Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-02-09
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

The pine forests discovered lately in
the Province of Ontario are estimated
to yield 24,0OO, 100000 feet of timber,
which can easily be brought to market.
Poplar wood in considerable guam
titles is being shipped from Rockbridge
County, Virginia, to Philadelphia, at
$40 per cord, to be converted into pa
per.
Mr.. w. II. Winans, of Baltimore,
who is making England his home, has
built monster .scigar-ship" on the
Clyde at a cost of about 100000. He
thinks she will be able to cross the At.
lantic in about five days.
The rapid aud enormous growth OF
the American railway system is factor
in the development of our social and
political organism, and in all that goes
to make up oar national character and
life, of greater Importance than all other
factors combined. 1t has done more to
effect the political solidarity of the
American people than all the political
agitation aud domestic and foreign wars,
and struggles between unionists and
secessionists, and controversies among
politicians and parties, that have APP
peared on this continent since the first
Times.
The potato-starch market is affect
ed by the high price of potatoes. The
production of potato starch for the
whole country last year was 8 300 tons.
The amount carried over from the pre-
vious year was 1,400 tons, making H.
900 with which to begin the new year.
During the year 5000 tons were con-
sumed, leaving 1000 tons to add to this
years production. The manufacture of
potato starch this wear amounts to 1000
tons, and with 1900 tons left over from
last year makes 5000 tons for this
years supply, which is 5000 tons short
of last years consumption. Starch
makers in Maine are hindered by the
high price and scarcity of potatoes, of
which it is estimated a bushel yields
nine pounds of starch.
Professor Edward S. Morse OF
Salem, Mass, one of the original scien.
tiic thinkers of the day, has invented a
new method Of heating houses and pub
lie buildings by means of the sun, which
promises to prove OF great Importance
to the race The invention consists
merely of surface of blackened slate
under glass fixed to the sunny side or
sides of house, with vents in the walls
so arranged that the cold air of a
room is let out at the bottom of the
slate and forced in again at the top by
the ascending heated column between
the slate and the glass. The outdoor
air can pe admitted also if desirable.
The entire practicalness of the contriv-
ance is demonstrated in the heating OF
the professors study in his cottage at
Salem.-Boston Journal.
The operation of friction machinery
has now become a fixed fact, and its
easy adaptability where waste power
can be utilized is a marked feature. A
machine of this kind has come into use,
which consists simply of an iron cylin-
der one foct long and one foot in diam
eter, having fixed plate of hardened
iron in one end, and second plate at
tached to arevolving shaft, which presses
lightly or closely upon the fixed plate
as circumstances require. The cylinder
is filled with water, the shaft revolves,
and, from the friction of the plates, the
water in an incredibly short time is
heated, aad by means of steam pipes
can be carried to great distances for
heating purposes. The machine is so
constructed as to render it easily adapted
to all places where there is waste power,
as in mills, factories, public building,
cars, etc. The power required for its
operation is very slight; thus, to carrya
machine with thirty-six square inches of
friction plates-the ordinary size-one
horse power only is required, while =
machine with two hundred and twenty
five square inches of friction surface will
luire at most but six horse power.