The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1880-01-06
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY

A new coioring matter, called eficine,
is obtained from poplar wood.
A man was lately killed in Kansas
by the fall of an aerolite-a very unus-
ual occurrence, notwithstanding the
large number of meteors which annual
ly reach the earth's surface.
I An English chemist claims to have
succeeded in crystallizing carbon. Speci-
mems of the crystals are said to have
been shown to Prof. Tyndall, who pro-
nounces them undoubtedly diamonds.
Prof. Proctor expresses considerable
confidence in the success of Edison's
electric light. He Il inks it not improb-
able that the heat of the sun may be
at some time utilized in driving the ell
ectric generators.
The stenographer of the Italian SEN
ate has devised an instrument which is
claimed to produce speech in ordinary
printed characters as rapidly as it is
spoken, a word of several syllables be-
ing recorded by single touch of the
keys.
The metric system has now been
adopted by twenty-eight different ma
tions, including majority of the civil
ized world. In eleven countries it is in
exclusive use; while in several as Ger
many and France, there are penalties
for using any other measures.
A wick for petroleum and spirit
lamps is now manufactured entirely of
glass by German firm. 1t is said to
produce more brilliant light than the
cotton wick. 1t is not consumed in
the flame, but wastes away slowly by
fusion.
The tremendous energy concentrated
in IA flash of lightning is shown by Prof.
Mayer, of the Stevens Institute, in an
observation from Which he concludes
that at least five hundred square miles
of the earth's surface had its electrical
condition changed at each flash of the
lightning. ra
A phosphorescent powder has been
produced which becomes very strongly
luminous under the influence of electric
ity. The inventors propose applying
it to the lighting of buoys. The phos-
Observation-Disclosures will be placed in a
current produced by the action of sea-
water ON zinc and copper plates.
A German experimenter has proved
that, in hardening, steel undergoes an
increase in volume. The thicker the
and the less it is hardened. BY anneal-
ing, the volume is decreased again, un-
til, at the gray tint, it is about the same
as in the raw state.
One of the hottest localities on the
globe is along the Persian Gulf, where
rain seldom or never falls. At Bahrin
the arid shore has no fresh water, yet a
considerable population contrives to ex-
ist there, thanks to the copious springs
of fresh water which issue from the bot
tom of the sea. The fresh water is Sc
cured by divers, and brought to the sur
face in large goat-skin bags. The
source of these submarine springs is
thought to be in the green hills of Os-
man, some five or six hundred miles
distant.
The new Mexican inter-oceanic rail
way across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec
is to pass through the state of Chiapas,
which probably contains the only popul-
alton in the world watch possesses no
iron, nor anything of the nature of an
iron industry. even of the crndest form.
For the distance of eighty miles around
Palenque, the capital, not single
blacksmith can be found, and the only
articles of iron are axes and machetas,
imported from the United States. Nails
are unknown, all the woodwork being
held together by cords or the tendrils
of Vines; and even their tortilla, or corn
cake, is prepared by grinding the maize
between stones. The new railway
through this territory has clearly a
well-defined educational, as well as
commercial development to undertake
The mysterious power, electricity, is
undergoing every kind of manipulation
by enthusiastic scientists in endeavors
to adapt it to the performane of mans
work, and its many applications attest
its inestimable value. A new sugges-
tion, and means of executing the death
penalty. A German writer imposing
ly describes the plan of execution: "In
dark room, draped with black and
which is lighted only by a single torch
the chamber of execution-there
shall stand an iron image of justice,
with her scales and sword. Stern
Justice is popularly supposed to have
no bowels, but the German goddess
will carry a powerful battery in her in
side; and this battery will be connect
ed with an arm-chair-the seat of death.
In front of the chair shall stand the
judges tribunal, and only the judges
jury and other officers shall be present
with the criminal during the ceremony
of execution. This will consist in the
judges. reading the story of the crime
committed by the prisoner, who will be
rigidly manacled to the aforesaid arm