New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-08-09

efect, ana so eetaDtlhn All inc taWb Oh Douk,
properties of matter of which chemistry is cognizan
Instead of allowing there some sxty-fye Original
Nlements, Mr.. Roosevelt contended from various
examples in alloropsm, catsysis, and isomersm,
that all the phenomena Of matter are due to the mo-
tons of one original element namely, etherel matter
He produced instances in which he said changes OF the
properties Of matter were effected by motion only.
Prof Horsford read paper on the burning OF Der
dams Mechanical Bakery in Boston, supposed to be the
work of an iDcendiary, but which he showed mignt
have resulted from spontaneous CONFUSION in the boxes
Of saw dust used to catch the drppngs OF the OIL IL
well kno wn that some oils when spread over surface
and exposed air absorb oxygen with 90 great rapd
as to heat considerably and to ignite II there ID small
opportunity of cooling Prof. Horsford cited the case
OF repeated burning of velvet factory IN Prague.
where il was found that the fires resulted from heaps
of wooden stun saturated with OIL being allowed to &C
cumulate. The German authority Prof. Baling, says
that the same has occurred in carpenters shops where
n polishing furniture, the surface is first saturated
with oil, and then the excess rubbed of with shaw
ngs The shavings absorb the surplus oil and where
" remaining in piles, spontaneously take nre. froi
Horsford in conclusion described an apparatus ior test
ing the comparative avidity with which different oils
absorb oxygen, or, in other words, their safety. IL
exposes equal surfaces Of the oils TO the action OF the
air and measures the quantity OF oxygen absorbed
each, all being compared with pure sperm oil, which
lie known TO be safe. -
Prof. Horsford then discussed the many modi6cs
tons to one embodying the results OF long investiga
ton into the nature of these compounds which have
long been the despair OF chemists
Capt Hunt then described gas apparatus, which he
recommended for the illumination OF Mines the gas
tubes being by ar-tubes supplying the air
of combustion. He recommended regular system OF
by long. flexible tubes This would give more light
than now given by the oil lamps, and secure greater
safety.
many practical objections to this.
MI Hunt also suggested that the compresse air car
red in the tubes might be used for furnishing power for
manv purposes and several gentlemen repeated state
mens in regard to the of compressed air in the con-
duction of power made in The TRIBUNE nearly year
ago.
Prof Horsford proposed the of syphons to drain
off the explosive gas as lie much lighter than air and
accidents generally result from the confines OF the
gas in the domes which are the result OF certain sys-
TEN of mining ~.
Mr. Rockwell objected to this the frequent falling OF
coal from these domes which would derange the appa-
raius and he general abandonment of this method at
present. The only method now relied on was thor
ough ventilation of the mine he mentioned one into
which 40 900 cubic feet were forced per minute.
Mr. Jas. Hyatt gave a short discourse on explosions
of steam boilers. He believes that 1t Is due solely to
the pressure of the steam, which can be run up 10
high figure under certain circumstances in one or two
minutes. .
Prof Pugh then gave paper On the nitric acid and
ammonia in ran-water collected September, 1859 be-
tween New-York and Liverpool about the middle line
OF the Atlantic Ocean. He found some ammonia only
in this rain-water.
The Section then adjourned
AFTERNoOS-GENERAL SESSION.
The good steamer Bib of the Labrador expedition
was announced soon after as coming in. The last
wears President Prof Stephen Alexander of Princeton
was expected on her with his account of the eclipse
Ne ell from Labrador, where ii total. cOnsdera
bic number of the enthusiastic went down to mee
her. which rendered the attendance small on the open
ing Of the afternoon ession.
Prof Schofeld was called to the chair, and j. ID
Whitney gave some reasons for believing that the
prairies in Southern Wisconsin and the adjoining States
are the bottoms Of ancient lakes This is the theory o.
Prof Hall Trees along the praries are always found
where the soil is coarse but never the very finely
comminated soil Of which the praries are composed
Mr. Chun said that wells in the timber soil foupc
water at less than twenty feet, while on the prarie
thew must be at least 100 feet
Mr. New berry was inclined to think that the praries
of Oregon and California accounted for by the
lack of moisture. He gave interesting sketch OF the
condition of the territory of the United States, west o.
the Mississippi, with regard to trees.
Prof Bache said that the Blob had arrived that those
who went on her would receive their friends this even
inc at the Bellevue Hotel and that Prof. Alexander
would give the scientific results Of the exhibition IN the
morning Applause.
Prof j. III. Coffin gave the results OF his five years
labor On the meteorological Investigations prosecuted
all over the country under the auspices OF the Smthso
Man Institution. They embodied the results graph
cay of many thousand Investigations, but can only be
reported through colored diagrams.