among the peoples
of the great manufacturing countries will be very largely augmented,
and this result will be brought about mainly through the
instrumentality of methods of keeping perishable produce free from
deterioration by maintaining it almost at the freezing point--a
temperature at which, under suitable conditions as regards exclusion
of moisture, and steadiness of hygrometric pressure, the germs of
decay in food are practically prevented from coming to maturity.

For the cooling of dwelling-rooms in places distant from the sea,
various systems, depending upon the supply of dry cold air from
central stations through pipes to the dwellings of subscribers, will
no doubt be brought into operation. This, however, will only be
practicable in the more populous localities having plenty of residents
ready to contribute to the expense. For more isolated houses the
cooling and ventilating apparatus of the future may be a modification
of the "shower-blast" which has been successfully adapted to
metallurgical purposes. When downward jets of water, as in a
shower-bath, are enclosed in a large pipe connected horizontally with
a room but having facilities for the escape of the water underneath, a
strong draught of cool air is created, and the prevailing temperature
is quickly reduced. An apparatus of this kind may be intended for
application either to the ventilators or to the windows of rooms.

Lifts for conveying persons from one storey of a building to another
will probably undergo a considerable amount of modification during the
next few years. The establishment of central electric stations and the
distribution of electricity for lighting and for power will offer a
very great premium upon the preference for electric motors for lifts.
As soon as a maximum of efficiency, combined with the minimum of cost,
has been attained, there will be a demand for the introduction of
lifts in positions where the traffic is not large enough to warrant
the constant presence of an attendant. In fact the desire will be for
some kind of elevator which shall be just as free to the use of each
individual as is the staircase of an ordinary house.

For this purpose, inclined planes having moving canvas or similar
ramps will be extensively brought into use. The passenger steps upon
what is practically an endless belt having suitable slats upon it to
prevent his foot from slipping, and, as the hand-railing at the side
of this moves concurrently,