The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-08-27

proposed as means of preventing boiler
explosions which arise from the failure
Of the ordinary safety valve to fulfill it's
function. This failure is in some cases
caused by the rust which so rapidly &C
cumulates under the influence of air and
moisture Not only do such valves some
times rust fast to their seats, and thus re-
fuse to open except under pressure far
above that which the weight alone would
allow, but after having been opened are
prevented by the rust from closing until
the pressure has fallen considerably be-
low that for which the weight is set The
idea, therefore, of plating such valves
with nickel, and thus preserving their
surface always smooth and clean, is con-
sidcred valuable one.
Some of the best enameled cloth in
the world is now made in the United
States. 1t possesses in Il remarkable de-
gree the appearance of real leather, with
nearly all its durability, ant, is found ex-
tremely serviceablc in its application as Il
covering for carriage tops, also for travel
ing bags, trunks, etc. 1t is likewise ex-
tensively employed in the manufacture
of cushions and upholstering of similar
nature, and to some extent it is worked
up into waterproof coats and pants, for
which it is admirably adapted, as well
as comparatively inexpensive. This
black enameled cloth enters most largely
into consumption: and the foundation of
the article IS cotton cloth of the best
quality, made expressly for the purpose,
| and varying in texture and width accord
ing to the kind of goods to be produced.
Prof. Lie Contc hats lately expressed
some rather novel views as to the forma
ton of the earth. He holds that there
are two forces operating on the earth's
surfacc-thc sun force and the earth
force. To the former he assigns the
lcycling process of rain; to the latter
the elevation of mountains and CONT
nents. This he calls the igneous force,
seemingly admitting that heat exists
near the surface of the earth of sufficient
intensity to fuse the most refractory rocks,
that is, under ordinary pressure, but not
at the depths where such action is sup
posed to take place. Prof. lie Conte OBJ
serves that if this heat increases with
depth the pressure also increases to such
an extent as to prevent actual fusion,
keeping still solid the substance OF the
interior portion of the earth, whatever
that may be, even to its center, and
thus we have solid earth. This the
Dry the professor argues with his lccus-
toned ability, and though differing from
those usually entertained it is at least
quite plausible.
The value of modern scicmc in its
industrial applications receivcsa fit H.
lustration in the following: Some few
years ago the Greek Government sold
for mere tritle to two foreigners their
right over the rubbish heaps 1t the
Laurium mines, which were first worked
several thousand years ago by the King
of Athens. and from the profits of which
Pericles is said to have built tn, Par
thcnon. A company was formed to re-
work them, for it was soon found that
even the debris which had been cast
aside 10y the agents as worthless pos
sessed great value. Extensive beds of
scori;e-the refuse of the silver and lead
mines worked during eight centuries by
the Athenians-now yield to modern
metallurgic skill some 1000 to 5000
tons of lead annually which contains sill
yer in the proportion of about per cent
The company now conduct their opera
tions on so large scale that town con-
tanning 1000 inhabitants has sprung up
on what was formerly solitude. A
railway has been constructed to the near
est port and vessel plies between Ar
gosteria and the Pir;eus transporting the
argentifcrous taiIings to the roasting
furnaces, of which there are twelve at
work.