Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-23

stood close to the curious looking thire
and shouted: "Obey! obey! obey!" The
sound Is faint but distinct. The tele
phone which Mr.. Amesbury describes has
oeen IN use thirty years, and he was
shown worm eaten trensm tiers and con-
Quits that must have been 200 years old.
The molecular theory is classed by DR..
Roscoe, president of the British Asseci.-
ton, among the most notable of modern
scientific landmarks, and recent investi-
cation has accomplished as regards TIE
sizs Of the atom, what WAS formerly re-
garded IS impossible. Recent researches
have extended the methods of atomic
measurement, W III the Amazing conclu-
sion that the distance between the GEN.
tiers OF contiguous molecules Is less than
fve-milloneth and greater than 8
olllionth OF 8 centimeter; that is,
assuming that the best microscopes mag
nifty 5000 to 5000 times,Es microscope
which would magnify that result as much
again would show the molecular struct-
ure OF water-or, sgain, putting the state
ment in another or more absolute form, If
1t be supposed that the mlnutess organ
ism which can now be seen were 1ro-
vided with equally powerful microscopes
to those just named, these beings would
be able to see the atoms.
The material known as Woodlte, de-
vised by Mrs. Wood, clever English
woman, promises to become s very useful
substance. Its chief ingredient is ceout-
chouc. During the past few months it has
given good results for variety of pur-
poses, and is now declared to be especial
ly adapted to many other uses.
According to Sir Edward Reed, M P,
1t has been produced in divers
forms, such as fine sheets and
ribbons for waterproof articles, dense
blocks for resisting the blows of shot or
shell, and particularly satisfactory rings
for engine packing. One process con-
verts 1t into an elastic, sponge-like sub
and another, in which it is mlxec
with whslebone cuttings, gives it 8
rough or fractional quality for mats.
Some curious naval applications
have been worked out. 1t is made
into armor plates, which On being pene-
trated by shot close 20 tightly that no
is admitted, and it Is also formed
into light and convenient cylinders for
carrying compressed air to drive life
soats, torpedo-boats and scout-boats,
while it is suitable for making floating or
partly floating cables for protection
against torpedo attacks, etc.
"The recently invented process" says
Iron, "by which wood is made to take on
some Of the special characteristics OF met
81, has been turned to practical account
in Germany. BY this process the surface
becomes so hard and smooth as to be sus-
ceptible Of high polish, and msy be
treated with burnisher of either glass
Or porcelain; the appearance Of the
wood being then in every re-
spect that of polished metal, having,
IN fact, the semblance of polished mir
ror, but with this peculiar and advan-
.ageous difference namely, that, unlike
metal, it is unaffected by moisture. To
reach this result the wood is STEPPED in 8
bath Of caustic alkali fer two or three
days together, according to its degree Of
oermeability, at temperature OF
1912 and 2970 Fahrenheit.
It is then placed in second bath of ny
of calcium, to which 9 con-
;entrated solution Of sulphur is added
.fter some twenty-four or twenty six
hours. The third bath is one of acetate |
If lead, st temperature of from 950 to
20' Fahrenheit, and in this lat
er the wood 8 allowed to re.
main from thirty to fifty hours.
After being subjected to a thorough dry
ng it is in condition for being polished
With lesd, tin or zinc, as may be desired,
lnishing the process with burnisher.
when the wood apparently becomes
,iece OF shining polished metal"