Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-05-02

These Are Photographs Taken
nouncement made by him. Prof. Dol
bear OF Boston announced in April.
1904: 1T is actually possible to take
a photograph of an object in absolute
darkness with the ether waves set up
by an electric machine" The fact
established, however. by Prof. Roent-
gen in his discovery Is that these ether
waves, now known as cathode ray,
which are invisible to the naked eye.
will pass through Opaque substances.
such as wood, ebonite, many kinds of
metals. tieshy tissues and other seem
ingly OPAQUE substances.
Prof. Draper. about fifty years ago,
discovered that Photographic action
takes place in that region of the solar
spectrum which is beyond the violet
raw, and at later date Abbey desig-
mated that this action was below the
red ray. Thus 1t has for many years
been known and clearly demonstrated
that the luminous ray which would
AFFECT the eye Is not necessary es-
senLial in making photograph Pro-
fessor Hertz has demonstrated that
: the waves in the ether produced by
electrical means could be refracted, re-
hected and p0larized, the same as the
ordinary light waves. There Is, how
ever, a large amount of diversity of
opinion on this matter, and many
scientists, who have been and are
carefully studying the cathode rays.
differ widely from the assertion made
by Prof. Roentgen that the cathode
airy can be Tefracted reflected and pei
arized
On the whole subject matter there is
vet much to be discovered which will
no doubt be re yealed by careful study
and experiment in time.
Just to explain to those who do ns,I.
know this apparatus, and who may
have such vague idea of what II
generally is and how it works, is fit
ting at this stage.
In the first place, all theory and
thought Of something like a photo
graphic apparatus must be dispelled.
The apparatus has neither camera nor
lens, and the results are obtained with
out even exposing the naked plate to
the cathode ray. The Crookes tube is
an ordinary glass globe, and at either
end are poles for the electric fluid from
an induction coil to pass through. The
ray Is of a greenish-yellow. and seems
to float around the interior Of the tube
in a wavy manner. This il the light
giving the wonderful result, and the
magic ray upon which there IN 30
much diversity of opinion and tile
properties of which have caused 50
ntuch controversy.
rhis cathode Is difficult to describe
III ordinary language. 1t may be de-
srribed as small disc, or plate of alti-
Hlinum. inclosed In a glass bulb from
which the air has been previously ex-
iiausted. Opposite the cathode Is the
anpde, the terminal of wire connect
ed with the batteries When power
ful current is passed between the an
tssie and the cothode, and circuit ere
ated, light results with rays.
Let the reader further follow In the
result Of experiment, and perhaps he
,,an then have an idea OF what the APP
l,lratus really is and how II works
An ordinary sensitized silver plate,
The same as used In photography. Is
wrapped in three or four thicknesses
of orange-colored paper, or, for that
natter. placed I'm dark slide. and the
shutter, If of the proper cardboard,
left closed. The plate Ii thus protect
ed from the white light or ordinary
Photographic ray The plate thus
wrapped or slide Is placed under the
Crookes tube, and the object from
which the result is required Is placed
on top of the slide or covering The
crookes tube IL arranged about three
or four inches from the object. so that
the rays coming from the tube will fall
directly perpendicular on the object
The electric fluid may be generated In
an ordinary wet or dry cell and then
passed through Ruhmkorff coil. The
electric fluid Is turned on, and the
length OF exposure largely depends on
the number of interruptions Of the
electric current. The exposure for a
result through an inch board would be