The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-06-10
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

| Granite is the lowest rock in the
earth's crust. 1t is the bedrock of the
world. 1t shows no evidence of animal
or vegetable life. 1t is from two to ten
times as thick as the united thickness
of all the other rocks. 1t is the parent
rock from which all other rocks have
been either directly or indirectly de-
rived.
| AT a meeting of Berlin paperhang-
ers it was shown that only $4,000 out of
the 200,0 900 German journeymen joiners
belonged to the Joiners' Trade union.
The Bricklayers' Trade union numbered
barely 5000, the total of the shoemak-
ers' was hardly worth mentioning, and
only the printers and potters have
strong unions.
| 1t is impossible to fill glass COM
pletely with any liquid, from rim to
center The most common fuids-such
as water, milk, or spirit-are attracted
from the sides of the vessel into which
they are placed, so that they arise
around the brina, leaving hollow in
the middle.
| The longest cataleptic sleep known
to medical science has been attracting at
tention in Germany. The latest report
states that the mana miner of Silesia
had been unconscious four and a half
months, with no unnatural appearance
except absolute rigidity of the limbs.
During this time the patients hair has
grown, but his beard has remained
stationary. Food is given by tube.
| Lime water has tendency to make
childen grow, and in countries where
the drinking water is heavily impreg-
mated with it the men are apt to
be tall 1T is now used very extensively
in the milk for children, but it should
not be restricted to children. For
| perfect sanitary diet, alkaline water is
needed for every person who eats heav-
| lily of meat, and this means nearly
everybody excepting the vegetarians.
"A letter from Alaska contains an
account of several projects for the de-
velopment of the Alaskan coal mines,
and it also says that gold-mining will
| be actively prosecuted there this sum-
mer The Alaska fisheries are growing
in Importance, and there is an immense
supply of Alaska salmon, for the can
ming of which a trust was recently
formed. The Alaslians have petitioned
congress for ad appropriation of s25, 200
to build pack trail across the Chilkat
Pass-N. Y. Sun.
The four largest paper machines in
the world are under construction in
Worcester, Mass, for the new paper
mill at Rumford Falls, Me. One is 1876
inches wide, two 125 inches each, and
one IL inches. More than a thousand
mechanics and laborers will be employed
this summer i'll building up the new
manufacturing town of Rumford Falls,
and the factories now building will,
| when completed, furnish employment
| for 1000 hands.
While the pine tree is no longer the
backbone of Names lumber industry,
there is a surprising quantity of that
timber in the state. About 80, 00O, 900
feet of pine are surveyed in the docks of
Bangor every year. and although much
of it is second growth or sapling pine
there is liberal sprinkling of the old
time forest monarchs. Even along the
coast are patches of good merchantable
plHC, anu DOA-HdhcT, WHO
uses 10000 feet annually, gets his sup
ply from within ten miles of that seaport.
The burdens put upon German in
dustry as the result Of the workmen's
Insurance are heavy. In the mining
| industry more than 26,000,000 of marks
| were paid into the sick fund during 1890,
$4,000, 900 being contributed by the mas
tiers, and the contributions for 1891 are
still greater. In 1891 about $500, 900
marks were paid into the accident in
surance fund. The old age insurance
fund required $500, 900 marks, the own
ers being obliged to pay half. The en-
ployers, therefore, have to subscribe
more than $1,000, 900 for the benefit of
the workmen, or S13 head.
In discussion on diphtheria, pub
lished in the British Medical Journal,
DIR. Russell cited several instances in
which steam had seemed to be an active
factor in the propagation of the disease.
Hot water and steam from brewery
were introduced into some old cesspools
and evidently Weakened into activity
germs which, if undisturbed, would have
remained dormant. An epidemic of
diphtheria soon developed in the vicinity,
and was not checked until the steam
was turned into other channels, when
it quickly ceased. If, as we now be-
lieve, the bacillus of diphtheria de-
velops with special rapidity in the pres
ence of warmth and moisture and alb
sence of light, it is not unreasonable to
suppose that the introduction of hot
water or steam into cesspools or sewers
may be most dangerous procedure
| Scientific American
| Two Wicked Women.
One of the most inveterate gamblers
of any royal or imperial family in
Europe is the Grand Duchess Vladimir