The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-11-06
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

1t is claimed that the steamer Ma
/ testic is the most economical coal burner
of any of the Atlantic 'high flyers"
She burns 220 tons of coal day,
shows 1880 horse power. and makes
an average of over 30 knots, or 90 miles
per hour throughout the Atlantic pass
age.
"A railway is to be built across En-
gland that will enable a passenger to
make direct trip from the Mersey to
the shores of the North Sea. 1t will be
about $50 miles in length, and the ex-
pense of purchase and construction will
be at the rate of 5000, per mile
Manchester Union.
Have you ever thought just how
water puts out fire? The Popular Sci
ence Monthly says it acts in two ways,
lowering the temperature of the burn
ing matter, and by enveloping its parts
in way tn exclude the atmosphere and
exclude the oxygen of the air which
keeps up t&e fire.
In 1SA5 the mica product of the
United States amounted to 147, 40
pounds, worth S36S, 525, while that of
1889 was but 40, 500 pounds, worth only
$50, 900. Since there is no decrease in
demand for this article this decline in
the home production can be attributed
to no other cause than the large qSan-
titles imported from Canada and other
foreign countries.
The vastness of Names timber
wealth, says the Southern Lumberman,
is not generally appreciated. Every
Enn OOn OOn foot &c lo,-, ,,,, ,,,@
in the state, about one-third of this
amount floating down the Penobscot,
and the quantity of manufactured lum-
Der that has been shipped from the
state since the first sawmili was started
is enormous beyond description.
A novel cure for nervous diseases is
being practiced in Worishofen, Bavaria.
The treatment is the outcome of the
study of an old priest, and consists
chiefly i'll spraying water over the body
in various places. dressing at once with
out drying, and brisk walking immedi-
ately afterward. The diet is carefully
attended to, and thousands have been
cured of nervous troubles which had
defed all previous physicians.
"A gigantic tunnel, which is esti-
mated to cost $50 900 and require ten
years to finish, is being constructed in
the Leadville mining district for the
purpose of draining the mines. 1t will
be at least five miles long and will,
when completed, leave to easy access
millions of tons of good ore that cannot
now be properly got at and probably
never can be handled without the use
of proper drainage.
The respiration of insects has been
the subject of study by Mr.. Conteiean,
who has found that contrary to what
takes place in verte brates, the move
ment of inspiration is passive and that
of expiration active. The air is driven
from the body by a cOntractile effort
Hence, when the insect is wounded, the
flow of blood occurs at each expiration.
The respiratory movement is not inter
rupted by cutting off the head, nor by
the absorption of the curare, which pro-
duceS an Immediate cessation in man.
CALIFORNIA; production of quicksil-
yer for 1889 was 26,464 TASKS, equaling
9, 024, 1876 pounds. This state has eleven
productive mines of this commodity,
which necessitates the employment of
thirty-six furnaces, which, together
with the mines, furnish work for 937
hands. A flask of quicksilver is pro-
duced at cost of S33. 81. The worlds
production of this article during the past
decade is l,O93,611 TASKS, the United
States producing more of this amount
than any other one country on the
globe.
The most experienced railroad men
feel that the possibilities of steam prac-
tice are nearly reached-much greater
speed is not practicable. A maximum
of ninety miles per hour, with rum
ming speed of sixty to seventy is all
that can be hoped for under the very
best condition which can be provided.
The limitations are numerous and they
are well known to all engineers. The
maximum speed of which locomotive
is capable has not been materially in
creased in number of years. The
scheduled time has been shortened prin-
cipally by cutting down grades,
Strengthening curves, filling up ravines
and replacing wooden structures by
permanent ones of iron or stone; by the
use of heavy rails, safer switches.