bly short space of time harnessed and in his place. In many instances the men have been in bed asleep, the horses laying in their stalls, and in two minutes from the time the alarm was given, men, horses, and engine and hose were on their way to the fire. proving one of the most beautiful sights | alarm is given, each horse is in an incredithat could possibly be imagined. The glistening drops sparkled like so many diamonds flung into the air, and the vast crowd assembled gave expression to their admiration by stentorian vivas. The amusing admiration expressed by many country people at the spectacle was quite refreshing; and their remarks upon the beauty and utility of the fire department, though uttered in homely language, was expressive and complimentary. These seven fire engines houses of Cincinnati are not little "cubbys," such as we have in New York, but substantial edifices, occupyiug two lots, and fifty feet wide. They are built so that throughout the day they are literally open to the passers-by thronging the streets, and any one who chooses can walk in and inspect the different things connected with these useful buildings. The large "steamer" stands on one side with its pipe directly under a funnel, so that the smoke from the slumbering fires of the furnace escape out of the roof; beneath the engine is a brick well to catch any cinders which might fall and litter the floor, or endanger the safety of the building. Alongside stand two carts, each carrying two thousand feet of hose; they are so large that our New York hose carts look like toys by the contrast, and instead of being dragged by fifty men and boys one horse efficiently does the labor. There is also to be seen what appears to be a small hand-cart, which contains the fuel taken to the fire to supply steam. This cart is attached to the hose when it goes to the fire. In the fourth district house is to be seen the only hook and ladder carriage in Cincinnati It is drawn by two horses, and accompanied by the captain and a small number of men. At the back of the house, and of the same floor, is a large stable, running the entire width of the building, containing six of the finest draught horses in the country. Attached to the fourth district "steamer," are four grays, perfect matches; the largest weighs one thousand five hundred pounds, the smallest one thirteen hundred and fifty. Each horse has its name, and answers to it with great intelligence. These horses stand all day with their trappings on, ready to work at a moment's notice. At night the harness, which, by the way, is in one piece, is taken off. As the men attached to the engine all sleep in the house, each horse has a person especially appointed to bring him out; consequently, at night, the instant the The officers of a steamer consist of a foreman, assistant-foreman, pipeman, fireman and driver. On the alarm being given, the fireman rushes to the furnace and with a torch lights the fire under all the surface of the grate; the engineer takes his place in front of the engine, his duty being to turn on and off the steam, as the foreman may direct; the driver springs into the saddle on the near horse and guides the near leader with a rein; the off horses he controls by voice and whip. In proceeding to a fire, the two hose carts lead and clear the way, and the steamer follows at a short distance, so that in case of another coming through a cross street the driver can signal the steamer to pull up, if nothing is in the way the steamer rattles over the pavements like flying artillery. On arriving at a fire the driver takes his horses into a neighboring street, or any convenient place, and never leaves his charge. The two suction pipes are instantly lifted from their hooks, and placed in a cistern, (the streets being amply provided with them) and then all that is necessary to do is to attach the hose, and everything is ready. All this is done with precission and quietness; and instead of seeing a crowd of men and boys, in each others' way, as in New York and other Atlantic cities, you see an engine of a dozen times the power of our best hand engine controlled by a few persons, not a word being spoken, the remainder of the company meantime being engaged in ordinary duties about the burning building. The contrivances to raise steam almost on the instant are very happy. The boiler is flat, rendering a large surface of grate necessary. The wood is distributed thinly over the grate, and, as we have already stated, is fired in every part by a torch. In the boiler there is no more water than can with great promptness be converted into vapor; this done, a little engine, designated "the doctor," supplies fresh water enough to make another respiration of steam, and then another, and so on as long as the motive power is needed. Two safety valves are attached to each boiler, one only of which is under the control of the engin eer, so that if he gets enthusiastic and shuts | then the ordinary blocks of wood in general down the valve, he cannot by his ill-timed use. As soon as the fire is lighted and the zeal, as was the case on a former melancholy occasion, cause an explosion. The force of the water is so great that it requires two men to hold the end of the hose and move with it, while the third with the nozzle directs the stream. The nozzles are for utility and not for beauty, being only eighteen inches long, and therefore easily inserted into any opening that offers, that leads to the heart of the devouring element. After a fire, the engines return at walking pace to their different station-houses. We were much amused at the way the driver backed the cumbrous machine into the house with the four horses, which was done by whip and command alone. Inside the house is a tube or funnel fixed to the roof; the engine must be backed so that the funnel comes under this tube to allow the smoke to escape. This was done while the horses were attached. The driver then took his horses from the traces-the firemen cleaned out the furnace and relaid the fuel for the next occasion it would be needed. This is done by first putting a tier of shavings on the grate which covers the whole surface of the boiler; then a tier of splinters or laths on top of the shavings; steam well up, the fire is