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region of the Great Lakes, the Pacific coast region, and the mountainous and arid regions of the far West. To obtain information as to what lands are vacant in any district, one should address the Registrar of the local Land Office, who will answer any questions on the subject, and will explain the steps necessary to be taken in making an entry.

As already stated, however, most of these public lands are altogether unsuitable for homesteads-at all events, in their present condition. Intending settlers will find it most expedient and pro

proved for the similar treatment of nearly 3,000,000 acres in addition. Eventually-that is to say, within the next fifty years-something like 60,000,000 acres of desert lands will be converted in this manner into the richest kind of farming territory. In other words, the Reclamation Service expects to redeem a total area about equal to that of the State of Wyoming, or more than twice the size of Ohio-all of which will become available for the production of crops and the maintenance of a prosperous population.

A New Star for Old Glory

By Percy Trenchard

NEW star must soon be added to our national ensign because of the admission of Oklahoma and Indian Territory as a State of the Union. But how to place it, is the problem. The pattern of the national flag of the future should be definitely settled. The next half-century may see a great many new States admitted, for not only will other Territories be taken in, but the vast lands of the Western States may have to be divided into separate commonwealths, each entitled to a star on the flag. This has brought home to the government officials the unsatisfactory situation with regard to the pattern of our national emblem.

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dent that with each addition of a stripe the lines would become so attenuated as to be in time mere ribbons, instead of broad bars. On April 14, 1818, therefore, it was decided that:

"From and after July 4, the flag of the United States be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white, and that the union have twenty stars, white on a blue field."

It was further enacted that:

"On the admission of every new State into the Union, one star be added to the union of the flag, and that such addition shall take effect on the 4th of July next succeeding such admission."

Nothing has ever been definitely settled as to the arrangement of the stars. The flags of the United States Army are made by order of the War Department. When a new star is added, the Depart

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SUGGESTED NEW ARRANGEMENT OF THE STARS IN OLD GLORY."

"From and after the first day of May, 1795, the flag of the United States be fifteen stripes, alternate red and white, and that the union be fifteen stars, white on a blue field."

Nothing was said as to which way the stripes should run or the stars be placed.

As States were added, it became evi

ment must issue new flags. It has been customary for the Secretary of the Navy and the Secretary of War to get together and arrange how the flag shall be made. This, it is declared, is not sufficiently dignified for the American nation. It is contended that, in a matter so momentous, the nation should be consulted; and

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Tunneling Shield

THE illustration shows one of the enor

mous shields used in tunneling under the East River, at New York, in operation. The course of the subway lies through a geological formation hard above and very soft below, so that the greatest difficulty has been experienced in driving the shield on grade. It has passed through mud, quicksand, solid rock, and sand. A force of 4,000 tons' pressure has been required to advance it. In order to reduce the heavy pneumatic pressure as far as possible, the grade of the tunnel was kept as close to the bed of the river as considerations of safety would allow. Between the roof of the subway and the river bottom, but eight feet of soil and

rock intervene. However, clay has been deposited till the roof is from 15 to 25 feet high.

This shield has a diameter of 23 ft. 61⁄2 in., a length of 18 ft. 6 in., and weighs 542,000 pounds. The outside cylindrical shell is composed of three thicknesses of 3/4-inch plates. It is reinforced in the rear with an additional plate threeeighths of an inch in thickness; and in front the vertical edge is reinforced with a segmental cast-steel cutting edge.

Near the center of the shield are two vertical, transverse bulkheads, which, with girdles and braces, support two working platforms. Two vertical bulkheads inter

COURTESY OF "ENGINEERING RECORD."

sect the transverse bulkheads and floor platforms, and with them divide the cross-section of the shield into as many as nine separate chambers.

The miners work in front of the forward bulkhead. The material excavated is shoveled up, and deposited in inclined. chutes passing through both diaphragms of the shield and delivering to the rear, whence it is shoveled into dump carts.

One shield requires 50 men to operate it. They work two three-hour shifts daily, owing to the exhausting effects of the air-pressure, so that 200 men are required in one day for one shield. The air-pressure to which the men are exposed of course is slight compared with that which forces the shield forward. The former is to keep back the water, which otherwise would flood the tunnel.

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FRONT OF TUNNELING SHIELD, IN ROCK EXCAVATION. EAST RIVER TUNNEL, NEW YORK.

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great bridges across the East River at New York.

For several years past, magazines and newspapers have been filled with descriptions of what is called the Williamsburg Bridge, owing to the mammoth size of this structure and the engineering feats involved in its erection. In round numbers, the bridge is said to have cost fully 20 million dollars. While it was being built, a very singular accident occurred. to it by reason of a fire which started among some inflammable material used for covering the cables. Before it was checked, the fire spread to the temporary woodwork used in the construction, consumed most of this, and then burned away much of the covering of the cables. The greatest damage done, however, was

pension shows wide gaps that have been made; while the immense steel crossbeams have pressed against the hangers below them to such an extent that it has been necessary to cut notches in the crossbeams to prevent them from breaking the hangers. Careful measurements made with gauges specially designed for the purpose, show that the center span of the bridge has actually moved more than three feet from its original position. This span alone weighs 7,000 tons, and this enormous load is at the present time pressing against the anchorage on the Williamsburg side.

Shortly after the fire, it was supposed that all of the wires in the cables which had been badly damaged had been replaced; but evidently the heat affected the

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