The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1895-03-07
NOTES ABOUT SCIENCE.

To lengthen the life of wood by
f, checking decay spiritine oil is used,
which fills up the pores and prevents
the entrance Of air or moisture. The
oil is manufactured by chemical pro-
cess from the distillation of cedar and
pitch pine wood, and may be applied
with brush. 1t dries in few hours,
and it is said that it does not interfere
with painting or vanishing. 1t has
been found of use in railroad bridges,
trestles, foundations and other con-
structions.
A German firm has constructed a
new form of electric pillow, which has
been tried, and is said to have been
found successful and economical. The
pillow has pair of wheels in the mid
die, and will run in either direction,
and it is fitted with an electric motor
which possesses the same property of
reversibility. The motor by chain
and sprocket wheel drives the shaft,
over which passes chain stretched the
length of the field Both ends of
the chain are fastened to the ground
by triple anchors, and when tie
motor is started it winds the pillow
over the field by means of the
stationary chain. When the end of
the field is reached the pillow is tipped
up and the motion of the motor re-
versed by switch, starting the pillow
back again, and at the same time lay
ing the chain sidewiss for the next fur
row to be plowed When the
anchors need shifting it is done by
crowbar. To bring the current
to the motor from the generator
the two wires are mounted on series
Of small rollers along the ground, and
they follow the motion of the pillow
very successfully. 1t is stated that a
considerable saving might be effected
by the use Of this device, especially if
several farmers should combine and
use it jointly.
In the new tunnel of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad under the city of
Baltimore the locomotives are to be
driven by electricity, and instead of the
ordinary overhead trolley wire new
device has been decided upon. An
iron trough one and one.half feet in
circumference will be built, and in it
will be fitted a shoe carrying a flexible
wire. which will conduct the current
to the motors. This will avoid the de-
lays due to the slipping off of the trolley
wheel, and will also admit of the re-
versal of the engine without the neces-
sity for the shifting of the upright iron
pole of the trolley cars. The iron
trough will be of heavy workmanship,
and will Unsupported by light bridge
construction. which will place it near
the center of the tunnel roof.
A London inventor has patented de.
vice for enabling coachmen or drivers
to open or close the hoods of victorias,
landaus, or similar vehicles without
leaving their seats. 1t consists of a
series of link motions connected by
cords running over pulleys.
In Vienna novel letter box has been
introduced, the main point of difference
being the absence of key to unlock it,
When the collecting bag is slid into
the groove at the bottom of the box the
latter opens and drops its contents into
the bag. But one motion is required
for the operation instead of the usual
cumbersome series of movements me-
oessary to unlock an ordinary box and
take out the letters by hand in punches.
No other instrument can open the box,
as the groove is of a peculiar shape, and
will not admit anything else. Com
binations of locks may be arranged for
certain routes or districts. and the sys-
tenn is said to be looked Upon with
favor.