New-York tribune., 1897-12-31
THE yrAR's SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS.

As one recalls the scientific events and an
nouncements OF the year 1897. he finds 1t dir-
icut TO match In importance these -FOUR: lhe
development Of a speed of thirty-hve Knots ny
the British torpcdo.boat destroyer 1urbnh
the transmission Of telegraph messages with
ont wires TO distance Of ten or fifteen miles
the discovery " the bacillus Of yellow fever
end the testimony which the buried city OF
Nippur offers regarding the existence OF high
state OF civilization In McsopotaInia between
six thousand and seven thousand years before
Christ
That which makes the Turbinia's achievement
especially significant is that Il wns rendered
possible by the use Of n new type of marine
engine, the steam turbine. Mr.. Parsons. the
inventor Of the latter. may possibly De 700
sanc,Iinc when he predicts speeds not merely
of forty. hut Of nifty. knots an hour; but h" has
rnqucstonably opened up n'w era IN steam
engineering Marconi's metz IDS nrc not likely
to come into extensive use. Nevertheless IL II
already apparent that his system possesses n
high practical value. II presents exceptional
advantages for communication between n hxed
station and moving one 0ikc ship. or two
moving stations and for secret service. Sana-
rcllrs brilliant performance not only reveals
the true nature OF n disease TO which the
southern part Of this country Is peculiarly sub
icct but II also pavcs the way TO the prepara-
,,on Of n now and much needed nnttoXin. Pro
fessor Hilprcchts explorations Will not help
us to travel faster. nor will they proong human
life. They have n bearing on the question OF
the antiquity OF man, however. which 1t would
be foolish TO ignore.
Less significant no doubt. but hardly less in
terestlng than the incidents just referred TO-
are the Toronto meeting Of the British scientists
which gave people on this side OF the Atlantic
a rare opportunity to meet several OF the most
distinguished Investigators OF the present day,
and at the same time happily advertised to
Europe Americas scientific activities; the dedi-
cation Of the lerkcs telescope, which has al
ready d, monstrated It's superiority In power. ms
well as size to every other refractor In the
world the successful trials OF Lakes subma-
Inc boat which Is dcsi~ncd 10 run along the
ocean bottom: the transportation to this port or
Tearys big meteOrlte and the attestaiion OF
the best authorities in Europe to It's genuine
ness; the departure Of the Belgian expedition to
explore the South Polar region; the commence
ment and rapid progress in London Of work on
the greatest underground electric road in tho
world, and the alleged conversion Of silver
into gold by mechanical pressure lnasrnuch
not found II convenient TO permit dlsnterescd
experts to witness and tell the public about his
operations his story must still he received with
courteous sccpticism But it is not impossible
that we shall hear something interesting from
him even yet.
R6ntgen rays, which were first discovered
about two years ago. have received new mp
plication TO the French Gust pms service, dur
lao
of photography in colors OF which sensational
reports were heard last spring, did not Justify
the hopes which were entertained in regard TO
IT Mt that time. Acctylcnc, too, has failed to
make Roadway in popular favor. The horse
less carriage. on the other hand. has apparently
come TO stay; success has attended the efforts
TO reduce the weight Of storage batteries in
proportion 10 the charge which they will hold,
and alternating currents show n definite ten
dency to come into more extensive use both
| for power and lighting