Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-02-28
MECHANICAL AND SCIENTIFIC.


sweetly. Only So per cent. of red
flowers are fragrant, while l4.6 of
white flowers are odoriferous.
The Scientific american has ap-
peared as an opponent of the blue-glass
theory. The conclusion of the critic
is this: "The violet glass acts purely
as a shade for decreasing the intensity
of solar light, and in this simple fact
lies the sole virtue Of any there be- of
the glass.
The remains Of fossil elephant
have been discovered in Washington
Territory. The bones include a pei
Wis, jaw-bone, tusk and others. The
pelyis measures five feet ten inches
across the widest part, and the tusk
is ten feet long. The jaw-bone is two
feet wide, and has one tooth on a side,
measuring at top ten inches by three.
The discoverer thinks he has found
portions ol at least five animals.
Prof. Agassiz, who has been study
ing the collections made by the Chal-
lenger Expedition, reports that he has
never examined any alcoholic prepare
tons of marine animals better pre-
served or more carefully arranged.
The whole amount of material is so
extensive that to work it up properly
would require the diligent labor of a
single person for seventy or eighty
years. 1t VIII be distributed by Sir
Wyville Thompson among able special
lists, who viii classify the whole of it
under his supervision.
In recent lecture to an English
audience. Mr.. II. a. Proctor developed
the novel idea that the earth is, has
always been, and 50 long as it shall
exist rs part of our cosmical system,
must ever continue to be, growing in
size. 1t is computed, said the lecturer,
that hundreds Of thousands OF extra
terrene bodies become incorporated
with our globe every twenty-four
hours, and 400, 900, 900 In the course of
each year. They may vary in weight
between a few grams and "A ton. Mill
ions of years, however, would be re-
qulrcd to add single foot TO the
earth's diameter by these small accre-
lions.
The mines Of Laurium were
worked 10y the ancient Greeks 1900
years ago, but their processes were
very crude. The immense beds of
refuse which they left behind them
contained considerable silver, which
has been extracted by improved meth
DDS of mining. After the refuse had
been carried to the furnaces yellow
peoples sprang mp and blossomed on
the level which had been cleared. A
German scientist ailirms that this pc
culiar professionalism was de-
scribed by Pliny asd Dioscorides. but
had disappeared from the earth and
WAS unknown To modern science until
the refuse at Laurium, under which
the seed had been concealed for 800
or 1000 years, was cleared away.
The average latent heat of the
yapor of petroleum seems not to have
been very satisfactorily determined,
though 1t Is known to be very low. 1t
has been stated at 1871, that of steam
being 900, of alcohol vapur 451, and
OF ether vapor 3l3--that Is. an amount
of yapor heat which will vaporize but
one pound of water and about ~
pounds ut alcohol will yapurlze "a
pounds of petroleum, assuming no i'm
portant change OF specific heat during
the change OF state, by measure, the
amount OF heat or fuel that Will yapor-
lze one gallon of water should yapOrize
no less tnau six and three-tourths gal-
Ions OF petroleum. This is an import
ant practical point in such connection.
The density of Its Napor Is very high.
averaging, II the whole mass be con.
verified into Yapor, six and a half times
the density OF air at the same tempera-
luTe. NJ ave hundred degrees. Fab.
II VIII pass INTO yapOrous form, eN-
cept a trlilIng percentage. ". Y. san.
Steel treightcars are now sug-
geSted, rs they are far less In weight
than those constructed OF wood. thus
saving wear and tear of the tracks
II Is claimed that steel car can he
made weighing no more than seven
tons, which viii carry twice tnat
weight of freight. The construction
~ THESE vehicles Is also said to be
stronger and more durable than the
wooden cars. Already many iron
ears are IN use, and freight-cars OF
Sheet-irop have also been made. the
belief being strongly entertained that
tins new style OF treIght-car can be
constructed and introduced; its cheap
ness IN the Icing run, however, must
hc made apparent. this being the elu-
meut Wmcn, after all, viii decide
whether ears are 10 ht made OF wood.
iron or steel Al present wood is
much Che cheaper and more easily
worked material, and ii VIII continue
60 ht used until iron or steel can uu-
dcrblu It, either IN actual first cost ur
else IA the administration uf a much
greater durability that Will compeu-