New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-27
SCIENCE F0R THE PEOPLE.

A CHEMICAL TRIUMPH.-Modern chemists
are very expert in resolving compound bodies into their
simple elements but the opposite OF building up
bodies from Their constituents s one OF cx-
treme difficulty In 1868, however two German cheh-
lists Professors Graebe and Lebermanu, succeeded In
preparing from the hydrOcarbon anthracene, manufac-
tured from coal tar, the brilliant dye-stufs NTH
ertO won from madden. This was the nrst instance
in which the chemist had succeeded IN aru-
fcially preparing cOlors occurring IN the Vege-
table kingdom; and although the manufacture Oh
artificial rladder cooring matters has assumed at the
present day colossal proportions and Dids Iar 10 super
entirely the preparation of the natural products II
has hitherto remained the only instance OF the KIND IN
history of chemistry all other vegetable and animal
dyes Obsnatey refusing disclose the secret OF ther
composition. Within the past few weeks the nader
coors have ceased occupy this unique position Modern
chemistry has also succeeded in preparing synthetcay
common indigo This discovery Is likewise due to Ger
man chemist Professor BaeyeT the genial successor to
the chair of Lebg, at Munich. and most indeatigaDe
and successful investigator For Of yeat he has
been seeking solve the problem Of the composition OF
indigo and its synthetical preparation Slowly ana
patiently he has gathered together and elaborated one
fact after another until finally at the last session vi e
German Chemical Society," he was able 70 announce the
completion of the long research aud the discovery OF
the last link in the chain OF synthetic reactions leams
the formation OF indigo. The processes lnNOfeu are
however, too intricate and costly 10 nave any
result ON the commercial value of the well known dye
A Fossil WALRUs.-A few days ago
workman employed IN digging drain near the Trans
fer Station, Portland, Me-, came upon collection oil
bones, which proved examination 10 he the skull
scapula ribs and few vertebr9 OF walrus lying In
the upper clay and ine sand Of the post-pocene de-
poslts This is the first discovery OF the kind says
The Press in that vicinity though similar Remains nave
been found near Montreal In the same geological iorha
ton.
Do LAKES DISAPPEAR WITH THE FORESTS
The lowering of the water level in Otseeo Lake, hch
gan has been cited OF the numberess evidences
of gradual process of desccation taking place al over
the Continent to the we'll to the west of the
Rocky Mountains simultaneously with the disappearance
of the forests correspondent OF The Detroit Free Press
calls attention. however to facts not in harmony
with this theory About two years ago, he says the
in Otsego Lake began TO rise, and last summer
poured its southern embankment for several weeks
an occurrence unknown before The rise and fall OF the
water in these Michigan lakes he thinks, probably
periodic and due to not yet satisfactorily ex
planned In 1873 the first settlers began to cut marsh
hay around five lakes in Allegsn County, and continued
TO do so annually In 1876 the water In the lakes began
10 RISE and persisted in rising oil through the following
Winter and the unusually dry Summer OF 1877 flooding
the settlers public meadow. and reaching height of
about three feet above the water level OF 1873 Stimuli
taneOusy with this the water in POrcupne Lake, few
miles distant, came up and gradually oyerhowed the
and now n is spanned by bridge These lakes all lie
ON level table land the highest point the Lower
Peninsula OF the State and generally without appre
cable outlet, inlet or connection.
LIGHTNING RoDs.-D uring the Summer, when
thunder-storms are most common, special attention
should be paid, particularly In exposed situations IN
country places TO the condition Of the hghningrods
The main stem of copper neutrality-suspicious. should
never be less than 40 OF inch diameter this dmen
sion s not sufficient for a building more than eighty
feet high Galvanized iron may be used instead OF cop
per- but then the diameter should be, at least double
that OF a copper rod galvanized ron-rope conductor
should never be than Of inch in diameter gal
vanized iron strip should be inches wide and is OF al
inch thick ghtning-rOd must be continuous and un
broken from end TO end. rod need not be attached
20 building by insulated fastenings; metal clampS may
be safely employed, provided the rod be OF good con-
Quoting capacity and otherwise efficient. Above, the
rod must terminate IN metal points well projected into
the air should be several of these points, and all
perfectly sharp The bottom Of the conductor must be
carried down the moist earth and connected with
1t by of large extent All large masses
Of metal in building should be netaically connected
with the ghtninerod except when they are liable TO be
occupied by people during a hunderstonn-an iron bal
couy instance In such IL Is better not 10 have
the iron connected with the conductor for there Ia some
risk OF persons standing the balcony furnishing path
for the lightning the The rods ought be tested
and the ground connection satisfactory.