The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-06-05
POPULAR SCIENCE

eighty feet thick, the thickest vein on
earth.
Recent experiments in Queensland
have shown that mother-of-pearl shells
can be made TO produce pearls artificany.
The only purely platinum minein exis-i
tence has been discovered in Oregon.
This mineral elsewhere occurs in con-
junction with other minerals.
The experiments made in England
with view to determine the value OF
vertical signaling by means Of the elec-
trio light have proved complete sue.
cess.
The asteroids now number 31S. The
last seven we're discovered between Au-
gust % and September II, four of them
By Charlois at Nice, and three by Palisa
at Vienna.
A mangrove plant has been success
fully grown in the University of Penn.
sylvania. Hitherto it has been found
impossible to grow this plant away from
the ocean.
An instrum ent invented at George.
town ID. C.) College, known as the pho.
electromagnetic, is said to record with
absolute accuracy and precision the time
occupied by star in its transit across
the meridian.
Professor Virchow Is the originator of
the cell.growth theory Of disease, which
mas been characterized "the most impor-
tant step in pathology" of the period, in
that it has ''i4tle less than revolutionized
pathological study"
Slips for the broadside docking Of
vessels have been built at three of the
principal ports of France. By this means
vessels are to be hauled out Of the water
without straining, and the cost is less
than by the ordinary means Of placing in
dry dock. .
There is train on the Central Rail.
road of New Jersey that runs but twice
a year and is called the "stove train. !"
In the spring it collects all the stoves
along the line and in. the fall the train
gang puts them up again after they have
been repaired and renovated.
Humboldt estimated that Asia stands
at an average height of 1150 feet above
the level of the ocean; South America,
1130; North America, 750; Europe,
$40 feet. The average height Of all
the land above sea level-omitting Africa
and Australia, which are mostly south Of
the equator-is about 800 feet.
a Norwegian farmer mas devised q
curious lock, in which the bolt is released
by stroke from a pendulum bob. The
pendulum, invisible from the outside, is
moved sufficiently by blowing sharply
several times through hole in the door,
but the puffs of air can be given at the
proper time only by swinging key
pendulum previously adjusted to 7ibrate
in unison with. the lock pendulum. .,
The waste OF paper and pulp mllis
near West Troy, N. Y, Is being util.
lied as the basis Of a new fuel, which ls
said to be of much value. The waste as
it comes from the mills Is nearly pure
carbon, and by cleansing and chemical
treatment it is converted into form
that permits of nearly perfect combus-
ton. It is said to burn rapidly, with
intense heat and with little Of the un..
pleasant features attendant upon the use
of bituminous coal. +
Any one who has made trip to sea
has seen the ingenious propeller-shaped
appliance which is thrown overheard at
the end of long cord, and by means Of
which the officers get an approximate
idea of their speed. This is not new
idea, for in ancient times the Romans
had similar appliance for ascertaining
their rate OF progress ut sea. They
dragged little paddle wheels behind their
ships, the revolutions of which enabled
them to estimate the distance which the
ship had travelled.
A new electric light support has been
designed especially for use around
benches in machine shops and under
variods conditions when light that Is
adjustable to any desired position re-
ouired. The extensible lamp.supporting
arm is hung by ball-and-socket joint
from the ceiling and set screw regu-
lates the friction on the ball at the upper
end OF the first rod, to which is adjusta-
hly attached rod upon which the lamp
supporting and current-conducting wire
is secured. This device can be used
,o,o1l1 1polI IN uall hrackets