The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1889-07-19
POPULAR SCIENCE.
Red stone from Arizona is now used to
ome extent in California for buildingpus

Red stone from Arizona is now used to
some extent in California for bulldingpus-
poses.
The invention of ''bicycle locomO-
tive, " which will "create a revolution in
railroading," is announced.
It is stated that mercury extracted
from cinnabar ore mined in California il
most highly priced by the manufacturer
of Thermometers.
It is estimated that Niagara Falls viii
recede two miles and then remain station
airy, their height at that point being eighty
feet, instead of 164, as at present.
ProfessorD N. Wade, of Early County,
Ca, has discovered a new species Of rat
tlesnake. 1t turks in trees and pounces
down upon the unsuspecting hunter oil
fisherman. Its bite is very dangerous.
At Thompsonville, Mass, the water
obtained by the water company from
eight springs is found to be so absolutely
pure that steam boilers supplied with 1t
for three years have kept perfectly clear
Of sediment or crust during the entire
time
A couple of jackals have been added
to the Philadelphia 600" These little
animals, which are known in their native
country as ''lion providers" had hardly
been placed in their cage, in wing OF
the lion and tiger house, before the lions
set up a roar Of welcome.
Observations upon the sway of tall
chimneys during high winds show that
one OF 115 feet in height and feet in
total diameter at the top waved 20 inches
during a heavy gale, and another 1854
feet high, but with 6a feet diameter Of
fue, moved through an arc of only %
inches.
A tablespoonful or more of powdered
borax thrown into the bath-tub Whine
bathing will communicate velvety soft
ness to the water, and at the same time
invigorate and rest the bather. Persons
troubled with nervousness or wakeful
nights viii find this kind of a bath great
benefit.
Cigar boxes are supposed TO be made of
Spanish cedar, but there is not enough of
the wood grown for the purpose, and
nearly all the boxes used by American
cigarmakers are made from West Virginia
poplar The wood is sawed up into thin
boards, and the cigarmakers dye them
brown with cedar extract, which gives
them the proper color and odor.
There is a place near Belfast, in the
- T-aI,rI IL, /.
of mineral earth from which alum is pro-
cured, is mined. The miners who work
there twelve hours a day up to the waist
in water receive less than 81 so a week.
The bauxite was discovered about seven
years ago by Alexandra Sutherland,
scientist, who bought a lease of the
ground and started the mines.
The Paris Municipal Council offers a
prize of $4,000 to the inventor of the
most reliable system of computing the
quantities of electric light used, and five
other prizes of $500. If any system is
only applicable to continuous or to an
alternative current, half the money will
be given. The city of Paris will con-
slider itself entitled to the full ownership
of all the inventions which may gain
prizes.
A new substance called kelgum has
been invented as a substitute for rubber.
The name comes from the first syllable
of the inventor Henry Kellogg, of New
Haven and the word which represents his
invention. It is reported that this KEEL
gum is waterproof and will not harden OF
crack, and is especially adapted for textile
fabrics. 1t is produced by removing the
unctuous matter from vegetable oil so that
a gummy residium is LETT.
If the condensed breath collected on
the windows or walls of a room that
several people have been occupying were
assembled and burner = Vsofsffu give Oh a
smell like singed hair, thus showing the
presence of organic matter. If it were
left for a few days and then examined
under the microscope it would be found
to be putrescent and alive with animalcule.
In such a condition is would form
powerful factor in promoting disease, but
it can always be got rid of by the free cir
culation of fresh air through the room.