The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1855-12-31

FOR the u
TheranOna

ThermOmcsers.
MEssKs. EDITORS In noticing the publish
ed accounts of the intensity Of the cold du-
ring this unprecedented cold week, you will
undoubtedly observe that they will differ ma
terially, even in places not very remote from
each other. Inquiry will also snow that
the thermometers in the same place vary
several degrees at the same hour Of the day.
On one morning last winter, the III rcurv NJ
this place stood ut % deg. below zero: and
and at Bentonsport on the same morning,
it was reported TO be only l6 dec. below,
making 10 deg. difference in ten miles dis
lance. At Albany, \. ", on one day last
winter there was a difference of 10 deg. be-
tween the lower and upper part Of the city.
Such was the published report. On Wednes-
day morning of this week, the writer's Their
mometer stood at 80 deg. below zero. An
other one in this place stood at % deg. be-
low, and report SAYS that at Primrose it stood
at % deg. below. The question arises why
this difference, especially in tho same place 2
In answer, it may be said that there will or
dinarily be some difference in different parts
OF the same town. Sometimes it will be
coolest in the lowest, sometimes in the high
slope, the difference between them will be
considerable. II one part is exposed to
wind, and the other not, this will cause a
difference. For similar reasons. different
,ala
other, will, at the same time, vary in temper
ature several degrees. Nor is this all. Their
mometers differ among themselves and they
differ very considerably. The mercury is
ever true TO itself; but the manufacturers Of
thermometers are not true to their customers.
1t is usually cheaper to make poor article
than good one. Here Is the secret Only
a portion of the thermometers are correct
not because the makers Of them cannot make
them correct, but simply that it is more ex-
pensiye TO do it. They are reputed to be ac-
cording TO Farenheit's scale. which makes the
freezing point at 30 deg, zero % deg. below
the freezing point, and the boiling Of water
az 2l2 deg. above it. If the point OF freez-
ing and of boiling water are accurately made
and all the degrees of the scale made equi-
distant, and Of the requisite number. and all
made from those two points as the basis, the
scale is correct. after the method of Faren
heit. Such thermometer will be correct
But only now and then one of the thermom-
ete:s scattered about the country, meets
| ic fbnt
the instrument is prime one, that is marked
warranted" - Some Of the instruments
have the deYee marks larger, j. e. longer, on
one part ot/the plate than on the other
Some baye not the zero point fixed correctly.
Some DO not have the point of freezing, Or
the one at which water boils, in the right
place. The writer has tested one this very
week, which had the degree spaces belou
the freezing point too large, and Of course
the zero point was too low on the scale. The
point at which water boils was correct, and
probably all the scale above the freezing
point was correct. This thermometer was
manufactured by David Kimbai & Co., n.
Lebanon, Conn, and marked, warranted"
The one the writer uses, from which the re-
ports Of the mercury in the Gate Csfg are
made, was manufactured by McAllister 4
Co.. Phia. There is another one III town,
made By +. Liese, y. Y, that runs so nearly
with it. when they are hung side hy side,
that there is no perceptible difference
between them. These have been thoroughly
tested, and are found to fulfil the con
ditions necessary. in order TO be reliable
Those thermometers in this region, thel efore,
which indicate temperatureof only % deg
or % deg. below zero, on Wednesday MORN
ing last, had better be carefully tested, be-
fore they are relied upon. The method Of
doing this will be given in another commu-
nication. | will only add that at this hour,
91 O'Clock p. NJ, the mercury is scant 3 above
zero, there is a brisk wind from the North
east, accompanied with a little fine, dry snow.
Pennington, Dec. Is, 1855. II. A.
CT The London papers speak Of bali Of
fire which on the evening of the Both ult. APP
peared in mid air, and darted along a third
of the sphere, leaving behind it comet
like trail. 1t then burst like rocket, but
without noise, falling like shower of
sparks, which however, instantly disap
peared.
CosuspRux.-Why is the Devil perfect
gentleman !?
Because the g Imp Of Darkness can't be
Imp o'light Hartford Times.
New Grocery { Provisiou Store.
~ w. RuEYAN 4 co, having established them
NJ. selves on the south side Of Fourth street. pear
flaa Mark Aansa hara rsce ved Iaron nd veil