The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1890-03-12
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.

The extension ladder fire-esca ha,
been adopted by the German army as
more satisfactory apparatus than the
balloon from which to watch an enemy.
A new contrivance has been applied
to watches called an appointment re.
minder." A small dial is set into the
watoh's face upon which one can set the
hands at any hour required.
In tanning by electricity the ordinary
tan liquid is employed, and the hides
revolve slowly through it, while the cur
rent from a dynamo traverses the vat
and helps the tanning to combine with
the gelatine of the skin.
France claims the honor of utilizing
the highest water power in the world.
At Brignond turbine nine feet ten
inches in diameter was put in operation
in 1875, utilizing head of 1888 feet.
1t is still working, and gives force of
1900 horse power.
A significant and interesting in
stallation of electric lighting is about to
be made at Portland, Ore. That city is to
be lighted for the first time by electricity.
The current is to be carried twelve miles
before being distributed, thing never
before attempted in this country. A
specially constructed machine, capable of
producing 1000 volts, is to be used.
Austria is country where ones food
needs to be tested in order to avoid
adulteration. At the laboratory in Venice.
where food is analyzed for nothing, a
loaf of bread was found to consist
largely of the pulverized bark of trees,
sawdust and chaff; ground pepper was
found to be mixed with wood ashes;
cinnamon was colored with ochre and a
so-called nutritious coffee" consisted
entirely of roast acorns and chicory.
AT a recent meeting of the Society of
Aerostation in Berlin Professor Griese
entertained the assembly with descrip-
ton of an invention of his, by means of
which man with his own muscular
power only may leap up, into the air and
fly for short time. The machine is
called spruagflugel. Several scientific
men have become convinced that Herr
Grieses invention is serious, and that it
will aid considerably in solving the
problem of navigating the air.
A new system of paving has been
brought forward in England. 1t com
prises the use of blocks having alternate
hard andlsoft layers, such as Portland ce-
ment and mixture of sand and cement.
those being set upon edge, so that the
edges of the lamin@ form a wearing sur
face. The blocks are made four inches
high, and may be worn to less than an
inch without becoming smooth like gran
lite blocks. The idea is derived from the
surface of an elephants tooth, which con-
sists of intermingled hard and soft lay
ers.
Several months ago Rudolph Ericsson,
a young Swedish chemist, of New Brit
ain, Conn, invented new explosive to
which he gave the name ''extralite." A
number of experiments were tried with
the new powder in different parts of the
Nutmeg State, which showed that Err
lessons invention is one of the most re-
explosives yet compounded, as
it cannot be exploded in the open air
under any circumstances, and yet when
placed within rigid enclosure, from which
the air was excluded, its execution was
terrific.
Two almost perfect spheres about four
inches in diameter-one black and of
vegetable origin and the other white and
\ mineral product-were lately exhibited |
to the Geneva Society of Physics and |
Natural History. Both were remarkable |
as having been produced by a mechanical !
movement. The black ball was one of |
two formed by the slow rolling together
Of dust in cavity of the oak shaft of an 1
Did mill wheel; and the white ball was a
'alcareous pebble found with many others
n a grotto traversed by torrent flowing
INTO the Rhone.
1t is reported that German scientist /
las devised an incandescent lamp ar
by which the interior of a /
boiler may be inspected while the same \
S under steam. A thick tube is inserted /
nto a stufing box, through. which a /
mall incandescent lamp is introduced,
which is connected with a battery. By
means of thick glass plate placed in
he shell of the boiler at convenient
,lace, the illuminated interior of the
'oiler may be inspected. This is likely
o be the means of providing remedies
or many of the existing uncertainties in
,oiler manipulation. =, ,s,s