constructed without stoppage of the traffic.  The rails had consequently to be supported on a temporary steel bridge of ingenious design, constructed by Mr. C.A.  Rowlendson, the resident engineer and manager of the company, under whose personal supervision, as representing Sir Douglas Fox, the work has been carried out.  With this device the men were enabled to go on in safety although locomotives were passing immediately above their heads.  After the completion of the roof the station below was excavated by what is technically called “plug and feather” work—­that is to say, by drilling holes into which powerful wedges are driven to split the rock.

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A STEAM STREET RAILWAY MOTOR.

[Illustration:  North Chicago Street Railroad Engine]

While in Paris, President Yerkes, of the North Chicago Street Railway Company, purchased a noiseless steam motor, the results in experimenting with which will be watched with great interest.  The accompanying engraving, for which we are indebted to the Street Railway Review, gives a very accurate idea of the general external appearance.  The car is all steel throughout, except windows, doors and ceiling.  It is 12 ft. long, 8 ft. wide, and 9 ft. high, and weighs about seven tons.  The engines, which have 25 horse power and are of the double cylinder pattern, are below the floor and connected directly to the wheels.  The wheels are four in number and 31 in. in diameter.  The internal appearance and general arrangement of machinery, etc., is about that of the ordinary steam dummy.  It will run in either direction, and the exhaust steam is run through a series of mufflers which suppress the sound, condense the steam and return the water to the boiler, which occupies the center of the car.  The motor was built in Ghent, Belgium, and cost about $5,000, custom house duties amounting to about $2,000 more.—­The Railway Review.

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TWENTY-FOUR KNOT STEAMERS.

Probably the most important form of steam machinery is the marine engine, not only because of the conditions under which it works, but because of the great power it is called upon to exert.  Naturally its most interesting application is to Atlantic steaming.  The success of the four great liners, Teutonic, Majestic, City of Paris and City of New York, has stimulated demand, and the Cunard Company has resolved to add to its fleet, and place two ships on the Atlantic which will outstrip the racers we have named.