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Machinery for Refrigeration. By Norman Seife. Chicago: H. S. Ricn & Companv. 1900. 8vo. Pp. 372, 213 illustrations. Price 3.50. The author, who lives in Australia, is familiar with all types of refrigerating machinery, and has]been connected with the subject since 1858. He has studied its progress both in the United States and Europe and, consequently, his book may be regarded as most authoritative. .The mechanical processes carried out in ordinary refrigerating establishments are, compared with many others in which machinery is employed, exceedingly simple,' but they are dependent upon principles which are not so easy to comprehend, and perhaps no branch of engineering has been less understood in the past by those who use machinery, than that which is connected with ice making and refrigeration. The only books, at one time, which threw any light on the subject dealt with it simply from a thermo-dynamic aspect, and their due comprehension required the reader to be a mathematician rather than a refrigerating engineer. The author has acquitted himself of a difficult task in an excellent manner. It is one of the best technical books we have seen in a long time, and it appears to be very thorough. A TREATISE ON STAIR BUILDING AND HAND RAILING. By William Mowat, M.A.. and Alexander Mowat, M.A. London : Greorge Bell & Sons. New York : The Macmillan Company. 1900. 8vo. Pp. 368,440 illustrations. Price 9. In preparing this book the authors have done a signal service to architects and builders, for they have placed'in their hands a complete course of construction in the principles and practice of stair building and hand railing, embracing all the technical information required in general practice. It contains numerous examples illustrating the construction of the various classes of wood stairs, both for house and passenger ships, and of stone stairs, with a complete course of hand railing, showing easy, accurate and economical methods of getting out and preparing wreathed hand Tails. Also an appendix consisting of a short course of plain and descriptive geometry bearing on the su bject It is a most valuable book, and both the text and the illustraiions are of high order. Stair building and hand railing are by no means easy subjects to master, and the authors have acquitted themselves of a difficult task in an admirable manner. THE ROOF FRAMER; OR, THE SCIENCE OF ROOF FRAMING MADE EASY. Whea-ton, 111. : The Roof Framer Publishing Company. 1900. Very large quarto. Price 10. A most valuable book for any builder, comprising a system of full-sized workiug scales for the rafter pole and prepared bevels, with specific instructions and a complete system of rules for getting anything required in roof framing. It is fully illustrated with engravings, diagrams, scales, etc With the aid of these diagrams and instructions, which latter are couched in the working language of the trade, any good workman can do all the framing of the most complicated roof, on the ground, without drafting or scribing. It is an important contribution to the already full literature relating to building. The Photo Miniature.--We have received No. 3 cf this unique pamphlet form of literature devoted entirely to all that can be said on u Hand Camera Work" and also No. 4relating to "Photography Out of Doors;" each are fully illustrated and contain useful information on the subjects mentioned. Tennant & Ward, publishers, 289 Fourth Avenue, New York.
