The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-09-16
POPULAR SCIENCE.

Doctors say that the left leg Is 9usu~
ally stronger than the right. q
Scientific men insist upon it thaf
Niagara Falls are receding every year. 2
It was so intensely hot at San Migual, y
CAL, the other day that some chemicals
in the principal drug store exploded
from the high temperature and set 6ras
to the building. -
A Philadelphia firm is making great
success in timing articles made of cast
iron. The articles so treated are far
more durable than galvanized or japanned
ware, and are equally cheap.
An elevated electric railway between
Chicago and Milwaukee, distance OF
eighty.tive miles, on which trains are to =
make the run in ian hour at most, !" = 7
an enterprise recently incorporated.
Red stockings are generally colored
from matters of aniline, which contaiH
large quantities of antlmoniac products. Z
When perspiring, this matter becomes
soluble, enters the pores of the skin, and
produces o violent rash. m.
The Mexican Government has been
experimenting with a new machine fos y
manufacturing ramie. The machine
made one and quarter tons per day and
the expense of cleaning the fiber was
only 4 7-10 cents per pound. ,s,
The Smithsonian Institution at Wash
ington has received from China pair Of /
stockings manufactured from human
hair. They are worn by fishermen over
cotton stockings (belng too rough for
the naked skin), and under straw shoes Il
as a protection against moisture.
The recent improvements in miners
lamps and the ventilation Of mines in I
England, coupled with extra watchfnI-
uess on the part of the Superintendents
and Others, reduced the number of those
killed from explosions of fire damp 10
the first six months of this year to eigh
teen, against 276 in the same period OF !
| 1890. &:
It is stated that the harbor of salonica
is threatened with the fate which befeils
that of Smyrna. The alluvial deposits
of the Vardar have advanced as far az
Cape Kara-Burun, and the entrances
through the sand banks is now very:
difficult. The prospective value ofsthe
port to Austria Hungary is doubtful, ua-.
less extensive dredging operations ara.
carried out.
W. F. Stanley, the well known OPP;
tician, has devised "phonometer, = or
chronograph, for enabling person to-
measure distances by observing the time
between the report and fash of q gun;
It can also be used for estimating thu
distance of lightning by turning the
fash with the clap of thunder and allow
ing quarter of mile 1888 metres, OF
over 1000 feet) for every second OF the
interval. ----..:s,z,..4::2 ~ - = iEzass.sa4
According to dispatches received AZ
! Cape Town, South Africa, Mr.. Theodore
Bent, who is exploring the ruins and
historical remains in Mashonaland, has
discovered some images and pottery az
the Zimbabye ruins which are supposed
| IO Dt VI I uUulClhu WOEhuauSuips - AaA>
news has excited great interest, and fur
ther particulars are eagerly awaited in
the hope that the relics will enable ar
cheologists to decide when and by WHOM
the zimbabye structures were built. "a
The St. Paul road is building two
engines at the Merrill Park shops in Mil
waukee, Wis. which promise revolutions
in locomotive building. The nett en-
gines consume their own smoke and have
no smokestack. They are fitted up with
an electrical headlight, which is placed
on q Stand Immediately in front Of ths'
boiler, thus giving the engineer an un-
obstructed view Of the line ahead. Tha.
drive.wheels are larger than on the ordi-
nary locomotive and intended for greater
speed. The new engines are particularly
designed to furnish power for lighting
passenger trains with electricity and for
furnishing steam heat. 4.