St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-13
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY.

4 SCIENTIFIC SEASON. present sum-
mer promises to be an i'm portant one for sci
ence in America. The annual meeting of
the British association 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 associa-
tons meeting at Philadelphia, September
18th to 18th. An international electrical ex-
hihition VIII be in progress in Philadelphia
in September, with probably an electrical
congress. A greater number of foreign saw
ants viii undoubtedly visit this country than
were ever before present at one time.
ALASKA GLAcIERs.-After visit to some
of the Alaska glaciers, Mr. Thomas Meehan
states that beneath the Muir glacier. said to
be 400 miles long, flows alapid torrent, which
be estimates to be 100 feet wide aud four feet
in average depth. and which runs summer
and winter without interruption At its
termination the glacier hangs over the sea.
aud gives or icebergs. Mr.. Meehan re-
marks that the great ice-sheets have their
lakes, rapids waterfalls, bills and valleys
that the Waterways change their courses at
all times through the melting; and that melt
ing progress 5 freely III the sun rays, but
not IN the shade.
Mons. DeRoches intimates that Franklin
was anticipated in his discovery Of lightning
conducton. as the ancient Estruscans ap-
peared to understand the art of guiding the
lightning. SerTius relates that in ancient
times The. priests ignited their sacrifices by
lightning. aud on one occasion TuIlius Hos
titus neglected the precautions laid down by
Numa and YVES struck dead in consequence.
In the Philippine Islands paint is used as
& safeguard against earthquakes. Patches of
the paint are so placed throughout dwellings
that the occupants 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.
NrAeARA WATER PowER. BENZ Rhodes
estimates the average power Of Niagara Falls
as /. 600, coo HORSEPOWER, on the total faII.in-
Guiding the rapids above, Of 23G feet. He
places the cost Of plant necessary to rtil-
lie this power. transform il into electricity.
aad transmit it anywhere within raGfus Of
500 miles at s., coo. coz. 600 The economy of
the power is shown By the calculation that
its use instead of steam would effect saving
each electric light used in the city OF Buffalo.
Dr. Pehl of st. Petersburg, has discovered
that bacteria are much less numerous in
running water than in still water having au-
parently the same chemical com position. He
believes that germs are DESTROYED bv rapid
motion, and that water may be rendered
comparatively pure By passing it through a
= centrifugal machine.
workmen in St Gothari Tunnel we're of
fected with peculiar disease which seemed
70 be caused by minute worms. The sane
muddy water, which the wurkmen carsIessly
drink
JUFrTER's GREAT SPoT.-Prof- G. ".
Hough. director OF the Dearborn Observatory
favors the theory that the much discussed
red SPOT Of Jupiter, Which became visible
several years ago and has lust disappeared
Is really portion CT the solid body OF the
planet which Is ohse1reti b. clouds during
long seasons This view Is confirmed by the
Tact tLAt Hook and CasSine, IN tie years