This stated, the play of the apparatus may be easily understood.  Every ten minutes a regulating clock closes the circuit of the local pile, B2, and establishes a contact at C. The electro-magnet, E4, attracts its armature, and thus acts upon the lever, h, which presses the sheet of paper against the stylet in front that serves to mark the level of the lowest waters, and against the stylet, g, and the wheels, T and Z. In falling back, the lever, h, causes the advance, by one notch, of the ratchet wheel that is mounted at the extremity of the cylinder W, and thus displaces the sheet of paper a distance of 5 mm.  The wheel, Z, carries engraved in projection upon its circumference the hours in Roman figures, and moves forward one division every 60 minutes.  The motion of this wheel is likewise controlled by the cylinder, W.

It will be seen upon referring to Fig. 7, that there is obtained a very sharp curve marked by points.  We have a general view on considering the curve itself, and the height in meters is read directly.  The fractions of a meter, as well as the times, are in the margin.  Thus, at the point, a, the apparatus gives at 3 o’clock and 20 minutes a height of tide of 4.28 m. above the level of the lowest water.

This apparatus might possibly operate well, and yet not be in accord with the real indications of the float, so it has been judged necessary to add to it the following control.

Every time the float reaches 3 meters above the level of the lowest tide, the circuit of one of the lines that is open at this moment (that of line I, for example) closes at C (Fig. 2), into this new circuit there is interposed a considerable resistance, W, so that the energy of the current is weakened to such a point that it in nowise influences the normal travel of the wheel, r.  At the shore station, there is placed in deviation a galvanoscope, K, whose needle is deflected.  It suffices, then, to take datum points upon the registering apparatus, upon the wheel, T, and the screw, a, in such a way as to ascertain the moment at which the stylet, g, is going to mark 3 meters.  At this moment the circuit of the galvanoscope, K, is closed, and we ascertain whether there is a deviation of the needle.

As the sea generally rises to the height of 3 meters twice a day, it is possible to control the apparatus twice a day, and this is fully sufficient.

It always belongs to practice to judge of an invention.  Mr. Von Hefner-Alteneck tells us that two of these apparatus have been set up—­one of them a year ago in the port of Kiel, and the other more recently at the Isle of Wangeroog in the North Sea—­and that both have behaved excellently since the very first day of their installation.  We shall add nothing to this, since it is evidently the best eulogium that can be accorded them.—­La Lumiere Electrique.

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DELUNE & CO.’S SYSTEM OF LAYING UNDERGROUND CABLES.