The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-01-02

Geology has offered numerous attractive problems
for solution, and among these the equivalence Of
strata and the cotemporsneous elevation of parallel
mountain chains. In our own country, our geolo-
gsts have directed their attention for practical pur
poees to our extensive coal mines Until the year
1870, the coal trade among US from the Pennsylva-
mia: mines was unknown. That year, 800 tons
were sold Now the sale is estimated at hundreds
of thousands Of bushels The gold Of North Caroli-
M was first taken to the United States mint in 1914.
The gold Of California ives first discovered In ls4S.
Now already the annual product of the mines is es-
timated attens OF millions Of dollars Native silver,
copper, lead and iron mines also have but recently
opened to us their rich treasure.
Botany hes substituted the natural system of JUS
seu for the artificial system invented by Lime, and
has GREATLY increased the catalogue of species. The
greatest number Of plants in the time of Lime was
500 Il in 1908 it reached 10000 and It has now
reached 1913 900. The distribution Of the earth iuta
botanical regions, as to beighx and ATTITUDES, is
new topic, full ofnterest. The flora Of America is
ascertaned to be more rich than that Of any other
continents The fora Of Europe embraces half OF the
known species; Asia has fewer; Australia, fewer
It'll: kand Africa the fewest-
Zoology has increased the list Of its species. or
birds there are now 5000 species Of fish, 100000
Of mousca nesrly 1000; and Of articuata, 800 900.
In EACH one Of all these species there is be sutfuy
exhibited what Cuvier has called "the conditions of
lis exittence.'
APPLRD SCIENCE
Among the practical applications Of science t, the
physical and moral benefit of man, medicine occupies
prominent Iplace. 1t has, by its profound invsst
cations ascertained, and, by its wise experience,
learned to employ the means Of controlling or pre-
venting disease. It has certainly increased the term
of human life. In 1850 about onehaf of all chill.
dren born reached he age Of five years; now, four
ls survive that period. In 1893 Jenner discovered
vaccination; and with our century this wonder
fu preventive began to confer its blessings on the
human race It is TO be noted also, that Hahnsmarn,
the author Of homeopathy published his first treatise
on the subject In 1870 In 1884 there were butthree
homeopathic physicians in our country.
Agriculture has efectually availed itself Of the
good Offices Of vegetable chemistry and vegetable
physiology, and has been taught by them and by
three other good friends natural history, geology
and physical geography-that agriculture, in oil her
studies and labors, should take science for her
handmade.
The employment Of steam-power in navigation and
in land travel by railroads is peculiar to our century
It was not until the year 1907 that Fulton, in spite
Of the repeated failures OF preceding experimenters
made trip by steam on the Hudson river, to Albany
Now, steamers navigate the waters Of almost every
region Of the EARTH In 1888 steamers first traversed
the Atlantic. In 1s1s for the first time, the waters
OF Lake Erie were piled by paddle-wheel. In ls49
steamship first sailed for California. Less than
half century has elapsed since Fultons first adven-
ture was called "Fulton's folly" and already
steamers constitute In the public mind and in regard
to the national resource an important item in the
estimate Of naval power.
In 1880, at the opening Of the Liverpool and Nam
chester line, the first locomotive engine moved on
railroad. In 1853 all civilized communities are
avaing themselves of the astonishing facility which
railroads afford for trade travel Among the few ma
tions that form exceptions to this general remark
Spain and Italy, who, in this respect, and also In
many other movements Of our stirring times are con-
spicuous as laggards
MECHANIC ARTS, MANUFACTURES, TRADE.
The industrial arts have derived great facilities
nom the introduction Of machinery. Mechanical
agencies are introduced into every branch OF indus
try, where the turning Of wheel can facilitate
mpersede the exertion Of mere muscular power.
One Of the most conspicuous illustrations Of modern
mechanic art Is afforded by the vast britannia iron
bridge over the NenN Straits, ,s41 feet long.
train Of loaded cars in passing over IT, do not cause
depression Of one inch. A specimen Of modern
colossal ar htecture not less wonderful il the Lon
don Crystal Palace, constructed Of iron and glass,
ls4s feet long, and 40S feet wide covering an area
Of eighteen acres.
: The employment Of steam presses in printing,
supplies . volume OF attractive and useful know
ledge; and also its employment in each one Of the
successive steps Of paper-making, and whatever is
corrected with the issuing Of q newspaper or q
book.
Among the new articles Of manufacture intro
duced by our century may be particularly noted in
dia rubber goods, and the use Of india rubber in
great variety of modes that administer to human
comfort and luxury and serve for the preservation
of health and life. The manufacture Of clocks, also,
especially in Connecticut, has attracted universal
notice. They are exported TO Northern Europe and
TO China, by hundreds Of thousands, annually. The
American trade in ice originated in Boston in 1905;
about five hundred vessels are now employed in this
trade for shipping ice to cur Southern States the
West Indies, and to Southern Asia.
The transmission Of merchandise by canals, and
Tue BuppIy Vi IoIBc Citcs Win WatcA Wy mSAus
Of aaueducts, are one of our centurys memorabilia.
Very few Of our canals, now among the chief arte-
ries Of commerce, were opened prior to the year
$500.
In 1900, Phisdelphia was first supplied with
water from the Schuylkill. There has been con-
strucied an aqueduct more than forty miles in
length, from the Croton river at Sing Sing 10 the
city Of New York. where there has been built, in
the upper part of the CITY, great reservoir cover
ing thirsy-fivs acres. This work was commenced in
1886, and completed in 1912. Boston was supplied
in ls4s from Lake Cochituate, by an squeduct if
teen miles in length supply Of water is furnished
in this way to several other Of our cities
Man is thus appropriatlrg to himself, in every
way by which mechanic skill can perform, what
mechanic ingenuity can invent-the resources of
nature.
SOCIAL AND MORAL IMPROVEMENT.