The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-07-12
SCIENTIFIC.


take place on the planet Jupiter have OF
late years attracte an increasing amount
of attention by the possesSors of large tele-
scopes, and among these Bredichin of Mos
COW, whose eighteen photolithographs of
the planet as observed by him constitute o
rare contribution in this line. In making
these, he employed telescope of nearly
ten inches ape ture, with asuperb magni-
flying power of two hundred and fifty, and
by this means he has distinguished six dis
tinet regions, two of which lie designates as
polar regions, one equatorial region, two
tropical, and one lying between the north
tropical and north polar. One of the
tropical zones, says M. Bredichin, seems
always to have had color-described as
being somewhat green and somewhat blue;
very similar color to TINT observable in o
block of ice. The mean breadth of the
equatorial band was 90 min., varying,
however, from 70 min, up to 13 min.
Luminous spots were frequently distin-
guishable here aud there, surprising in
brilliancy all other portions of the plane
tary disk.
THE Manuacturer and Buildcr makes o
minute calculation of the expense aud ad-
vantages of the electric light, as compared
with other methods OF illumination, from
which it concludes that, taking for basis
that an electric lamp only replaces the
minimum number of gas jets, namely,
fifty, it is seven times cheaper than gas,
motive power not included, and four tines
cheaper, taking the cost Of driving accord
ing to the estimate that follows: TAe cost
of a machine with lamp, giving light eqrml
to 800 Careel Jets, is about $3.50, and this
will represent from fifty to seventy gas
jets, according to circumstances; the power
required is equll to two-horse steam power,
aud the cost of the carbon points is four
cents per hour for each lump. When the
power is that of water the cost is incon-
siderable, and, when that of coal has to be
taken into account for tho steam engine, it
amounts to four cents per hour, bringing
the total up to eight cents the hour, and
lubrcatiou is set down at about one-Lalf
cent more.
SQUARE tiles of asphalt, prepared by a
new process, and intended for Hoorings,
are described in the Lond' B4ildtnJ NeGs
as now AMI unique article. These tiles
are ornamented with mos,ie, in white
China or colored glass which may be ar
ranged according to any design. The
drawing to be thus repro luced is traced on
sheet OF thick paper, which is afterward
covered with the various fragments of
china or glass, which will form the mosaic;
borl r is made to the sheet, aud boiling
asphalt poured upon it; md, after the
whole is cooled, the paper is taken away
with cold water, and the tile is finished
A flooring covered with such tiles, bound
together by line of asphalt is stated to
have been made by single melting, the
appearance being very satisfactory. It.
resistance to damp is Oh important al
vantage.
THE Gramme magnetic electric machine
has now for a considerable time past been
employed for supplying light ut the houses
of Parliament in London, and I'M idea of
It's power may he gathered from the fact,
as state. i, that it is worked by steam en-
gne at distance of some 4S0 feet from
the point at which ths light is produced,
the current being conducted thither by
copper wires one-sixth of an inch in diane
ter The magnets in the machine are ar
arranged upon three massive rectangular
blocks, and make $50 revolutions per
nlinute, at an expense of two and two
thirds horse power, and give light equal
TO over 5000 English standard can Heb. 1t
is dou btless the ntest perfect arrangement
of the kind yet attained.
FoE z;nc-worb, to which il is difficult to
make paint adhere, and which rapidly
oxidises when exposed to air and moisture
DR.. Bottger recommends solution of one,
part of chloride of copper, one part OF
nitrate of copper, and one part of chloride
of ammonium sixty-four parts of water,
and one part of commercial hydrochlorc
acid. This solution acts us sort of NOR
dant 1t is put on with wide brush over
zinc, which immediately becomes a de, p
black color, which changes in the course
of twelve or twenty-four hours to a gray;
and upon this gry surface any oil paint
will dry ami firmly adhere. Summer heat
and winter rain will in no wise disturb this
covering, which affords complete protec-
ZION to the zinc.
Mr.. CoRET has invented what he calls O
self-acting thermo-signal which by ringing
bell makes known to all within hearing
when an aK,s or any other part of an en-
gine is ver-heated. 1t is a small brass