The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-10
CURIOUS, USEFUL AND SCIEN.
TIFIc.

States which have rooted Carrick Castle
for 900 years are found to be perfectly sound.
Yet the Irish quarYies whence they were
taken are al but idle.
Sunlight has been put to odd use at Brus-
sells. Falling on a small shaft the rays cause
an upward draught of air which sets fan in
motion, and that in turn starts machinery
that winds clock.
American cannon powder claims to beat
all creation, some of the latest make speed
ing 100-pound preiectile through the air at
the lively pace of 2029 feet per second. This
result was reached at a recent trial of the
new navy guns at Annapolis.
A bull terrier and 125.pound st. Bernard
dog got into fight af Waterbury, Con-, kept
up the battle as well as they could in eight
feet of water at the bottom of a fifty-foot
well into which they fell, and desperately
renewed hosttilities the moment they were
fished out.
An auxiliary to the rudder for steering sea-
going vessels has been proposed. 1t consists
simply of two discharge pipes, placed one
at each side of the vessels stern as far below
the water line as possible, and connected
with steam pump capable of forcing pow
erful stream of water through the pipes,
which, impinging upon the water in contact
with the vessel, forces it to the side opposite
that from which the stream issues.
Astronomers are now able to promise the
general public splendid spectacle, as both
Fabry's and Bernard's comets are likely to
be easily visible to the unaided eye about
the end of April and beginning OF May
both, too, in position where they will be
above the horizon all night, and not far dis
tant from each other, the former, which will
be the brighter of the two, being in the con-
stellation Perseus, and The latter in andre
media.
A oon,,I:o. foo4,,.o =, o,,o of tl,o Iotoot oloo
trical stoves invented in France is that aper-
lures are formed in plates of refractory clay
and plumbago through which the wires are
led; these plates are not enclosed, but are
left exposed, so that the air can circulate
very freely through and through the aper-
lures, where it comes in contact with the
red-hot wires; wire bobbins are inserted in
the apertures each bobbin forms part of the
electric circuit and all are connected for
quantity, these bobbins being, of course,
heated by the passage OF the current, and
serving to heat the air as 1T passes to and fro
over them.
Silk goods supposed to be adulterated with
other fbres may easily be tested, when it it
desirable, by immersing a sample in hy-
dTochloric acid; at least this is ready and
simple method resorted to by many dealers
in these fabrics. The acid in question, as is
well known, is one of the most energetic
solvents of silk, and removes it, consequent
ly, In a very short time leaving the wool or
cotton unaffected, at least for considerable
period. Another method is to drop little
of the acid upon the sample, when, If pure
silk, hole will be made, or if impure, the
threads left will indicate the nature and
extent OF the adulteration.
A kind of concrete, hard and solid, is now
being used for building purposes IN Paris. 1t
Is composed of eight parts Of sand, gravel
and pebbles; one part of common earth,
burnt and powdered; one part powdered
cindurs, and one and half parts unslacked
hydraulic lime. These materials are thor
oughly beaten up together, their mixture
giving a concrete which settles almost i'm
mediately, and becomes in few days ex-
tTemely hard and solid, which property may
be still further increased by the addition OF
a small quantity, say one part, of cement.
Among other constructions to which this
material has been applied is house three
stories in height, 65 by As feet, standing on
terrace. having perpendicular retaining