The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-05-14

| SUBMARINE ROCKETS.-Ihe English Gov
eminent, which is usually much more secre-
tive in it's treatment of military inventions
than is our own, has been privately expert
menting with what is termed the fish
torpedo, in the canal at the Royal Arsenal,
in the presence of several officers of the
Royal Laboratory, and thelresultlis said to
have been satisfactory; but as great care
was taken that none but authorized officials
| should witness the experiments only very
meagre information is furnished on this point.
1t appears, however, that this torpedo or sub
marine rocket, when full-rigged with the
| explosive chamber at its head, and the
propelling screw and steering apparatus at
its tail, is twenty feet lOng-the iron
| fish-shaped body, which forms the middle
portion, being merely the vessel which car
ries the motive power, an atmospheric
engine working by compressed air, with
pressure of one thousand pounds on the
square inch. This is the first Of these tor
pedoes made in England, but it is uEder-
stood that a similar system has been tried
in Austria with great success. 1t is also
said that certain improvements have been
made in the design, which are expected to
prove highly advantageous. The explosive
charge will be one hundred and sixty pounds
of gun cotton, fired by percussion on striking
the object to which it is directed, and the
The opinion has come to be quite general
ly entertained by astronomers that every
planetary orbit was, originally, ring con-
sisting of millions of solid meteOrites, as is
believed to be still the case with the ring Of
Saturn; that these gradually have cOa1esced
by gravitation and formed hundreds Of
larger masses-as is the case with tle
smaller planets usually called aste,Oids-and
that finally these masses, gradually dimin-
ishing in numbers and individually increas-
ing in size, leave at last either single one,
as is the case with Mnrcury, Venus and Mars;
or two, as is the case with our earth and
moon: or any other number-for instance,
five, as is seen in Jupiter and its four moons
or more, as is the case with Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune, or other planets which may
yet be discovered outside of the orbit of the
latter. Perhaps no theory has afforded more
material for discussion among astronomers,
tor many years past, than this one.
1t is estimated that the annual produc-
ton of WINE in the United States amounts in
round numbers to 10000, 900 gallons. Cali
forhia, the largest producer. yields one-fourth
this amount, 100000; Ohio about one |
sixth, 100000; New York, 100000; Mis-
souri, and Illinois each, $4,000 and Penn |
sylvahia, 10000 In these six States are |
produced all the wines Of the country, eX-
cepting about 100000 gallons raised in
smaller quantitiesin the other States. Wines !
ire produced in some quantity i'll nearly !
very State and Territory, 10000 gallons "a |
year being credited to New Jersey, and 5000 |
gallons to Delaware. The annual value OF |
,ur wine crop is about Sl4, 100000.
We regret to learn, through private adj
vices from Monroe, that Isaiah Garrett, Esq |
lied on Thursday, the 9TH inst, from inju-
les received a few days previous by being
brown from a carriage. His death is not
'nly severe loss to his family but to the
community at large.-Shrereport Times.
1t is related Of George Clark, the cele-
,rated negro minstrel. that, being examined
Is witness he was severely interroyated
~ the attorney, who wished to break down
lis evidence.
You are in the negro minstrel business,
believer" inquired the lawyer.
"Yes, sir" was the prompt reply
"I>n't that rather low calling Z" de.
handed the attorney.
II don't know what it is, sir" replied the
MINSTREL but it is 20 much better than my
ather's that am rather proud of it,"
"What was your fathers callingi"
He was a lawyer!" replied Clark, in a
one of regret that put the audience in a
oar. The lawyer let him alone. IL