The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1871-12-15
CURIOUS AND SCIENTIFIC.


PETROLEUM FUEI, FOR IoooDforrvr |
A model engine, heated by petroleum,
has been exhibited in France, which
appears to be complete success. This
locomotive carries 2, 600 liters, or about
900 gallons Of oil, ia the tender,
hanC pump forcing the oil into small
reservoir near the boiler. The pToce IS
OF lighting the oil IL said to be neither
difhcuit nor dangerous, owing to toe
oil being kept in compartments,
small quantity only being lighted at
one time, then another division, and
SO on, until the whole furnace is alight.
This engine consumes It's own smoke
perfectly, and 1t Is said to be extreme
~ easy to drive, on account Of the
simplicity Of its apparatus. Large To-
comotives, with slight improvements,
have since been built, and successful
trials made OF It's working qualities.
The consumption Of oil was 80 per cent
less By weight than that Of good patent
compressed coal.
a new ufe-preserver, called The
Buoysnt Mattress, has been invented
by hr. J. Hunt Of Providence, r. !.
1t consists Of two elongated sacks or
pockets, which are filled with cork,
either graduated, cut into Bhavings,
or IN large fiat pieces, the edges being
connected with an apron, so that
when the two sacks are folded togeth-
er upon the apron they will Just b.
covered smoothly thereby, and make
q mattress, and when opened they
VIII buoy up q considerable weight
placed upon tho apron between tie
cork-filied eaeks, At one end Is at
tached q smaller sack, which serves the
purpose Of 3 bolster, or, when detach-
ed, may DO used as q liRe-preserver.
Straps or bands are attached tn the
surface Of tina sacks, serving To seIzt
hold Of In the water. AS 8 mattress.
the sacks are made Of any width, so
that they will at into the racks Of
steambOats or vessels Of any kind, and
are filled with cork, which Is the best
known filling on account Of it's great
buoyaDoy, and, at the same time Is 3
good filling for a mattress, especially
when graduated or cut into shaviDgs
Whom the mattress is to 90 used a. 8
life-preserver 1t Is unfolded, and when
In the water q person of any weight
upon the apron within its power ORE.
sistance is kept sdoat.
4 machine for grading railroad
tracks, turnpikes and other emb&nk
ments has been invented by 8 Cali
fOrnian, which will reduce the Labor
cost at least 90 per cent. It consists o
q common pillow, with somewhat eX
tended mold-bOErd, which may be rats
ed or lowered at pleasure. A circula
table or wheel, twelve feet ia diameter
jncliBes at an ANGLE Of about twenty
degrees toward the pillow. Within
the outer edge Of this wheel ia srrsrs
ed seriee Of rsper-shaped bucket
With adjustable Bottoms. To svuf
friction, shis wheel or table is geare,
10 center shaft st the top Of which j
a cRm attachment, with fods lesdin;
tn each bucket for the purpose of die
charging the same. This circular Ia
bic derives Its motion by means of
driving wheel similar to that used II
the reaping machine. There Is q ateer
ing apparatus 10 the rear. To d,
thorough work Il takes sixteen hOTEes
four abreast, or what would bs better
It should be propelled by steam. It l.
claimed for this machine that it vii
do work l35 men with shovels, or o
e common earth-scrapers drawn by
% horses, and requiring two men t.
each Fcrapper. One man can handle
th!s machine, and two men are al
thnt are required to manage the team
The Atmospheric Telegraph Is an In
vention recently made by Mr. GuAttor
which, although its actual merits are
not yet fnlly established by Bufflcien
trial, promises IT least ia prove al In
pOrtant and valuable discovery. Mr.
Guattor's system consist OF certain ar
engagements and combination Of Rp
paratus whereby ordinary air, CON
prC0sed and passed thTOugha tUbe, T.
utilized as q means Of communicating
intelligence from ore given paint K
another, efiecting the same object n,
the electric telegraph, and any Of the
usual receiving and recording instru
Rents employed IN connection with
the latter system may be used in this
II claims TO be more simple than the
electric system both in point Of con
struction and continuous use, fnl
whereas in the electric process 1t 5
necessary TO use the electric batterJ
and all It's aces ssories, by the Nov
Insthod ordinary atmospheric air
compressed, performs similar func
lions. It is also claimed for il that j
II IL free from atmospheric iuhuen
res, which &c Is well known disturb
tho electric telegraph on the occasion
of storms; and that the tube employe g,
a. the medium Of conducting the al
will not Do subject to accidents lik
the ordinary wires, aud will therefor
last longer, and consequently be NOR
economical. In respect to simplicity
It Is said that any persc1 may learr
in few hours how to use and work !
with entire ease.