[2] The biggest and most powerful locomotive in the world is stated to be the “Bessemer,” built in 1900 at the Pittsburg Locomotive Works, U.S.A., weighing with its tender 175 tons. Its height is 16 feet from rail to top of smoke-stack, and it is capable of easily drawing a train of 4,000 tons at 25 miles an hour, or 8,000 tons at 15 miles an hour. Its hauling power is therefore enormous, and so it ought to be, as the diameter of the smallest ring of the boiler is 7 feet 10 inches. The nearest approach in size to this monster was constructed in Great Britain for the Santa Fé Railway in Argentina, and weighed 150 tons. [3] See Chapter I. [4] These have since given place to motor-cars built in America. [5] Report of Parliamentary Committee on Housing of the Poor, 1902. [6] _vide_ Chapter V. [7] One of the largest tramway schemes ever promoted is contained in the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Tramways Bill, which came before Parliament in March last. The routes have a total length of 80 miles, and pass through a district with a population of close upon three-quarters of a million. The idea is to connect, by means of electric tramways, the towns of Nottingham, Long Eaton, Derby, Ilkeston, Ripley, Alfreton, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Pleasley, Mansfield, Eastwood, Bulwell, and Hucknall Torkard. [8] In England the motor-car is beginning to play an important part in country parliamentary elections. Motor-cars are used by commercial travellers, and are being tried for the official work of the police about the metropolis. The General Post Office is also giving motor carriers a trial for letters and parcels; and motors are utilised for dust-carts. [9] A very curious and, to the superstitious, significant coincidence was recently reported from Ireland. Last year, when permission was asked to repair the road between Newcastle and Kilcoole, a member of the rural council opposed, declaring that it was good enough for farmers, and they did not want to encourage “galoots in motor-cars” and “go-boys on bicycles” in their neighbourhood. This councillor was, not long since, killed through the wheel of his cart catching in one of the ruts complained of! [10] Both Brunel and Scott Russell, the eminent shipbuilder, argued that from scientific theory and actual experience there need be no limit to the size of a ship when constructed on the tubular principle, except that which the quality of the material imposed. [11] The Hamburg-American Line’s luxurious yacht _Prinzessin Victoria Luise_ has a splendidly-equipped gymnasium, where the passengers can indulge in horse-riding, cycling, and rowing, on the various apparatus installed. On one of the decks is a first-class “cricket-pitch,” a tennis-court, and an archery ground.