Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-04-01
SCIENTIFIC GOSSIP.

A sanitary congress and exhibition will
be held in September in Newcastle, En-
gland.
In 1871 the revenue Of the Suez Canal
amounted to about 81, 200, 900, and in 1851
had grown to more than $40, 000,0
Well-seasoned posts, when thoroughly
dried and then charred and dipped in hot
tar, will remain rot and insect proof for
many years in almost any kind of soil.
An experiment has been made between
Melbourne and Albury which shows that
ordinary telegraph wires will, for distance
of 200 miles, serve to convey telephone
messages.
The Kezanlik valley, in Roumania, is
entirely given up to the cultivation OF roses,
the essence of which is sold wholesale in
Paris at $3.50 to 5000 pound, while it is
retailed at $500 or more pound.
a single dose of soda saltpeter to the
soil does not, according to Drs. Emmerling
and Loges, exhaust the soil very much /;
but if the use of cubic inter is continued
phosphoric acid and sometimes potash
must be occasionally applied.
1t is stated that about the beginning OF
February the first train on the Continent
of Europe lighted with electricity ran be-
tween Frankfort on-the- Main and Hanau.
The result was most satisfactory. A dyna-
mo-electric machine was placed on the loco
motive. The rotary motion of the axles
of the cars was also used to create cur,
rent. The entire apparatus was under the
control of the engineer.
It is said that the Is dynamite manufac-
tories now under the control of nj. Nobel
1.-THE man who introduced nitro glycerine
in its various forms into public use) turn
out about 5000 tons year. In this coun-
try and in Europe it is estimated that the
production of explosives containing nitro.
glycerine is between 1000 and 1000 tons
year, and this quantity has the energy
of at least As 900 tons Of ordinary gun
powder.
III. Plante has found that the long pro.
cess of forming" his accumulators is
shortened if they are warmed during the
process of charging to a temperature not
exceeding So. a writer in the Nature
ventures to suggest that the reason is that
at boiling point the oxygen and hydrogen
are evolved in normal conditions, no ozone
being produced. The electromotive force
of oxygen against hydrogen is less than
that of peroxide of lead against metallic
lead, and far less than that of ozone against
"nascent hydrogen.
Marcel Deprez has made lately some very
promising experiments in relation to the
question of conveying power through the
means of electricity over long distances.
With a modification of the small type Of
Gramme machine he obtained useful
work of about 260 oot-pounds, although a
resistance equal to 80 miles of ordinary
telegraph wire had been interposed be-
tween the, generating machine and the ma
chine which reconverted the electrical
energy into motive power. No sparks
were given off at the brushes and there was
no development of heat.
Birmingham, England, must have very
efficient Town Council. The municipal gas
and water enterprises are there so man.
aged that large profit is the result. The
Water Committee has reported that after
deductions from the water rents to the
amount of Ga, $50, the surplus profit of the
past year amounted to 81, 362, and the bal
ance added made El0, 322. The committee
proposed to increase the reserve fund to
50,000-the statutory limit-anS use The
remainder in reducing water rents. As a
result of last years undertakings, the Gas
Committee finds itself able TO appropriate
f27, 500 toward the borough improvement
rate of 1881. These facts are quite inter.
estiug as showing that some theories of a
certain school of political economists do not
hold true SO generally as they are stated,
Potash soft soap for lubricating purposes
may be very easily made in this way Dis.
solve 20 pounds of pure caustic potash with
two gallons of soft water in any iron OF
earthenware vessel. Add to this strong
caustic I've nine gallons of any animal OF
vegetable oil heated to about 40 Fahren.
heit, pouring the oil into the lye in small
stream, and keeping up continual stirring
until the two are thoroughly combined and
the mass is quite smooth. Ten minutes
will suffice for the operation. Cover the
vessel with blankets to keep in the heat,
and leave the mixture in warm room for
three days. The result will be 100 pounds
OF the finest concentrated potash soft soap,
pure and free from adulteration. Besides
being useful for lubricating machinery, this
soap serves well for washing hannels and
greasy and stained articles IN cold water.