The Bossier banner., 1893-12-07
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

IIlc MI H6SG inquire ever redCn6O, IL rep
resenting 8, 72O, 900 baskets of that fruit.
According to the census figures,
the silk manufacturing industry in
this country has grown wonderfully in
the past ten years. In 1890 goods to
the value of $4,000, 900 were turned
out, as against S34, 500, 900 in 1880. The
number of hands employed here also
increased from about $1,000 to 81, 200,
and the number of spindles have ex-
panded from sos. 1877 to l, ,254, T9S. Chi
cago Herald.
The creature most tenacious of
life is the common sea polyp. One may
be cut in two, and two creatures are
the result. One may be slit length
wise into half dozen sections, maxi
ing as many animals. They may be
turned inside out and enjoy themselves
just as we'll as before; if two be di-
vided and placed end to end, the result
will be monster having a head at
each end of it's body.
The chief of the bureau of statis-
tics at Washington reports that for the
nine months ending September 80, 1898,
as compared with the corresponding
period last year, the total value of the
exports of breadstuffs showed de-
crease of $50, S92, ,617; of provisions,
decrease of $50, $40, 800; of mineral oils,
an increase of $685. 1888. The value of
the exports of cotton for September,
1898, were $215, 430 less than in Septem-
Der, 1892.
The British consul-general at Bang
kok in his last report mentions that
much progress was made with the con-
struction of the Bangkok Korat rail-
road during 1892, and the first sod was
cut by the king of Siam on March 9.
The line is 165 miles in length. 1t is
to be equipped as frst-class line,
gauge feet SO inches; weight of rails
so pounds per yard. There are to be
1873 bridges with abutments and piers
of brick masonry, and superstructure
of steel.
Some statistics as to the prevalence
of morphinomania in France, recently
published by NJ. Lacassagne, show that
the destructive habit finds large pro.
portion of its victims among members
of the medical profession. OF 545 NOR
phinomaniacs as to whom he was able
to procure information, 2S9 were doc
tors. 1t is we'll known that several of
the most distinguished men of the pro.
fession in Germany who have died in
recent years were devotees of the fatal
drug.-New York Medical Record.
Some interesting experiments have
been conducted within the last twelve
years regarding the durability of Indian
timber. The tests were made by the
forest school of Dehra, and out of forty
different specimens of the trunks fixed
in the ground as posts only three have
survived the attacks of rot and white
ants These were the Himalaya cy-
press, teak and anjan, which have been
exposed for ten, nine and seven years
respectively.
Among the modern economies of
the iron industry is the utilization of
blast furnace Stag for paving blocks.
The manufacture of these blocks has
become a staple industry, and the prod
uot is said to be cheaper than granite
or other natural stone. The blocks are
made and annealed by simple process
and are coming into favor for street
paving purposes. About 100, 900 blocks
per week are being made by an English
firm. These have a value of about
1925 per ton. Their dura bility as we'll
as their low cost is in their favor.-Age
of Steel.
From a communication read to the
Association of Belgian Chemists, it
seems that continental bakers are in
the habit of mixing soap with their
dough to make their bread and pastry
nice and light. The quantity of soap
used varies greatly. In fancy articles,
like waffles and fritters, it is much
larger than in bread. The soap is dis
solved in little water; to this is added
some oil, and the mixture, after being
well whipped, is added to the -four.
The crumb of the bread manufactured
by this process is said to be lighter and
more spongy than that made in the
ordinary way.-Scientific American.
"A photographer of Atlantic City,
N. j., Mr.. Shaw, produces a photo
graph at single exposure which gives
five different images of the same per-
son in different positions. This is ac-
complished by placing the sitter be-
tween two mirrors placed at an angle
of As degrees to each other. The double
reflection between these mirrors pro-
duces four images of the person placed
in front of them, the principle being
the same as that of an ordinary kalei-
doscope. The original face is made in
profile and the reflections give the full
face, opposite profile, and two rear
views. The result is curious and inter-
esting, and, it has been suggested,
would be useful in identifying crimi-
nals.-Popular Science News.
"A scientific journal tells this story
| of frogs cunning: "A brood OF
chickens was fed with moistened meal
in saucers, and when the dough soured
little it attracted large number Of
| flies. An observant toad had evidently
noticed this, and every day toward
evening he would make his appearance
in the yard, hop to saucer, climb IN
and roll over and over until he was
covered with meal, having done which
he awaited developments The flies
enticed by the smell, soon swarme'
Il