplicity would be thepractically out of the question, it seems to have occurred to Mr

Spencer, the well-known balloon manufacturer, that it would be better after all to revert to the original conception of Montgolfier The old-fashi+oned fire-ball, which acquired its power of ascension fro sierous a character, and had been productive of far too many fatal accidents It remained, therefore, to construct a balloon of some uninflammable material, in order to obviate this difficulty; and with the assistance of his friend, Mr Fisher, the Secretary of the United Asbestos Co