New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-14
TWO NOTED VISITORS HERE
LORD KELVIN AND THE MARQUIS ITO Ar
RIVE ON THE COMPANIA.
THE DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST on HIS WAY To
TIE TORONTO MEETING-THE BISMARCK
OF JAPAN INTERESTED IL cANo-
VAs'S MURDER-LITTLE TO

vAs's MURDER-LITTLE TO
SAY ABOUT HAWAII.
The big Cunard liner Campania, which arrived
Yesterday from Europe brought two disth-
guished visitors The ship was sighted early III
the afternoon and locked about q o'clock one
did not break anv record but made fair TRIP
The two prominent voyagers were LORD ke''h'
professor Of natural philosophy at the CniVer-
sity of Glasgow who is accompanied by Lazy
Kelvin, and Marquis Ito. formerly Premier Vi
Japan who is frequently referred to as the DIS
marck OF that country. The Tribune yesterday
referred fully to both. When the big snip puieu
into Quarantine both Lord Kelvin and MARQUIS
Ito were on deck. and watched the transfer VI
mail to the mailboat Peekskill LORD Kelvin
wore a light gray tweed suit, tan SHOES anu
soft hat; monocle dangled at his wais'coa' ie
was tanned to a healthy brown, ana looheu III
rugged health He comes to this country 10 az
tend the session of the British Association for
the Advancement of Science. which opens III
Toronto next week. The achievements or Loru
Kelvin in the realm Of science are well known
oddly enough, the Campania was equipped VIII.
various apparatus invented by LORD Kelvin anu
while off the Banks Of Newfoundland the H's'
officer Of the boat gave him practical demon
stration of the working Of his deep-sea sound III
strument.
Lord Kelvin learned with deep regret Of the
death of Sehor Canovas. He paid tribute u
the dead statesman of Spain and said he had
always been patron Of arts. literature anu
science. When asked about his own WISH 10 tue
country Lord Kelvin said:
81 shall stay in New-YorS for a day or So
probably until Tuesday morning and then |
shall go on to Toronto to he present at the an
~ Association
Advancement Of Silence. l expect to find nuch
interesting and useful information brought out
at this meeting and look forward to it with
a great deal of pleasure.
When Lord Kelvin was asked II there was any
thing especially new or striking in the world OF
science or any recent discovery that he viewed
as important he said gravely that there was
little that was new. He referred to the new gas
known as "argon." discovered by Lord Ray
leigh THE unintellgent" said Lord Kelvin
have scofred at this discovery and at the iden-
tity Of such a gas. but believe it to be dis
covery Of merit and importance.
\ GREAT MODERN DISCOVERY.
Lord Kelvin talked freely OF what he called
one of the most important discoveries Of modern
tmes-a discovery destined to revolutionize the
economic policy Of all civilized municipalities. II
is the obtaining Of heat and light sufficient to
run great electric and other plants by the use
Of garbage as fuel. Garbage Is quite az valu-
able as ccal itself according TO Lord Kelvin. In
stead Of buying thousands upon thousands OF
tons of coal cities will only have To use the Gin
ders and ashes. the discarded food and other
rubbish that the housewife puts in the ashcan
as so much useless waste.
Ten tons Of dust" said Lord Kelvin. abiding
TO garbage as dust" are equal, we reckon, to
one ton OF coal. so far as getting up steam Is
concerned. These sef-same cinders apparently
devoid of eat-producing quality. and cast off as
worthless. can be made to produce great heat.
And TO think that hundreds OF millions OF dol
lars are being thrown away all over the civil
lied world every year in the shape Of garbage,
With the new application which changes all
this stupendous amount Of dust to gas and steam
and heat this inconceivably great waste Of
money and energy can be saved"
1t is only six weeks ago that the works at
Shor nditch. I'm London. built under scientific
supervision for the conversion Of garbage to
gas, steam and heat. were finished. They are
in operation now. and Lord Kelvin says are
great success. From the town garbage. formerly
thrown away at great expense, enough energy
Is now obtained TO run the municipal electrical
plant. So long as garbage can bS had, not an
ounce Of coal need be used.
Whatever dust refuse is collected" he
said has combustible quality and is available.
This combustion must be brought about in a
special furnace designed for the purpose. Gas
is produced chiefly by condensation in cells, and
this is carried in a high temperature. The
lighting plant at Shoreditch is run entirely by
steam, which is produced from the dust or gar
bage. \ quantity Of Stag is left. just as, in or
binary fires cinders are left from the coal. But
even this Stag is put to use in paving roadways.
TELEGRAPHING WITHOUT WIRES.
What do you think Of the recent discoveries
and experiments in telegraphng without wires?'
Lord Kelvin was asked. He did not seem to
take much stock in them. and said:
That IS simply following in the line Of dis
coveries made by Hertz in Germany ten years
ago Then he telegraphed nine miles without
wires These tests simply following in
his footsteps. and perhaps perfecting his sys-
tenn. J do not think the plan will ever be of any
great general benefit, even IL perfected. 1t may
be valuable and important IN detail in some
single way, but 1t does not seem 10 me to he Of
sweeping importance"
Lord Kelvin did not care to discuss scientific
doings in general He said that glut of that
would be forthcoming from the coming session
of scientists in Toronto He was received at the
pier by a number Of friends He said that he
would not attempt to do any sightseeing while
in New-York this time. At $50 o'clock this
morning he will start for Niagara Falls. where
he will inspect the great electric power plant.
He will stay at Niagara Falls until Tuesday
morning when he will start for Toronto He
will return here in September. after making a
visit to Nova Scotia
The Marquis Ito is an interesting character.
He speaks English like native and even UNI
derstands the subtletes of the language so that
he can enjoy joke. Those on the vessel voted
him without a dissenting voice to be a good fell
low He was dressed In a frock coat. silk hat
and dark trousers. Understood. bright-eyed and
alert he looked typical japanese. although he
was more careful in his dress than the ordinary
japanese. He began asking questions before