New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-12-31

vibrating atoms. We may have seen bar OF
iron heightened or shortened as it was heated
or cooled, or electricity was sent through 1T or
withdrawn. We know that the enlargement OF
the iron is caused by its particles vibrating
moro widely, and hence that it has less cohe-
son But we are apt to consider all this as OF
slight relation to actual breaking. Yet, IL we
have watched stone mason at work on
"inert natter with chisel. we might con-
clude differently. Before him stands
solid cube of freestOne. His chlsel
scarcely enters its surface He hammers it,
continually, along q certain marked line.
Suddenly tho block drops in twain, cleaving
along tho line of the blows 1t has received.
What has happenedf Simply that the atoms
beneath the limo of blows have been set to
vibrating with constantly increasing violence,
separating wider and WIDER till cohesion ceased.
So the vibrating atoms of the wheel hange, OF
the beams that sustained the church foors-
always vibratng--at one time Oscllatcd more
widely than ever before, and gave way. NO
doubt they were too weak for safety. But
may not the final thrill have been communl-
Gated to their atoms from an overcharged
electrical condition of the atmospheric
In the matter of fires. the path to theory is
easier. We have seen the shower or sparks
from tho knife grinders wheel. We are will
ing to admit that if combustble forms OF
matter are extremely subdivided, so that at
mospheric oxygen can thoroughly surround
them. they may spontaneously take fire. That
heaps of grain heat that piles of soft coal
take fire far within that three tons OF pow
dered charcoal kept together will burst into
nj mi
moro readily, perhaps, because we may have
seen them. That few bushels OF rags wet
with vegetable oil. piled together, will spon-
taneously ignite, anybody may prove to their
own satisfaction. That black silks newly
dyed took fire of their own accord on the
shelves of Paris shopkeepers is a fact officially
certified, investigated, and scientifically ex-
pounded. That fash of sunlight increases
the tendency of some of these substances TO
spontaneous combustion has been proved III a
long series of very recent European expert
ments 1t is needless TO say that electricity
might accomplish a similar result.
| Many of the recent fires have occurred
through the proximity of woodwork to heating
apparatus. Authorities upon the subject de-
clare that woodwork constantly exposed to
| heat, whether from steam pipes or tlues, ac-
| ouircs a condition of inHammability like punk.
More than this such touchwOod can ignite and
has actually taken fire from steam-pipcs. A
fire that broke out near the roof of the British
Houses of Parliament was distinctly traced to
this origin, and tho woodwork was found In
tins readily -infammab!e condition. Given as
the elements of the case, woodwork thus
altered by heat, in few thousand buildings
all over the country; gradually accommodating
tension of the atmosphere during long, cold,
dry term; o sudden change, owing to rush
ing current OF air charged with moisture from
tho surface of Southern waters. Why,
does not some such sudden interchange OF
conditions give us in Summer the lightning OF
thunder showerf Is not a similar shock,
less in intensity, thrown far ahead of its move
ment by the approaching storm OF Winter
Surely, then it is no stretch of probabilities to
suppose that in a half dozen of thousand build
ings prepared with touchwOOd for conflagra-
ton, the spark that inctes it may be pro-
vided by the atmosphere. There is always
large percentage of fires reported, after inves-
tigation as originating IN "causes unknown"
Perhaps those of us who can light the gas, on
frosty day, from finger tip, may offer sur
misc as TO what has happened in these cases,
where testimony il wanting.