What does it signify that a lilliputian train passes over a viaduct amidst the abysses of the Apennines, or that a caravan laden with a nation's offerings creeps across the unresting sameness of the desert, or that a petty cloud of steam sweeps for an instant over the face of an Egyptian colossus immovably submitting to its slow burial beneath the sand?

Just outside the latter, a viaduct takes the road across a deep ravine full of magnificent ferns, which remind the traveller of the heightmore than 600 feetabove the sea level to which he has attained.

During the afternoon crowds will gather on the viaduct, just above the principal railroad station, where they will stand for hours looking down over the parapet into the yards below.

The Starucca Viaduct, by Mr. Adams, upon the New York and Erie Railroad, and the viaduct over the Patapsco, near the junction of the Washington branch with the main stem of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, show that our engineers are not at all behind those of Europe in this branch of engineering.

The Starucca Viaduct, by Mr. Adams, upon the New York and Erie Railroad, and the viaduct over the Patapsco, near the junction of the Washington branch with the main stem of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, show that our engineers are not at all behind those of Europe in this branch of engineering.

But at present the branch is not ready for opening, owing to an important viaduct not having finished building.

We ought to save the train which is running full speed towards the unfinished viaduct, we ought to save the passengers from a frightful catastrophe.

In a few minutes we shall reach the Tjon viaduct.

We are, as I have said, two hundred yards from the valley of the Tjon, so deep and wide as to require a viaduct from three hundred and fifty to four hundred feet long.

Assuredly Faruskiar's schemein the execution of which he had executed his rival Ki-Tsanghad been cleverly contrived in utilizing this branch line leading to the unfinished viaduct.

" "But," said Pan-Chao, "how does it happen the Nanking branch was open when the Tjon viaduct is not finished?

Over the line of pens a two-plank viaduct ran, and it was bent continually by the weight of large shepherds balancing their way along to take a bird's-eye view of possible bargains.

The first striking thing was the great new viaduct at Tonbridge, where the swamp of the choked Medway (due to a giant variety of Chara) began in those days.

The Retiro Viaduct.

Combined iron and stone viaduct over the river Retiro, Brazil.5 illustrations.

THE RETIRO VIADUCT.

We give engravings of the viaduct over the river Retiro, Brazil, our illustrations being reproduced by permission from the Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

C.E., describes the work as follows: [Illustration: VIADUCT OVER THE RETIRO, BRAZIL.]

This viaduct was constructed in the year 1875, according to designs furnished by the author, for the purpose of passing the Dom Pedro Segundo State Railway over the valley which forms the bed of the river Retiro, a small confluent on the left bank of the river Parahybuna.

The viaduct is composed of seven semicircular arches, each end arch being built of ashlar masonry, and of 6 meters (19 ft. 8 in.)

The metallic part of this viaduct is 80 meters (262 ft. 6 in.)

long, let into the masonry pillars, secure the stability of the viaduct against lateral strains, due mostly to the centrifugal force caused by the passage of the trains.

per lineal meter traveling over the viaduct at a velocity of 60 kilometers, or about 37 miles, per hour.

In spite of its fragile appearance this viaduct has, up to the present time, served in a most satisfactory manner the purpose for which it was built.

The viaduct murder.