The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1892-11-10
VOL. KILL.
1He VALUE or DUST.
Its Particles Form Free Surfaces for the
Collection of VRpor.

Its Particles Form Free Surfaces Tor the
Collection of yapor.
How can invisible particles be brought
within the range Of our visionf That
was one of the first of the many marvel
ous discoveries Of Mr.. John Akken, r.
r. 8. Falkirk, distinguished physicist,
whose remarkable work has revolution.
;zed a branch of meteorology. He
showed that without dust in the ai1
there could be no fogs, no mist, no cloud
and probably no rain. The particles OF
dust are the free surfaces, which, under
certain conditions, attract the water
vapor Of the atmosphere to form fog.
Invisible before, they become visible
when clothed all over with the moisture
unseen as dust, they become distinct as
fog particles.
This can be easily verified. If ordi
nary air be forced through filter OF
cotton wool into q glass receiver, 1t is
deprived of all its dust particles. Let
steam be introduced into this receiver
from q boiler, no change will be OBJ
served; the vessel Is quite transparent.
But If jet of steam be introduced into
q similar vessel containing ordinary air,
il will be seen rising in dense cloud
then a beautiful fog will be formed, sc
dense that it cannot be seen through. In
the former case, when there was nc
dust in suspension, the air remained
clear; in the latter case, when the ordi
nary atmospheric dust was in the yes
sci, fog at once appeared. The Invisible
dust then is detected by the introduc
tion of water vapor.
Until very lately it was thought thai
particles of water vapor combined witt
each other to form cloud particle, bu'
It is now found that some solid body
however small, is required for thil
formation. In fact, when there are NJ
dust particles on which the water vapol
at q proper temperature and pressure
can condense, there is at present nj
knowledge as to the point at which tn
change will take place. But the FIN,
particles Of dust in the air act as fre
surfaces on which the water vapor con
denses into fog. When there is abund
ance of dust in the air and little waite
vapor present there is an overpropel
ton Of dust particles, and the fog PAL
ticles are in consequence closely packed
but light in form and small in size, an
take the lighter appearance Of fog. Ac
cordingly, If the dust is increased in tn
air, there is proportionate increase
fog. s III.
But on the other hand if the dus
particles are fewer in proportion to tn
number Of molecules Of water vapol
each particle soon gets weighted, spring
into visible existence as IL by creativ
hand, and falls In mist or rain. If tn
water vapor had no dust at all on whic
to settle, 1t would use the objects on tn
surface Of the ground for the same ei't
as the grass, leaves, tree branches &
house projections. Moisture would the
be ever dripping. The occasional geni'
rain, though at times lashed up to
biting storm of sleet, would require
give place to constant wetness on tn
roads and grass.
Umbrellas would not be needed, b,
india rubber protectors for the feet an
legs would be in constant requisitio1
Even the irritable housekeeper, ever n
noyed at the unaccountable appearant
of dust In rooms which she left for cleal
would prefer the old necessary evil
this dry dust form than see the wal
dripping and the floor wet. - Goo
Words. '-.