Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-06-20
SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL.

Excellent wool has been made from
the fibre OF the ir tree by means of cleo
tricity.
In Europe steel-.irei wheels for rail-
road cars are used more generally than
in the United States.
The ma ximum power of an electro
magnet IS proportional to the leas:
sectional area of the entire magnetic cir
cults.
With an electro-magnet mechanical
actions are produced at distance uuder
control by the agency of electric cur
rents.
The magnetic motive force equals the
product of the number Of spirats and the
number of amperes of current multiplied
by 1887.
A comparatively small dynamo NAV
be arranged to light greater number
OF lamps by the use of an accumulation
than can be obtained from the machine
direct,
Professor Elihu Thompson wears
unique watch chain, the links of which
are welded by electricity. In part of
the chain links OF gold and platinum
alternate Other links are made OF acc
tions of these metals.
Asphalt paint is rapidly coming into
favor for ironwork. It's oils are not
volatile, as is the case of the various,
coal tar products, and it is this per-
manent character of the material that is
the secret OF its value.
The works of watches are now plated
with palladium, which is whittier,
lighter and more fusible metal than
/ platinum About one seventeenth Of
grain of palladium will, by electrical
/ deposition, coat the works of an ordinary
! watch.
In a vestibule car recently invented, /
! instead of the folding-doo and the
lsual iron gates that are so likely to i'm
prison passengers in case Of an accident,
there are doors that slide into the car,
and which leave the platform unob-
,tructed.
The thickness of ordinary gold. leaf is
about one two hundred thousandths OF
an inch. Accordingly, one ounce Of
! gold can be beaten out until it covers
100 square feet. 1t can be beaten out
still thinner, but the process is not COM
mercially practicable.
Neither the submerged chain system
nor the endless rope system of canal
boat haulage has proved satisfactory ia
Germany, so that experiments are now
being made in the use of heavy towing
cars drawn by locomotives similar to
those used in mines.
A most singular relic was exhibited al
a meeting at Calcutta of the Asiatic So
ciety of Bengal, consisting of piece OF
cable, the rubber covering of which has
been pierced by blade of grass. The
piercing was SO complete, and the con-
tact with the copper core so perfect,
that the efficiency Of the cable was de-
stroyed.
A great event in the annals OF Indian
telegraphy was the completion recently
of the new copper wire between Calcutta
end Bombay, along the line Of the Ben
gal Nagpore railway. The total length
OF the circuit is nearly 1900 miles, and
the Indian Department can now boas
that it works the longest aerial circuit in
the world
Vegetation in the Alps recedes from
year to year. Alpine roses were at one
time found at an altitude Of 1900 feet
now they are seldom found higher than
$500 feet, an are stunned at that. Var
ious species Of small fruit which used u
be gathered at 1900 feet above the levc
now are rarely found beyond two-third
that height.
Russian scientists are about going +
Northern Africa TO make a study of tn
methods employed by the natives in re
sistiny the inroads Of qucksands. Thj
inquiry is the result Of Intellectual effort
On the part Of Russian engineers I
counteract the effect Of qucksands Il
trans Casp plan scoti Jus. where thc usand
If acres Of the best arabic soil are ar
nually used up.