The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-12-05
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.


Ills said thore are only two rcd slate
luarrics In the Unitnd States-one in
vermont and the othor in Virginia.
1t is fact csta blished upon the au-
thorlty OF travellers in different parts of
tho world that stammoring is almost
unknown among savage tribes.
"A great many of the oranges on tho
west coast of Florida havo been sold for
81 per box on tho trcos. This 10 a bot
ter prico than in any previous year.
-Thcro is famine in tho rubber
MS ket this lccson, owing to tho failure
OF tho South American crop Tho nowly
explored Congo country Is futuro
source OF supply, ut present not easily
accessible.
Tho total exports Of iron and steel
from Great Britain to all countries in
the first eight months OF the present
year amounted to 3,T60,253 gross tons.
as compared with 2.726, 1888 tons in tho
first eight months of 1889.
Water has been found in tho Desert
OF Sahara in such vast quantities by
means of artesian wells that French on
ginccrs arc confident of boing able to
extond thoir railroad 10 a distance of n
weeks journey from Algeria rirht
through the desert
-Modorn Lightand Heat estimates tho
capital invested in electric lighting
plants in the United States has reached
tho enormous aggregate of Sl1S, 75S, 500,
and there are at the present time in uso
1880, G67 incandosccnt lights, 127.41 arc
lights, and 1.3T9 stations
More than sixty companies for tim
manufacture of cotton goods have been
organized in the South during the past
eight months. But most of the mills
thus far started have been for tho pro-
duction of tho coarser fabrics. The finer
grades will Doubtless be made with in
crcasing skill on tho part OF operatives
and the introduction of tho requisite
machinery.
Tho average level OF tho solid earth
has been calculated by DIR. John Murray
to bc l,i00 fathoms below sea level; but
moro recent explorations show creator
ocean depths, according TO Dr. ii. r.
Mill, and mean sphere level at depth
OF roo fathoms. That is, all tho land
above the level of ZOO fathoms beneath
tho sea would have to be filled into tho
greater depths in order to cive cnual
height to all parts Of the solid Garth.
-According to n London paper, ga
discovery OF considerable interest for
archacologists was made ut Contains dur
ing the cutting of n railway from Argcn-
tucil to Nantes Ono hundred and eighty
five plaster tombs Of the Meroyinpian
epoch wore found. Tho skeletons in
them aro described as being in state
Of perfect preservation. One of tho
tombs contained two skeletons, one
placed on the top of the othor. An
Official commission Of the Department
of the Seine ct Disc has gone to Con-
fans to visit TIC cemetery and to insure
tho preservation of the historical curl
osities it contains"
The intensity OF tho light under tho
water diminishes with great rapidity.
At about ninety feet one secs very much
less, and when the sun approaches tho
horizon, and the rays get much moro
obliquc, it seems as though night had
como. Horizontally, at 100 foet depth,
rock can not he mado out at q greater
distance than twenty-five feet Cen
orally speaking, ut greater depth than
thirty fcct one can notdistinguish things
under the conditions that ordinarily OBJ
tain. This will account for the inability
to see their way on the part Of those who
attempt to navigate submarine boats.
AS soon as an object is seen it is SO close
That there is rot time to steer clear Of it.