The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-26
NOTES ON SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

An account appears in tho French Journals of q
unique invention: by which the iustring of cotton
yarn is effected in such manner as TO impart to
It n close resemblance to silk, in gloss and feel,
which. II is expected, will to q large extent revolu.
tionize the half.silk manufacture SO long carried on
in Lyons. where tho new industry vii! probably
be principally concentrated. This process of treat.
ment is due to the ingenuity OF L. Boursier and
Ginier. manufacturers. of Argenteul. Fran Q. where.
It seems, an institution for the express purpose Of
lustring cotton yarn and other raw material for weav.
ing has already been established. Though tho spe-
ciai point involved in this method is not yet made
known. the fact is emphasized that not only is the
glazing operation accomplished most satisfactorily In
the case of yarns Of great fneness. but that the thread.
after the process. is found to be trebled-in other
words. although spun single. II possesses much greater
resistance than q doubled and twisted thread OF
the same count which had been lustred in the ordi-
nary way. 1t is not claimed that these Argenteuil
tissues may supplant silk. nor are they to he
considered rs a substitute for the well.known and
beautiful Lyons fabrics. which II can hardly be pos.
sible to supersede by any similar product.
Much interest Is exhibited in England Just now
by the discovery OF carbouiferous rock under Lord
Dudley's Himley estates. situated in the westward OF
what has been considered the limit of the south Stat.
fordshire coal fields. The discovery is regarded as
one OF national Importance from an economic
point of view. biologists say It is possible, OF course.
that, although the formation is a carboniferous one.
no seams " "or1Hoie coa' may DO rouhi
In It; but. in the opinion Of others. this Is
scarcely hkeiy' ING more haturai propaointy peihg
thar IL Is a real extension OF the neius OF southern
stanordshire, and that the coal areaSof stanordshire.
Warwickshire. and Shropshire FORM one great whole.
Some years ago similar boring operations on the
eastern side or tho stanordshire fields added very
largely 10 the area available Tor the most profitable
mining operations ana that discovery. win the one
now made. Is believed to almost indefinitely extend
the limits OF England's coal supply.
Among the latest utteranceH concerning the proba-
bic age or our earth. ana perhaps Tn" most impor-
tapt' are thos" by Loru heisihot the British Associa-
ton OF Science, In a lecture before the Victoria Insti-
tute last month. one OF the arguments presented by
the speaker against the huge lengths OF time that
have been urged by some scientists Ia the constantly
diminishing velocity In the earth's rotation resulting
from tidal action; and II the earth was revolving
faster a thousand million years ago than now centr!f'
ugal action was consequently greater. Therefore, II
the globe had become consolidated while II was travel
ling at a faster rate. It would have possessed greater
oblatencss and the length OF the equatorial radius
would have been six and a hall Kilometres more than
1t is. but, Judging from the properties OF rocks and by
underground temperatures. the date OF the solidin-
cation OF the earth was probably twenty or thirty
million years ago As to the origin of the atmosphere.
Lord Kelvin assumes that, at the time Of %solidirca,