blesome method of heating houses than those now in use. It will furnish steam-power for machinery in any required amount, at any desired moment, more cheaply and with greater safety than manufacturers can supply themselves; the steam can be used for laundry purposes, and perhaps soon a method will be devised for utilizing it in the different operations of cookery; it can furnish a constant supply of heat at an equable temperature for greenhouses and forcing-houses. Not the least of its benefits, as has been already experienced in Lockport, is that it can keep the water-hydrants from freezing in severe weather, and can afford an ever-ready supply of steam-power for the extinguishment of fires. In the heating of dwellings the greater healthfulness and cleanliness of the mode over any other are important considerations, and also the reduction in care and labor and in the risks of fire.

The details of the invention, as applied in the Lockport works, are described by Mr. Holly in his specifications as follows:

1. All underground steam street main in combina tion with steam-supplying apparatus, and with a meter constructed to control the pressure of steam in a building, and also record the consumption of steam from such main. 2. Junction-boxes admitting expansion and contraction of mains longitudinally, and with heat-radiators in the buildings. 3. A steam-meter to control the pressure and record the consumption of steam in the building. 4. Heatradiators. 5. Steam-trap. 6. Steam-trap and reheater. 7. Water-hydrant. 8. A street steam-hydrant. 9. Steam automatic regulator or governor. 10. Snow and ice reservoirs having open-ended or perforated steam-pipes for escape of steam therein. 11 and 12. Expansion chamber, hood, lorin pipe and expansion chamber. 13. Adjustable ring. 14. Junction box and outer covering of steam main. 15. Section of steam main made of nickel-plated metal. 16. Convex ring, wall of expansion-chamber, eye-bolts. 17. Steam street main, isolated and drained by tile. 18. Meter details. 19. Radiators, adjustable. 20. Spring clutch and pencil forger and valve-stem. 21. Conducting and steam pipes having a coil and connecting chamber. A contrivance or contrivances for supplying steam for warming districts of dwelling-houses in cities and towns, and for "driving" machinery and for other driving purposes in said districts, consisting of steam-supplying apparatus, street mains having heavy expansionjunction service-boxes, service-pipes, having connecting pipes and meters. Connected with these several appliances are a boiler-house and stack, four boilers with heaters for feed-water, 2,900 feet 4 inches, 4,600 feet 3 inches, 4,400 feet 2 inches, 7,310 feet 2 inches, 1,700 feet 1 inch, and 1,300 feet of 1-inch wrought-iron pipes or street mains. These pipes or mains are first coated with asbestus and covered with a jacket of cow-hair felting or other non-conducting substance, which is protected with hard-wood strips secured with copper wire, and tho pipes thus prepared are inserted in logs of wood bored so as to leave an air-chamber around the pipes, and then the whole structure laid to a grade

over well-constructed tile-drains. At intervals of about 100 feet the junction-boxes, with hoods and service-pipe connections and nickel-plated movable joints, are inserted in a well of masonry 2 feet square, which give ready access at all times to their portions of the structure. The longest single stretch of pipe is 1 mile.

The boiler-house in Lockport is constructed for six boilers. Three were put up, but only one or two used at a time the first winter. Two were horizontal, 5 by 16 feet in dimensions. The consumption of coal was 2. to 3 tons daily. The total length of pipe through which the steam was conveyed was 3 miles. The largest main, 6 inches in diameter, branches into two 4-inch pipes a short distance from the boiler, and these are divided after running some distance into two 3-inch pipes, and they again into the smallest pipes of 1 inch diameter. The junction-service boxes, placed along the whole line of the mains at a distance of 100 feet or more, provide for the longitudinal contraction and expansion of the pipes, and at the same time afford a space for the apparatus for distributing the steam. A hood on the head of the service-pipe in the junction-box collects the water of condensation, and conveys it into the house to a valve, where it is wiredrawn, and by such reduction of pressure, at its temperature, which corresponds to a pressure of 50 lbs. per square inch, is reconverted in great part into steam and conveyed into the radiators. The pressure of the steam as served to the radiators is 2 or 3 lbs. per square inch.

The combined meter and regulator both registers and measures out the supply in the houses. A valve, of the character of the slide-valve in a high-pressure engine, admits the steam from the street main into a short pipe, at the end of which is a similar valve, which admits it into the radiators. The pressure on both sides of the valves is shown by steam-gauges. Connected with this regulating apparatus is the indicator, which records the consumption in figures, showing its value in dollars and cents.

