The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-06-28
SCIENTIFIC CHAT.

Thomas A. Edison, the inventor, is now divid-
ing his time between the joys OF paternity and ex-
periments upon new electric flying machine
which he has been commissioned by the Spanish
Government to make for war purposes. The sys-
tenn will be one of revolving fans, to which power
is supplied by means of a wire connecting with an
electric dynamo on the earth. The fans are not
only TO pTopel, but lift the aiT-ship. Then with
properl y-eq uipped car an officer can ascend and
take photographs anu sketches OF the enemy 3 pO-
stion, which VIII give great strategic advantage
to the Spanish commander. Mr.. Edison Is con-
fident that his experiments viii result success
fully.
Mediterranean. The native divers, who could stay
under the water not more than two minutes, are
being driven out by men in regular diving armOT,
who can work by the hour. German professor
has originated q method of planting cuttings
from spOnges, and It IS being prosecuted with sue
1t is remarkable that after so much has been
written and published in regard to early steam
navigation Especially ocean navigation, which is
of comparatively recent date, it remains to be
shown that the first regularly built ocean steamer
was constructed on this side of the Atlantic. WaIV
ing all that has been claimed for the voyage of the
Savannah, we now find that American ship
builder constructed the first sesl-going steamer
that ever crossed the ocean, propelled wholly by
steam This called the Royal William, IN
honor of the sailor king" who then reigned in
England and the Historical Society of Chicago has
her original drawings file in its archives.
According to Prof Gould's Investigations, il
appears that the aerial telegraph wires on poles
transmit electricity at the rate of from 1900 10
Is COO miles per second and that the velocity of the
transmission increases with the distance between
the wires and the earth, or in other words, with
the hight of suspension; and that subterTanean
wires like submarine cables, transmit with re-
duced rapidty. Again, while the wires sus-
pended at a feeble hight known to trausmi
signals at velocity Of some l2,OOO miles per sec
ond those that are suspended higher give yeioc
ity of from 1900 to 5000 miles. WheatstOLe':
claim of 2SS 900 miles III his experiments, appears
never to have been confirmed.
Scientists say that there Is plant that doe:
not serve as food for some animal; but the only
article used as food from the mineral kingdom i
common salt.
Limitation maple sirup is made from glucos'
by adding an extract obtained by soaking hickory
| or somtirnes maple bark in water. The process
said to be patented, imparts the peculiar taste
| smell of the real article.
| "A newly discovered Mexican flower is quite
wonder if reports be true. IL Is said to be white
| in the morning. red at noon and blue at night; anC
il is further credited with emitting perfume Onll
al the middle of the day. 1t grows a tree OF th
| Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
| The study of birds has become a serious recrea
| ton in one of the large schools of Boston. Th,
pupils go forth with opera glasses and learn to dis
tinguish species and to notice their ways. In spit
of cool weather birds have taken possession OF thei
nests at their accustomed time.