Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1884-07-24

SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY,

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The present summer promises to be an
important one for science in America
The annual meeting Of the British As
ISOLATION for the Advancement of Science
takes place this year at Montreal, from
August 9th to September I'd, and is to
be closely followed by the American As
sociation's meeting at Philadelphia, Sept
4th to 18th. An international electri-
cal exhibition will be in progress in Phila-
delphia in September, with probably an
electrical congress. A greater number
Of foreign savants will undoubtedly visit
this country than were before present at
one time.
After a visit to some of the Alaska
glaciers, MIR. Thomas Meehan states that
beneath the Muir glacier, said to be 400
miles long, flows rapid torrent, which
he estimates to be 100 feet wide and
four feet in average depth, and which
runs summer and winter without inter-
ruption. At its termination the glacier
hangs over the sea, and gives off icebergs.
Mr.. Meehan remarks that the great ice
sheets have their lakes, rapids, waterfalls,
hills and valleys; that the water ways
change their courses at times through the
melting; and that melting progresses free
" in the suns rays, but not in the shade.
Mons. De Rochas intimates that Frank
lin was anticipated in his discovery Of
lightning conduction. as the ancient Etrus
cans appeared to understand the art OF
guiding the lightning. Servius relates
that in ancient times the priests ignited
their sacrifices by lightning, and on one
occasion Tulhus Hostilius neglected the
precautions laid down by Numa and was
struck dead in consequence.
In the Philippine Islands luminous
paint is used as a safeguard against earth
quakes. Patches of the paint are so
placed throughout dwellings that the oc-
cupants may be quickly guided to the
street at night on the first warning Of an
earthquake. Time for escape is thus
gained before the buildings fall.
Mr.. Benz. Rhodes estimates the aver
age power Of Niagara Falls as 1900, 900
horsepower, on the total fall, including
the rapids above, Of $50 feet. He places
the cost Of plant necessary to utilize this
power, transform it into electricity, aud
transmit it anywhere within radius Of
500 miles, at 50, 100000. The econ.
omy Ct the power is shown by the caleu-
lation that its use instead Of steam would
effect saving Of $40 per annum in the
cost Of running each electric light used III
the city Of Buffalo.
DR.. Pehl, Of St. Petersburg, has dis.
covered that bacteria are much less mum.
erous in running water than 10 still water
having apparently the same chemical
composition. He believes that germs are
destroyed by rapid motion, and that water
may be rendered comparatively pure by
passing it through centrifugal machine.
Two peaks Of the Alps exceed Ii, 900
feet in height, and six or seven rise above
$4,000 feet; while in the Himalayas
moro than 1000 have been measured
which exceed 10000 feet, and it is est;-
mated that At least 1000 exceed this
height. In the Himalayas the feat Of
climbing to an altitude Of $4,000 feet
was lately achieved BY Mr.. W. w. Ora
ham, but this height must be surpassed
BY 5000 feet before the highest point
in the range can be reached.
experiments nave been made at Lyons
with sleeps horn as material for horse
shoes. 1t is little more expensive than
iron, but it has proven to be more dura-
bic, and it offers the important advantage
Of keeping horses from slipping on city
payements.
Workmen in the St. Gothard Tunnel
were affected witha peculiar disease which
seemed to be caused by minute worms.
The same malady has been observed
among brick makers. From the lates,
it appears that the worms de-
velop in muddy water, which the woik-
men carelessly drink.
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