inhabitants, that of the capital, the city and port of Ceara, being about 40,000.  Although Ceara is the principal seaport at which lines of English, French, American, Brazilian, and other steamers regularly call, prior to the commencement of the harbor improvements it was almost an open roadstead, passengers and goods having to be conveyed by lighters and boats between vessels and the shore.  The official statistics of the trade and shipping of the port show that an income of L35,750 per annum will be collected by the Ceara harbor corporation from the dues which they are authorized by their concession to charge on all imports and exports and on the vessels using the port and from the rent of the bonded warehouses.

[Illustration:  NEW HARBOR WORKS, CEARA, BRAZIL.]

The drawings given here show the nature of the works, which are of a simple character.  The depth of water along the principal quay, which is being constructed of solid concrete, and is connected with the shore by an iron and steel viaduct over 750 ft. in length—­which is already completed—­will be 19 ft. at low water and 25 ft. at high.  This quay and breakwater is shown in perspective, in plan, and in section, and is of a very heavy section, as will be gathered by the scale given immediately below it.  Meanwhile the landing of cargo is temporarily carried on at the end of the viaduct, which at high tide has a depth of about 20 ft. of water.  The custom house and bonded warehouses are being built of the fine granite obtained at the Monguba quarries, which adjoin the Baturite railway, about sixteen miles from the port.  A new incline has also been constructed from the rail way down to the port.  The line has been laid along the viaduct, and will be extended over the quays as soon as they are completed.  The concrete, of which a large quantity is being used, is mixed by Carey & Latham’s patent mixers, and the contractors have supplied the very large and complete plant for carrying out the operations.

The engineer to the corporation is Mr. R.E.  Wilson, M. Inst.  C.E., Westminster, and his resident at Ceara is Mr. R.T.H.  Saunders, M. Inst.  C.E.  The contractors for the work are Messrs. Punchard, McTaggart & Co., their representative at Ceara being Mr. George Wilson, M. Inst.  C.E._—­The Engineer._

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ELECTRIC STREET RAILROADS.

BY GEORGE W. MANSFIELD.

Why should we prefer electricity as the propelling agent of our street cars over all other known methods?  I answer, without hesitation, because it is the best, and being the best is the cheapest.  Briefly I will present the grounds upon which I take my stand.

To-day the only methods for tramway service are three in number:  Horses, with a history of fifty years and over; cables, with a history of fifteen years; and electricity, with a history of two years.  I give the latter two years on the basis of the oldest electric street railroad in existence to-day, and that is the Baltimore railroad, equipped with the Daft system.