Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-02
The Coiors of Lakes and Rivers.
From the New York Sun.

FROM Tile new YORK Sun.
What Is the color of pure water? Almost anv
person who has no special knowledge of the sub
ject VIII reply at once, sit has no color" vet
everybody knows, either through bearsav or
by the evidence OF his own ewes. that the
ocean Is blue. Why the ocean looks blue f. q
question that few who have crossed It have
ever sought to solve, and there are probably
many travellers who, though they have seen
most of the famous rivers and lakes in the
world, have failed to notice the remarkable
differences IN color which their waters present
Even the ocean is not uniform In color. in
some places It's waters are green, or even vel
lowsh. Some lakes are distinctly blue: otbers
present various shades of green. 40 that
In some cases they are hardly distinQuishahls
from their level, grass-cOyered banks: a few are
almost black The Lake of Geneva is azure
hued the Lake of Constance and the Lake of
Lucerne are green; the color of the Mediterranean
has been called indigo. The Lake of Brienz is
greenish yellow, and it's neiyhbor. Lake Thnn 10
blue. New York has both green and blue lakes
Inc colors OF rivers differ yet more widely. The
Rhine is green. Anybody who has trayersed
the wonderful Adirondack region and fished in
lts waters must have noticed the remarkable
df1erences In the color OF It's rivers and smaller
streams which radiate In every direction from
the central group of mountains. The waters nj
the Sacondaga are yelowish. while those Of the
canada creeks and Of the Mohawk are clear
with perhaps blush tint In deem pools. Fish
Creek Is black or deep brown. and It's neigbbor
salmon river, H colorless. Next comes the
black river, whose color is indicated by its
name. but between 1t and the Grasse which is
also black or brown Is the Oswegatchte with
clear white waters. The St Regis again ia
black, but the Raquette is white The St. Law
renee is blue. These various hues are not
caused oy mud, or any Opaque sediment, such
hn
coiored, but belong to the waters. like the
golden color OF tea, without greatly impa,rino
their transparency ''-e
The cause OF the difference In the color Of lakes
ana rivers has engaged the attention of many
celebrated investigators of nature snch az Tyn.
dali, Bunsen, AragO, Clare Deville and
others Recently Prof. Spring ofthe University
OF Llege mas carefully Investigated the 0nestton
Oh the color OF water. and has reached some in
teresting conclusions. According to him.
of sufficient thickness, ia blue and all the
varieties OF color exhibited in lakes and
streams ARISE from the presence in the water
OF mineral salts of different degrees of solubiitv
ana IN varying quantities. Water containing
carbonate OF lime IN state of almost complete
soution remains blue, but if the solution is less
complete the water will have tinge of green.
when VIII grow stronger as the point of precin.
itatlon Is approached. Prot Spring concludes
that II lime is added to blue water, in which 80
.. uluch carbonate of lime is already dissolved that
Cne point OF saturation is approached, the water
VIII become green. In proof of this he cites the
lacI that the water near the shores of lakes and
seas, Where 1t comes in contact with limestone
sgeheraiiy Of greener hue than ele.where.
Small Boys Compost.ion.
From the Frankfort Yeoman.
A young idea" Of this city SAYS 1t bores him
awfully to have to write compositions. and no
always writes them short We have obtsinaS
| copies of two of his last which are no less d,s-
tnguished for wit than brevity:
THE FLY.
The Fly Is domestic animal He ia pener.u,,
found near the molasses can. the fiy is a harm
less animal not being furnished with AZ ~ona
weapons OF defense as the Hornet They sav
that fys drink. | have never seen Avs tbat
were worse off for liquors but have seen liouors
worse off for fys. a''''
THE HORNET.
The Hornet is red hot child of natur he ia al.
ways ready for action at any time OF the day or
night. II person or animal comes within On
1T OF him he lets his javln fly what would it nav
| manic Kill W hornets and let the Tooth one
but him with his javiin. A sensible person never
goes within miles of Hornets nest NV adj.
vice is to keep clear Of the Hornet as he is foo
sociable.
1t is claimed that there are now 1911 cotton
factories in operation or in course of erection in
the southern states