Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-09-15

With the old rifing machine twenty
barrels were about the limit of days
work.
The length of pipe laid in Paris for the
distribution of power by compressed air
already exceeds thirty miles. The COM
pressing engines are of 5000 horsepower.
and about 100000 cubic feet of air are
compressed daily to pressure of eighty
pounds per square inch, at an expenditure
of fifty tons of coal.
The Chinese frequently place little metal
idols within the shells of mollusks, re-
moving them several years afterwards COW
cred with substance resembling pearl
they also lay strings of small pearls
separated by knots inside of the Shells.
and on taking them out, after lapse of
some years, obtain large and costly pearls.
According to the Essen Zeitenq, Chief
Engineer Thier, of Erfurt, Germany, after
battling for months to find lubricant
which would prevent iron surfaces welding
together when subjected to rapid friction
under heavy pressure, at last found one in
mustard oil mixed with small quantity
of petroleum, which completely overcame
the difficulty.
NJ. E. Ducretel, of Paris, has devised a
filter for filtering the oil used in lubricat-
ing gas engines. An unnecessary quantity
of OIL is generally used for this purpose, and
it is important to save as much of it as
possible. In the device referred to the
heat of the escaping gases is used to raise
the temperature of the oil, thus facili-
tfting filtration.
The Steel Car Company is said to be
constructing fre-proof steel car at Bos-
ton, which will contain nothing that can
burn except the upholstery, and even that
is constructed of understandable material.
Not only immunity from fire, but an in
crease in strength, a decrease in the la
bility to telescope and diminish dead
| weight are expected to be some of the
good features of the new car.
A California company is about to begin
the manufacture of soap from clay contain
ing soap properties, presumably similar in
character to the natural soap well which
| has been discovered near Buffalo Gap, in
Dakota. The soap is skinned from a boil
ing spring, and hardens by exposure to the
air. 1t is like soft clay, and can be gath
cred with shovel. 1t is supposed to be a
mixture of borax, alkali and lubricating
| oil.
eve notice." says the american Mactia-
iSt, chat the plan of using a marine brake
to stop vessels in an emergency is by no
means abandoned. The latest effort in
this direction is in the way of cable with
canvas cones attached. These open out
upon occasion, and so afford resistance 1t
is said that steamer on the Seine, run
ming at speed CT thirteen knots, was
stopped in seven seconds, while thirty-four
| seconds were required when the engine
was reversed to stop"
A construction detail that is gaining
much popularity in some Western cities is
the bricking in of frame houses, The
building is sided up with matched stuff, as
if complete, then brick face wall, four in
ches thick, is laid In contact with the ex-
terror, tied on by spikes about every sixth
course. A boy distributes them all around
on top of the wall They are laid in the
mortar-bed ready, and driven through into
the siding till the heads are flush with the
laid, and so on. The walls present the APP
pearauce Of solid masonry, are durable, and
as they add to the warmth Of the build
ings, seem to present substantial recon-
mendations, especially in severe climates.
BY new method of platinizing metals
the metallic object is covered with mix
ture of borate of lead, oxide of copper and
spirits of turpentine, and submitted to q
temperature of from 2500 to $500. This
deposit, upon melting, spreads in uni
form layer over the object. Then a sec
ond coat is laid on, consisting OF borate 0.
lead, oxide of copper and oil of lavender.
Next, by means of a brush, the object is
covered with solution of chloride of plat
mum, which is finely evaporated at tenn
perature of not more than 2000. The plat
mum adheres firmly to the surface, and
exhibits a brilliant aspect. If the deposit
be made upon the first coat the platinum
will have dead appearance. Patinizing
in this way costs, it is said, about one
tenth the price of anticipating.