Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-05-10
POPULAR SCIENCE.
TEXAS TO BECOME THE GRAND
IRON STATE.
To Test Wines-Bosus Siiks-Sew Artificial
Stone-Grsst Electric Discovery.
Sawdust Charcoal-how
Drowu-The Light
ming Horse.

In an article contributed 10 The Engineer
ing and Mining Journal of New YORK,
Professor Theo. &. Comstock OF our stare
geological survey says it is as the seat OF 8.
commanding iron industry that Central
Texas must look forward to her glory in tnn
main. With all the wonderful array or
natural resource and artificial forcing which
has brought 10 light the great possibilities
Of the South in other districts, he does nos
hesitate TO report from actual knowledge
that Texas may confidently expect Is,
take very high rank alnoug them all
whenever her dormant iron fields become
fully known. In amount ard quality. and
in facility OF mining, educius and m3nJs-
featuring, and distributing of products, ia
other state can equal this when the oroi-
nary forces OF civilization have been props
erly applied TO utilize what nature has pro-
vided. Very extensive deposits Of fIe
finest iron ores occur ali through the area
of Central Texas existing in great quaint
tics over wide belts, and many of, these
show TO analysis that they are extremely
rich in metallic non and free from undesir'-
able contamination.
\ prominent chemist giveS Us 4 simple
method for detecting fraud in red wine~
Mix fifty parts of the wine with SIX parts
of nitric acid of 1910 specific gravity. eX-
pose the mixture to = heat of $50 10 200 deg.
FAN. If tine coloring matter in the wine is
all right as from the grape no change viii
take place. but. on the other hand. If srti.
fetal cOloring has been resorted 10 the wina
will al once lose its color.
Bogus silks can oc detected by hydro.
chloric acid. This being an energetic sol.
vent OF silk promptly destroys any Siia
fabric immersed in it. while it leaves either
wool or cotton unaffected. If the silk 8
pure it viii III disappear under the process,
but if it carries authorizations these Wit
remain. II anything remains from "a Dit Of
silk after it has been a few minutes in this
acid you may depend upon it that the silL
was not pure.
\ new artificial stone capable Of being
melted by heat and moulded into auy de-
sired shape, IS the latest discovery of
science. 1t is 4 compound at iren, sulphur
and silicon, and unless modified by pig
ments is of ! dark slate color. Works well
with the usual stone-cutting tools, and cav
be readily turned il lsthe>
The testile strength IS rom
so 10 1900 pounds to the SQUARE
inch, and compression of from 5000 ia
J.. 900 is withstood. Specific gravity about
70, the melting point is 800 degrees. When
melted the material can De easily cast in =
mould the same as i metal. II Is called
''ferroid,- and many clsim that on account
of its good qualities, associated with it's
chcapness. it must soon % j;
largely figuring in ornamental stone wora
for buildings and other purposes.
Herr Gulcher, q German electrician,
announces = new thermo-electric battery
giving electric power. equivalent to Los per
cent of the heat employed, ard also ins-
provements under way that viii give ) per
cent net effect The scientists who nave
examined his discovery are pretty wen
agreed in the opinion that this new thermo-
electric battery, when rendered more per.
feet in accordance with the plans of the
fiscoverer, will excel the best dynamo in
point of efficiency.
Every now aud then soDe new thing
turns up that nils one with wonder over
why it should not have been sooner thought
d. Among such is q new French discovery
for turning the sawdust of mills into .