Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-08-19
Reported for the Grant County HlAAID.
Popular Science Notes,


Enormous sized, natural Caverns,
one being COG feet long have been
discovered in the neighborh9od of
Wells, in Somerset, England. The
discoveries have excited conaidera-
bio interest among antiqnaries aud
psychologists, who are making
thorough Investigations ofthe terri-
tory Whereabouts IN the interests of
science.
The great demand for lions,
caused by the increasing number of
public exhibitions, geological gardens,
etc, throughout the world, the nun.
bers of those animals have so dimin-
ished in Africa, their native country,
that the race has almost been ex-
tlrpated from the colony. In view
OF this fact, an establishment has
been formed at Bona, by private
individual, who is engaged largely
in lion-breeding.
The "builder and Wood Worker"
OF New York, says there is time.
piece three hundred years old in the
possession ola gentleman residing
IL Elizabeth, New Jersey, and it is
said to keep as good time as any of
our modern clocks. The works and
dial are of hard brass, and the
pendulum ball is shapeless piece of
lead. As work of art it is a fail
ure, but as correct and lasting
time piece, it has proved TO be moro
than a success. Doubtless
some of our modern manufacturers
could find in this old relict much OF
interest if not that which would
profit them in their business.
The Galveston (rexss) Neaos of
recent date, reports that on June
%, in the Gulf of Mexico, the schon-
er James Andrews encountered
multitude of green turtles, some of
them very large, and all on their
backs 1t is estimated that the wa
ter covered by these turtles formed
an area of s miles in width and 10
miles in length. Captain Rogers
OF the schooner is anxious to have
some nautical men explain this odd
phenomena of the turtles on their
backs, being alive, and the great
excitement caused by them among
the Spanish maekerel which were
present in large numbers, leaping
high in the air and in all directions.
The occurrence is one never before
seen by Captain Rogers who has
been in the Gulf all his life.
The most powerful elevator in the
world is said to be the one now be-
ing used in the construction of the
Washington Monument, 1t is so
arranged "a to run twenty feet
above the top of tho stoue.work,
and will carry over ten tons to
height of five hundred feet. After
tho completion of the monument it
will DO turned into . passenger ele-
7stor. 1t has been rugged with q
special view 10 safety and durability
and ia not likely to get out of repair
as do SO many of the modern ela.
vators in the cities of this country.
The systematic excavation of tho
ancient sites in Egypt Is being bit.
terly opposed in many parts of the
globe, and societies are being form.
ed to prosecute parties and corpora.
tons engaged in the work. Several
prominent Psychologists have prom
ised their support to these societies,
and We learn that Miss Edwards
contemplates tour of the United
States, OF an early day, with the
object of assisting the fund and
working up sentiment against the
exeavators.
Ono thousand rubles have been
allotted by the ST. Petersburg So,
oiety of Naturalists, to Biological
Expedition, for the exploration of
the Mourmon coast of tho White
Sea; and also similar sum for the
exploration of Lapland aud other
northern provinces of Russia. The
expeditions have alraRdy been dis
patched and the results of their
work will be anxiously awaited.
To enable Professor e. p. AspeIin
to undertake archaeological investi.
cations ia Esthonia and Lishuapia.
subsidy of $500 marks has been
granted him By the Russian Gov
ernment.
The establishment of o telegraph
10 line connecting Algiers with St.
Louis, IN Senegal, uia Timbuctoo,
has been assured by the commission
for the construction of the trans
Sabaran Railway.
An unusually large quantity of
drift ice is reported bong met with
In the North Atlantic, by vessels
travelling between England and
this country, even as this late day
in tho summer.