The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1891-12-10
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.


world, of which Germany, the greatest
paper maker, has 1, 443.
"A well-knewn mineral water is to
be brought from the spring to Chicago
by glass pipes. The pipes will be sur
rounded by an outer case of iron.
photographs are being made in
Austria by the aid of aluminium, the
powdered metal being burned in the
flame of an alcohol lamp in manner
similar to magnesium.
The distance of the horizon is gov
erned by the height of the eye above
the earth or sea. On the sea- with the
eye at height of five feet, the distance
would be three miles; at sixty feet in
height, ten miles.
Scientists claim that the first ap-
pearance of the North American conti-
nent above the waters was in a small,
angular section, extending from the
Great Lakes northeast to Labrador, and
northwest to the Arctic Ocean.
The New York city government
has established farm at Central Islip,
L. l., comprising over one thousand
acres. About one-eighth of this is un-
der cultivation, and all the work is
done by lunatics. There are 364 luna
tics housed on the farm, but only a
small number of them work regularly.
| The new equatorial telescope re-
| Gently mounted in Paris has it's tube
bent at right angle, and the image of
the sky formed by the object glass is
reflected to the eye of the observer, 1t
is the largest of its kind in the world,
its optical powers being very fine and
the images of the planets remarkab bly,
distinct.
| That the hair is a sort of vegetable
appendix to the body is shown in the
| fact that it continues to grow as long as
| it has a soft cell-forming matrix at its
root, and there seems to be no improba-
bility in many cases reported where the
| hair has grown after death. The color
of the hair at the time of death is said
to be retained in such eases.
A conference held in Auckland,
! New Zealand, between the representa-
| tives of the frozen meat trade and the
shipping companies has resulted in an
agreement on the part of the latter to
reduce the freight between New Zea-
land and England to two cents pound
at the end of the present year. This
means reduction of about $500, 600
annually.
AT the annual convention of the
| British Medical association, recently
held at Bournemouth, Sir Spencer Wells
presented his report on the progress
made by cremation in England, which
was introduced by him about eleven
years ago. although the first crematory
was not built until 1885. During that
year only three bodies were burnt In
1890 fifty-four were disposed of in this
way.
Oak timber loses about one-fifth of
its weight in seasoning, and about one
third of its weight in becoming dry.
Gradual drying and seasoning are con
sidered the most favorable to the dura-
bility and strength of timber, Kiln dry
ing is particularly servicea bic for boards
and pieces of small dimensions, and un-
less performed slowly is apt to cause
cracks and impair the strength of the
wood If timber of large dimensions be
immersed in water for some weeks, il
is improved, and is less liable to war;
and crack in, seasoning. = Scientific
American.
In digging out the colossal statue o1
i Ramescs II. feet and four inches ot
consolidated Nile mud had to be re
moved before the platform was reached.
This platform was laid 1851 years be
fore Christ, in the reign of Rameses
Hence, 80 inches of this consolidated
mud represents century, there having
lapsed 3,215 years since then. Under
the platform Q depth of so feet of Nils
mud had to be penetrated before sandy
soil was reached, and, according to this
10000 more years must have elapsed.
AT glass works in White Mills
Wayne county, Pa, there is on exhibi
ton what is regarded as the finest Sc
of cut glass ever turned ont in thi
country. it consists of $50 separate
pieces, and has been ordered by thu
United States government for the White
house. On each piece of the set, from
the mammoth center-piecc and punch
bowl to the tiny salt cellars, is engraved
the coat of arms of the United States
This work alone has occupied month
of time. The total cost will be in tn,
neighborEood of Sc, 900.
A Hint for Young Men.
I