Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1879-02-05
Science for the People.
ELECTRICITY IN SILK-WINDINC


ELECTRICITY IN SILK-WINDING.
An inventor in New York city. saws
the Scientific american, claims to have
perfected an electrical device which will
materially reduce the cost Of silk-reel-
ing, and so make the production of silk
commercially profitable in this country
From their exceeding fineness the silk
strands are liable to break while being
.unWOund from the cocoons, making
necessary close attention on the part of
the person experimenting the work.
The strands OF silk from four cocoons
are usually run out on one reel to form
a single thread, and one woman cannot
do more than attend at most to two
reels. 1t has been claimed by many in
terested in the silk trade that no ma
chinery could be made delicate enough
to watch this work automatically. The
attention of the inventor was drawn to
this subject two years ago, and he has
lately perfected bis application of the
electric current TO this. work. By run
ming the strands over carefully balanced
wires, when one breaks the wire drops
into mercury and closes circuit which
acts on an electric stop in the reel. The
work Is thus stayed until the strand is
spliced and the circuit broken. In this
way the electricity watches the strands,
and the attendant has only to notice the
reels and start them when they stop.
In the old way not more than six
pounds Of silk could be wound in a
week; by this invention it is claimed
that forty pounds will be wound in the
same tune. The promoters of this in.
vention hope by it to increase greatly
the silk industry In this country. Ow-
ing to the cost of labor, cocoons are not
reeled III this country to any great ex-
tent. They are raised here-none better,
it is claimed, can be found elsewhere
and exported for reeling, and then much
of the raw silk is imported for manu-
featuring. A large amount will be
saved if the cocoons Can be cheaply
wound off here. In the South, where
the mulberry Is common, it Is believ..
that the culture OF silk may rival t.
Of cotton. ..,- .H#
TEICHINIE In FISH.
Mr.. Fred Mather, the well-known
piscicufturist, is editing a very inter.
esting fishing department IL the Chi
cage Field. Ia a recent article he re-
fers to the reports that trichina had
been found IN fish, dissents tnerefrom
vigorously, and offers to eat any fish
SAID to be affected by them. Mr..
Mather then enters into some details
on the general subject Of parasites in
man. aud finally sums up as follows:
1--WE think we are correct il asserting
that, so far as is known, there is no evil
dence that any human being has suff-
cred from parasites produced by eating
fish," Mr.. Mather speaks as one hav-
ing authority: and his opinion will tend
to allay any alarm that the reports may
have created.
-s- 81 A NEW ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Another form of electric light has
been added to the many devised within
the past few months. The inventor is
Mr.. n. II. Bruce, Of Troy, n. Y. The
machine is simple, not exceeding five
pounds in weight, and possesses at least
one novel feature. The Troy Times
gives this description of the apparatus:
:" On a circular stand partly
wood and partly brass. are
ulouulCu wv oi1dll JcStS. CISulcS1l dllu
twenty inches in height. From these
two arms project toward each other for
the support of a carbon candle. Outside
Of the longer post is a brass tube be-
tween one and two inches in diam eter
aud twelve inches long. Within it is
weight two inches long, which is made
to follow the sand, with which the tube
is filled, as it runs out Of a small orifice
at the bottom. As the sand goes out,
the weight, sinking with a low and reg
ular movement, raises, by means of q
cord and pulley, a second carbon candle
In such way that the upper end is in
close proximity constantly with the
lower end of the upper carbon candle.
Wires close the circuit between the car
bons, and a powerful dynamo-electric
machine supplies the current. By
means Of little continuance, the size of
the opening for the outflow of the sand
may be increased or diminished at
pleasure. The carbons give out a
steady, brilliant light, equal to 1900
candles, last seven hours, and may be
obtained for IS a hundred. The invent
or designs his light for the illumination
of parks, streets and for coast service
only. r
The Liquor Traffic.
IL,