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for the inlet of pure air, as the air is not yet expanded by heat. The inlet flues maybe made in the panels of the door, in the manner of Venetian blinds, so that thequantity of air admitted may be regulated. The exit flues may he let into the ceiling,and made of zinc, in the form of a cone of 5 or 6 inches at the large end, and 1$ inchat the small end. The larger diameter of the cone or cones to be flush with theceiling, and the tube to be carried outwards through the external wall, having a fallof about 1 inch in 10 feet, in order to facilitate the outward current; for the heatedair will, on ascending, be condensed within the tube, on meeting the cold air, in theform of water, and a means of escape will thus be afforded.
12. Barrack rooms should consist of two floors, that is, a ground-floor and a one-pair floor. If carried higher, they are rendered very inconvenient.
13. The practice of allowing married people to live in the same rooms with thesingle men, having no greater separation between them than what may be affordedperhaps by an old sheet hung over a piece of twine stretched across the room, isextremely objectionable, and subversive of the Morale of the Army. It is, in fact,a national disgrace, and ought to be entirely prevented. The married people might beallowed lodging money, or, what is better, cottages might be erected within thebarrack boundaries, designed expressly for the married people, in which each marriedcouple should he allowed one small room.
The privies allowed to the men are extremely objectionable and disgusting. Iconceive that each space or division should be 6' 2" by 3' 8", properly fitted up withone seat, and to be occupied by one person at a time. Each space to he divided bya 2-inch framed partition, having panels bead and flush, and 6 feet high, and to beentered by an external door. I propose to construct these privies in such a mannerthat they may have partly the advantage of water-closets, and prevent any backcurrent of foul air.
Any plan which favours the accumulation of vitiated air must undoubtedly beunwholesome, and therefore the old cesspool system must be highly objectionable,having a tendency to disease and death.
Officers ought certainly to be allowed water-closets. I conceive that two water-closets ought to be placed at the end of each passage in Officers’ barracks, and builton the very best construction.
In the construction of the floors, it would be highly advantageous to render themfire-proof.—R. T.
Dover, Nov. 12, 1850.
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RAILWAY.*
Preliminary Remarks .—Facility of intercourse between different districts is soessential to the development of the prosperity of countries and to the general ad-vancement of civilization, that the introduction of railways will ever be looked uponas a remarkable epoch in the history of the world.
The immense benefits arising from the increased rapidity and ease of communica-tion afforded by railways caused their speedy adoption on the Continent of Europe aswell as in the United States ; but they originated in England; and therefore theexperience which is always required to perfect a new system has been chiefly acquiredin this country, and has increased the cost of our own railways for the benefit of ourneighbours. Hence, whilst the works of continental railways are constructed onprinciples quite as durable as ours, they have been executed at a less comparative cost.