The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-31
Compiled for the CARBON ADVOCATE.
POPULAR ENCE NOTES.

Compiled for the CARBON ADVOCATE.
POPULAR SCI ENCE NOTES.
There is near Newton, New Jersey, an in
tetestng ravine, in which it is said natural
ice remains throughout the summer. II
hundred yards long, from ten to thirty feet
deep, with caves and clelts in the rocks,
filled with ice. Near the gorge, spring Of
delicious sparkling water, tasting slightly of
iron, bubbles up and stands "a degrees by
the Thermometer. The shade at the gorge
is described as very dense, the sun appar
emily never penetrating it. The locality
would certainly be pleasant resort for in
valids and Others who wish to escape the
excessively warm days of summer.
Difficulties, apparently unsurmountable,
have supervened in the construction of the
st. Gothard tunnel, which threaten serious
ly to retard completion of the undertaking.
The vaulting has given away several times,
at point where a formation Of white stone,
has been encountered, and it has required
the greatest care and constant staying with
timber to prevent the passage thereabouts
from completely collapsing. A wall SIX feet
thick succumbed to the pressure of the su-
perincumbent mass Of white stone, and now
the engineers are at their wits end how to
overcome the difficulty.
The subscription for the statue of Liberty
to be erected on Bedloe's Island, New York
harbor, has just been completed in France.
ished in 1888, on a monumental pedestal,
provided the American public comply with
the request to prepare suitable foundation.
1t is hoped theee may be no delay in the
work caused by the action of the proper au-
thorities in this country.
The convertion of sugar cane into paper
is attracting considerable attention in Louis
lana and other southern states. 1t is esti-
mated that the cane for each hogshead of
sugar, will yield one ton of paper, and as
Louisiana alone produces 200 900 hogsheads
of sugar annually, some idea may be form
ed of the importance attached to the manu-
facture Of paper from this article.
From observations extending over several
years, 1t has been ascertained that Australi-
an trees flourish as well IN California as in
their native country and visa versa. Also.
that the native vegetation, including wheat
and other grain, may be successfully accli-
matzed from one country to the other, and
that the crops which succeed in the one will
do as well in the other.
The annual exhibition of the American
Institute, Of the city of New York, will open
on September 18th next One Of the most
promising features of the occasion will be
an exhibition of the works of amateurs and
apprentices in all branches Of mechanical
industrial and decorative art.
A new breed of whales is said to have APP
peared in the Arctic seas, supposed to have
emigrated from the open sea at the poles
They are described as very much larger than
the old whales, are very gentle and confd.
ing, and are easily captured.
After twenty five years of labor, the cana
de la Merced, in Chill, has just been com
pleted at a cost of 100000.
The Monthyon Prize has been awarded
to NJ. Camille Flammarion, by the ParisaI
Academy of Sciences, for the work entitled
"Astronomie Populaire," 10000 copies o
which were sold the first year.
The well known writer of books of adven
ture and travel, Captain Mayne Ried, ha
been engaged the past three years in exper
imenting with seed potatoes, with a view t
escape the blight which has been SO disas
trous to the potato crop in England an
Ireland. As a result Of his experience, thos
brought from Mexico, alone showed not
blight, all the other kinds having been ioun
to be diseased in greater or less degree
r The Mexican potato, he claims, will ais
yieli almost double as many bushels to tn
acre, and suggests that the government tax
in hand the importation of the seed in larg
quantities.
States Fishery Commission at Glouceste
Mass, received the first prize of honor give
by the Emperor at the Berlin Fishery e.
, position. The prize consists of beautif
, crystal cpergne, elaborately ornament,
. with gold, silver, pearls,and precious stone
and is valued at $4,000.
The discovery Of large number of pear
:, was recently made in Oakley Creek, Ne
Zealand, which are said to be unusual
- form and color, not perfectly round, but
more brilliant than ordinary pearls.
=. An exhibition will be opened at Berl
-. in August, that will be illustrative of p
-, historic German Anthro?ology.
The Swiss Natural History Society W
hold an exhibition at Brien, on SeptemI
18th to 18th.