The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29
VOTES ON SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

made last December on the Now Haven Railroad. and
duly reported at the time, in the sheathing OF apas.
Scngcr car with copper. In this case tho usual sheath
ing was removed from a first class car, the frame was
rcdresscd aud blocked, and the metal sheathing was
prepared In tho coinrauy's shop, the process being
slow. as the work was out Of the usual line. II was
thought that the copper might add considerably to
the weight of the ear, hut since the completion OF the
work II has been found thaa the thinner car she atl-
ing Is not desirable. for the reason that the lips OF the
grooves In the edge are inclined to curl, there rot be-
ing snflcient lumber In the upper lip to make II nrm.
All the posts and corners, in fact every exterior part
OF the passenger car made of wood, were covered with
copper. The car has been run since January, without
interruption. and no appreriable evidence OF expnn-
sion has been noted during exposure tc. heat or cold.
and the stiffness Of tho material prevents bad ap.
pcarance on the board. some 500 20 900 pounds OF
metal ne required.
The results OF a recent Investigation of the action OF
heat on Portland cement are given iy j. $. Dobie, in
an interesting contribution to the Digest Of Physical
Tests and Laboratory Appliances. over 200 brf.
quotes were prepared for this purpose, some con.
sisting OF neat cement, while in other cases one pare
of cement was mixed with one, two. or three parts of
sand, the age Of the pieces ranging from two months
to four years. In making the tests. the briquctteu
were heated In q gas Turn ACE TO n temperature
OF from $500 to l.TT5'F. After removal from the
furnace every bri1uette was found TO have lost
weight. while IN the rise OF the neat specimens
cracks were usually to 'e observed, these lattev
beinB less apparent In the Cthcr briquettea containing
sand. After cooling, the briquettes were tested for
tensile strength, with o. load applied at the rate
OF 400 pounds per minute; In all cases q marked de-
crease In tensile strength was noted. which seemingly
was connected closely With the loss in weight of the
sample. In other cas- es In which tho reduction in
weight showed that practically the whole CT The
water Of crystnllizatio n had been driven on, the speci-
mems had practically no breaking stro myth. The ef-
feet OF different tenn creatures was, however, peculiar.
since brlpn ties h"'ted rapidly To i,775' r. showed
a loss OF strength OFT NJ proportion to their loss in
weight; but when the heating was slow these two
Losses were closely proportional. After cooling The
I briqucttes Of neat cement could be crumblcd in the
fingers; those containing sand disintcgrated spontane-
ously on standing.
In his last Official report United States Consul
Fraser, at Wukn. on the Yang-tse. China, gives an
account OF the manufacture there OF the well.known
/ dian ink. of which large quahtNzs nnd their way to
foreign countries. The materials Of which this beau.
tiful black ink Is made are scsamum or COLA oil,
or the oil expressed from the poisonous seeds
Of a tree extensively cultivated in the Yang.tse
valley, and also well known in Japan. To this var
nsh and pork fat are added. The lampblack made
by the combustion OF these substances Is classified
according to the materials and the grade OF nneEass,
and also ACC: ding 10 the time taken In the process
of q mbustion. The paste made OF this lampblack
has some glue added. and Is beaten on wooden anvils
with steel hammers. two good men being able to
prepare In n day eighty pieces. each weighing half .
pound. A certain quantity OF musk Of the muskador,
or OF HaroUs camphor, for scenting, and gold leaves,
varying from go to 100 to the pound. are added to
give the metallic lustre. The materials thus prepared
are moulded in moulds of carved wood. dried-which
takes about twenty days in fine weather-ard then
adorned with Chinese characters in gilt. Abous
t~hirty.two averaged sized sticks OF this ink are the
average number to "a pound.
most phenomenal island Is that OF Bornbobn. in
the Baltic. belonging to the Kingdom OF Denmark. 10
is famous for Its geological peculiarities. consisting
as 1t does almost entirely OF magnetic. and Its mag
nettc influence is not only very well known to the
navigators OF those waters. but also much feared by
them. on account Of its influence on the magnetic
needles. which makes the steering OF a ship correctly
a matter OF much difficulty. In fact. this influence 10
felt even at a distance Of miles, and so palpably that.
on the island being sighted by mariners on the Baltic.
they at once discontinue steering their course by tho
needle, aud turn, instead. TO the well. xnown. I CHIT
houses and other holds 10 direct their craft. Between
Bornhohn and the mainland there is also q bank OF
rock, under water. which is very dangerous to naviga-
ton. and because of 1t being constantly submerged,
vessels having been frequently wrecked at that point.
The peculiar fact in this case is that tho magnetic
influence Of this ore bank Is so powerful that q mag
netic needle suspended freely in a boat over the bank
will point down, and. II not disturbed, will remain In
q perfectly perpendicular line.
An Interesting fact in connection with the American
cotton industry Is that the good grades OF our " Sea
Island" cotton are so much superior to the best
grades or Egyptian staple that they sell for fror- SO
to 100 per cent. more. The reason given for this. and.
indeed, well understood by all dealers and manufac-
turers. is the great difference in the characteristics OF
the two growths. Egyptian cotton has a long. strong.
silky STAPLE. from one and a half to one and nve.
eighths inches in length. while the staple that is known
as upland " cotton ranges from three.fourths to ono
inch, ana "Sea Island ~ cotton Is from one and q half
to two and II half inches. But for some special pur-
poses the Egyptian cotton is OF superior quality and
usefulness than any American cotton. 1t is especially
preferable, for example, for sewing thread, fine un-
derwear and hosiery OF certain descriptions, and for
goods requiring smooth finish and high lustre. A
further desideratum is realized in the property DOS.
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One OF the most important outdoor occupations. in