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Show IXDVSTRIAL NOTES. Tho coal production of the department depart-ment of the Nord, France, in 1873 was 3,503,4)11 tons, against 509,575 tons in 1S61, and the amount paid in wages last year exceeded four million dollars. There is ft general inquiry among the French steel manuiacturers now Belgian works can possibly find it p roll table to produce steel rails at 10i Sx to 111 per ton. Saxony has recently invited tenders for 0,000 tons of steel rails, and therp seems no doubt that in a few years all the leading railways ot Europe will become roads of steel. The Great Central Belgian Railway Company has let a contract for 3,000 tons of Bessemer steel rails to the Augleur works, at the rate of 11. per ton, to be delivered next year. But for tho coal trade, tho manufacturing manu-facturing and mining districts of South Wales would at present bo in a miserable plight. It is remarkable to what an extent ironmaking has declined, and it is no longer the leading lead-ing staple trade of the district, which was its position for years. A correspondent of tho London Mining World thinks it will be best to let tne Americans supply the 2,740,-000 2,740,-000 reported as necessary to change the Erie gauge, complete its equipments, equip-ments, etc., adding: "The public have lost quite enough money in American mines and securities, and may find some investments far more remunerative." .An establishment in Leech burg, Pennsylvania, turns out weekly about 70 tens of sheet iron, by the use for fuel of natural gas drawn from an ' abandoned oi! well situated about one-'i one-'i fifth of a piile from the works. The ' iron made by the use of gas commands com-mands troni $10 to $20 per ton more than the some class of iron made by the same firm at other works where , coal is used for fuel. It is stated that there are four distinct dis-tinct belts of territory crossing the state of New York throughout which I cas in sufficient quantities lor use as fuel and for illuminating purposes may be found on boring. A Frenchman has calculated that a man talks on an average three hours a day at the rate of about twenty-nine octavo pagt s an hour. This would amount to fitly-two good sized volumes every year. The Merchants', Farmers' and Mechanics' Savings Bank of Chicago has ottered a premium for designs lor aiu;ill dwelling houaoa. " Thn prftpnai- tion is substantially to pay $1,000 fcr the best plan received holbre the 1st of January, 1875, of an approximately fire proof cottagp, of not less than five rooms, of 5,500 cubic feet capacity, capac-ity, and of a shop and dwelling combined com-bined of not leas than four rooms, and 30,000 cubic feet capacity (gross). Tho buildings are to be adopted to the wants and means of clerks, mechanics me-chanics and small shopkeepers who now own and occupy wooden structures. struct-ures. Although SI, 000 is suggested as the maximum cost for the cottage, there is no limit as to price of either buildmg," and though an approximately approxi-mately fire-proof structure is desired, no limit is fixed as to fire-proof qualities. qual-ities. In rogard to which the Philadelphia Phila-delphia Ledger says: "The dwelling house contaiuing five rooms and of a cubic capacity of not less than 5,5.00 feet could be built without any difficulty; diffi-culty; but on a lot only 25 by 75 it would be difficult to put a store and dwelling of four rooms containing 30,000 cubic feet, and yet to make both store and dwelling suitable to the wants of the smaller class of shopkeepers. shop-keepers. An unwieldy store lor 'the Binaller class of shopkeepers' would be one 20 by 60 feet, and with ceilings 15 feet high, and yet that would only require one-half of the cubic, capaci ly oi his house. With ceilings ten feet in height his 'four rooms' would each have a floor space of 375 square feet, making no allowance for the space occupied by stairways and entries. This is more floor Bpace than is to be found in the majority of 'saloon parlors' par-lors' in 'small dwellings.' " |