New-York tribune., 1879-09-03
SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS.

SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS.
VALUABLE DISCOVERIES ANNOUNCED
mr. EDISON TELLS III. AMERICAN ASSOCIATION Ihh
DISCOVERIES HE MADE IN HIS INPERihENi'
FOR THs PRODUCTION OF ELEc1Ric L'u'ii
PROFESSOR CHANDLER SPEAKS on rhf SARA
ToGA SPRINGS.
Tn the report which is appended OF the pro-
ceedincs of the American Association yes'er-
Iav the ioportant paper by Mr.. Thomas A.
Edison is given in full. Ii describes lu-
cidlv the important discoveries he made in the
treatment OF platinum. An abstract OF Mr..
Upton's naper ON the test of Faradic machines
is added An account is also given of the
interesting remarks by Professor Chandler Oh
the Saratoga Springs, with details showing
the general work Of the scientists at yester-
days session.
THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE SCIENTISTS.
A POPULAR DISCOURSE on TuE sARsTcGA SPRINGS
PAPERS FROM Mr.. EDISON AND MIR. UPTON.
IFRoN A AsFEcIAI~ooRkgsPoSDEsr or THE rRBUrrJ
SARATOGA, Sept 2.-The closing sessions OF the
annual meeting of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science were held to-day The
members look back upon their week OF work as
time well spent and which will be fruitful IN
results Ii has been of the richest aud most
important meetings ever held by the association In
The number and value of the papers presented ana
ono of the most notable in attendance and interest
Among the most popular meetings Of the assOcia-
tion las been that gwen to the subject OF the sara
fora springs As the Town Hall was occupied at
,he time the addresses were deliScrcd in the largo
NJ L. Church in Westinghouse. The interior OF
the church suffered change into something new
aud strange. On the platform was a row of tables
bearing big jars containing water from tho princpa.
sprngs bottles filed with chemicals and geological
specimens OF various sizes. Under three glass
covers were watch crystals. in when were
salts and other solid matter obtained from three
hints of water from three well-known springs. In
the centre crystal was heap OF white powder made
p of all the solid substances which can be got out
OF pint OF the water. In the crystals about this
were the amounts Of each constituent; in somo
cases an almost imperceplble quantity. IN others a
pilo too large to be overlooked. Across the organ
front and occupying nearly all the space behind the
platform were broad rolls of cloth. with names and
figures ON them. At a distance these might have
been mistaken for the bulletins on which election
returns are exhibited. They actually we're displays
OF analyses Of the Saratoga and Ballson waters and
OF other wel-known waters in other parts Of the
country One analysis was of CToton, and all eX-
cent experts astonished to see hy this, anu 10
hear from Professor Chandler. that this contained
quantity of salts and other substances In solution.
ANAN'''A
eral waters in general aud the characteristics of the
various classes was clear and interesting His de-
scrption in detail Of the nature of the springs
here and " the substances held in solution 10y tho
waters was very thorough, hut the entertaining
way in which he handled his theme and his ami
mated delivery prevented its ever becoming dull.
Professor Chandler showed that the popular i'm
preston that some of the waters are deten-
Grating is erroneous This impression was due
TO the DISCOVERY of springs with waters more
strongly saline than those ot the old springs. Inc
waters Of the latter tasted Tat IN comparison WIN
these stronger waters. - was aiso i4uho ma,
the notion that the waters OF some OF the SPRINGS
were dcct0Ted with EPSON salts h9G no iuunna-
ton The history of the formation OF the high
rock" at the Hugh Rock Spring by the watI
dcDOslting carbonate OF lime iofmlnG tuli
was presented at considerable length The theory
of local gcologIst that the ashes OF charcoal ire.
feet below the surface of the tufa &C this spring,
inn,t haV" dated back over 1000 years, was rldl-
cuied. His theory based on the opinion That
the tuia iorms veTy SLOWLY. lie was wrong il TINS,
Rs Professor handler proved by examples OF iapld
formation. lie exhibited one large specimen OF
which had been formed in year. The
speaker showed how tbc presence OF various clc-
ments ~ he spring waters was detected 10y cheini-
cal reactions. which he illustrated 10y interesting
but simple experiments, winch were entirely sue
Ccs>iul.
by Professor James Hall, state Ge0iogisi,
and Professor T. stsrry Hunt Unit sPSkee eossoI OF
Hunt and Professor Chandler declared III. the sup
ply of mineral water under the surface O TINS part
OF tfe State was nexhaustible, AID II was shown
that a spring could be So, flowing almost any where
in or about Saratoga bv boring an arteslan well n
man who had made fortune ~ OIL IN pennsylvania
began boring for oil In a hl "a Bsllston. bringing
much Iidicule upon himself: lie cot down over oVO
feet and then friend. who knew that boring foi
oil nero was useless because II was not IN OIL region
geolOglcalv, threw piece OF steel down the hoie'
thus preventing further boring From tnis afteslan
well comes an abundant supply OF mineral water,
anc il has the peculiar property of blowing oil "
once a day with loud noise.