The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-06-26
NOTES ON SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.
By some German chemists tests have been

cohnecVcu WIFI t1e CneWlCal CoInDoSltlon OF
the coal. with especial relation to the richness
OF the coal in what lie called disposablc hydro
gen. or that proportion OF 1t which Is in excess
OF the quantity required to form water with
the oxygen present 1t has recently been ns-
serted. however. that such a standard for tho
coking quality In coal does not correspond
sample OF coke In carbon. determine its
specimens Of coal o.. practically identical car
bon composition will often bo found to behave
is argued. therefore,, that. II tho property Of
hydrogen or tho fixed carbon. 1t is certainly
not to be found in the content Of the coal In
Tx aNsg wnfh ewes no b 81
Some coking Goals coke, without much swell
ing. whie others swell to y considerable ex-
coal must undergo q stage of fusion. in which
isbccomes u thick. semi-nuid mass. through
which tho gus escapes.
Needles intended for use In book sewing
machines nre now being made with n penc-
tratinE point to be forced outwardly through
the fold OF the signature. and with n hook into
which a thread Is laid and drawn by the hook
down into the signature. for tia reception OF
threads or loops passing lonRtndinal!y within
tho signature. In these machines the pcnc-
trating hook receives movement at right
angles to tho bar upon which tn" signature OF
folded sheet Is laid: then. after the loop Of
thread has bccn drawn down into the sigma
hook in o h"s s the 10 r may
not DO retained by the hook andDroken by thu
doTn nv movement Of ths sheet holding bar
OF machines for such work n hook closer or
cast,oT has heen made use Of. receiving, II
hook OF the noodle: but in this improved de-
vice. the cast on is made to operate auto
the hook pontei nsse wlthiS tie shsat
hol dinE bar receives tho proper movement. tho
cast-oif automatically throwing Off the loop
from tho hook OF tho needle.
The opinion has recently been expressed by no
less a scientist than Prof. c. A. Young that the
most important piece Of work OF late In the line
OF solar spoctroscopy Is PROFESSIONALLY Row
lands comparison Of tho solar spectrum with
the spectra OF the various chemical elements.
mado with instruments OF so much greater
power, too. than was formerly possible. result
ing thus in increasing tho number OF elements
recognized rs present In the sun. ard also in
increasing the number OF the limos identified
rs belonging to tho spectra OF the elements
previously known. y large majority OF tho
lines of the solar spectrum are now thus iden-
titled. AMI no less than thirty-six Of tho tor
restrial elements arc recognized with GER
tainty in the sun. vii ile eight remain doul ttul
and fifteen fail to give any evidence OF their
presence after tho most careful search. OF tho
sixteen elements added by this Investigation
to the former list the most important are car
in tho sun Of tho newly discovered and rare
metal germanium Is likewise int crcsting: gal
lilm 10 yet remains in the list OF tho nntried.
The most conspicuous OF the absent clements
are enumerated In tn" following order: nitro
gen sulrhMr. phosphorus. mercury. antimony.
amined are oxygen. bromine. chlorine, iodine,
and huorine.
An interesting arrangement OF pneumatic
mechanism for tho production OF high-cass
music has recently been exhibited. Tho in
strument has two and onc-ilfth sets Of recds.
the regular notion Of tho air grooves being
located above. and on top OF tho board con-
tanning these is u row Of small pneumatics cor
responding in number to the keys OF tho in
strument: underneath this board arc four
other. and. from an arm on each OF these pneu-
mntics. hangs a wire attached to n lever oper-
or wooden rods. connecting tho keys OF tho in
strument with the reed board valves. Hy
les. the movement Of the valves becomes auto
matte. subjectto hernssaGe over tho al rhoard
Of perforated paper; peculiar CHARACTERISTIC
which distinguishes it from all other APP
pinncos of the kind. is its adaptability for run
to the gn wn %Ren Ss and the
in operation. the keyhoard becomes thing OF
life. keys dropping with the, exact rapidity re-
uuired by the selection rendered.
A peculiar quality OF iron rust has lately been
suggested. as tho result OF certain investign-
TONS which Is OF special economic i'm
portance. the fact being based upon the fol-
lowing ascertaned phenomena When oxide
OF iron is placed in contact with timber cx-
cludcd from the atmosphere. and aided by n
slightly increased temperature. the oxide will
part with its oxygen and DO converted into
very finely divided particles of metallic iron
having such an affinity for Oxygen that. when
nftcrward exposed to the action OF the ntnus-
n u, nm "a n tG nj ~ L.
denly rcd hot. and. il in sufficient ui,antty.
milton point OF dry timber. 1t is suggested.
therefore that wherever iron pipes are ON
n,ioyed for tho circulation Of any heated me-
dium. whether hot water. hot air. or steam,
and tho pipes allowed to become rusty. in close
contact With timber; it Is only necessary to
particles OF metallic iron become exposed to
the action OF the atmosphere. md this may &C.
cur from tho mere c.i pansion or contraction Of
the pipes. in order to account for many OF the
fires at the commencement Of the season.
1t would appear from the pu blishcd accounts
that an apparently large and very rich grain
OF graphite has been located in Providence.
Il. l.. tho vein. according to representations.
varying in width from ton to forty-nve feet.
Its exact length not yet admitting OF detcr-
Commencing with product OF
about four tons per day. an equipment has
been provided OF u character and scale equal
to an output of some one hundred tons or So
daily. There is no similar min" in the East
which has proved SO prolific as this Is thought
likely to- and the Eureka mine. 4 large "stab-
lisnmcnt III Sonora. Cal. yields but ono thou
sand tons per month. The product Of tho
lhodo Island mns has been employed with
much satisfaction Mt the West for foundry fac
ing. and for painting. purposes tho material Is
found to answer valuable purpose
A valuable practical device is that which has
lately been brought to notice by "a French in
ventor, designed to facilitate rope climbing.
while mt the same time permitting the climber
to have free use o! his hands. Tho apparatus
consists Of two boards. joined by hinge. with
u hole passing through both the hinge and tho
boards. and the cXtremitcs OF the latter
provided with straps. which can DO fastened to
the feet o. the man using the apparatus. Tho
method Of climbing involved IN this, arrange
tho boards arc lifted the rorn Is frc". tut tho
moment the feet are pressed down on tho two
boards the rope is firmly, !gripped. 1t is only
necessary; therefore, TO liiL IN, body py both
held by the hinged clamps until another lift is
IN ha ro no tina IA nIS NAV ho lar frna