River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1874-04-21
Curious, Useful and Scientific.
THE STRENGTH OF MATERIALS.

grain of iron may be divided into 4, 000,-
600 parts. Still chemistry tells us that
there are ultimate parts called atoms or
molecules, which are absolutely invisi-
bic. These atoms are attracted TO each
other by the attraction of cohesion and
repelled 10y the force of repulsion. BY
the action of both these forces the
atoms are kept in state of rest. The
solidity of n solid depends upon the
fact that each pair of atoms are in this
state of equilibrium. These atoms are
supposed to be of an oblate, spheroidal
form. An iron bar would support its
own weight If stretched out to a length
OF ~ miles. A bar of steel was once
made which would sustain its own
weight if extended to length Of 49,
miles.
Our ideas of great and small are no
guide to be used in judging of what is
truly great and small in nature. The
Bunker Hill Monument might be built
to over a mile in height without crush
ing the stones at its base. When bars
Of iron are stretched until they break,
those which are the strongest increase
IN length less than the weaker ones. A
piece of wood having breadth and
thickness of three inches and length
Of four feet, if supported at its ends,
would be bent one-millionth of an inch
by weight of three pounds placed at
its centre, and weight of one-tenth of
an ounce would bend it one-seve n.mil-
lionth of an inch. Prof. Norton de-
scrlbed a machine for testing the varia-
ton of sticks Of wood. The machine
consists of levers and screws SO CON
trived that the amount of weight
brought to bear upon the stick can be
accurately measured, and the variation
of the stick from straight line can be
measured even though it do not exceed
one-seyen-millionth of an inch.
THE HELIoRIcToR NEW ARTICLE OF
PHOTOGRAPHIC APPARATUS.
The recognized value of photography
in furnishing representations of objects
of scientific interest, free from subject
i've defects, has led DIR. Stein to devise
an arrangement for dispensing with a
dark room, and reducing the time re-
CURED for taking pictures. His appa-
ratus, as exhibited at the Vienna Elk
position, consists essentially in an i'm
proved plate-holder, in which the col
lodiOnized plate is sensitized, exposed,
and developed, without removal from
it, by successive admission of the usual
solutions, through separate tunnels,
the progress being noted through yell
low glass apertures, and the apparatus
cleansed, utter each impression, by a
stream of water passed through it. In
addition to specimens in natural history
and subjects met with in medicine and
surgery, it is adapted, by use Of the
highly actinic magnesium light, to
copy the views of interior portions of
the body, obtained by a specially con-
structed urethroscope, opthalmoscope.
oroscope and laryngoscope, and may
also be used with the solar microscope
or telescope. 1t is also claimed to be
adapted to militarypurposes. 4
While, however, it may be as simple
and easily comprehended as is claimed.
it is too much to expect that any one
unfamiliar with Photographic
processes would be able, mechanically
and at once, to operate with it success
fully, as the statements made might .
lead one to infer.
BASTAERT's PROCESS FOR DRYING ALL
KINDS OF FABRICS.
The following process is said to be /
to heavy or light goods or
cotton, linen, wool or silk, bleached or
printed or dyed. On ac-
count of the uniformity of its action it
imparts TO the goods, without any
harshness in feeling, finer finish than
any other method. With all this adj
vantage, it consumes minimum of
fuel, demands little room, does not re-
quire special boiler, and is exceed
ingly simple. In the operation steam
is passed from a boiler under pressure
of three to six atmospheres, and is SUI
perheated, without increasing its pres
sure, 10y passing through heated tubes,
II finally issues, in a number of small
Jets uniformly distributed along tube,
so near to each other that sheet of
dry steam, as it were, is formed, which,
with the air drawn along and heated by
it,, impinges, 10y simple, suitable con-
struction Of the box surrounding the
Jets upon the cloth moved in front of
~. ne hiotdltt vi TIC tloln from tilt
jets is adjustable for different fabrics
and plans are also given for arranging
several sheets of steam to play on the
cloth in succession, or on both sides at
the same time. The pressure, amounts
of steam and air, temperature, &c, can
be regulated TO suit different cases. The
steam, issuing under pressure, seems
to act in part by penetrating the ma
tcrial.
PRODUCTION OF STARCH, PAPER AND SOAP
FROM CORN.
All the ingredients of corn, according
to Leconte, may be utilized. The grain
is, in the first place, to be saturated
with a solution of caustic soda in large
cisterns, and transferred TO cylindrical
sleeves; then dipped in water, and
ground in connection with continuous
stream OF pure, or somewhat caustic
water Tie quantity of soda depend
ing on its rIality, the oily contents of
the grain, and the temperature, should
be such as 10 saponify the oil Of the
grain while allowing the starch To APP
pear solid and firm. The liquid, as il
leaves the mill, passes over sleeves, on
which the germs, hulls, etc, are re-