Mr. Holly estimates that 15,000,000 cubic feet can be warmed with ten boilers, 16 feet long and 5 feet in diameter, with 54 tubes 23 inches in diameter. This would make the total heating surface 11,360 cubic feet, giving 1,300 cubic feet as the space to be warmed by every foot of heating surface. Experiments made regarding the loss by condensation showed that it amounted in 1,600 feet of 3inch pipe, with a pressure of 18 lbs., to 9 lbs. of coal per hour; in an ordinary city street that length of pipe could furnish 100 consumers, giving 2.16 lbs. of coal per day as each one's share in the loss from this cause. was found that when the supply was cut off from the boiler, it required 18 minutes for the pressure to fall from 60 to 45 lbs. ; 28 minutes for it to decline from 45 to 30 lbs., or from 4 to 3 atmospheres; 40 minutes for it to fall to 15 lbs., and 54 minutes longer for it to sink to the pressure of the atmosphere; or 2 hours 20 minutes to condense the four atmospheres of sizes of pipe with respect to their capacity for pressure. The comparison of the different conveying steam and their loss by condensation shows that the latter increases in a direct

It

ratio with the increase of diameter, while the former increases sixfold when the diameter is doubled. A pipe of 13 inch diameter will deliver steam only 1,000 feet from the boiler; a 3-inch pipe will conduct it 3,000 feet; a 6inch pipe, 9,000 feet; and a 12-inch pipe, 18,000 feet. The Holly system has been introduced in Auburn, N. Y., Springfield, Mass., and other cities. The apparatus is furnished from the workshops of the Lockport company. HONDURAS (REPÚBLICA DE HONDURAS), one of the five independent states of Central America. The territory of the republic, with an area of 58,168 square miles, is divided into thirteen departments. The population is estimated at 400,000. The capital is Tegucigalpa, with about 12,000 inhabitants. The President is Dr. Marco Aurelio Soto, elected in May, 1876, for a term of four years. The sole minister of the Republic is Dr. Ramon Rosa, general adviser of the President. Honduras has thirtyseven representatives, but no senate, in lieu of which latter ten counsellors are appointed by the Government to act as advisers, and convened at the President's pleasure. The judicial authority is vested in two chief justices, one of whom resides in the present capital, and the other in the former capital, Comayagua; a district judge in each of the departments; and a justice of the peace in every town, these last being elected by their respective municipalities for the term of one year, while the higher judicial dignitaries are elected for life by the Government. The actual strength of the standing army is set down at 1,500, and that of the militia at 20,000.

The national revenue, which under former administrations rarely exceeded $300,000, is now reported to reach $800,000. In regard to the national debt, it has been stated on trustworthy authority that the terms of the Chatfield-Cruz convention have been ratified in a contract made between the representatives of England and Honduras. The debt of $50,000 which it recognizes is to be paid off at the rate of $10,000 per annum. Drafts on the four principal custom-houses for $2,500 are to be given to the representative of Her Britannic Majesty's Government in January of each year. For the year 1878 the drafts had already been given. Should any deficiency in the amount occur at any of the ports, the Honduras Government makes it good. During the five years, and while the terms are being complied with, the claim is to bear no interest. Should the Government of Honduras fail in its annual payments, interest on the balance due is to be charged at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum.

To the already mentioned significant indications of financial prosperity may be also added that of a combination set on foot in the United States for the purpose of establishing a North American banking, exchange, and commission business in the capital of Honduras. With the facilities to be derived from such an enterprise the chief impediment to the extension of com

merce between the two countries would be speedily removed.

The railway is now in operation from Puerto Cortez, on the Atlantic coast, to San Pedro Sula, a distance of about 90 miles. The value of the rolling stock is estimated at $500,000, and the entire cost of the road is given at $2,000,000. There are at present about 750 miles of telegraph, and 500 miles additional are in process of construction. There is also a report of an arrangement having been entered into between Honduras and San Salvador for the establishment of telegraphic communication beeween the five Central American republics. Should the project be carried into execution, dispatches from Guatemala to Costa Rica will, it is presumed, be transmitted at the rate of $1 per ten words, and from Nicaragua to Costa Rica, or from Honduras to Guatemala over San Salvador lines, at 50 cents.

No official returns of the foreign commerce of the republic have been published. With steam communication between the Atlantic ports and New Orleans, the fruit trade already existing might be developed to a scale of considerable importance. Although the service is at present confined to sailing craft, chiefly schooners, shipments of the value of $400,000 were made in 1877, by 180 vessels, with an aggregate of 14,143 tons. Exquisite fruits abound throughout the northern coast region and adjacent islands, and could be landed at New Orleans at an expense not exceeding those of gathering, packing, and freight. From 30,000 to 40,000 head of cattle are annually exported to the island of Cuba alone.

