The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-09-04
USEFUL AND SCIENTIFIC.

EDWARD KING, in his Paris letter to
the Boston Journal, confirms the report
that contract has been signed between
French and American parties for the
construction of an underground railway
in New York 1t is to be of four tracks,
and run from the Battery to the Grand
Central Depot. The % Banque Parish
enne . is to furnish 25,000,000 francs,
and the American company must spend
at least half million on construction
and in establishing its legal rights.
THE Railroad Commissioners of Mas
sachusetts are now engaged in investi-
eating the subject of color blindness,
which was referred to them by the last
Legislature. 1t is stated that some OF
the railroad men who failed in the sci
entific experiment made by skilled
specialist, succeed very well in distin-
gushing the different colors of actual
flags and lanterns when exhibited at the
distance of 700 or 800 feet.
ONE of the most colossal modern en-
gineering enterprises has been the con-
structiOn of the great railroad from Vera
Cruz to the CITY of Mexico. 1t passes
through one of the most picturesque
countries in the world, and, traversing
the mountain chain Of the great Sierra,
offers the finest views imaginable. The
road Is 26S miles long, passes through
eighteen tunnels and over several mag
nificent iron bridges, and is considered
to be the finest and best constructed
railway on the whole American CONT
nent.
DISCOVERIES of an exceedingly inter-
esting nature were made in 1873 by Mr..
Rassan, Syrian scholar, in the mounds
which mark the site of ancient Nineveh.
Among them were tables of alabaster
contained in chest of the same upon
which were engraved historical informa-
ton of great Importance. Two large
bronze plates were also found which had
formed portions of Il door turning on
pivots, and engraved in high relief with
designs that portray various customs
and manners of the ancient Ninevites.
In the chest were tablets covered with
hieroglyphic engravings by which the
entire history of one of the early kings
of Assyria can be read. The discoveries
are regarded as of the utmost interest
and Importance.
AN interesting article in the journal
of the Franklin Institute discusses, from
the standpoint of PrOfs. Thomson and
Houston, the practicability of the trans
mission of power to long distances by
means of electricity. 1t has been de-
clared by an eminent electrician that the
thickness of the cable required to con-
vey the current that could be produced
by the power of Niagara would neces-
state more copper than exists in the
enormous deposits of the Lake Superior
region; and others estimate the cost of
the cable at about 500 per lineal foot.
Profs. Thomson and Houston assert, on
the contrary, that it is possible to con-
vey the total power of Niagara a dis
lance of some 500 miles or more, by
simple copper cable not exceeding one
half of an inch in thickness.
HARD VS.. SOFT WATER.-It may be
pleasant to those who live in a region of
our country where nothing but hard wa
ter is to be had, to be informed, by so
good authority as DIR. Tidy, the well
known chemist, of the results of his OBJ
sevatiOns on the use of hard water for
culinary and domestic purposes: l.
Hard water is the best dietetically, be-
cause of the lime. 2. 1t makes better
tea, although not so dark cOlored, Ow-
ing to the fact that soft water dis
solves the bitter extractive matters
which color the tea, but ruin the aroma.
). 1t relieves thirst, which soft water
does not. 4. 1t does not dissolve lead
or organic matter, which soft water
does. 3. 1t is generally good colOred,
soft water being as a rule dark cOl0red
and unpleasant looking; hence, in places
like Manchester, supplied with soft wa
ter, they always put it Gin hotels) in
dark bottles, to hide the color. A soft
water, however, is a better detergent,
and requires less soap. For a residen-
tial town a water which has over 10 de-
grees of hardness would be best For
manufacturing towns a soft water would
be the most advisable, for commercial
considerations only.-Scientjfc Anaeri-
can.
VEGETABLE N1ILK.-AmOng its ex-
hibits the Venezuelan Government sent
to the Paris Exposition several TASKS of
what is called vegetable milk. These
having been carefully analysed by NJ.
Boussingault, he makes the astonishing
statement that this fluid, in its cOnstit-
uent parts, is not only greatly like cows
milk, but in some respects is a decided
improvement on that article. 1t con-
tains fatty matter, sugar, caseine, and
phOsphates; but the relative proportions
of these substances are such that the
fluid has all the richness and nutTitive
qualities of cream. The trees, of which
this Is the sap, grow upon the sides of
mountain chains in Venezuela. The
1HulduS 20 each morning 10 lHc trees
nearest to their settlements, and cut in
them deep missions, from which the
milk pourS out in such quantities, that
in an hour or two quite large vessel is
filled with the fluid This is taken back
to the village, and forms staple article
of food for both old and young. 1t is
singular that the rare virtues of this
plant have never before been made pub
lie, but now that they have been, it will
be stranger still if some effort is not
made to extend their usefulness. As
long as cows milk can be obtained at
every corner grocery for few cents a
quart, it will hardly pay for any one to
send to South America for a supply;
but if the trees can grow wild in the
mountainous parts of the torrid zone,
it may be that they are hardy enough to
bear transportation to, and transplant
ing in, colder countries.
Stung to Death by Hornets.
An Eagle reporter drove to the home
of the grandfather of Young TillSOn