New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-09-27
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS.
GEN. ABBorT's APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE
VIBRATIONS or THg EXPLOSION.

GEN ABBorTs APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE
VIBRATIONS or THE EXPLOSION.
The laboratory of the school Of application
for the engineer c0rps Nletrs Point was visited yes
terday By TRIBUNE reporter, 20 whom Gen. H. H. ADJ
bott commander Of the station, said that tho expert
ments which were made last Sunday in reference to the
vibrations produced by the explosion, were emnenty
successful Such opportunity TO determine the ex'
tent and duration OF the shock was deemed too mpo-
ant 10 be lost and all the officers Of the engineer corps at
Wnos Point with the exception Of the officer OF the day,
assisted Cen Abbott at various stations selected by him.
The instruments used at the furhest points were exceed
ingy delicate and were upon the principle as those
used about % years ago by Prof Maett OF Dublin to
ctcrnlne vibrations caused by earthquakes. Gen. Alb
bolt said that the jar caused by hOseman at distance
Of 800 feet made very pcrceptblo agitation OF the III
srument and the OF great deal OF annoyance
TO tho officers at the different points OF observation
The most interesting part Of the experiments was That
directly IN charge OF Gen Abbott VINO was IN tue lmhe
diate vicinity Of the explosion cable Of the American
Telegraph Company which crosses the river from New
York 10 Astoria was placed his disposal and formed
one end OF the tecgraphic circuit employed by him.
communication with Astoria being cut or To one OF
the ems of the crCuit-closer which used In firing
the mine wire was attached connecting with the lnafu-
ment under charge OF Gen. AODuIL. LUIS Wa an tu
raugeWent OF clock work run ny weight when leevd
out paper tape with great regularity ana cohheetea
with il was appa!atus for marking the taps Iesu
lated by battery. 800, ,,-, -. b.,
4
place the regularity OF tle instrument was esleu DS
chr0noueter at It's 81 G. For NUMBER OF cOLsecutEg
seconds dot was recorded upon tho tape as eaeh second
WAS recorded by tho chrCuOmeter Iheh tue paper Nls
a,Nei To run out uut the explosion TOOK place. LUIS
1gng recorded upOn the tape ustantdheOusy DS Tue
cgsug of the circuit giving the exact moment ny the
chouomcUer immediately alter cen ADbulJ A"u DLoheu
tc crcut the dOtng Of the t8pe was repeated "a
order 10 correct by comparing the Two series OF uOtS any
iilp.uiarIty In the Tcglug out OF the tape
IA was at lrst intended 20 perform tH operation III
tho same building occupied by Cen newton III !lbS to
urr bt the ruOl leaked 10 badly that the Instruments
W. removed To another buiidug at some distance from
the firing point AL me ctOnOnetets iaeu ~ tie il'l
ami 4;liO a were regulated by the stationary ciohoe-
tcr An tue observatory at NIetts Point Ihat useu Dy
den Abbott was corrected ~ the hOihhst anu - houis
after ths eXposiOn comparison was again lnAut, ana
~ clrop0petcF was found To bc correct Gen hDDott
Is WAITING for clear night in order mat astrOhOc
ougt ryaua may be m1de 10 correct any PosSpe eIIVi7
IL any exist, In the chrOnoinrttEs. A. 81. .,,i,, 90,
runremeuts were made 10 take observations: Al west
Point ,uder charge Of Lieut.. Bass, from WhOiu Gen
AhIoft received "a Telegram that NO ODscfNatOnS Iau
be a taken This Gen. Abbott thinks was pfObaDB que
Tn fbe inUossiblty OF keeping tine Instruments qle
owing 10 the continual passing oil teams ~ sptihsel
Pond Junction the effect rcmarkabie, tne instrument
Allowing IA vibration OF nearly ~ seSonus
Al tie Government works at Wihetts lVns,
tna irer OF Tho day, Lieut.. Grlin ndue ODseEFalOhs
Similar go those made by Cen Abbott, aud though not III
tsIayrnuLc communication MS results CJihc!led scIy
closely VITO those taken at Ast0tia zen. .tuuo.s VIZ
Willingly place himself IN communication VITA any oD
seI ven. Nh, wish 90 know TIE exact moment Wien the
e,rns ION took place as soon rs ne Las CIeSheu lhc
cIrnnnuIriers IN use The ina. results OF Inc eAleEt
mrni. will be read before the November meeting Oh INC
National Academy OF Eoeicts'