Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-07-08
RICHMOND cEDAR-woRKs.
Notes ON Science and Indu.try.

Notes ON Science aud Industry.
most interesting series OF ,lisclssions
Will take place before the International
Geological Congress, which in to hold It's
seventh annual session in ST. Petersburg.
August 18th TO September ith. ensuing,
the subjects to be considered by the con-
gress being general principles OF inter-
national Importance relating TO geology.
among these subjects as announced. will
be a discussion as to whether geology
shall adopt the artificial classification.
based solely on historical data. or The ma
tural classification. based on he changes
OF physical geography or fauna and not
on the accidental limits Of various divl-
sions called otter the name OF the country
where they have first been determined.
IL Is also expected that rules will he
drawn up to be followed definitely I'm the
Introduction OF new terms I'm strati-
graphical nomenclature. Another ques-
ton, regarded as OF equal Importance. Ia
that OF Photographed nomenclature
that Is, some positive and well understood
agreement as to its principles.
The Army and Navy Journal devotes
portion OF its space to an account of
an invention by Rudolph Attschul de.
TO prevent corrosion and the growth OF
barnacles by coating the submerged
portion of the ship with crude petroleum.
The system In question Is so arranged
that In rough weather a large quantity
| OF oil can be discharged along the sides
| OF the ship and distributed over the sur
J face OF the water. thus providing more
( effective method of greasing and smooth
| ing high seas than any other devised.
| This covering composition is an oleagn-
| Gus composition OF tallow, cacned car
| bon, and other ingredients not publicly
| disclosed and the statement Is that the
| substance hardens in the water and cam
| not wash off. and can be applied to sub
marine war projectiles. permitting extra
velocity. A series OF iron iianges are
fastened along the bottom and sides OF
the ship below the water line. In which
are inserted sheets OF woven-wire net
ting. lathing or sheet-iron, covered with
an absorbent composition saturated with
oil; the fanges have "A semi-circular COW
erng on top, below which runs finely
perforated pipe which elects a fine spray
Of oil against the inside OF the fiange
and ON TO the sheets from which II
spreads downward. The oil is not carried
away by the water. but through capil.
larry attraction. is spread.
The practical value of the eophone, an
instrument about which so much has
been said and written, would appear 10
be confirmed by the Secretary OF the
Treasury's call upon Congress for some
twelve thousand dollars, In order 10 place
them on revenue cutters. Az Is we'll un.
derstood. the eophone Is a sound-catch-
ing device its purpose being the deter.
"a. ~ Ill 4. tr
a fog or darkness. of the location OF
sound. both as to direction and distance
1t is formed OF two bell-mouthed rece.y.
ers. placed one on each side OF a sheet
OF metal or other material. extending
some distance In front OF the receiver. A
tube from the left-hand sound receiver
is placed at the left ear OF the person
operating the eophohe, and tube from
the right-hand receiver at the right ear.
When the sound is heard with equal
plainHess In both ears. the instrument Is
pointing In the direction OF the sound;
when. however. the sound Is heard with
greater plainness I'm one ear than In the
other, the instrument Is pointing at an
angle with the direction OF the sound.
The sensitiveness possessed by this pecu-
liarity OF construction. even under the
most strained circumstances. Is said 10
attached to the top OF the pilot-house.
the tubes from tho receivers being
brought inside the house for use b. tho
plot.
Engineers are naturally interested In
the novel work which has lately been
undertaken at Rouen. France. called a
.pont transbordeur." serving all the pur-
poses OF a bridge. while not interfering
with the free passage OF ships even Of
those with rasts i50 feet high. Two
small Eifel towers are to be erected
one on each bank OF the Seine. three quar-
ters OF a mile below the lowest existing
bridge at Rouen--and narrow iron bridge
will be suspended by chain cables between
their heads il Is TO be not less than
$50 feet from the level of the qnays. but
Is not intended either for carriages or
for foot passengers. Several lines OF
rail are TO be carried along II. and on
these "a skeleton carriage or PLATFORM on
wheels will run: this will be dragged from
aide 10 side OF the river by steel ropes
RAISING over a driving wheel. to be worked
bv steam or electricity from one OF the
hanks. TO the skeleton platform will
he hung by steel hawsers. at the level
OF the quays. or leo feet below the bridge.
the transbo.dcur--a strong carriage
within which passengers and vehicles VIII
he TRANSPORTED from one bank 10 the
other. This carriage Ii TO be forty feet
In width by thfrty-three feet In len4thi
the electric tramweys running on fh>
o,,ays on both sides OF the river are e
make n connection at this point. ana the
,ra rxbordeur will be fitted to carry the
IRA mears 40 that passengers by them VIII
cross the river without changing then