Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-12-20
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUS
TRIAL.

LOCOMOTIVE WHlslIiHk IN w wv n"t',
coded at Poughkeepsie, n. Y, by n bel
worked by electricity, which will be sci
up in the depot. When the train ar
riyes within mile oi tho station, the
bell will ring until II gets 10 the depot
The danger signal IN thus given, and the
waste oi steam IL thus avoided, To say
nothing oi the racket. Any engineer
who whistles hereafter when IN fOugh-
kecpsie loses his situation on tho Hud'
son River Railroad.
EASTERN salt works have declined on
account of the richness of the Michigan
salt wells. The latter requires less fuel
to volatize the water, and the product
il also superior to tho former.
SoME recent experiments made at the
Iowa Agricultural College show that tho
popular notion that the trunks OF trees
elonpate Is erroneous. Ticks were driv-
on into the trunks of various trees, and
the distance between them accurately
measured. At the end Of the season m
difference was perceptible in their. dis
lance apart Various aged trees were
selected, all with similar result.
There in u growing dissatisfaction in
England at the present law preventing
English inventors from accepting decor
atoms or acknowledgements from for
eign nations. Military men, says jour
nal, receive titular honors for Staying
savages and destroying huts, while men
who have helped Ia make England whit
she in commercially and industrially arc
lott to their fate, which may chance oil
ten to bc pecunary ruin.
Tux Jonrndi Of chemistry says there IL
no nation in Europe so advanced in ils
methods of teaching agriculture ~ Italy
II posscssest two High schools Of agricul-
ture, n school Of forestry, u school OF hor-
ticulture, one of vilicuture, two vetcri-
nary schools, and twcnty-one secondary
schools, varying in Importance and or.
ganiEation, but which may bc compared
broadly with similar French colleges,
These institutions are largely subsidized
either by the State on by the province
whore they are situated.
TnF New York Elevated Railroad
Company IL considering aplan for the
announcement Of stations automatic ally
To the passengers. The names of sta
tons viii be printed In bold letters on Il
wide strip OF canvass, which will he
rolled by mechanism operated ~ the
train leaves each station, and which
will expose the name OF the next station
at the same time calling attention to II
10y sounding gong.
Tux real significance Of the worl'
"benzine" aud "naphtha, M applied t.
substantially the same product IN moi
known To all. Benzine Is the first pro
duct that arises In tho refining Of crud,
oil. Benzine, after being treated will
sulphuric acid, and still further refined
becomes naphtha. All retiners do NO
produce naphthn Its higher price IL
partially due to its rapid evaporation, N
any large dealer knows such action vii
materially curtail the margin OF profit
aud for the same reason buyers give
small orders.
HE. Mann, OF Pittsburgh, has com
pleted plans for twelve-inch hreech
loading ritied cannon, to embrace som'
valuable improvements in the system q
brcech loading. The gun will weigh
complete, 10000 pounds, and will b'
provided with an improved gas check
which prevents all escape OF gas at th'
breech. The charge will consist in I
700-pound projectilo and lhl pounds "
hexagonal powder ina metallic cartridge
case, The gun will be twenty-six fee
long, and will send the 700 pound pro
jcctile through u solid iron plate cigh
teen inches thick, and has u range q
| thirteen miles.
THE SicntiGc imcricdn SAYS unslackc'
lime compressed into cartridges, or usc'
loosely and well stamped down in tia
hole, using water or other liquid 4
saturatc and expand it, is now PROPOSED
for use in firing coal mines. II liz claim
ed that tho advantages to be gained iron
it's uso are economy in the production
OF coal making less slack than using OF
binary blasting powder; lives Of collier
are in less danger; the breaking or shat
tcring of coal back ol the charge, whicl
il especially characteristic OF gunpow
der, Is avoided aud the quality al tn
atmosphere is ra,hcrImprovcd hy its us
than otherwise.