The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-02-28
Science and the Babbling Brook.

There are sometimes scientific discov-
cries the utility of which are not readily
discoverable. Sooner or later, however,
some use is found for every new princi-
pie OF device developed by the progress
of the age. Nature abhors not only
vacuums, but idle forces. A curious ex-
pertinent in hydraulics recently made in
/ Germany illustrates this fact. The river
| Danube flows eastward from the Black
Forest, while the Rhine, at a distance of
eighteen miles, flows parallel, but in the
opposite direction. About half way be-
tween these two rivers rises the river
Aacb, which is tributary of the Rhine.
| The Aach is at an elevation of some five
hundred feet lower than the Danube.
Between the two is calcareous bed ex-
tending from the bed of the Danube
downward to the Aach, and composed of
irregular layers adversely inclined, very
friable, stratitied, split and divided.
Through this limestone rock it was be-
lieved the Danube lost portion of its
waters. 1t was noticed that in dry sea-
sons the water seemed to sink into holes
and crevices in its bed. The owners of
factories on the Danube, in order to save
their water supply, stopped up these
leaks. simultaneously with this the flow
in the river Aach was reduced, and the
manufacturers on the latter stream sought
by legal processes to prevent the sup
posed underground water sources from
being cut off by the Danubian users of
water power. The point was to conclu-
sively prove that the waters which seemed
to lose themselves through the bed of the
Danube actually flowed underground a
distance of nine miles and reinforced the
river Aach. Perhaps the truant Danu-
bian waters wandered off elsewhere. Here
is where the science came in.
This was not one of those instances in
which it was possible to send small boy
down to see, or to attach cord to a rat
the interests of science and the manufac-
turing industries of Germany, of sub
terranean and subaqueous trip from the
Danube to the source Of the Aach. The
first plan suggested was to make the
Danube water salt. This was proposed
by Professor Knop, of Karlsruhe, and
accordingly twenty-five thousand pounds
OF salt we're placed in hole in the bed
of the great river. Then water from the
source of the Aach was obtained every
hour for several days, and this on being
analysed revealed the presence of the
salt. SO far, well; because "the proof of
the pudding is in the chewing of the
strings the latter being popularity sup
posed to be impregnated with palpable
flavor of the savory old-fashioned boiled
pudding. But two witnesses are better
than one, and, besides, the taste is some
times deceptive. People have been known
to have declared that most excellent veni-
son which was afterward proved to have
been horse flesh or some other unappetiz-
ing dish. Therefore it was resolved to
call in the eye to supplement the evil
dence of the Taste. "Seeing is believing"
NJ. Ten. Brink decided to take advantage
of the wonderful csloring power of fluo-
rescine. 1t is the first of series of su-
perb coloring matters, according as there
is introduced into its constitution bro
mine, iodine, or chlorine, and it. color
ing power is so great that one part of
fluorescine in 20,000,000 parts of water is
quite sufficient to be recognized. Fifteen
gallons of a solution of tluorescine were
thrown into one of the Orifces in the bed
of the Danube, and sixty hours after
wards the observers, who had been sta
toned at the source of the Aach, noticed
the colorations of the waters, which pre-
scented magnificent green and which in
the sun exhibited more or less fuorescent
reflections ranging from light green to
brilliant yellow, and lasted nearly two
DAYS. This was conclusive evidence and
we presume forestalled any further at
tempts by Danubian manufacturers at
damming the subterranean channels of
that river. Their damming hereafter will
have to be by word Of mouth rather than
by deed of hand. 1t is not impossible
this beautiful experiment may some day
be advantageously resorted to in northern
Iowa and in Minnesota. where numerous
streams appear and disappear through
subterraneans channels. The western
territories, and in various parts of the
country, such phenomena, if such freaks
of nature may be so termed, are found,
and questions Of ownership may he set
tied In the same way the scientists
wrestled with it in Germany.-UaukE ye
HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN, travel
ling along the Rhine, stopped at St.
Goar, and inquired for the poet Freili-
grath. He found the house, walked in,
and greeted the poet sitting at his table
busy with papers. Said Anderson in
his pleasant tones. IL could not pass by
without paying my respects to you. :"
That is kind of you" returned Freii
grath, coldly, somewhat annoyed at the
/ Inf and e. f,nt,, in, hn hio