The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-02
From, the London Chemical Nel0s !
EHEMISrRN nE TILE COMET.

Chemists anayze, in the most RAPID
and accurate manner, almost everything which is
visible to the human eye. 1t matters not whether
the body possesses a tangible substance or not
whether it is close at hand in the test tube, or mil
lions of miles away; if it only ufls the condi-
ton Of emitting light, 1T Is almost certain to reveal
the secrets of its composition when submitted to the
development of spectrum analysis.
The actual metallic constitution of the sun has al
ready been shown by this means; that OF the h&ed
stars is also being ascertained in the same manner,
and we really hope that the present opportunity
will not be allowed to pass without the beautiful
method Of spectrum analysis being applied to de-
termipe the elementary constitution OF cnmetary
bodies. The apparatus required would not De more
than is already in the hands of many scientific
men. A large telescope, equatorially mounted,
would, from experiments OF our own upon
this subject to be necessary, in order to oo-
tain sufficient light to illuminate the held OF vew
| The spectrum apparatus being placed in proper
| adjustment, the luminous image only requires to
fail on the slit and along the of the coillma-
ting tube for the fixed lines in the cometlc spec
! trum to be instantly visible.
| small and temporary arrangement, hurriedly
fitted up, has been sufficient to satisfy us OF the ex-
isteuce of fixed lines in the spectrum of the lght
emitted from the comet at present visbe, but they
were too faint to admit of identification. Tins ex-
| pertinent should at once be repeated with larger
and more powerful apparatus. Many Important
questions would tous be finally settled. Ii the
comet shone nerey BY reflected light from the sun,
the ordinary solar liked lines would be the only
| ones visible. If, however, as is most probable,
some of its splendor is due to native light, the spec
| trum would easily reveal whether the nucleus OF
| the tail were in the solid vaporous state; II tht
former, it would give continuous spectrum, while
| if it were a vapor, the spectrum would be dlscoh
| nected and the lines in it would at once dis
close the elementary bodies to which they were
| DUE 1t is however, impossible to foresee all IN
/ valuable information the obscure subject OF stel
| lar chemistry which could in this manner be 90
tanned. We trust that, having pointed out thu
| most promising field OF observation, the rlch mar
vest of facts with which science can thereby be en-
rched will not be allowed to escape for want o
able observers.
TIE MAxuFAcrUaE OF LEATHER AND IRON AT Cha
TANooGA-A correspondent of the Charleston HeF
cury, in letter dated Chattanooga, 18th ultlmo
gives the subi0iued interesting information regard
ing the manufactures at Chattanooga and IN IL
vicinity:
Your readers will be gratifed, doubtless, to lear
! that there is in the vicinity OF this town, one
: | the largest taDneries in the South. 1t IS now
active operation, and turning out from o.OVe T.
10000 sides Of well-tanned leather every lou
months, giving an aggregate OF 10000 sldes
leather per annum. New Orleans firm purchase
r here few davs since, 100000 worth of leather it
their shoe-making establishment, and we were Il
4 formed that more than $50, 900 worth of stock vi
: then in the ward ready for market. The tannery
row owned by Col. G. c. Torbitt, OF Nashville ar
. Col Samuel Tate, president of the NJ. and o. RAJ
:, road 1t is the design of the new firm to go large
into the manufacture of shoes, at this point, at
Is early period.
+ The advantage of Chattanooga over other piac
for the tanning business are numerous. Inc anu
% dance of the very best quality of tan bark, ana
- the lowest prices; the facilities for procuring hid
i of every variety and being located in the centre
10 our great southern market, are some OF the adva
vI tages.
- The great scarcity of pig iron at the South,
this tire, will certainly induce those competent
y, the work to look toward this point. We visit
the large smelling furnace erected few years al
no which we regretted to find entirely idle. Within
s mile of all the depots of the roads convergipg
an Chattanooga, stands the ample buildings and hu
IL machinery OF this very important establishment
in ly needing few dollars and practical mind
,al render it one of the best paying concerns IN
"a. South. Any competent gentleman couiu, W
of about $4,000, engage in the important en'G =;
he of converting the iron ore, OF which !n go
on an abundance, and of the richest qIasi'S NV NV
r. best quality of pig iron He wouid hnu ooai,
itv and machinery, all ready LOT ac'i'e oPoi" J"
few weeks repairs
Massrs Webster & Mann are preparing the
tire machinery for the new powder mill OF hr.
8 Whitemap to whom alluson has been ma
ns They are also casting cannon and balls and
fully prepared to fill large contracts for both Il
'o are also prepared to rife cannon, which they
sign doing, especially those of their own founo
More beautiful pieces of cannon than those we
ma in their foundry cannot be shown In any eS
the lishment, we venture to say. we al hea,
wished that about ten Ga FOUNDERS were theh Pl
- , ed opposite Cairo, and kept at wofk lot
"a | hours so that the last man OF Prentlsss II
'AN might have an early passage to his "rlght pla
ard with Prentiss to lead the way.
nth CorroN GINs.-The Savannah Republican Of
Re- onb pit states that a large manufactOry of co