Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-05-18

eieCuIC IMPULSES, ana the success of
| the system is found in the ability of
the inductive force to pass through in
situations which electric currents cannot
penetrate. A wire may be blown
down and in contact with the earth.
yet as long as it is not broken it will
carry phonophoric message. BY
means of the phonophore, messages
can be transmitted with great rapidity,
and there is practically no limit to the
number of kilograms that can be sent
simultaneously on the same wire A
wire which is conveying electric signals
can at the same time be used for tele-
phonic conversation without interior.
ence. The phOnophore, says Practical
Electricity, offers great possibilities in
the way of cheapening the cost of tele-
| grams.
/, Were it not for the general state of
| decentralization into which quarantine
matters have fallen, says the Electrical
World. it would create surprise that
no attempt has been made to connect
the cholera ships. or at least those con-
tanning cabin passengers, with the
shore by telephone or telegraph. This
is perfectly feasible, and there are
light-ships thus connected, while buoys
are supplied with electric lights by
means of cables under water. Had
authority been in less autocratic and
wiser hands the probabilities are that
suggestions to this end would have
been acted upon, or the federal author
tiles would have had the work done by
| the lighthouse board, which has had
| practical experience in the matter. 1t
is to be hoped that when matters get
Strengthened out the attempt will be
made, and hereafter the necessary ma
terial kept on hand to connect with
pest ships.
| Pugilism may yet be raised above
the brutal personal encounters which
now mark its exhibitions and disgust
! refined folk. by the invention of an
electrical appliance which measures
the force and velocity of the pugilist's
blow. The principle adopted is similar
| to that involved in measuring the
| swiftness of bullets. The time may
come, it is suggested, when fistic en-
counters will be decided by points, each
man doing his fighting in his own
| training quarters. 1t would resolve
itself into a matter Of calculation, in
volving absolute and relative factors;
the speed of the striker, the agility of
the strikee, the average scientific skill,
the state of health, the power of endu-
rance and the amount of grit of the
contestants would all be accurately de-
termined beforehand, nd the result of
the fight would be foregone conclu-
sion.
Prof. Vernon Boy recently lectured
to large audience in Edinburg on
Electric spark photogra ply" He ex-
planned that by the electric spark ar
ticles moving at the rate of 10000
miles an hour can be photographed,
and by the Introduction of revolving
mirror a speed of 10000 miles an hour
can be COPIED with. The mirror makes
1924 turns every second, worked by
electricity, which is equal to about $50
times as fast as a rife bullet travels.
The whole Photographic power of the
spark is over ia the time equal to the
ten or eleventh millionth part of a Sc
cond, and it is during that incredibly
brief space that the image is made on
the sensitive plate.
For the protection Of chimney shafts
weighing four pounds per yard is said
to be the most efficient conductor.
There is no necessity for the expense Of
insulators, which, it is asserted, are
useless on lightning conductors, and the
cable may be fastened direct to the
chimney by staples or small eyebolts.
Connection should be made with a
cast-iron plate at the top of the chin
ney, and a good plan is to tap in one
eyebolt, and then solder the cable to
the eyebolt.
A three-seated electrical carriage is
a conspicuous object in the streets Of
Chicago nowadays. One remarkable
thing noted in connection with it's run
ming is that less expenditure of power
is required on Belgian block than on
the smooth asphalt The popular i'm
preston undoubtedly is that haulage
OF the asphalt is the easiest and that
on the Belgian block the hardest, but
experience with the electric carriage
disproves this.
The recent application of electricity to
tanning in France has resulted in reduc-
ing the time of tanning a large oxhide
from 16 to IS months in pit tanning,
and from five to six months in liquor
tanning, to SO hours in both cases and
also does away with continuous hand
labor and the disagreeable odor so
characteristic of tanneries. Electricity
seems in some unccountable way to
accelerate the absorption Of the tan
ming by the hide.
A recent improvement in arc-light
pencils consists Of wire cloth con-
tanning no carbon, but coated with
chromate of any kind. These chro-
mates are non conductig, but the metal
cloth starts the arc and the intense
heat reduces the chromate to a chro-
mate of the metal used. These pencils
burn at the rate Of one-eight Of an inch
an hour when the current Is properly
controlled.
An improvement in cable telegraphy
has been brought about by the inven-
tion IF q carbon relav for submarine