The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1891-07-25
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

The miners convention 1T Paris
represented 1000, 900 men.
Cuba, it is said, seems destined TO
supplant Bermuda as the truck garden
for this country. "Her potatoes and
onions have already taken precedence
over those of Bermuda, and now her
tomatoes are taking first prize" This
market gardening in Cuba is being
largely directed from New York.
"A deposit was recently discovered
In Citrus, Fla, which is believed to be
very rich in potash. If the analysis of
the chemist confirms the belief of this
information the discovery will be .
boom exceeding in value that of any
phosphate deposit, on account of the
scarcity of the article and the magni-
tnde of this deposit.
Natural gas has been discovered in
the Argentine Republic. DIR. Arta, .
local chemist, has by analysis found it
to be quite as rich in heating and light
ing power as that found in the United
States AS the lack of fuel for manu-
featuring purposes has been one Of the
greatest drawbacks in the Argentine
Republic, this is considered of the very
greatest Importance.
There is really but one place in the
world where violins are made extern
sively. That place is Markneukirchen,
with its surrounding villages. There
are altogether about $4,000 people liv-
ing there who do nothing else but make
yiolins The inhabitants, from the lit
tie urchin to the old gray-headed man.
the small girl, and the old grand
mother, all are engaged in making some
part of fiddle.
"A trainer" who has had thirty
years. experience observing lads and
men training, declares running in the
open air to be the best of all exercises.
He recommends "all around" work,
such as boxing, hand-ball, jumping and
single and parallel bar exercises; these,
in his Judgment, being adapted to most
naturally develop the body as q whole,
and normally develop the exterior mus
cles, while at the same time benefiting
the vital organs.
The biggest of fresh water fishes,
the 'sarapaima" of the Amazon in South
America, which grows to six feet in
length, has teeth on its tongue, SO that
the latter resembles the file and is used
as such. Some kinds of trout also have
the same popularity. Fishes that swal-
low their prey entire have their teeth
so supported on flexible bases as to bend
backward, but not forward, in order
that their victims shall not escape after
they have been seized.
AT last fish has been caught in
the Great Salt Lake. 1t was captured
near Buffalo Park, and is one and FIVE
eighths inches long. 1t is different from
anything ever seen here before, having
large head, body something like q
trout, while it is almost transparent,
except the dark outlines of the verteb
which is as well formed as If of full
grown fish, and is dark. There were
two of these small fish swimming to-
gether, and they were SO liyely that
only one could be caught.
Prof. Barnard has invented trap
not to catch rats or any earthly thing,
but those tailed monsters Of infinity
known as comets. He has fSstened q
prism in the object glass of his tele-
scope. When the light passes Through
the prism it is decomposed, a course.
and If the light is that from q comet,
certain rays pass through Sits and fall
upon selenium cell which connects
with a battery and an alarm. Selenium
is exceedingly sensitive to light, and
when struck by the rays it let's the bat
terry know it in hurry. The telescope
is made to sweep the heavens by auto
matte machinery.
The discussion by physicians of the
distribution of diphtheria has developed
some very interesting and curious facts.
The distribution Of diphtheria is alto
gether peculiar, and its mortality is
not apparently regulated by the same
causes that influence the general NOR
tally. Density of population is not q
factor of primary importance in the
production of fatal diphtheria. On the
contrary, its prediction for scattered
rural populations and for exceptionally
healthy districts, and the striking tend
ency which the disease has shown Of
late to invade cities and towns, are
well-known and remarkable facts.