continued with coal. The engineer and the rest of the firemen then polish the engine, and in a short time it is in the same state as when it went from the house. The average of the fires which take place, according to the Chief's statement, is not more than one per week, and sometimes as long as three weeks elapsed without having to turn out. Such is the sense of security which citizens feel in Cincinnati, that we were informed by several persons that if a fire should happen in the house next their own they would not think of moving a single article of furniture. The force of water thrown by these machines is so powerful, that if people interfere with the firemen by crowding too near, they turn the hose on them, the water of which pushes them down, and they scamper off as best they can, taking the thing as a good joke, and afterwards keeps as far as is necessary away. Instead of a great number of men, boys, and loafers, being congregated abont a fire, as is the case in our Eastern cities, all that one can see are the large engines taking up their stationssometimes four or five hundred feet from the fire-only two persons near them, viz., the engineer and fireman. These powerful machines then commence doing their work quietly and more efficiently than hundreds of men could do it. This steam fire department was organized by Miles Greenwood, and it was through his influence that the old department was reorganized. When going to a fire, the horses seemed as anxious and as excited as the men, and the instant the bell was sounded they knew the moment for going on duty had arrived. The steam is generally got up in seven minutes from the time the furnaces are fired, and we believe that it has never happened that it was not ready when the engine arrived at the scene of action. The inventor of the fire engines suggests that the insurance companies should make it a part of the agreement with insurers, more especially in regard to warehouses, to have a large iron pipe, six inches in diameter, fixed perpendicularly in the side of the wall of every building, midway between the front and rear, with a hose hole on every story. By this arrangement, in times of fire, the steamer's hose could be attached to this perpendicular pipe, and thus facilitate the firemen, who would be relieved of the necessity of carrying a large quantity of hose into the upper parts of buildings. In Cincinnati, for the most dangerous wooden tenements not more than one-half per cent. is now asked for insurance. FIRE! FIRE! FIRE! Addressed to the Gallant Firemen of California by their admirer Dr D-n. Fire! Fire! Fire! Tyrant, ruthless, dire. Pitying neither sex, nor age, Nor rich, nor poor, nor swain, nor sage.- Fire! Fire! Fire! Higher, Higher, Higher;What Demon bids thee to rage on, Pour thy hot flame till all is gone, Thy black smoke vomit, spit thy spite, Thy terrors strike, in dead of night, When babes, like angels, sleep in peace, And labor's toils a moment cease. When sickness pale, can snatch again A little rest from wasting pain?— Fire! Fire! Fire! Hie her, Hie her, Hie her.- Fire Fire! Fire! Fire Fire! Fire! To one small miserable spot;- Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire! Fire! Lyre! Lyre! Lyre!— Now, O Fame! tune each thy string, *For d'ye see, there's a sweet little cherub aloft, Sits smiling and watching for the life of Poor Jack Dibdin's Song. 'THERE is a man in this city who is so polite that he begs his own pardon every time he tumbles down' and thanks himself as politely every time he gets up again. Alphonse Karr, the French author, has this singular yet truthful motto upon his signet ring: "I fear only those I love." This packing trade therefore makes Shasta a very lively and important point. Should the new wagon road up the Sacramento be fully opened, it will doubtless somewhat affect its business prospects. This town originated from Major Reading having discovered gold, in the spring of 1849, and successfully employed a number of Indians and others to work for him : at which time it was known as 'Reading's Springs'-and Reading's Dry Diggings. This is a town of considerable importance, not only on account of the extensive diggings around it, but also from its being situated, as at one time considered, at the end of wagon navigation' near the head of the Sacramento Valley; the high and rugged mountain chains and spurs having shut out the mining localities north of Shasta from the benefit of transportation by teams; consequently as that populous district derived their principal supplies by this route it became necessary to pack them In 1850 a public meeting was convened, on mules, and in the summer of 1854 there and its first name was changed to Shasta; were no less than two thousand mules em-supposed to be from the Russian word ployed in the packing trade of this place; "tchatsa" signifying chaste or chaste mounand," as each mule would average not less tains. Since that time the town has than two hundred pounds of freight, and as moved down the side of the hill a little, the most remote point to which goods are to its present locality, and where it has taken will not occupy more than two grown to the large and flourishing place weeks-and in many instances three or it now is. Like many other large mining four days less, it is a very moderate cal- towns it has been destroyed by fire; first on culation to average the trips of the entire June 14th, 1853-next on Nov. 28th of the two thousand mules at two weeks each, same year; when fire-proof buildings were which will give a result of one hundred commenced, the first of which was erected tons per week as the aggregate amount of by Bull, Baker & Co. The principal porfreight packed from Shasta; which, at the tion of this town now is fire-proof, and by low figure of five cents per pound would its substantial appearance proves the pergive the sum of twenty thousand dollars severance and enterprise of its business per trip to the packers." men. SAW MILL RAILROAD ON THE NORTH FORK OF THE COSUMNES RIVER. The illustration above, representing a Saw Mill Railroad, constructed on the side of a steep mountain, on the north fork of the Cosumnes river, near Sly Park, shews what is and can be done to accomplish a given purpose, when it is required. In the |