The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-02-17

Ne4es On tho Presxe~ q science.
BRfAcT OF TIE ArA0sPHRKs UPoM nARBL1.
Professoy Henry. Of Washingtoa has been inves
tigating-unosr the direction Of the government
the causes which produce discoloration in marble
This Is found to be owing to the previous absorp
ton BY the marble Of Water, holding in solution
ganic matter, together with the absorption Of water
from the mortar In which the stones were placed
To illustrate the process, Professor n. supposed a
fine capillary tabe with its lower end fsmerssd in
water, whose internal diameter was sufficiently
small to allow the liquid to rise to the top TO be ex
posed 70 the atmosphere. Evaporation would take
place at the upper surface Of the column, and new
portions Of water would be drawn up to supply the
loss; and this process continued any material
which might be contained in the water would be
found deposited at theop of the tube tho point Of
evaporation. 1t, however, the lower portion Of the
tube were not furnished with supply Of water the
evaporation at the top would not TAKE place. and the
deposition of foreign matter would not be exhibited
even though the tube itself were Rlled with water
impregnated with impurities.
CAUSE OF BOILER EXPLOSIONS
Mr.. Fairbsirn was some time since appointed by
the British Association of Science 70 make exned-
ments in respect to ascertaining the cause Of boiler
explosions. He therefore had boiler made 20 az 60
determine not only the proportionste strength Of
boilers, but also in relation to their management
The boiler was II feet in diameter with two informal
tubes, feet in diameter. It stood pressure Of 80
lbs. on the square nch but at loo one of the tubes
collapsed. The object was to discover means Of
proportioning the strength of all the parts because,
as Professor Fairbairn believes the majority of ex-
plosions arise from an excess of steam.
TEE HBw RIFLE.
The pecniiarities of new rife are, that il has
moderated groove, is foot shorter than the Uni
ted States rifle, and readily be fred ten times per
minute, and from this to sixteen times by an expert
hand 1t is loaded at the breech, which receives the
the cartridge by operation not unlike the opening
of pair Of scissors, and with nearly the same ia
ciity. The small pocket pistols are calculated to
throw Minnie ball one hundred yards; cavalry
pistol, with a range of five hundred yards; a rife,
suitable for infantry, with range Of one mile; and
large gun will throw two ounce ball or small
shell, one mile and q half. 1t is claimed for this
new weapon that 1t will set on fire house or ship
at distance Of nearly two miles. A good marks
man has hit target foot square, at distance of
q third Of mile, 81 times out Of 100 shots, with
with this ri1e and it is said that it will throw ball
with sufficient force to perforate an inch board ut
the distance of q mile.
IMPROVED RAILWAY AxLEs.
An Irish mechanic has taken out q patent at the
British Office, for some improvements In axles and
axle boxes Of engines and carriages in use on rail
ways which consist first in fitting the cylindrical
journals of axes with one collar only instead of two
in order TO reduce the friction second In construct
ing axle boxes so that the main portion Of the same.
and the step or bearing for the axle Journal can be
removed without lifting the carriage of the wheels
For this purpose the lower part Of the axle box ia
made TO open at the top order to receive the step
OF bearing ard that portion of the box which forms
the upper grease chamber or hopper.
MANIPULATION OF STEEL AND IRON.
The difference between common iron and steel is
in the carbon of the latter; but iron be heated to
cones very hard. Aechanics take ADVANTAGE Of this
IN making axes and collars for wheel work for it is
easily filed and turned in soft state and afterwards
hardened. Moulders who make wheels are often
embarrassed BY this chemical property in iron; for
as the metal is poured in the mould Of moist sand
the evaporation Of the water carries of the heat and
cools the iron so quickly as to make it extremely
hard This Is common in such portions Of the metal
as have to run the greatest distance from the aper
ture Of reception. The only remedy for this Is to
have the sand as dry as possible and numerous
apertures.
NEW METHOD OF PR0PELLNa STEAMBOATS,.
Some one in Sing Sing, proposes . method Of
Penses With paddle wheels or shafts Of any kind.
Instead Of paddle wheels or propeers, atmospheric
air performs the business of propelng. Eight large
bellows or air pumps making four SETS with two In
the engine each one of the two alternately with the
other one. Pipes or trunks leading from each bel
lows or pump unite each Set and are carried to the
bottom of the boat for discharge Of the air from
the bellows, as fOllows-Air Is drawn into the bel
lows from above the boat, through pipes, by the &C.
ton of the engine, and forced out through the bot
tom Of the boat, backward, against the water-an
open channel or curb being provided beneath the
boat to guide the passage of the air upon each side
along the keels, to the stern of the boat.
PROGRESS AND BxTENT OF THE PHOTOGRAPHIC ART.
The city OF Paris alone contains ITO establish
ments exclusively occupied in the manufacture of
employ one bundled and thirty workmen. There
are seven hundred photographers in Paris some OF
whom execute eighty, ninety or one hundred por-
traits day, the average being five portraits day
and sold at an average of &c.. The stereoscope Is
finn has invested $l2O0O6
IRON RIGGING FOR SHIPS.
Two lines of ships, Of about eight hundred tons
each, are running between Glasgow and Montreal.
They are built OF On and all their shrouds, stays
backstaye-in fact, all their standing rigging-is
made of wire rope, with hemp centres like that used
on some inclined planes Of railroads. This riggngis
lighter than hemp of equal strength, holdsess wind
and is not subject to stretch after being once set.
Each shroud OF stay terminates in screw by which
it can be strained to any desired extent An improve
ment IN the hanging Of the yards is also adopted, by
which the yards made to turn in their lifts, and
roll up. the sails upon them, from the deck.
NEW SURVEYING INSTRUMENT.
An apparatus for delineating sections Of surveys
Tor railroads, canals, &C., and for computing the
solid contents of cuttings and Filings, has been in
vented. 1t consists of standard three feet high,
supported Oh carriage having three wheels From
this standard is suspended pendulum, the rod Of
which extends beyond the suspension point, and
there actuates series Of levers it vibrates When
1t is desired to deneate section Of a railroad sur
vey, it is drawn on the ground In the proper line,
and of course, the undnations give proportionate
amount of vibration to the pendulum, which again
actuates the series of peculiar combined levers
mentioned.
PLATING METALS.
The London Mechanics AfagaSine contains des-
crption of the process recently patented in that city
for coating lead, iron or other metals with tin,
nickel or alumina. The first part Of the process
consists in mode of preparing ISOLATION of the
metal with which the articles are 80 be coated or
plated, for which purpose the inventors proceed as
fOOXs:-FOr tin they diss0lve metallic tin hy nitr