Mountain Home bulletin. (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1888-1889, 1888-10-13
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

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specific gravity, contracts in length,
and increases in diameter.
There are l50,600 miles of rail-
road in the United States, or about
half the mileage of the world They
have cost $1,000, 100000. and employ
more than amillion persons.
A Milltown, Me-, mechanic has in
vented a log-sawing apparatus which
has an upward as well as downward
motion. The scheme has not been
fully tested yet, but, if successful, will
be great time-saving invention to
lumber dealers.
There is about one pound OF iron
In the blood OF seventy-tive men, but
small as is the quantity-about one
hundred grains in each mamie could
not live without it, and he ought to
get it from his food, which obtained it
from the earth.
A German authority attaches some
Importance to "a troublesome silk spin
ner of India '.Gricula trifenestrata'
from which an excellent fiber has
been obtained. This silk worm is ex-
traordinarily productive, the living be-
year, and it forms a new and rsmarka-
BILE source of raw material for the silk
industry.
Attention has just been called in a
scientific paper to two races of men
that must soon become extinct. 1t is
confidently predicted that at the pres
ent rate of decrease the Maoris of New
Zealand, now reduced to less than 45,
600 men, from 100, 600 in Captain Cooks
days, must have disappeared by the year
20oO. The Laplanders are estimated
not to exceed 10000 in numbers, and
are gradually becoming fewer.
Following the disappearance of the
upper limb of the suns disk at sunset,
there has been observed the phenome-
non of beautiful green ray. its fash
being as rapid as that Of lightning, and
only visible under rare conditions OF
c,earness of the sky. The explanation
offered for its appearance is that OF the
simultaneous contrast of colors, the
theory propoundcd originally by M.
Chevreul.
The frequent need of diffusing light
in the studios of photographers, either
from the direct rays of the sun or from
the reflection Of colored light from high
buildings, is well known. Waxed
paper of the tissue sort, is now be
lieved to be one of the best medium.
for this purpose, since it allows large
percentage of light to pass, the latter
boing at the same time equally diffused
Pictures may this way be made a.
quickly as if there were no medium in
terposed.
Experiments made by electrician
seem TO demonstrate that the atmos
phere, when free from foreign matter
can not hold electricity, nor serve as ,
conductor. The floating particles o
dust are, it would appear, an impor
TINT element in the phenomena of
thunder storm, the passage OF whicl
always leaves the air so clear and clean
The peculiar danger from lightning il
a manufacturing town, with its smoke
laded atmosphere, seems thus to b
scientifically confirmed.
"A highly important industry i
springing up in the United States, tina
of .'muzzling' oysters, by which the
can be sent long distances in thei
shells with perfect safety. Until re
Gently, the general practice was t
pack the raw oysters in ice, but SUD
den rise of temperature is liable
render whole weeks supply uscles:
Oysters feed twice day; and neve
open their shells except at feedin
time. When taken out of their nature
element, they attempt to feed at reg
lar intervals, and SO soon as the shel
open, the liquor they contain is all los
the air takes its place, and the first stag
of decomposition sets in. As long ;
the shells are closed, the oyster
fit to eat; it feeds on the liquor in Il
shell, and will thus keep in good COZ
iition for considerable time. To S
cure the keeping OF the shells close,
method has been invented of tyir
('muzzling') them with a stout wir
which can be done with great rapidit
and now arrangements are being mat
for dispatching American oysters
their natural condition all over Il
civilized world.