The New York herald., 1876-09-23

my plan lust at present for II may not be successful
and IN that case the publication could do no good
going try but one experiment IL is very desra
bic for numerous scientific reasons to sc; the exact
distance at which the vibration OF the eArtn is percept
io. and the time which Il takes Ia pass over gwen dis
iance These facts would have direct relation TO the
theory OF earthquakes and other important scientific
discussions have made number ol experiments IN
that direction IN connection with my torpedo expert
ments here, but there never before has been chance
tor such an experiment on such grand
blast OF General Newton. To facilitate
my experiment the Western Union Telegraph Company
have placed their lines my disposal and all the rail-
way companies Long Island have aereod not 10 roll
any for period OF fifteen minutes after the time
OF tho explosion, unless something OF extraordinary
vibration will be determined by telegraphc wire.
All the wires ON Long Island are worked by batteries
in New York Just before the time OF the explosion all
the wires leading to places other than Fresh Pond
Junction, Jamaica or Springfield Junction will be dis
connected, leaving these places in continuous circuit
with Astoria l will stand beside General Newton
when he touches the key which to send the electric
thrill through the IN me at Hallcts Pont, and will
have there small battery arrangement OF re-
lays invented tor the purpose and SO arranged that the
explosion OF the mine will Itself send signal down
the !ne to The places nave mentioned, at each oil
which will be stationed an observer Tie instru-
ment at each station will thus record
simultaneously lfor The time occupied by
the electricity in traversing that distance is
too IN mute to be susceptible OF measuremept at every
station the exact time OF the explosion Each insru
ment VIII record by making dot upon the ordinary
clcgrapnic band OF white paper The instant the dot
Is made the observer looks through very delicate in-
II is called Leisomeer and consists oil little cup set
upon a level surface and filled with clear mercury.
Across the centre OF II Is stretched line fine TO
be invisible 10 the naked eye The instrument Is so
delicate that II will indicate, by the shaking OF the
mercury the vibration caused by horses hools four
hundred feet away We'll, the observer
WILL LOOK THROUGH A CAREFULLY ADJUSTED TELY-
this hair llnc ana when the mercury marks the
rival OF the vibration from the blast he will strike
the key OF the teegraphic instrument with one hand,
causing to make another DOT and when The vibration
ne makes a third dot in the way. Now,
the band OF paper which the dots made is NOV
ing all the time at Uniform and precisely calculated
speed, the distance between the three dots will ndi
Gale exactly the time OF the arrival OF the vibration
and its duration. Besides the stations mentioned there
Will DO at Wiiletts Point here ana another
at West Point the latter being than
nty mllcs distant There will be no telsgraphic CON-
munication with the latter face, but the calculations
Will be made with chronometers and the result
Will be secured. All the observers viii be officers OF
the Engineer corps. and each will have with him
sistants q nuwber of private soldiers Lieutenant
Leeoh will take charge oil tho nslrume .ts at Spring
neId Junction, Lieutenant Kingsland at Fresh Pond
Junction, Lieutenant Ioung ut Jamaica, Lieutenant