Delaware inquirer. (Wilmington, Del.) 1859-18??, 1859-08-20
SCIENCE, ART & INVENTION.

| MANUFACTURE OF DAMASCUS BLADEs.-In the
endeavors which were made some time since
| to discover the process employed by the
Kvurdes in the manufacture of their sword
blades, il was observed that the manufactures
in which these blades were made, were situat-
ed at the declivity of the mountain, near cas-
cades, the water of which, falling from rock to
rock, arrived in the most limpid state in the
reservoirs constructed for its reception, in
which reservoirs the blades are tempered
these reservoirs are themselves placed in
situations where the air is very pure-purity
of air and water being considered necessary
conditions for the success of the operation.
Iron Of the purest quality is selected. Sub
mitted to very high temperature, the first
t0mpering is commenced when the iron is at a
white heat the metals exposed before fusion,
the fuel employed being placed on each side
of it, and the red hot iron is then covered as
quickly as possible with fatty and oily mat
ters-paste made from bones, wax, &c. This
operation tends, according to the mapufactu-
rers, TO render the blade flexible. The second
tempering is performed by the same process,
with these differences, that the heated iron,
after having thrown off considerable quantities
of sparks, and having been exposed, is cover
ed with paste composed of powdered bones
and purified mutton suet. The third temper
ing is effected by disposing the metal in such
a manner that it may be seized by man on
horseback who rides at full gallon, in order
that the blade, which he keeps in an elevated
position, may receive the impression of the
air. The fuel employed is anthracite and turf;
and, in order to obtain favorable results, il is
necessary to use fuel entirely free from sui
phur, and combine as much as possible the
heating of animal, vegetable and mineral sub
stance.
AsTRoNoMIcAL.-It is remarkable fact that
those portions of the heavens which are most
remote from the milky way are found to be
the richest in nebulm and clusters Of stars
In the neighborhood of the north pole of the
milky way, within region occupying about
one-eight of the entire nebulous contents of
the heavens are congregated. large portion
ton OF those nebulg have been resolved into
clusters of stars, and these stars, upon the
principal that faintness is merely the effect of
distance, must be inferred to be as near to us
as the faintest stars Of the milky way. On
the whole, the conclusion presents itself that
the stars in every part of the heavens, extend
to distance beyond the reach of the most
powerful telescope hitherto constructed: that
therefore the shape of that portion of space
which the stars occupy is entirely unknown
10 us mat within this space the stars are not
u"fi"iihiy ulstilputtu, uiln are most crowded
in the neighborhood of 4 plane which is called
the milky way; that out of this place the
stars exhibit great many centres of attrac-
ton, about which an immense number of
them are clustered but that the entire space,
so far as can be perceived, is studded through
more 'sparsey, with stars. The number OF
stars 1.-THE smallest magnitude visible, inerea-
SEES rapidly even up to the poles of the milky
way, although this increase is most rapid in
middle zone Of the galaxy. The cages there
fore indicate a condensation of stars in the
neighborhood of the milky way, but not that
telescopes have penetrated to the boundaries
Of our stratum. Every increase in the power
OF telescopes has hitherto disclosed new stars
in every part of the heavens.
PATENT SAFETY SRiP.-Mr. VIM. Benefits
SKIP has been working at South Francis Mine
during the last three. months, with the most
complete success. The "oatch" has been
several times tested, by cutting the rope. in
the presence of great many mine agents, and
it has acted with admirable precision in each
case, stopping the descent of the skip at once,
and giving the most complete satisfaction to
all parties present and it is confidently anti
cipated that the use of Mr.. Bennett's skip will
entirely prevent the great expense lavished
IN many mines in the destruction of timber
hlbbles, chains, and mems labor blythe break
ing otthe chains, as III as the serious loss
pf tima.-Spipntifio ,ri,o,,