The Portland daily press., 1895-11-09
FACTS FOR TRiE CURIOUS.
Varied Information contained in Short
Paragraphs.

Varied Information Contained in short
Paragraphs.
kThe peculiar statement is made by M.
Bauchier, in LIE Revue Maritime ct Col
oniale, that corrosion of metals by water
may be caused by the action of m1croor-
ganisms present i'll particular harbors,
but absent in the ooea2'. 1t appears that
the fact, as ascertained, of pure aluml-
mum plates immersed in Norfolk Roads
being badly.corroded att the end of three
months, while in France commeclal
aluminium subjected to the same test was
practically untouched, and two plates at
tached to the bottom of ship were un-
injured after voyage around the world,
LED him to investigate the sea water from
different places with the following re-
suits, as stated. If introduced into boil
ers, the Mediterranean water, which con-
tains more salt than the Atlantic water,
causes more damage, so does the water
taken from estuaries and near the shore,
which contains larger proportion of
nitrates from fermenting organic matter.
The destructive power of the shore water
is much reduced, however, if it be steril-
lied by means of boiling
The authorities of Berlin, says a writer
in Hardwood, have concluded after q
period of Investigations and tests covering
period of fifteen years or more, to main
tain the wood pavements where there are
horse car lines, and have already paved
with wood some $1,000 square metres,
using for the purpose nearly three and
one-half million blocks, or fifty two
blocks to the square metre. The tests
mprised forty two streets, squares and
bridges, and of the woods used 70, 00O
square metres were paveda with German
nine. Is, 600 with Swedish pine, and about
the same quantity with beech; 10, 900
with American yellow pine, and small
er surface with American cypress The
wood pavement. it is also stated, has
proved superior to asphalt in Paris, ex-
cept for the boulevards and pleasure
drives, and, as in Berlin, is preferred on
streets subject to great wagon trafnc.
The greater part of the wood used for
paving by the Partisan authorities IS
spruce from the Department of Landes,
some foreign woods being also used,
among which is one from Anam called
ciem, so heavy as to weigh l, 200 Kilograms
per cubic metre, or about double the
eight of red gum: The Australian jar
rah has also been tried, and a species OF
rubber tree, the wood of which weighs
about 1, 100 kilogram per cubic metre;
and karrah has also been added to the
list. and a species of wood from Java.
The results of observations of lightning
and the damage and destruction 1t causes
are given in a pamphlet issued by the
Weather Bureau at Washington. Among
the curious facts noted is that the old
theory that lightning never strikes twice
in the same place does not hold goou.
Many instances are cited where lightning
has struck in the same place not only
twice, but several times. Another sin
gular fact is that barns in the country,
which appear to be favorite marks Tor
Iightning, are seldom struck at thu sea-
suffer most when they are filled. just al
ter harvest time.
1t is shown by the records that in June,
1894, ninety-six persons were killed by
lightning in this country and lO2 severe
ly injured, while numerous COWS, sheep
and goats were knocked down and prop
erty DESTROYED worth $3.50, 900. But in
November of the same year only one
dwelling was struck. The hot SUNNI or
months are the favorite seasons for the
lightning to play. Some States are more
affected than others. New York State
leads in the record of barns struck dur
ing 1892, Pennsylvania coming next and
Michigan third. In 1892 the damage
from fires caused by lightning amounted
to nearly So, 900, 900 in the United States,
and in no single year since the figures
have been kept has the loss been less than
81, 100000.
During the five years the Weather Blu
reau has been keeping these records l ,12O
persons have been killed by lightning in
this country, making an average of 224
per year. During ten years 1879 churches
have been struck. The fact is noted that
a building may be seriously damaged
without having been struck at all. This
is done through electric induction, and
the case of the Hotel de Vile. at Brus-
sells, is cited, as a fire was caused there by
lightning, when it was supposed to be the
best protected building in the world.
The final triumph of the bicycle ovel
the horse is foreshadowed. if il
has not actually been accomplished, on 6
big farm near Wellington, Kan. One o.
the young men is an expert bicycle rider,
and he usually rides his machine wheI
driving his cattle to pasture or to the
barns. He is able to scoroh around ovel
the level prairie and control the hero
with great ease. Maybe the cowboy anc
his hroncho are soon to be but q memory