The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-08-20
Interesting Varieties.

|
British Museum occupy II miles of shelf
The painting and sculpture galleries of the
palace of Versailles extend over six miles.
In the conrce of three and half years
go 900 trees were feled in order to get at
the quit a-percha.
The eyes Of needles are punctured by a
machincc which, superintcnded by one boy
can punch 90 900 in day.
| A ray of artificial light travels at the rate
OF 10000 leagues in second of time.
| Astronomers have given the tate of solar
light at 1872, 500 miles second.
| In the formation of single locomotive
engine there are over 5000 pieces to be put
together, and these require to be as accurately
adjusted as the works ola watch
| Every watch consists CT at least 500 pieces
employing probably over 200 persons, dis.
| tributcd among 40 trades-to say nothing of
the toolmaF ers for all these.
| Gas-llghting was unknown in 1900 it
was not until two years after this that MUIR
dock made his first public exhibition of it in
London. Since that time his discovery has
enclrced the globe. In Europe and this
country all the principal cities and many
large towns are lighted with it: and New
Zealand villages, where no white man had
built his residence in 1900, are now illum ina
| ted ny the same subtle and beautiful agent
Of human comfort and happiness.
Every pound of cochineal contains 70. 900
insects, boiled to death 700 900 pounds are
annually used for scarlet and crimson DIVES.
The odorous matter Of flowers is inlamma.
bic, and arises from an essential oil. When
growing in the dark their odor is diminished
but restored in the light, and it is strongest
in sunny climates. The plant known as the
trarme'ia takes fire in hot evenings by bring.
ing flame near its roots
Al present there is no really successful
vcntlating and dust excluding apparatus
combined for railroad cars. Much ingenuity
has been displayed, and many patents have
been issued for devices for these purposes,
but as yet the system needs to be perfected.
The national road over the Cumberland
mountains is more extensive and durable
than the celebrated Appian Way at Rome.
10 tind the contents of cask in imperial
gallons, gage the bung diameter and multiplv
its square by ?. 10 the product add the
square of the head diameter, and multiply
these by the inside length. Then divide the
last product by l ,0S9 for imperial gallons. .
The Julian aqucduct Of Rome is two miles
longer than the Croon aqueduct of New York,
but the Croton carries more water than nil
the seven aqueducts OF Rome put together,
and more than any other aqucduct in the
world, and is longer than any other, except
ing the Julian.
The Illinois Central Railroad is the LONGEST
line ever constructed by cur company, and in
point of Workmanship is equal to any
European road
The stone arch over Cabin Johns Creek,
on the Washington aqurduct, is about so
feet greater than any other stone arch in the
world, and is more beautiful in proportion
than the arch over the Oca, in Italy, so long
| celebrated for lis magnilicence.
The tunnel on the summit Of the Pcnnsyl.
vania Railroad was more difficult work than
the tunnel under the Thames.
The structures on the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, at lIarper's Ferry, and the Star
rucca vaduct on the New York and Erie
Railroad, are equal in magnificence to any,
thing Brunei ever did in England, or Moran
in France.
The suspension bridge over the Niagara
river, at Lcwlstown, is 042 feet 10 inches
III one span, and 43 feet greater than any
other single span in the world being nearly
| twice as great as the celeb rated bridge over
the Mcnal Straits in England
The United States Dry Dock, in Brooklyn,
is the largest dry dock in the world, by many
feet. The plates of iron used in the gates Of
this dock are the largest that had been made
up to the time they were rolled.
The estimate originally made by the Belgian
engineers for the wear of rails upon their
lines, was 100 years. At present ten years
is not under the average life of rails, whilst
many are actually so much worn in IL months
as to be no longer fit for use.
Boiler explosions are always reported, but
simple ruptures, which often occur from
over.pressure, and with no further conse-
qucnces than the loss of steam and local
| injury to the boiler, are seldom publicly
reported and there are many who are not
| aware that such casualties ever happen.
I The bark of trees is generally thickest on
their northern sides. Scientific american