Foundations in Wet Ground.
A new method of making foundations in wet ground has been devised by M. Bonnetond, a French military engineer. His plan is to bore a hole 10 ft. or 12 ft. deep and 1½ ft. in diameter in the damp ground, and in this a series of dynamite cartridges are placed, and finally exploded. The expansion of the gases generated drives the water far out beyond the sides of the hole, into which it does not return for at least half an hour. The time thus gained is utilized in rapidly excavating the cavity, which is then filled with a cement concrete, which sets before the return of the water. The method has been adopted in the construction of a fortified enceinte at Lyons, and is said to have led to very rapid work.