"Honduras is in the midst of her task of es

tablishing schools," writes a newspaper correspondent; and indeed schools are now to be found in every town and village of the republic. In 1878 the Government organized a national college and a seminary at the capital, both of which are under the direction of American teachers. The aggregate attendance at school in the republic was 20,000.

Honduras has fairly entered on the career of civilization in the highest sense of the term. Peace reigns undisturbed, the last ringleader of discord, José Maria Medina, having been shot in the course of the past year. Both government and people have discovered that their chief happiness is to be derived from industry and the enlightenment of the masses, and manifest the utmost zeal in their endeavors to attain it by these means. Highways, bridges, and other facilities for internal transport are planned or constructed in the more important sections; postal and mercantile intercourse with other countries extended and encouraged (a contract was signed in 1878 for a line of bi-weekly steamers to Cuba), and extensive concessions of land to North Americans for the cultivation of coffee, cacao, and other staples, on a scele hitherto unthought of in those regions. Nor are the elements of health and material comfort left unheeded, as attested

and packages, 750,200,000 florins. The length of telegraph wires in January, 1877, was 49,944 kilometres; of telegraph lines, 14,909 kilometres. The number of telegraph stations was 931, and the number of dispatches sent and received 2,667,318.

The new developments in the Eastern question were of so vital importance for the future of Hungary that they absorbed the attention of the Hungarian Parliament throughout the year. On February 19th the Prime Minister Tisza, after making explanations similar to those of Prince Auersperg in the Austrian Reichsrath (see AUSTRIA), stated that the Government could not regard some of the stipulations of peace now before it as consonant with the interests of the Monarchy. There was now no question of the amelioration of the lot of the Christians in Turkey; it was one of a total transformation and change of influence and power in the East. Many speakers urged the importance of a full understanding and close alliance with England, the most powerful and trusted ally of the Monarchy; but the Prime Minister did not deem it opportune to make any official statement on the intentions of the Government. On April 9th Tisza pointed out that the interests of Roumania and Hungary were identical, inasmuch as both had a common enemy in Panslavism. The discussion on the extraordinary credit of 60,000,000 florins demanded by the Government (see AUSTRIA) began on May 14th. The remarks of Tisza on this occasion were explanatory of the foreign policy of the Empire, which he said was decided by national considerations. The Government would never set up a policy of compensation in some of the western provinces of Turkey as their price for tolerating the formation of new Slav states. The bill passed the Lower House on May 16th and the Upper House on the 20th.

The session of the Diet was closed on June 29th by the Emperor in person. In the speech from the throne he remarked that the general political situation had weighed heavily everywhere upon the public credit, and that the length of time required to bring the compromise negotiations to an issue in the Houses of Parliament had rendered it impossible to accomplish all that might have been desired. Nevertheless, much had been done toward the regulation of the national finances, as well as for administrative and judicial reform. He then proceeded to review the measures passed by Parliament during the session, and stated that the new Austro-Hungarian compromise law would promote the interests of both portions of the Monarchy and the welfare of the whole people. Ample compensation for the concessions mutually made would be gained by both parties in the strength accruing from the fresh manifestation of the reciprocity of views and interests of both portions of the Empire. On the subject of foreign relations, he added: The present state of our foreign relations al

lows us to hope that we shall succeed in assuring not only the interests of the Monarchy,. but also the blessings of peace."

Elections were held for Deputies on August 5th. The result was a decisive victory of the Government party. Out of 394 seats, the Liberal or Government party obtained 232, the United Opposition 70, the Extreme Left 66, and Independents 15, making 14 second ballots necessary.

On October 1st the Minister of Finance, Szell, resigned, because the financial plans for Hungary were made impossible by the large expenses incurred by the occupation of Bosnia. This step of Szell was immediately followed by the resignation of the entire Ministry. After considerable negotiations, the Prime Minister agreed to conduct the public business until the meeting of Parliament, taking charge of the finances, while Baron Wenckheim became Minister of the Interior in his place. The Diet was opened on October 20th. Koloman Ghiczy, the ministerial candidate, was elected President by a large majority. Tisza then in a short speech explained the origin of the ministerial crisis. A motion of the Extreme Left to impeach the Ministry was set down for debate on November 5th. On that day a vote was taken on the motion, resulting in 95 votes for and 170 against impeachment. The reconstruction of the Ministry was completed in the early part of December. Count Szapary and Baron Kemeny were the only new members-the former for finance and the latter for commerce. On December 16th the Lower House by an overwhelming majority passed a bill proposing the prolongation of the military law, and on the 19th it adopted by 179 votes to 125 the Government bill to issue 40,000,000 florins of gold rentes for the purpose of redeeming treasury bonds. The House further passed, after Tisza had made a powerful speech in favor of the proposal, the bill relative to the levying of recruits for 1879. A three days' debate in the Hungarian delegation on Eastern affairs terminated on December 14th in the adoption of a motion to grant a sum of 20,000,000 florins for the occupation expenses of 1879. Count Andrassy defended the Eastern policy of the Government, and maintained that the occupation of Bosnia would not disturb the Monarchy or shift its center of gravity, and was cheered.

