Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1897-04-21

A uiSstuNdutdSe VI TIE iuetTC Sy Stchis
says the Observer, Is found in the use
Of the Centigrade scale on the ther-
mometer. Prof. II. A. Hazen points out
that the degrees In this are twice too
large, while weather records are COM
plicated and filed with errors by hav-
ing half the temperatures with minus
signs before them. Prof. HaZen sug-
gests that both the centigrade and
Fahrenheit scales have their zero point
present scale. This would obviate the
difficulty Of the minus sign in meteor
ology. but the Fahrenheit degree would
remain the better.
1t is suggested that the windsails on
board steamers might be replaced with
advantage by electric fans. In war
ships the fan ought to be placed where
room can be found for it low down in
the ship. far below the water line. An
electrically driven horizontal fan, with
its motor. can be got into the thickness
OF a deck with it's beams. II need be.
This would clearly be better than de-
pending on a fllmsy construction, which
would certainly be greatly damaged, II
not entirely shot away, in action. If
clear decks are wanted. the windsail
is as inconvenient as it is ugly, and
that is saying great deal.
The preparations for the exploration
of the South Polar regions by NJ. De
Gerlache, n Belgian naval officer, are
almost complete. The crew of the Bel
gica will be chiefly composed of Nor
wegian sailors and harpooners. but of
the three officers holding responsible
positions two are Belgians. Three Bel
gian scientific men have generously Of
fered their cooperation, and will ac-
company the expedition. Belgium does
not furnish, however, zoologist capa-
bic of taking deep-set soundings, and
an appeal has been made In the scien-
tific journals of England, France and
ply the deficiency.
From some experiments made to de-
termine the best angles for the heads
of countersunk rivets for ship plates,
Prof. WeightOn concludes that for
Quarter-inch plates the cOuntersunk
should not be less than SO degrees, and
even a greater angle would seem to be
not amiss; and second. that for half
inch plates the countersink should not
he less than 35 degrees. For other
thicknesses the angle of countersink
would be in proportion. and the follow
ing would be about the angles proper
for the different thicknesses: quarter
inch plate, SO degrees angle Of counter
sink; hree-eighths-inch, As degrees;
half-inch, 35 degrees; five-eighths-inch.
% degrees.
For the past three months an inter
esting Isolated plant has been in opera
ton at Mcssrs. J. Shook & Co.'S, of Not
tingham. says the Electrical Review.
This plant includes sixty horse power
water tube boiler, two twenty-five
horse power engines, one of 500 light
dynamo, four six horse power electric
motors. five electric fans, six electric
irons, etc. The whole of the operations
Of lighting, ironing. heating and ven
tilating in this establishment are car
ried on electrically. The cost of gen
Grating power for all these varied ope-
rations during the last three months
has been very carefully noted. and af
ter allowing 10 per cent. for deprecia-
ton and all charges for wages. coal,
water, oil and sundries, the cost Of gen.
Grating amounts to one penny per unit.
The etching Of wood may be success
fully accomplished by coating with
hydrochloric acid. which causes the
wood to soften to the depth of about
two millimeters. When both of the
acids are used together the wood be-
comes white, while If only nitric acid is
used the part coated becomes Of
blackened appearance. In order to pre-.
vent the etch from running, the meth
cd pursued is to previously treat the
other parts with an alcohol lacquer of
sufficient thickness or with liquid wax
or a mixture of two parts white wax,
two parts mastic and one part asphalt,
these being melted together and stirred
intimately together, then poured with
care upon the places which are to be
untouched. Some fine specimens OF
work in this line are produced by
French artisans.
One of the cheapest ground returns
that can be built for electric roads may
be constructed of old rails Flat rails
are the most convenient for the pur-
pose, and are usually the most availa-
BILE. They may be readily laid between
the rails. 1t Is necessary. however, In
order that the rail thus laid shall mate
rally reduce the resistance Of the re-
,;rc hn oil
well bonded, otherwise there will be
little gained. One point may be noted
as being extremely favorable to this
class of bonding. The rail is not sub
ject to continuous Jar, as in the case
Of rails doing. at the same time. me
chanical service, still the joints are
subjected to the gradual motion of ex-
pansion and contraction. The bond
must, therefore, be flexible, or 1t will
gradually work loose. If such a feeder
were laid with its joints staggering,
those Of an active rail and cross bonded
thereto. the failure of bond on either
rail would be provided for. BY draw
lag q sketch of the two rails and the
bonds. 1t will be seen that by stagger
Ing the rails each joint Is bridged by a
-ail tho pnth having for- bond 'oiu'
ff the Joints are opposite, the number OF
bond joints In this reserve bridge is in
creased to six. The use Of old rails for
this purpose would seem to be very ad-
being both economical and dur
able. The electric continuity Of the
bond may be preserved from corrOsion
by embedding it in an asphaltic cOna-
pound.-Electrical World.
Gn<~3 faotn 20 tbn A.