The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-08-17
CURIOUS AND USEFUL.

Ice frozen by machinery is now used
almost exclusively in Southern cities, as
1t Is cheaper than that brought from the
North, except at seaboard places. The
retail price has fallen from SO per hun
dred before the war to $1.50.
Mrs. Van Rysselberghe, a Belgian,
claims to have invented an apparatus
which will permit the transmission of a
telegraphic and telephone message at
the same time. Experiments made re-
Gently in the presence of three cabinet
ministers on a wire between Brussels
and Ostend are said to have been very
successful. A practical application of
this discovery is soon to be made by the
Belgian Government, which is said to
be negotiating with the inventor for the
purchase of his instrument.
Two or three years ago a Scotch in
Ventor devised a system of compressed
air blasting for use in coal mines, where
the outflow of gas made the use of pow
der hazardous. At recent meeting of
the Iron and Steel Institute a much
simpler mode of Obyiating the use of
powder was described by a Mr.. hOsely.
In his system the steam generated by
the contact Of water with caustic lime
is the explosive agent. After the car
fridge of caustic lime Is placed in the
shot-hOle and tamped, water is forced in
by small force pump, and the coal is
broken by the slow pressure Of the
steam. The system is said to be rapid
in its operation, and entirely safe.
In the Reeves des Deux Mondes NJ. Vic
tor Cherbuliez treats to the objections
to the proposed Channel tunnel, from a
military point of view, as absurd. He
acknowledges that Frenchmen, as a rule,
10 hot
wOuld-be tourists remain at home, and
that in future England might be moro
prosecuted by French art, philosophy,
Republicanism and possibly Nihilism
than heretofore in case the tunnel were
dug. He concludes by saying that for
the sake Of allaying the actual and an
tIclpated distress of few victims to
sea-sickness, 1t is not worth while to
fOrtify Dover and Calais, and that II the
tunnel cannot be made without panic,
and national Misunderstanding 1t would
better remain unmade.
In view of two successful balloon Yoy-
ages across the English channel by En-
glishmen, the aerOnautists of France
are planning to do something wonderful
in order to retain their reputation for
courage in navigating the air. At their
request the municipal Council of Paris
has voted the money for series of bal
loon aScentS to be made for scientific OBJ
lects. 1t has been arranged that two of
the balloons shall be connected by tele-
phone, by means of which verbal com
municatiOn will be kept up during the
ascent. Observations will be made on
the velocity of sound at different alti-
tudes, the difference of temperature,
and the changing direction Of the wind.
During its last voyage across the Chan
mel balloon Is said to have travelled
10 miles in an hour and three-QuaYters.
There is some doubt if the wind itself
travels as fast as the balloon is repre-
sented to have done.
Mr.. A. Stewart Harrison gives these
directions for makingan artificial moon
Take a soup plate, and slightly grease
the surface with lard or oil; distribute
iTregularly in varying thicknesses
about a tablespoonful of sO.called gran
ulated citrate of magnesia. Take ba-
sin, pour in enough water to fill the
soup plate;' shake into the water about
twO-thirds the quantity of fine, freshly
burnt plaster of paris, which will sink
at once; pour off nearly all the super
huous water; stir two or three times
with stick or spoon, so as to mix irreg-
ularly the paste; then pour it on the
powder in the soup plate. The water in
the plaster will cause an immediate dis
engagement of carbOnic acid gas, which
will rise in bubbles Of various sizes
through it in irregular patches; the
plaster almost Immediately setting, the
shape of the outline of the bubbles and
the walls of them become fixed, and, as
a result, a most startling resemblance
TO the cratered surface of the moon is
produced. If photograph of this be
taken with strong light, the resemb-
lance becomes so perfect as to deceive
all who are not professional astrOnO.
mer. ..
In view of the Vagueness of express
sion "rainy day" in meteOrOlOgy, Prof. |
Schmeltz has lately devised an appara-
tus to register the actual duration of
rain. A long band of Morse paper is
used. The paper is dipped in solution
of sulphate of iron, dried carefully and
coated with tannic acid, or pulverized
ferrcyanide of potassium, mixed with
powdered resin for better adherence.
The strip is stretched between two roll
lers, one of which is actuated by means
of an endless chain from tOothed
wheel on the axle of the minute-hand
of a common clock. 1t passes under the
funnel in the top of a wooden case,
which is opened below and is fixed out
side window. By means of guide roll
lers it receives double inclination QOn-
gitudinal and transyerse) and the rain
in excess does not sensibly spread be-
yond the part passing under the funnel.
The length which the rollers transfers
during the whole day is divided into
twenty-four equal parts, each cores
ponding, on an average, to an hour.
When no rain has fallen during the day
the paper strip used may be utilized
again.. being easily wound on the deliy-
ering roller. The apparatus is said to
act admirably.