The policy of the Government with respect to the settlement of the Russo Turkish question, and particularly in the acceptance of the occupation of Bosnia, excited much dissatisfaction in the opposition party, especially among. that part of the people who were most devoted to strengthening and perpetuating the Magyar influence. This dissatisfaction was partly shown in the result of the elections, when, notwithstanding the decided majority gained by the Government in the general result, several of the chief members of the party were defeated at places which had been held for ten years by supporters of the Government.

A

letter written by Kossuth was published about the time the elections were held, in which M. Tisza was accused, with respect to the Austro-Hungarian compromise, of having sacrificed the interests of Hungary, and abused the system of parliamentary governinent. With regard to the occupation of Bosnia, Kossuth said that it was not an idea of the Congress, but a project of the Cabinet of Vienna, which had been prepared as long ago as when the alliance of the three Emperors was established-when Prince Bismarck, whom Count Andrassy consulted upon everything, laid stress upon the argument that Austria-Hungary, driven out of Germany and Italy, should look for compensation in the East. In occupying Bosnia, Austria-Hungary invited Russia and Panslavism to reëstablish themselves definitively in Bulgaria; this would be the ruin of Austria-Hungary and of the dynasty. In conclusion, Kossuth said that Parliament must watch to see that the occupation does not become annexation. Shortly afterward, following the conflicts of the Austrian forces of occupation with the Bosnian insurgents, the losses suffered by the Hungarian troops caused a considerable degree of excitement, and the language of the opposition journals on the subject became violent and unmeasured. Describing the Cabinet at Vienna as the "Vienna Camarilla,' they charged it with sending the Magyars to the slaughter with the object of securing their extermination. A few days later the civil authorities in Pesth were reported to have refused to execute a military order for the deliv. ery of five hundred wagons. The crisis which resulted in the ministerial changes of the 1st

of October was interpreted in the sense of a protest against excessive military expenditures, and as asserting a claim to effective control over this expenditure and the policy connected therewith. Just previous to the resignation of Szell, on the 27th of September, a large open-air meeting was held at Pesth to protest against the foreign policy of the Government, and resolutions were passed declaring that the occupation of Bosnia would be dangerous, that a convention ought to be concluded with Turkey and the army recalled, and that the Government should be impeached. During October the municipality of Pesth passed resolutions asserting that the policy of the Government on the Eastern question since its commencement had been unfortunate and dangerous for the country, and declaring that the Government had acted illegally in disposing of the blood and treasure of the nation without the consent of Parliament. Minor manifestations of popular displeasure were given on various occasions, as when a bomb loaded with dynamite was exploded on the night of the 26th of November near the palace of Tisza, where Count Andrassy and the members of the delegations were attending a soirée given by the Minister; and again, during the same week, when a bomb was exploded near the staircase of the Liberal Club while Tisza was making a report to the members of the Liberal party.

The leader of the Panslavists of Hungary, Miletics, a member of the Hungarian Parliament, who had been arrested more than a year previously on a charge of high treason, was found guilty in January, and sentenced to five years' penal servitude.

Executive-embracing expenses of all offices and departments of the State government not specified below.. Judicial. Legislative.

Charitable. Correctional..

These

The disbursements of the State school fund have been in the payment to the counties of school-tax-fund orders, and the salary and office expenses of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Illinois Central Railroad fund disbursed has been used in the payment of the principal and interest of the State debt. The military fund has been disbursed to the commanding officers of the several regiments, battalions, etc., under the apportionment made by the Adjutant-General. The chief items of disbursements, those of the general revenue fund, which for the two years amount to $3,538,937.69, are as follows:

Building and maintenance of new State House
Canal.
Printing, binding, and stationery
Miscellaneous special appropriations, including

taxes refunded..

Total...

The estimate of the amount of money required to be raised by taxation for the next two years for general State purposes is $3,627,000; to which is to be added $2,000,000 for school purposes.

The principal of the bonded debt of the State on October 1, 1876, was $1,478,600.27. There was paid during the two years ending September 30, 1878, $676,287.68, leaving the amount outstanding on October 1, 1878, $802,312.59. Since that date to January 8, 1879, there has been paid $249,570.53, leaving outstanding $552,742.06. Of this amount, there is now