Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-12
SCIENTIFIC GLEANINGS.

A mathematician estimates that a ma
chine of One-hOrse power would keep IL,
600, 900 watches running.
DScrew nails for timber are now made,
without cutting the metal, by rolling wire
of soft open-hearth steel in a series of
dies until the thread is sufficiently formed.
An Englishman has invented what he
claims is practical application of the idea
of stills with wheels. The wheels are
fastened to the feet, as stills are, and each
acts as a sort of independent bicycle. They
go very fast when one has learned to walk
on them
A new botanical garden in the bps Of
Valals is situated on a cone shaped knoll
about 200 feet high at an altitude above
sea level of more than $500 feet: Plants
will be cultivated.
The Thompson-HQ Houston Electric COM
pany reports the following sales for the
past month: arc apparatus for central
station work, total, 1,675 lights; alternat
ing incandescent light: apparatus $4,000
lights; isolated plant incandescent appar-
atus direct, total $3.50 lights.
The new electric submarine torpedo boat
Goubert has been tried at Paris, France,
and has proven eminently successful. The
boat can be handled under water or upon
the surface with ease, twisting and turn
ing at high speed. 1t can remain below
twenty hours and can remain motion
less at any given depth for long time
without being buoyed up like the Gym
nete.
The value of fertilizers depends upon the
nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash they
contain. These are the necessary plant
foods. They are the elements most rapid
ly removed from the soil and which must
be provided. These substances must exist
in such condition that they may be
readily taken up by the plant food
To an inquirer the Electrical World
gives the information that there are prob
ably 5000 arc lamps burning in the
United States, and about 5000, 900 incades-
cent lamps. An estimate of the electric
motors in use reaches $4,000, although
very many of them are of less than one
horse power. There are, either equipped
or under contract, nearly 300 electric rail
ways, over 800 miles of track, and prob
ably 1000 cars Probably 5000 volts is
the highest electrical pressure in regular
use, and this is on arc light circuits.
lew pclSollS, says olIc LOIlllOH \olb.J
Free Press, 'are aware of the enormous
waste of heat incurred in burning coal. By
the very best method known to science. it
it is estimated that only 8 to 10 per cent
is utilized. The remainder is wasted by
imperfect combustion. as well as carried
off through the chimney When it is
turned into gas and that burned in a
properly constructed stove, nearly 50 per
cent. can be utilized. Nothing can give
better promise than the use of gas fuel.
Not only has the cost been reduced Of MAX
ing hydrogen gas but in the last two or
three years the method of produing what
is called gas has been far in advance of all
preceding inventions"
CGarret p. Serviss specuates on the
canals of Mars in the Popular Science
Monthly. He thinks the hypothesis that
that they are artificial waterways high
ly improbable. 1t is true, he says. that,
if we consider only the influence of the
force of gravity on Mars, giants could
dwell upon than planet whose mechanical
achievements might vastly surpass the
greatest performance of our engineers, for
a body weighing ton on earth would
weigh $50 pounds on Mars, and on the
other hand, a man on Mars possessing rel
atively the same activity as one of US,
might be fifteen feet tall and strong in
proportion. But even granting the exist
ence of such a race on our
neighbor world. it is not conceivable that
they could have constructed a system of
tremendous canals over half the surface of
their planet, or that they would have done
it if they could. The canals of Mars are
enormously disprcportioned in magnitude
to the most gigantic inhabitants that due
regard for the law of gravtiation would
suffer us to imagine there.