The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1877-02-15
Blue Glass.

A reporter Of the Phladcl phia Bulletin
has had an interview with Gen. A. j.
Pleasanton, of that city, in reference TO
important discoveries in regard to the
curative and other properties Of sunlight,
as utilized through the medium of blue
glass. In the interview Gen. Pleasanton
remarked that when he applied TO the
patent Office in Washington, in 1870, TO
obtain q patent for his discovery, the
commissioner was so 10th to believe in
the principals involved, they beng con-
trary to preconceived opinions, that he
would not grant patent until the prin-
ciples alleged had b cen properly solved.
The chief commissioner sent a represent
alive to the farm of Gen. Pleasanton,
near the city, to investigate the subject
and report thereon. lie visited the
farm, where q grapery about cighty-four
feet long was subjected to the suns rays
passing through blue glass, while one
portion was exposed to the vicissitudes
of the atmosphere.
Several professors OF different colleges
were present at the time, and it was
found that the leaves exposed to the com
mon rays of the sun were Of a ycllowish
tint, and from three to FIVE inches long,
whlc those under the influence Of the
blue rays were eight and nine inches
long, of dark, greenish-blue color, and
velvcty to the touch. Specimens of both
kinds of leaves were taken TO Washing
ton and photographed, and the papers
were Immediately granted. Gen. Pleas
anton said he did not care so much for
the patent rs the identification Of the dis
covery.
Gen. PleasantoE further remarked, this
morning, that he believed the discoveries
in relation to the blue ray would produce
a charge of thought IN regard to certain
theories in astronomy, and said that
while the suns rays passing through the
common window glass did not impart
any heat TO the latter, yet in the case of
the blue glass the heat was quite mark
ed. The experiment can easily be tried
by exposing n common window pane
and blue glass 10 the rays of the sun,
and while the latter will become heated,
the other will retain ITS GOODNESS.
The value of this fact is easily made
apparent, as il is asserted that rooms can
be heated in this manner, without the
use OF artificial heat, even in tho coolest
weather. Gen. Plcasanton said he in
creased the temperature of hot house
from thirty-four degrees to over one
hundred, and by no other means than
using the suns rays passed through the
blue glass. The sun RAYS and the slmos-
pberc are in Il negative electrical condi-
ton, while tho glass being vitreous Is
positive, hence when the rays strike the
glass, friction and electricity are invvlv-
ed, and cDn>eluently heat and magnet
ism, and the apartment into which the
rays enter, is filled with an electrical at
mosphcrc.
In his conversation TO day, Gen. Pleas
anton also stated the results attained by
experimenting with the blue light upon
the propagation OF animal and vegetable
life, and mainta ned that a general use
of the principles involved would largely
increase the quantity and quality of AMI
NAL and vegetable food, and thus lessen
ITS cost 10 the people. lie stated that
from experiments made upon various
domestic animals, it was proved that
they could be rendered productive 1T
much earlier period than at present, and
cited instances on has own farm 20 verify
the statement. IL is said that chickens,
ect., reared in places where they can DC
exposed to the blue rays, are OF better
quality than raised elsewhere. An OK
pertinent was tried recently with a mum
Der Ct chicks just hatched, and it was
found that when they worc exposed 20
the blue light they became garmented
with feathers within twenty-four hours,
while two weeks arc required under or
binary circumstances. Many other ex-
perimcnis might be named of the same
import
Thrne-veor-nld hanpened to have n