The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-03-26
POPULAR SCIENCE.


the spectroscope show that all the
heavenly ibodies appear to be composed
of the same chemical elements. 4
The sustaining power of the Forth
bridge, in Scotland, may be imagined
from the statement that each cantilever
would sustain six of the greatest IRON
clads.
An Austrian neteorologist has ascer-.
tanned by careful investigation that the
moon has a influence on magnetic
needle, varying with its phrases and its
declination.
A geographical globe for the Shah of
Persia is to show the different countries
in precious stones. France will be indi-;..
Gated by sapphires, England by rubies,
Russia by diamonds, and so on, while the,
seas will be represented by emeralds.
Many salmon of the rivers of Finland
contain copper hooks of peculiar form.
1t is now know that these hooks are used
in the north of Germany, and that sal
mon of the Finnish rivers must descend
in winter to the Baltic coasts of Germany.
A portable house Of paper, lately con-
structed in Hamburg, for use as res
taurant, has walls with an inner layer
impregnated against fire and an outer
one against moisture. The paper is
fixed in readily-connected frames. The
dining-rooin is ninety feet long. !.
The international display of scientific
progress to be made this year include
the Electrical and Industrial Exhibition
at Edingburgh and the Exhibition of
Botany and Microscopy at Antwerp. At
the latter will be celebrated the tercen7
tenary Of the compound microscope. !
In showing the commercial advantages
of opening up a sea route, through
Yugor Strait to the great Siberian rivers, i
Captain A. Hovgaard directs attentia00
to the fact that the Kara Sea is the ony(
route to the North Pole still left untried.N
He gives good reasons for expecting suc:s
cess by this route. s
A florist in London has had the happy
thought of hanging trails of moss over
and around the electric lights in his win-s
dow. Nothing could be more gracefully.
pretty than their soft environment. The
green and yellow tints of the delicate
leaves form lovely veil for the light, &
which glimmers through them without,
being diminished. ~
The eruption of Krakatao, East Indies,
in 1883 destroyed all animal and
vegetable life in the sea around it, and
covered the coral reef of the shore under.
a bed of ashes and pumice-stone over
sixty feet thick. Nevertheless, a new
shore-reef is now forming on this volcanic :
layer, and has already attained the
breadth of metre.
In report on the Kolar gold field of
Southern India, B. Smith mentions the
finding of interesting remains of ancient
mining, such as old timbering, frag-e:
ments of bones, an oil lamp and pieces:
of earthenware. The fact that the old;
miners, with their simple appliances
reached depths of 200 or 300 feet.
through hard rock, astonishes him. 5k
Some of the conclusions of science
would indeed be appalling but for their
practical harmlessness. Thus, the geol- I
ogists assert that if the continents and
the bottom of the ocean were graded
down to uniform level, the whole
world would be covered with water a.,
mile deep, so much greater is the de-.
preston of the ocean bed than the eleyaIi
ton of the existing land. Is
1t is remarked that the central portion
of brick for building purposes is OF
little value, and could be left hollow as.
we'll as rot where the material is an item
to look out for, provided it makes no,
more work for those in the brickyards!
They are to be stood on one end, Of
course, to keep rats and other vermin
from making use of the cavities in the
basement.