The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-31
VOTES ON SCIENCE AND IND i.

VOTES ON SCIENCE AND IND USTRr.
Az the Geographical Congress in London re-.
Gently, several distinguished geographers expressed
their opinion that the Typographical map sheets
issued by theunited states were the nnest OF their
class produced by any nation. rs illustrating the
scicntlnc and mechanical completeness charactcriz.
Ing this work, II Ia pointed out that all water fea.
lures are IN blue. the hills are in brown. contour
lines show topographic forms and heights, while
names, roads. towns, &c. are In black: the next
sheet In the course is the same basal map overprinted
with the geological colors. showing the surface,
extent, and position In the embraced area Of the
various rock formations. This sheet is entitled aerial
geology, and the next map Of the same area Is
known as economic geology. and differs from the
preceding chiefly in the fact that the rock masses,
which are OF special Importance from their yield OF
iron. gold, &C., are printed In strong and the Other
rocks In subdued colors. These two maps show
the surface only, and are succeeded by one termed
structure sections. representing the under forma-
tions, perhaps half a mile. more or less. indicating
what has been learned about that deeper portion
II the earth's crust. The sheet following this ia q
diagram devoted to an exhibit OF columnar sec.
lions, and illustrating the geological age and thick.
ness OF the rock masses under Investigation.
Treating OF the methods and mechanisms now in
vogue in the production OF veneers, a writer in
Hardwood says that while the finer and thinner
veneers OF costly woods are sliced tangentially
from the side OF the log, there are woods that can
not be cut this Wayne amount OF boiling or steam.
ing rendering It possible TO cut them without break.
ing down the tissues to such an extent as TO de-
stroy their surfaces for polishing-while others.
becoming discolored from steaming or boiling, and
being too hard to cut otherwise, have 10 be sawed.
The nne.toothed. thin gauge circular. with Hanged
centre. is the favorite for cutting all ordinary We.
neers thicker than thirty to the inch; twenty to the
inch is the thickness most commonly used FOR cabi.
net work and finishing. but much thinner is used
in the case OF rare and costly woods. or rare all
normal or accidental figures. asfn the case OF burls.
Some woods have 10 be cut much thicker, being
unable to bear handling when too thin; gen.
utne ebony. the only fine. really %Jet.black
wood known and large enough to :be Of
any use. will not stand saving much below
one-fourth OF an inch in thickness, owing to Its eH.
IRENE brittieness or want OF cohesion; but there
are other woods that can be cut as thin as writing
paper and still be handled in large sheets. other
woods there are that will lose their fine color on
exposure to the atmosphere, especially a smoky one;
these are cut only when Immediately wanted, and
are kept covered until the nnishers can put on a
protective coat OF some preparation.
Details OF Herr Boedecker's ingenious plan for
insuring the noiseless passage OF trains over iron
railway bridges have been explained before the We.
rein fur Observation-Disclosures. 1t consists of a decking of
one and one-fourth inch planks betw cen the cross
girders resting on three.inch tImbers laid on the
bottom hanges. and on these planks a double layer
of felt is placed, fixed to the vertical web OF the cross
girder; at the connections with the girder a tim.
ber'covered Joint Is placed on the felt, and two
hooked bolts connect the whole firmly to the bot.
tom fange OF the cross girder. A depth of four
inches of Stag gravel covers the decking, and the
latter is inclined toward the centre OF the bridge.
small tubes being inserted through the decking
IN n auspenHal NINA for drat A. ~ pur
poses. Great care is essential that the felt lie fixed
TO the girders and drainage tubes. and
an arrangement is made by means OF which only
water and no gravel can pass through into the gut.
n layer OF felt. well asphalted. is also placed be.
tween the planks and the timbers they rest upon
and the iron work in contact with decking and ballast.
S.eam engines intended to run thrashing ma.
chimes. hoist logs onto cars. and do much other
work while stationary. are often so constructed
that they can propel themselves from place to
place. In travelling from place % place. however.
engines are often compelled to run over
rough roads or land. and, as they are
heavier than ordinary vehicles, the difficulties pre-.
sentei are sometimes hard to surmount. 1t being
to apply the driving power only to the
wheels. It is now proposed to make the for.
ward wheels also draw, in which case. IL Is claimed,
the engine would be more nearly In the condition
Of a horse having calks on all four shoes 1; stead OF
en- MS nina Feet merely, anu could therefore get
along better. Furthermore. II is expected TO divide
the wear ard strain ami make the machine last
longer. another desirable result being increased
safety and convenience in crossing bridges. This
matter has been made n subject OF prolonged study
and experiment by J. Mosiman OF Falls City, Neb.,
claims TO have devised a way OF transmitting
power from the rear to the front wheels.
The testing machine employed at the Government
works. WatpFtpwn. Mass. Is Described as NJ nha-
lomenal power In Determining the strength of
metals, being capable OF cNcrtins a pull OF one mil.
ion pounds. and IL utilized for ascertaining the
point OF elastic limit and the breaking point. I'm any
'ase whatever; thus, by fixing a piece OF silk thread
% II. II will record the exact force required 60 snap
sven such a trifie, or n an egg be placed le%ngthwise
the lathe-like points, the machine will
rack It after exertins a crushing force OF sixty.
me pounds; In another case. a lightship anchor he.
ng put to the test by a tremendous pull, tho chain
parted when the Indicator marked an energyof 435,.
100 pounds. The companion OF this tester Is an Inn
nense hammer we ighing over 100 tons and striking
blow twenty i've tons greater than Its weight.
Tho cylinder in connection has a twenty two.inch
the piston rod Is four feet six inches long and
TX inches in diameter. the hammer head weighs
900 pounds. tho die $500. AMI the steam press
ire used is ninety; the distance between the two
egs OF the hammer Is ten feet, and a piece OF metal
our feet high can he worked on, the hammer at
a thickness having a stroke or six Inches; but
% delicately is the hammer adjusted that . watch
an be placed on the lie and a blow Just heavy
enough to break the crystal delivered.
Among the results arrived at by the mmItt
appointed by the American Association OF Railway
'uperintendents for the purpose OF considering the
trength OF Iimbers FOR bridges and trestles, EN-.
,hasis Is laid on the fact that variations In strength
IRE generally directly proportional TO the density or
Weight of the timber. and that HtFuctuFea ahOuIn |
,e, In general, designed for the strength OF green
IT moderately seasoned timber OF average quail.
and not for a high grade OF well.seasoned ma.
eriAI. age or use not destroying the strength OF
Imber unless decay or season checking takes place.
I is found that timber, unlike materials OF a more
nature. as iron or steel, has no well.
Ienned limit Of elasticity, for. as a rule, IL can DO
trained very near To the breaking point without
erlous Injury, which accounts for tho continuous
Use OF many timber structures with the material
trained far beyond the usually accepted safe lin.
Is, while. on the other hand, sudden and frequent.
y inexplicaDls failures OF individual sticks az very
ow limits are liable 20 occur. KnotS. even when
and ttgbt declared In he nna Of a.. -.