The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-05-09
POPULAR SCIENCE.

Possibly the windmill dynamo might
be adapted to domestic lighting pur-
poses. 6.
cavendish in 1855 discovered hydro
gen; and between 1774 and 1799 Priest
ley discovered oxygen, lazote and nitrous
gas.
As wood preservatiye naphshalins e
now largely used in Scotland, its action
being to destroy all albuminoid conn
pounds in the wood, leaving it dry and
clean to handle.
at station near the mouth OF the
Seine windmill is made to drive q dy-
hamo, the electricity produced being
stored in suitable batteries, and after
ward employed for lighting beaeons to
guide the seamen.
An Englishman has invented q brake
by which any person in q compartment
can turn lever and stop the train. At
the same time white disk will appear
outside of the compartment to notify the
conductor in which carriage the brake
has been used. ~,
Apeiglan entomoIoglsre mas producc6
the numerous color-Varieties Of certain
coIeoptera by chemical means, though h0
does not claim that his process is that Of
nature. AlksIies and acids give coiors
varying from brown through red to yel-
low, and calcic chlofide and heat yield
all the tints from green to violet.
Henry's Lake, amid the Rockies in
Nevada, has two floating islands. One
of them Is about 300 feet in diameter. A.
willow thicket thriyes in the centre, In:
terspersed with small aspens and dwarfed
pines. These little trees catch the wind
and it is waited about the lake. which
has an area Of about forty square miles.
Several Yeas ago the Rod and Gun
Club, of Portland, Oregon, imported q
few Chinese pheasanss and set them loose
ON Protection Island. The pheasants
have since multiplied until the islsnd is
well stocked with them. The birds are
about the size of common prairie
chicken, with o long tail, and their
plumage Is remarkably beautiful.
Experiments show that centipedes
with eyes only perceive alta distance the
existence of an obstacle placed In their
track, which reflects good deal of white
light, and Plateau thinks that this per-
ception is due to the sensitiveness to
light of the skin and its outgrowths.
Moreover these creatures do not distin-s
guish the form of objects, though some
kinds seem to perceive marked move
ments of bodies. - s,ss'seE s.s. is Y Z
The depth to which wave action ex.
tends has been differently estimated, but
it varies from 70. feet to $50 feet, as she'll
fish which are known only to live at these
depths are thrown upon theshore during
heavy gales, and 1t has been ascertained
that single is moved in q depth Of 90
feet. For all practical purposes, hoW-
ever, so far as harbor works are con-;
cerned, it is found that there is little
movement Of materials under Is feet to
90 feet below low water, the foundations
of break-waterS hitherto constructed not
having been disturbed below these
levels.
An examination was recently made BY
the chief engineer to the Bombay,
Baroda and Central India Railway, Of
the condition of the piles Of the South
Bassein Bridge some OF which have been
down for twenty-five years, and exposed
during this period to the action Of sea
wafer. Specimens were cut from each
pile that was considered likely to BE-
corroded, and, from an examination OF
taese, it was concluded that the greatest
corrosion in cast iron piles exists close to
low water and does not extend to any
considerable depth below it, conclusion
which also applies to belts and braces.
After twenty-five years. exposure in 9
salt water way the piles are in very good
condition, and ,corrosion has only
occurred in places whick are easily
accessible for repairs and renewals.