The sun., 1896-09-27

running up the hhaft, drove electric MOTORS ana
in this way ali steam machinery was dispensed
with, the expensive cost of all fuel avoided, and
the entire pumping machinery done away with.
But, more than this, the entire stamping and pit
head mills could be worked by the water at great
financial saving.
Improvements have been made in wood nbro by
Otto II. Schwartz. nm architect of Munich, Ger.
many, which he claims give TO such nbre n spe'
cial adaptation and value building material
and we'll worth the attention of all who arc In.
terested in building and architecture. The sub
stance is made OF wood nbro impregnnted anti.
septically in combination with mortar stucco.
manufactured by a new and peculiar process, or in
combination with mortar Of Roman cement, and
has proved, says lie Echo Forester, of great
strength and durability. The necessity of con.
structing partition walls In upper stories when
they do not exist on the lower floors has led TO
various inventive resorts for supporting such
walls either by means Of castron pillars or with
iron beams. Very light materials for partitions arc
also used such walls Of ron wirc laths OF cane,
&C.. but to all these, It is claimed to have been
proved by abundant experiments, the planks, the
slabs, and even the wainscottng OF the Schwartz
wood fabric, superior. Furthermore. they arc
described being incombustible able to be worked
in the manner and with tho same tools az
ordinary wood, and are bad conductors OF heat,
cold, and sound.
In a series OF papers contributed to Engineering
by Du Richie Preler on lighthouses la Europe the
remarkable statement is made that the luminous
range of a light OF 900, 900 candle power in the
Mediterranean forty four miles, is equal to that OF
5000, 900 candles in the Channel equal to n ratio
OF to ten; hence, is added, that, with the ex'
ceptiou OF the electric flashing light OF Planter,
near Marseles, of 600, 900 candle power, the most
powerful mineral oil lights recently installed .on
the French, corscan, Algerian, and Tunisian
candle power, having luminous range OF about
thirty miles in average weather. On the other
hand, in the Channel and in the Bay OF Biscay the
largest mineral oil lights have luminous powers
up TO about 900 900, and the electric lightning
fash lights UP to 22 800, 900 and 81 900 can.
dies. Further, the maximum light of French light
house towers, that is. the height of the focus
above ground. varies from about nifty To seventy
meters; but some towers are, of course on very
ele lated Positions that taking the height of tho
focus above the level, the highest light. that
of Capo Brearn, is 75l fcet above the highwatcr
sea level, while its luminous power is 5000 can.
dies and its luminous range TWENTY-FIVE miles; this
light is an oil light, and the geographical range or
direct visibility OF such LIGHTS high elevations 10
usually in excess OF their luminous range-the re-
OF this. however. being commonly the case
with electric coast lights.
Mcroscopical Investigation is said to prove that
the pores Of wood invite the passage OF moisture
in the direction OF the timber's growth. but repel
H. in the opposite direction, and this is supposed
account for the phenomenon which has been so
often noticed and which is commonly mystery,
namely, the fact OF two pieces OF timber sawn
from the snme section of a tree. sometimes appear
ing to possess very variable degrees OF durability.
1t is found that II the wood, say, OF gate post,
Is placed right end up the moisture In the soli
will affect 1t. hut the rain falling on the top will