The state herald., 1890-01-17
Scientific Department
ELEcrRlcmy DIRECT FROM COAL.

ELECTRICiry DIRECT FROM COAL.
One of the greatest problems now
awaiting solution Is that OF avoiding
the present enormous waste In COLI
verting fuel into motive power. Elec-
tricinns are striving to accomplish, the
desired result by means Of apparatus
for generating electricity from coal di-
rect, but the "pyromagenetic genera.
tor" Of Edison and other similar ma
chimes have thus fur failed to do this
satisfactorily. III II recent address
Prof. John Perry, +. II. s., said; 81
pointed out In 1881 that II cou, Or gas
were burnt, and an electro -m0ter were
used, we could utilize us mechanical
energy not nearly one tenth but near
~ s!ne-tenths of the energy Of coal.
l pointed out then that coal gas could
be burnt IN this way, but there were
two difficulties: first, the apparatus rt,-
qhired WIS too large per horse power
developed; second, the apparatus re-
quired WAS too expensive. The FIRST Of
these difficulties has already been got
over by a correspondent, who Is IN
some sense my partner. We see our
way To developing one useful horse
power per cubic foot Of volume Of mp.
paratus. Unfortunately tile difIlculty
Of expense remuibs. But l am ilruly
convinced, aud have good reason for
my belief, that all the difficulties will
be got rid Of, and that coal will actu-
ally be burnt In this way. Even to
those Of you who may not be troubled
about the general question Of economy
the mere possibility Of an armor-clad
being able to carry enough coal for
voyage ut full speed around the world
must appear to be an important re-
suit. .fe
SUPPLY OF NICKEL.
Small quantities Of nickel are OBJ
tained from various localities in the
United States and other countries,
but the worlds chief supply Is stated
u have come thus far, from the mines
of II French company In New CaledO-
MIA. whose output has been about 1000
tons yearly. At the copper mines
near Sudbury, Ont, however, nickel
has now been found in such quantity
that DIR. Peters has offered to produce
1000 ton'of tie metal annually. Late
discoveries q. nickel ore lave also
been mAt,, in Tie Ural. Tie increase
in the sIrply Of this metal Is expected
To bring ito extensive use the valra-
bic alloys Of nickel with steel and
with copper.
A GERMAN BUILDING MATERIAL.
Hollow ci,stion bricks have been
patented in Germany by August lock.
el, Of Erfurt. They are Of the size and
shape Of ordinary bricks, and the sides
nre an eighth Of an incl, thick. They
,re u be used without mortar or other
material; being held together
by grooves and projecting ribs fitting
into one another on the upper and low
er sides; There are also two circuli
opening IN the top Of each brick, into
wl'icl, properly formed ph,joctiOns OH
the brick above one of them hooked
shaped enter, and give greater iirm.
ness Of hold. The joints are made
tight with n suitable paint.
COCOANUT BUrrER.
\ fatty Substitute for butter having
been discovered In the cocoanut by
Dr. Scl'lunk. II factory for producing
lie substance was established ut Man.
I,l,eim, Germany, about u year agO.
According tn Consul Monaghan. this
factory now employs 25 workmen
and turns out daily II ton Of cOcoannt
butter, which Is retailed ut about u
cents per pound. The new product Is
better adapted IL kitchen than 70 ta-
BILE use; hut II is already preferred at
hospitals on account of Its purity aud
'iigestibility. ana is rapidly finding its
way into homes where people are too
poor to buy butter.
A iuId soldering fux. u solution of
rosin In n volatile solvent has i,een
patented In England by Mr.. J. II.
Watkins. It Is n,ors convenient than
rosin. and Is useful for any work In
which that substance can be employ
ed.
Many bacteria. states Prof. Law, are
capable Of doubling themselves every
hour under the hest conditions. n sin
gle bacterium giving IL, ,sss8. .77s In 81
hours. In - hours the Offspring
from u germ measuring 0ne-Rifteen
tho,,sandtlis of an Incl, would MI II
lalf pint measure. the number reach.
Ing ?si 800 900 900.
The greatest depth known In the
western Mediterranean-lO.OO0 feet
Is between Sicily. Sardinia aud Africa.
Recent soundings In the eastern basin
have yielded maximum depth Of 49,
b58 feet, between the islands Of MALTA
and Gambia.
A French electrician l,as found that
the electric current retar,ls the separa.
iion Of cream and preserves with
milk.
PHYSIOLOGY Of EVIL.
Dr. u. w. Richardson declares that
the man Of science finds two mat
,'ral causes Of evil IN man.kind-here.