New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-09-27
SCIENCE FOR THE PEOPLE.

ing sketch OF the California gravcs by W. A. "oouSo"i'
before the California Academy of Science, the au'"oi
the whole character OF the graVeis proven
hey the work OF running streams OF fresh wafer
bedrock OF the western slope Of the Sierra NeVau
has never he SAYS, subjected TO any considerable
movements of elevation or depression The seat OF vol
canc energy lay TO the of the gravel region whch
was overwhelmed with debris. without much disturb
ance OF the bedrock. The general direction OF o'"n
age throughout the period OF accumulation OF inc ari
erous gravels must have been southwesterS' i"o
Blue Lead theory based on the iact that soino
tunes the ancient streams flowed for several mites
south or southeast is. nearly parallel with the AXIS
OF the mountain range The streams were I'm all probi-
hitv subject 10 greater variations I'm the quantity Vi
water which they carried at different times IMAM 'Do
streams OF to-day The channels OF some OF the stren
were oxcavated into the solid bedrock to depths Vi '
100 500 feet The process of accumulation OF gI"'
must have been very slow. occupying hundreds ana
perhaps thousands. OF years Excavation oecurreu a
one place while accumulation went on al anotner' IN.
streams flowed nj first on almost naked surface OF
the bedrock. When channels bad become niieu W
the level OF the lowest portions OF the surrou""E
country the stream would break through or over
them, leaving the old bed dry The new chanhe' "oun
be crooked ike the old. and would. In due uine' HI
with debris and banks This process went on
with thousands of streams constituting the drainage
system ON the mountains, until all tho lower
deprossions we're filed with gravel. the lower
knobs covered with II. and as Its depths
increased ii crept up he sides OF larger hills Inc
Volcanic Period nut end to the Gravel PERIOD yet
the western slope OF the Sierra Nevada was never
flooded with liquid Gre. the volcanic materials spread
over that region are fragentary and nave been trans
ported by the action Of water Tho whole country over
which the gravcs had accumulated were simply flooded
by flows OF volcanic muds and debris OF all
sorts when the volcanoes dlcd the MOD I'm streams De-
gan their but the ancient graves were buried 10
depths ranging from 100 10 1000 feel beneath volcanic
detutUs. Throughout the basin OF the middle loiA Oh
sac American River me deplh OF the Noic-h'o capylne
ranged from 300 500 feet. and places can De louhl
near the ~ the where the depth reaches from
bls served mark and determine the outlines 81 th.
larger drainage basin Of tho system as they did OF
the old Tue surface Of the country al me close o. te
Volcanic Period smoother than az the cuHhchcc-
mem of the Gravel Epoch Where the Accommodations Of
these gravcis we're great ana deep ana "hcIe Tue vo
c,ulc apping has subsequently removed, or was
very thick 0r, Is probable AT some ocall"s
existed al aD there are found the great ny
mines. Where the srtvci shallow but rich tnd was
covered by heavy mass of volcanic materials wnich
mas since been removed there ara tns drilt or
tunnel disg!ngs.'
DIFFUSION OF COPPER.-In a recent paper
to the French Academy NJ Deuafait states that copper
exists la complete dissemination throughout the wnoe
thickness the primOrdal formations, the proportions
varying much. but IN IL necessary 10 use
more than lOO-r OF rock order 10 isolate the metal
Copper all ordinary direct sedmentary de-
post. from primordia rocks. whether silurinn and
infrasilurian OF reaching into Tras 1t has
been recognized directly In sea-water. but the last
mother waters salt marshes OF the Mediterranean
CONTAIN of t. Thus estimated cubic metre OF
natural Mediterranean water contains least OOlcr OF
copper The black slime. always very suphurous. de-
posted In natural artificial basins when scawater Is
left ITSELF copper. The metal is accl-
undated 10 'nSloe qHantiles Ia sea-Maiei NheIe'F,
this has long washed debris of prnOrdal rocks ana
tins copper is ated when Gas IN abandonment OF
produced capable of forming insoluble combinations
OF of copper one consequence of the dis
sen,aaon Of copper through the primordial rocks Is
that al waters min.razet IN tins formation or In us
immediate dependencies should contain copper
A VALUABLE SToNE.-Writingt to Tie Nor'cict
Bcf Professor Forrest Shepherd, the geologist saws
that on pleasant elevation at Old Lyme Conn., the
OF the Hon. Charles J. McCurdy, there is
naikdDle deposit Of Lbradorne feldsp3r, carncan
granite, sufficient not only for building the most endur
ing and costly oihces. but for
mcnts IN the pre~euce OF which ordinary monuments
appear a shadows re necied from polished mirror
This already received choice premium medal,
% and ~ business rcYives ~ bds lair TO
become au important Industry and source Oi National
wealth.
FIRE-PROOF COMPOsIuOSs.-Nariou cOmbi-
nations OF ammonia and borax have been suggested
in Pans for rendering textile fabrics indam-
mabe Here is applicable 10 all kinds OF goods:
sulphatc Of Ammonia purel. klos; carbonate Of ann
inona. > kas; acld kilos; horaX Ourcl, IL
klos starch : k.os: wafer 100 kiios. 1t is simply
ssary tn steep fabrics in hot solution ,omuosed
o. above until they have become thoroughly unir.g Z
mated after wal IA they are drained and dried suii-
GENTLY to enable them 10 ne roncd pressed Ike
binary Starched goods. second composition 70 be
used for thcatich sccGery Tor the mounted but I'M
painted cauvs b. used this purpose ana al.o Tor
woodwork. furniture door ana window isaInes, ETC.. is
10 b. applied hot with brush Xix" ordinary paint II is
composed of horacic acid, kilos; hydgochloratc OF
ammonia a. ammogiac - kos; p0fassic fedspir
hiOs gclafine, ID kios: siz'. 30 kisos; water 100
os: to which added Sufficient quantity Of suit
able cclreous substance 10 give the composition ul
cen body or consi-t"ncs Another composition. appii-
came 10 ali kniS 0f paper. whether printed or No III
culinl .teari'., bo,k-. elc,is formed o. s"phac al
IL kos; water. 100 Ei!O. The solution is heated 10
1929 Fa"IhciL IL the paper be IN sheets or printed II
and rwd pressed to restore the glaze destroyed ny
the moisture. me apove concessions hsur. high
er msicd cnts arc ven examples only, and may be
,ar,d is found necessary in practice.
Coon INK.-A commission lately appointed
by the Prl>-an Go eminent to investigate the best
class OF INKS TO he employed for official state
that anime nks not suited for this purpose. be-
cause they can be easily washed away. especially Dy
urrnaraiious OF chlorine Inks m the cnmposltiou of
ohil"Tdtei iss c',iy Bur thev are al opinion that
thc old d. scillt"n "I INK
The TRYPOGRAPH.-A new instrument for
muinlyng pcs of letters, etc, has been introduced
inlo Engard under the OF the TypOgraph. II
seems modification Of Edisons electric pen. sheet
of special paper is placed a perfOrating tablet, and
Tie vii ing done Win irn hand and steel pointed
stylus. This has the effect of piercing the paper with
number of very minute pcriorations through when
pos ibe 10 force to the sheet OF paper placed
beneath. The making o the stencil IL the impor-
part OF the operations little practice will show
the proper amount OF pressure put upon stylus
ard the easiest Of iting; ard this once accom-
pscd II will be understood that the number OF copies
IL limited only by The duration OF the stencils, which
can ed aWny for future use and brought on ne