The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-18
SCIENTIFIC NOTES.


erably exercised over The problem of bow 10
avoid streetcar accidents, IL is interesting to
know that an inventor has something which
he contends will reduce the danger now at
tending travel over cable and electric roads.
He takes the ground that many injuries result
from a lack Of presence OF mind on the part of
the motorman or glipman and lack of means of
doing what should be done instantly and effec-
lively His invention is operated automatically
| upon hinged projecting fender or by the
motOrman al Will. Either method moves the
rod under the car-platf0rm, cuts of The current
or releases The cable, and swings the shoes
down upon the track under the wheels, which
run up slightly on the shoes, blocking the
car 1t is evidently impossible for anything
TO gel under the wheels-a fallen man for in
stance-and it Is equally evident that the car
cannot be more efectually praked, for the
heavier the load the more effective the brakiug.
The shoes on either side of the car may be con-
nected with a light wire fender TO keep any
Thing from getting under the body of the car.
or il preferred, the usual board fender may be
fastened directly upon The shoes. The mechan-
ism al the point directly under the front of the
body OF the car, where the rod running from
The hinged fender connects with the rod run
ming 10 the shoes is a simple lever for the Dur-
pose of obtaining greater movement and of
throwing the weight of me shoes upon a dead
center, IL being kept there by slight spring.
This arrangement keeps the shoes in their
proper position when raised, offers a ready
adjustment both as to movement of parts and
delicacy Of action and prevents any operation
except in the manner appointed. The shoes
may be lowered as already stated, or by the
mOtorman by means OF the lever upon the plat
FORM The handle of this lever is so arranged
as 10 drop into slot to prevent it being turned
accidentally.
The unusual spectacle, which the twilight
sky has afforded for some time past, Of the ex-
ceedingly bright evening stars. Jupiter and
Venus, came TO an end on the 10th inst. with
the inferior conjunction Of Venus On that
date the last-named planet was only %, 440,0
miles from the earth, and, being directly be-
tween US and the sun, presented a face entirely
uHilluminated After the 18th inst. it began
TO pass 10 the outer rim of the sun. 1t now be-
comes morning star, visible in The early
dawn. During her recent comparative pTOx-
unity TO the earth Venus became so brilliant
that she could be seen in the clear sky with the
naked eye by any one knowing just where to
look for her, She was our nearest neighbor
among the planets. Jupiter, which appeared
10 be her companion in the evening sky, was in
reality over 4OO, 900, 900 miles away from US.
his superior size and great luster enabling him
10 appear 10 advantage even in such company.
He Ia the laI gest Of the planets. and exceeds in
size thousand earths or thousand Venuses.
A timber known as bilIiaD. which grows
plentifully in Borneo, is said 10 be unaffected
by water as far dimensions are concerned
either by absorbing it or losing il by evapOra-
ton. Ii weighs 60 pounds per cubic foot and
has a breaking strain ]. 62 times that of Eng
lish oak, while Its weight is only per cent
greater Compared with Burmese teak ii is 60
per cent stronger and IL per cent heavier. 1t
is hard durable wood Of dark brown color.
bpPOmaS a
with long exposure it becomes as black as
ebony. Bllian or Borneo wood resIsts the
teredO nayalls and the white ant and is almost
indesrructble It's breaking stain Is the
highest of any known wood, and it is extern
siyely used as sleepers, plies and for any CON
structlon requiring strength and durability.
a gigantic microscope is being constructed in
Munich. 1t has magnifying power of 1 900
diameters.swhlch can be increased to 16, 900
by means OF an electric light, the image being
thrown on a screen. In order that the heat of
the lamp may occasion no expansion to the
metallic portions OF the 'armature and cOnse-
quenTly displsce the focus of the lenses,
bronze cylinder containing liquid earbolc acid
Is so arranged that little liquid escapes when
the temperature reaches a certain point, and
by its evaporation reduces the armalure TO a
normal temperature.
The adoption of a smOkeless powder in the
italian army is likely to prove costly, as it is
reported 10 have irreparabIy damaged a large
Il lumber Of guns. Ii has produced such an
efeci upon The bores of the guns that some 500
have already been condemned, and it is esti.
mated that the expense necessary to restore
the Italian field artillery 10 its former state of
efficiency will reach eS.0OOOOO If these re-
ports are well founded smOkeess powder
which has been regarded as a most important
invention, will have 10 be relegated 10 desue-
tude.
A new process of rainmaking has been
brought 10 the attention Of the Academic DIES
Sciences by NJ. Baudoin, who holds that cleo
tricity man aims the water in the clouds in
small drops, and that II the electricity be dis
charged the water will come down. Granting
that This were true NJ. Baudoin's plan would
only be effective where there are clouds 1t
would scarcely operate in New Mexico and Ari-
IONA, where for months at a time there is not a
cloud IN the sky as big as a mans hand.
An inventor has offered to tie Spanish Gov
eminent for 100000 pesetas his invention Of
an automaton soldier made OF forged iron
capable OF firing forty shots minute The
machine is manipulated by electricity. The
London exchange which made this announce
ment, apparently in good faith, failed TO ex-
plain in what respect the automaton soldier
would be more available in war than any other
shooting deyice-the Calling gun for instance.
A Belgian engineer has evolved project for
an aerial castle for the Antwerp Exposition. 1t
is 10 be an immense composite balloon, consist
ing Of six parts, which are To be held captive
at height of 1000 feet. 1t is 10 be reached
by elevators. ana 10 have a cafe observa-
tories, etc. This is one castle in the air, and
like others Ii remains TO be seen.
The ships which will hereafter be built for
use on the recently constructed Manchester
canal Will have what are called telescope
masts. The lower nasts are of hollow steel and
the topmasts of wood. When the ship passes
bridges the topmasts can be lowered into the