The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-03-16
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.


"A Scotch geologist claims to have
discovered in Scotland evidences to
prove that the earth lay for 10000
years in liquid state.
One firm in New York supplies
electrical power to $50 different manu-
facturers, some of them ten miles from
the dynamo. This has replaced 107
steam engines.
London Truth says that the art OF
the working goldsmith is disappearing.
owing to the cheapncss of diamonds.
Every one who buys an ornament In
sists now upon precious stones, and es-
Inmates it rather by the value of the
stones than by the beauty OF the work.
manship.
The new explosive now being man
ufactured in Germany is called secunte.
1t is described as a granulated powder
of a light yellow color, with an odor
resembling that of bitter almonds. It
is quickly manufactured, does not de-
teriorate and costs about the same as
dynamite and is Of nearly equal explo-
sive power. It can not be fred by fric-
ton, blow or jar. only strong fulminat-
ing caps producing the explosion.
"A new life-boat. which is supplied
with reservoir or oil in order to sup
port bodies in the water, is based on
the recent cases of successful expe-
riences with oil in overcoming the
power of the waves. The reservoir in
this case is provided with an outlet,
by means Of which the oil may escape
automatically. no matter on which side
the float, or buoy. may be turned when
thrown into the water.
"A microscopic examination of a
great number of specimens of ancient
paper. dating back to the eighth CEN
fury, has shown them to have been
made. as now; from rags, and not from
new fiber. The most common con-
structed is linen; but cotton, hemp, and
animal fibers have also been detected.
Furthermore, it is discovered that many
of the samples are delayed" with starch
paste
Iron, when heated, bends very
readily under weight, so that it can
not be considered the best of material
for fireproof buildings. Stone, and
especially granite. is very little better
than iron to Withstand the ravages of
fire. There is no material, according
to the best FIRE insurance authorities,
that can eused for construction equal
to brick. 1t is the opinion Of both in
surance men and heads of fire depart
ments that brick has stood the test bet
ter than any other material.
One of the troublesome questions
which architects have never been able
to settle is the placing Of permanent
foundations under large buildings.
The latest experiment, according to
the american architect. is to cover
before commencing the footings-
the entire area of the excavation of the
building with thick stratum of con-
crete, laid directly upon the top OF the
clay hard-pan. The depth of this
course is nearly two feet, and its OBJ
ject is to strengthen the clay that the
settlement may be reduced to mini
mum.
"A recent analysis Of the potato
shows that the starch in the tuber is
chiefly formed at a comparatively late
period of its growth. In an early stage
the experimenter found OF ash 1913 and
of starch 1874. The same variety
yielded when near maturity but 20 of
ash and 24.4 starch, showing that the
proportionate increase ofstarch toward
the end of the growing season was
very great. There is much less water
in a potato tuber toward the end of its
growth than in the earlier stages. 1t
Is from these facts that new" potatoes
are more waxy than those that are
-ipe."