Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-11-06
SCIENTIFIC.

SCIENTIFIC.
Two pyramids have been discovered
at Saggarah, north of Memphis. They
were built by kings of the sixth dynasty.
1t is stated that the rooms and passages
are covered with inscriptions which will
be of high value to science.
In a second paper, by M. Muntz, on
the conservation Of grain in reservoirs,
read before the French academy of
sciences, it is stated that to secure all the
advantages of such means of storage
the grain should be comparatively dry,
the closure perfect, and the temperature
of the walls pretty constant.
The largest crucible steel casting
hitherto made was effected recently in
the works of firm in Sheffield. Eng
land. 1t was spur rim, % feet in
diameter, and cast whole. To cast it
270 pots, each holding 80 pounds of
molten steel. were used Steel wheels
are likely to supersede the cast-iron
wheels now in general use in the Lam
cashire mills.
A lecture by Dr. o. j. Lodge delivered
at the London institution, shows in a
very ineligible way the relation be-
tween electricity and light. The lee
ture was for the most part expository,
and traced generally the steps by which
Clerk Maxwell arrived at the almost
certain conclusion that light is an cleo
tro-magnetic disturbance, with some of
the startling results which that state
ment implies. A prediction of what
seems already theoretically possible,
and may be soon practically accom-
plished, was advanced by DR.. Lodge
the transmission of views and pictures
by means of the electric wire.
A Leipsic journal, which makes a
speciality of matters relating to glass,
gives method which it asserts will
prevent lamp-chimneys from cracking.
The treatment will not only render
lamp-chimneys, tumblers, and like arti-
cles more durable, but may be applied
with advantage to crockery, stoneware,
porcelain, etc. The chimneys, tumb-
lers, etc., are put into o pot filed with
cold water, to which some common
table salt has been added. The water
is well boiled over fire, and then al
lowed to cool slowly. When the arti-
Giles are taken out and washed, they will
be found to resist afterward any sudden
changes of temperature. The process
is simply one of annealing, and the
slower the cooling part of it is conduc-
ted the more effective will be the work.
Ordinary 1etter-paper, says The COMFY
tes Re,sdus, if well heated and briskly
rubbed with the hand or a brush, ac-
quires electric properties. 1t adheres
to tables and walls, and when the hand
is brought in contact with it slight cleo
trio discharges are quite visible if the
experiment is made in the dark. Swed-
ish filter-paper will, however, give
sparks several centimetres in length if
it is thus treated: Steep the paper first
in mixture of equal volumes of nitric
and sulphuric acid. After the paper
has been pyroxilized through the action
of the acids, wash it well with water
and dry it. If the paper is then placed,
upon sheet of waxed paper and brisk
ly rubbed, it soon exhibits energetic
electrical properties which may be used
to repeat almost every one of the usual
experiments in static electricity.
The Engineer states that Clark's ap-
paratus for clearing off snow has been
at work in Fore street, London. 1t con-
sists of series of metal plates placed
in an inclined position one above
another, directly beneath the man-hole.
so that the snow falls upon them. Be-
meath each plate are atmospheric gas
burners, by which heat is impaired to
the plates and the spaces between them.
The gas is taken from an adjacent main.
An air shaft communicating with the
outer atmosphere is provided for venti-
lation, and flues are also fixed so as to
carry the heat from the space between
the plates to the man-hole shaft into
which the snow is placed. One man
only is needed to work the machine it
self, and his duty is confined to raking
what mud may collect on the plates af-
ter the snow melts and runs direct into
the sewer. No figures regarding its
cost or efficiency are given.