Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-07-15
MECHANICAL AND SCIENTIFIC

An apparatus has recently been do
vised in France by which plates of plass
may be safely and rapidly pierced Nv
means of the electric spark By the a;d1
of this machine NM. Terouem anS S
Taurein were enabled to pierce half.innh
plate-glas at points near to one anothar
without cracking.
Among the recent and novel schemo,
for securing quick and comforahlo
passage across the Straits of Dover is tho,
proposed by Dr. Lacomme This pentla
mans plan is to lay a line of rails along
the sea bottom, but exposed instead of n
closed in a tunnel. Upon these rails
car or train of cars is to run upon the fol
lowing plan: The engine is to be nro.
PEELED by compressed air, while the cars
are to consist of Theoretically sealed cal.
vanized iron boxes The air for the has
sengers will be admitted in proper pronor
tons by open supply-reservoirs and tba
whole tram will advance through tbe
water instead of on its surface as in tLe
present steamboat.
DIR. Scoresby gives the following in.
teresting facts with regard to the length
and height of ocean waves: The mean
height of waves in the Atlantic, driven by
westerly gale, is eighteen feet. The
greatest recorded height of wave in the
North Atlantic from the trough to the
crest is forty three feet In northwest
gales waves forty feet in height have been
measured off the Cape of Good Hope,
while those off Cape Horn were thirtytwo
feet The velocity of ocean storm waves in
the North Atlantic is about thirty-two miles
an hour, and that recorded by Capt Wilkes
for the Pacific Ocean twenty-six and one.
half miles. In an Atlantic storm the
breadth of the waves, measured from
crest to crest, is about 900 feet.
Observations upon the spots on the
| floor of the crater Plato, on the moons
surface, now show that decided changes
have taken place-judged by the record OF
previous investigations-the streaks and
colors of the floor presenting unquestion.
able evidence in this respect The
| changes in the direction and luminosity
| of the streaks detected are, it is said, of
such character that they cannot be re.
| ferred to changes of illumination, but de
pend, rather, upon some agency connected
with the condition of the moon itself. The
color of The floor has been found to vary
being darkest with the greatest solar alti.
| tude.
The powers of carbolic acid to arrest
fermentation and putrefaction are well
known. But its odor is to most persons
| decidedly offensive, and if taken internal
ly, even in minute doses, it is apt to pro-
duce very serious results. According to
the recent investigations of Profs Kobe,
KNAPP and others, salicylic acid possesses
the same antiseptic power without the ac.
companying disadvantages. 1t is inodor'
Gus, of a family sweet taste, and can be
taken internally, even in relatively large
doses, without injurious effects. 1t will,
therefore, prove Of great value in preserv-
ing meat, eggs, fruit, preserves, beverages,
medicinal preparations, inks, and great
variety of organic matters from mold.
mess putrefaction. One part OF the acid
is capable of preserving $4,000 parts OF
water from being tainted.
COMMODORE VANDERBILT says he wants
to see railroad cars running 100 miles per
| hour. including necessary stOppages.