New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-11-03
SCIENCE F0R THE PEOPLE.

IL appears TO be difficult 20 arrive at tho
cost using electric hight. figures Of estimate In
different experiments varying considerably. In many
manufacturing establishments the cost OF the power 10
drive magnetoelecirie machine would scarcely be fet
as only two horsepower at the most would be
required The cost Of TIE cabons said 20 DO loss than
Eve cents per hour per lamp the Jabochkoh plan;
0nober estimate Is about twice much, but perhaps
refers % two lamps instead of one An electric light
which does not according 20 the accounts appear 70 he
constructed the JabOchkof plan, tested in practical
service at La Chspelle France Including motive
power for the machine ab0at twelve cents per lamp per
hour. Machines capable OF running three lamps cost
less than $500, aud perhaps that could be made to
cover all the nrst outlay. The wear and ter OF the
machine Is not estimated careful STUDY 81 nc neSs
furnished by electricity u France at about two.ns the
cities the price in Europe II seems probable hat
similar estimate o. the comparative cost o. eicctIV
illumination for this country would fairly apply.
A new experiment in England. to illustrate
the refactlon Of sound brings the sound waves into
very appreciate Likeness 10 those Of light Lenses have
been constructed formed OF eolodon or gold0eaters
skin. and acosng cSrbonc anirydrIde. They arc de-
scrbed Gorblecouyex" lenses In the focus Of such
be heard that is naddible when the lens Is withdrawn
A correspondent of The English Mechanic
suggests a remedy for the cracking noise heard in tel
cplOne.
currents on other circuits and apt to be very trouble
some where the wire Is at a related any general sys
TEN of telegraph wires and instruments, Ms Is usu-
ally the with telephones in cities The correspon-
dent correctly kens the noise TO the cracking OF fat in
frying pan, His remedy to put double Instead Of
single wire the telephone. In a diagram Which Is
gwen Of the eonriyance the wire ends abruptly
1t stated how long the extra wire ought to be,
though II is specified that there is need of either
turn circuit earth connection The end OF the extra
that il the extra wire s heightened the sound again be-
comes audible As the cracking Is usually one OF the
the chief annoyaGces Of The telephone any plausible
suggestion tor remedying it Is worth trying
Some Frenehmen have recently patented
conriyance for obtaining instantaneous light by merely
depressing button. Tie movement enables an electric
current pass through platinum wire, heating il to
redness the wire being surrounded by all atmosphere
saturated with benzne quickly becomes white bot That
nights small lamp Whlen 3ufns uenLoins, anu sdt.s
very bright light The whole apparatus Is compact ana
portable.
A striking instance is given in Nature of the
delays to which scientific announcements are liable In
the ASbonOmiSche NdcIicAH No 2154, there appeared
an deliberately prepared cphemeIis OF the five inner
satellites OF Saturn. II calculated down TO Septe-
Der 20 that day tho publication reached England
OF course ephemeris useless last years
almanac. such casesfor this is one Of
many-s in sending things that need to be made pn1e
promptly, Journal only published at considerable
when they nave news winch can pt put III sucVlno.
shape, the best possible place for its PRONUNCIATION is
daily newspaper.
In sinking an oil well recently about five
miles north OF Wilcox, Elk County, Penn, an nermit-
tent flow struck which presents Of the features
OF gcyser TIE well spOuts for two minutes and then
is quiet for eight During the spouting it sends
up salt water inGammabe and small quantity Of
oil to a height Of $50 feet BY lighting the al night
a maeniheent spectacle is obtained. the gas burning
brilliantly and Illuminating the column of water with
prismaic hues The OF the burning gas is said To
be audible WITHIN radius Of some miles. In the city OF
Erie Penn the flow Of gas from wells Is largely utilized
heating and illumination the product OF not fewer
than fifteen wells being thus employed.
The latest improvement III the telephone is
q bellsignal This very much needed to complete
the instrument since without such aid, IL has been ex
ceediney difficult for person using the TELEPHONE to c@
the attention OF nearer at tine other end Of the line
The belca Operates without the need OF battery it is
Effected by simply turning Wheel which causes mag
coils To rcvOlye giving current sufficient to move
The hammer OF bell at the other end of the wire.
If the rain-treo of Peru is capable of doing
all that is related OF it, and be proPagated it might
be OF great service In the arid portions OF south
western territory. One Of the cOnsuls OF the United
States Of Colombia has addressed to his Home Govern
ment letter describing the tree 1t appears in the
woods adjoining the city Of Moyobamba IN Peru. 1t is
called by the natives the tam iacasp e., the raining
At all times It drps moisture from its leaves and
branches and in some instances The ground around ~
become swamp This property OF tie nee appears
the dry The height OF the tree IS
stated about nifty feet; diameter at base, some
what over yard
The series of observations made by Professor
Hall on the moons Mars has nearly II not quite ended
the planet having receded distance at which they
are becoming invisible, with the twenty-sixnch
rerracor Not until 1879 viii there be any opportunity
To SEQ them again. and that VIII not give nearly good
n view as the past season But Professor Hall has made
lions of the outer and fortysx of the inner satellite
In the town of Auburn, Oregon, gold Dig
gnas have been found under peculiar circumstances
boy had been fitted out by his father with the implements
Of mining and work the roadside merely for
amusement and give the yOungster something to keep
him out OF mischief The ground was staked out for
mally mining style, and some waste water WAS turned
suices, 10 wash the dirt The boy worked for
few days faithfully and cyerybodys surprise, me at
last banned out small quantity OF gold dust Laborers
were then employed, AID the wOTk was Gcepcned and
exiended gold continuing 70 be found at last accounts
In profitable quantities.
A communication 10 Forest and Stream de-
scocs recent discovery Of Professor Cope in Western
Texas He has brought back the skin and skeleton of
one Of hogs raised there, whose hOofs not
divided The breed raised from single hog which
Unexpectedly was found TO have this characteristic.
This seems be rather instance Of creation than oil
evolution. Since the hogs of the new breed do not
answer to tie Leyea specification OF unclean animals
they may not be obnoxious . the Mosaic
At a recent meeting of the Chicago Academy
OF Sciences bust the Colonel j. W. Foster
unveiled II Is said to be excellent likeness and is the
product OF years work by the sculptor, Leonard w.
Volk Colonel Foster OF imposing but genial
presence and much beloved among his associates He
was president 1863 OF the American Association for
the Advancement OF Science. His chief work the
" Prehistoric Races OF America" WAS completed very
shortly before his death 1873, and has since passed
fhroueh many ed lions.