New-York tribune., 1879-12-07
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.


ward TO solve It. The fact that the was formerly
the seat Of volcanic action far intense than any
thing TO be found the earth makes II hard 20 believe
that she has always been without gases and liquids.
since terrestrial experience show that water
important factor in ali volcanic outbreaks and that
great volcanoes found far from the seacoas
Then the numerous volcanic vents on the moon would
be certain TO throw large quantity OF What
has become OF these, and OF the water which at one
time most probably existed the moons surface '
One theorist has hidden them away in the caverns
within the body OF the moon. Another has banshed
them to the farther side of the satellite Another has
frozen them by the intense cold Of the lunar night
Another has hsd them whsked of by a comet. cor
respondent OF The English Mechanic adds still another
theory Referring TO the opinion OF Mr.. Lockyer and
others In favor OF the metslloida composition OF the
moon. he says: "If, then. the moon Ia largely COM
posed OF metaoids IT is unlikely that sulphur forms
large proportion of her bulk The OF sulphur
in large quantities on the lunar surface has
already been surmised by Professor Dana.
partly because 1t Ia found In abundance IN
and around terrestrial crater and ght therefore be
expected TO be present in like manner in volcanic
region the moon, partly because II is found
10 exist in meteorites. supposing sulphur thrn
to be present in large quantities in the
moon, when she in intensely heated
and vaporous condition. and supposing oxygen. nitrogen
and hydrogen to be likewise present would they not a
least the oxygen ana hydrOgen mite with the sulphur
the perature fell below the point OF dssociation
and form suphuric acid in large volumesi This acid IN
state OF solution. would in time fall In rain the sur
face of the and. passing into the heated interior
OF her globe would by It's fierce boiling amply supply
the place Of the water 10 which II Is thought terrestrial
volcanoes much OF their explosive energy Nitric
acid might also be formed the intense electric action
which would doubtless be set by the election
aud other vapors from the countless craters These
acids would combine with other substances present on
and beneath the moons surface form sulpnates aud
be covered great extent with crystalline formations
marka6y different degrees OF brightness which certain
parts OF the assume under different angles OF ln
mnatiOn well for the different actinlc power or
certain lunar regions which appear equally bright 10 the
eye Possibly too crystalline formation may account
for the remarkable brightness OF Arstarchus lone o the
lunar craters anu for the supposed changes in Lime
Klein The formation OF these acids and their maj
union with other substances would Of gradually
the atmosphere and TINS process going on might end IN
leaving little huld either IN the form OF vapor
lqud or air, on the moons surface"
TRANSIT OF THE EARTH.-On November -,
the day of opposition oi Mars, the earth anu moon
passed the line between Mars and the sun That.
II observed from Mars. they would have appeared to
the suns Disc there transit OF the earh
and analogous To the transit OF Venus seen
from the earth The transit II the moon lasted from
9:03 m. 4:5O p. that Of the arth from ll20
~ To 7:O4 p m. New-York time The last transit
of the kind occurred November 1900. ani the uoxt
one will place in May 1905. From the eartn only
the transits OF two planets ca occur-Ihose OF Venus
November z, SSH and will he hest seen on the Pacific
Coast the next ransito Venus takes place December
6. 1882 Will be visible In all parts Of the Eastern
ana southern states, as well az IN South America
AN EXTRAORDINARY DIvER.-A good deal of
curiosity excited IN London by the xtraordL
nary exhibition OF new diving at tine Roval
Polytechnic Institution. Tne is young Eng
snman named Feuss. twenty-eiGht years OF age, who
formerly officer IN the Peninsuar and
Oriental steamship CompAny's service. He is short
slight man. OF fair complexion ana pleasant appearance
Tie pecuarity OF his process is that the diver takes
down with him good supply OF air. and Is quite indie
pendent OF any supply from above, so that
there IL pumping required, and help
needed except signal-man and cord. The
dress which Mr.. FleUss descends is ike or
dinary divers dress, ani consists 0f helmet AMI
breasipate and the water-tight armincs and
leggings he bears his shoulders weight
OF ninety-six pounds. and his boots weighted
to twenty pounds At q depth OF twelve feet
he comfortably in the water under
this pressure. From helmet there proceeds light
cord Tor signalling the above. Before the helmet
xed aud the mask closed, IL tnat the inventor
wears firmly tied over his mouth and orr
nasa mouthpece from which breathing tube OF
inch bore proceeds downward When he
is on the floor Of the tank IN which
the exhibition takes place, Mr. Fleuss moves about a.
apparently without any he can
picK up coins. can sit down, and can even lie down
He breathes. he says. just as easily as when
be Is In the air. and quite freely. The
process by which the breathing is effected remains
secret but H. accor sing TO the Inventor extremely
smDie. DIR. Benjamin ward Rlchand~on, "A weilkn"Wn
London physician. sends IN Nature a long account
his observations or the experiments, says tnit IN
whatever way MI. ems gets breathing room under
the water. he has without doubt achieved great
practical success. He has some method OF get
ting rid oi the product or respiration, which
would otherwise suortte him. and he is able 10 live
long on completely from all cxterna access 10
the AR In some OF the exhibitions Mr. Fleuss
named under wafer fnil hour and has shown signs
aspbyxia coming out of the tank and but Iltue
change from his normal condition. DR. Richardson
cests that n man who can carry his supply
IN ms pockets could into rc well under water
iSe new invention Il ne found specially valuable IN
wells charged with foul air. mines nlled with hre
damp or chnke-damp
TURNING A SPHERE.-Ihe Amcrican Ndchin
IS. is pub shng valuable series OF articles under The
nte OF Letters from Practical Men" In the latest
mn Der correspondent describes method OF turning
spheres common wnen he an apprentice. Al that
time. he says many balls Of comDostion. about pa
inches IN diameter used for valves for force pu
and time it was considered good days work to
turn one true enough for purpose They cast
with projection about IS diameter and the same length,
on which lathe dog could be fastened To turn them BY
and we're centred and roughed out In a lathe with
fixed tool, aud finished with hand tool. A man was
hired who was accustomed finish composition. and
he not knowing what a days work was. or had been.
turned dozen in one day He roughed them out In
the same way and then cut of the neck by which they
were logged. and the centre opposite, and provided
Gun of nard wood OF suitable for the I'VE centre Oi
the lathe say One-third OF the diameter II the ball. and
a small Hat surface OF hard wood for the dead centre.
The friction the being greater tnan that OF tue
sma htt surface the ball would revOve with the aihe
HIS IL ls.ng tool was ring OF cast steel, about l$
Inches diameter and the length bored perfectly
true and squared at one end and hardened rms per
feet circle applied ball. would touch only on the
high points, and the postiOn OF the ball beng frequently
changed IL was reduced perfect sphere, or al
least so nearly perfect tine purpose OF
valve FOL pump.