Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-26
EVERY DAY SCIENCE.
Interesting Statistics Upon the Rapid
Transit Problem. :
USEFULNESS OF INDIA RUBBER.
New Theory of Seasickness That Suggests
8 Preventative.
NEW DISCOVERIES AS TO THE MOON
pRErARKp FOR THE DISPATCH

PREPARED FOR THE pIsPArcH.J
At the recent convention of the American
Street Railway Association at Buffalo, In
many ways one OF the most important gath
erings of the kind ever seen in this country.
President Lowry congratulated the assocla-
tion on the progress OF which had been
made in the work OF the association since
its organization IN 1882. He alluded to the
fact that the United States Government had
recognized the growing Importance of city
passenger traffic by incorporating in its
census statistics for 1890 a report on street
railways in cities of over 30, 600 inhabitants.
In this report Sc cities are included, and out
of total of 3, ,150 miles of track possessed
by them, 2,351 miles are operated by horses,
260 miles by electricity, 255 miles by cable
and 221 miles by steam. In the smaller
cities electricity is being generally adol ted,
and there are already in operation in cities
and towns under $4,000 inhabitants about
1000 miles of electric street railway. Mr..
Lowry added:
l am so thoroughly convinced that elec-
tricity is the coming power for street rail-
ways (except heavy grade, where the cable
is best suIted), and that it will prove effect
i've as a means of rapid transit Ior cities,
that believe this is the last convention
that will ever seriously consider horses for
the operation of street railways. When the
people of city clearly understand the great
benefits of rapid transit by electricity or
| other improved motive power over horses,
they will demand that their city authorities
grant such rights as will enable street rail-
way companies to operate by the most i'm
proved methods.
Heretofore street railway securities have
not been looked upon with .avor by the
| financial world. However, since they have
been operated bv electricity, the financial
men of the country are looking to its devel-
ment and application to street railways as
an additional reliable security for the IN
vestment OF savings and trust funds. This
should encourage street railway companies
to give their various cities the most i'm
proved and best possible service. They will
not only please their patrons but the invest
ment will prove very profitable. If street
railway companies do this, no better secur-
| ity can be offered for the savings OF the
widow and orphan than a good street rail-
way bond in thriving city.
People have not vet begun to realize what
an immensely important factor the increase
of speed in city travel may become. 1t is
estimated that had all the street railways in
Boston been operated by electricity during
the year 1889, it would have resulted in a
saving OF more than 81, ,000,0 900 in money
and an aggregate of 274 years time to the
patrons OF the roads, due solely to 30 per
cent increase in speed. 1t has been found
that increasing the speed of the cars a given
percentage inevitably increases the patron
| age in nearly the same ratio, while the oper-
ating expenses are increased by very small
traction Of this percentage. An instance OF
this has occurred at Davenport, Ia, where
it has been found, taking the record for one
| year, that the total expense of operating five
horse cars was SIC, $40, while five electric cars
cost S11 go to operate during the same time,
or it cost to operate the same number OF cars
81 per cent more by electricity than by
horses. The gross earnings for the II months
of the same equipments were: Horses, S15,-
897; electricity, So, go. 1t will thus be
seen that although the operating expenses
were increased 81 per cent where electricity
was used. the earnings were increased very
nearly so per cent, or, In other words, the
substitution Of electricity resulted in a net
gain of more than 46 per cent, owing to the
Increased patronage induced by the i'm
proved service.
REST AS MEDIcINE.-A physician,
writing of rest as a medicine, recommends
short nap in the middle of the day, for
those who can take it, as beneficial ad-
dition to the nights Sleep 1t divides the
working time, gives the nervous system
fresh hold on lite and enables one to do more
than make up for the time so occupied. A
caution is given against the indulgence in
too long a sleep at such a time under a
penalty of disagreeable relaxation. There
has been much discussion regarding the
aiter-dinner nap, many believing it to be
injurious, but it is, nevertheless, natural
and wholesome.
IMPROVED WooD-CARvING MACHINE.
"A wood-carving machine which possesses
many radical Improvements has been
brought out. The machine is designed
specially for use ins furniture factories and
in car, organ and piano factories and other
establishments where wood carving is done.
1t will carve four duplicate pieces anv
length at one operation if not over 71%
inches wide, or it will make two duplicaUe
pieces any length if not over Is inches wide,
and if a greater width is desired, one piece
can be carved OF any length and from Is to
80 inches wide. The bits can be handled
conveniently and in any direction within an
angle o 800. The top, or table, can be
raised or lowered 10 make thick or thin
work, and will remain the proper height ior
the operator; the table also rests upon slid
ing ways, SO that it can be adjusted Tor the
convenience OF the operator on different
varieties OF work. The driving pulley on
the machine is inches in diameter, with
3-inch face, and should make ], 400 to ], 500
revolutions per minute.
USEFULNESS OF INDIA RUBBER.-The
number of uses to which rubber can be ap-
piled is constantly on the increase. The
burnt rubber used for the final polishing of
the gold lettering, etc., In the Government
Printing Office, is simply India rubber
which has been subjected to peculiar fire
process that renders it very absoroent So
remarkable are its powers of ABSORPTION that
a piece the size Of ones fingers will easily
take up S. worth of gold in It's pores. When
such a piece OF rubber is loaded with all the
gold it will fairly carry, it is sent, in COM
panJ with others in the same condition, to
the mint to be assayed. Rubber enters
largely into the manufacture OF artificial
flowers, considerable quantities OF which are
made in this country, and artificial limbs
owe much of their f xibility and adapta-
bility to this material. 1t is the only sub
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