Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-09-25
POPULAR SCIENCE


Doctors say that the left leg is usu-
ally stronger than the right.
Scientific men insist upon it that
Niagara Falls are recc1ing every year.
1t was so intensely hot at San Migual,
CAL, the other day that some chemicals
in the principal drug store exploded
from the high temperature aud set fire
to the building.
A Philadelphia firm is making great
success in timing articles made of cast
iron. The articles 50 treated are far
more durable than galvanized or japannel
ware, and arc equally cheap.
An elevated electric railway between
Chicago and Milwaukee, a distance Of
eighty.fve miles, on which trains are to
make the run in "an hour at most" is
an enterprise recently incorporated.
Red stockings are generally colored
from matters of aniline, which contain
large quantities of antlmoniac products.
When perspiring, this matter becomes
soluble, enters the pores of the skin, aud
produces a violent rash.
The Mexican Government has been
experimenting with new machine for
manufacturing ramie. The machine
made one and quarter tons per day and
the expense of cleaning the fiber was
only 10 cents per pound.
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 skim, and under straw shoes,
as protection against moisture.
The recent improvements in miners
lamps and the ventilation OF mines in
England, couDlcd with extra watchful-
ness on the part of the Superintendent
and others, reduced the number of those
killed from explosions Of fire damp in
the first six months of this year to ei5h-
teen, against 276 in the same periol OF
1890.
1t is stated that the harbor OF Salonica
is threatened with the fate which befell
that of Smyrna. The alluyial deposits
of the Vardar have advanced as far as
Cape Kara-Buruu, and the entrance
through the sand banks is now very
difficult. The prospective value Of the
port to Austria-IInngary is doubtful, IN
less extensive dredging operations are
carried out.
w. +. Stanley, the well known o.
tician, has devised "phono meter or
chronograph, for enabling a person to
measure distances by observing the time
between the report and flash Of az gun.
1t can also be used for estimating the
distance OF lightning by turning tac
flash with the clap Of thunder and aliow-
ing quarter OF mile 1888 metres, or
over 1000 fcet) for every second Of ti9
interval.
According to dispatches received at
Cape Town, South Africa, Mr.. Theodore
Bent, who is exploring the ruins and
historical remains in MashOnalali, has
discovered some images and pottery at
the Zimbabye ruins which are supposed
to be Of PhGnician workm lnship. This
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.
The st. Paul road is building two
engines at the Merrill Park shops in Mil
waukee, Wis, which promise revolution
in locomotive building. The new en-
gines consume their own smoke aud have
no smokestack. They are fitted up with
an electrical headlight, which is placei
on a stand Immediately in front OF the
boiler, thus giving the engineer an un-
obstructed view Of the line ahea1. Tae
1rive-wheels are larger than on the orii-
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.