The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-25
GREAT AFRICAN HUNTER.
sELoUs TALKS TO 4 SECTION OF THE
BRITISH ASSOCIATION.

NE Thinks Farmers should Settle tho Habit
able Parts OF Rhodcsin-The Experiments or
Mr.. Cnso May Head TO saving Much Heat
EncrEy Now Wasted In Coal Combustion.
TORONTO, Aug. 24.-Mr. F.C Selous, the South
African hunter and explorer. was the drawing
card at tho section meetings of the British Asso-
citation this morning. The geographical and
economic sections Of the association united and
Mr.. Sclous lccturcd in the University Library.
He gave q description of the climate OF Rholcsin.
He said most OF IL would never be II white mans
country. Mularial fever was very prevalent in
all places up TO an elevation of 1000 feet, and
this amounted only TO 10000 square miles,
though -, 800 square miles might some day be
habitable. The excessive drinking OF bad spirits,
however, is more responsible for i'll health in
Rhodesia than the climate.
In dealing with agriculture he mentioned the
plague of the rendcrpcst which swept down on
the cattle and carried Off 100, 900 animals in a
few weeks. and OF the plague OF locusts which in
one year destroyed forty acres OF maize in two
hours. II is especially important that this ter.
ritory should bo poopled by English.speaking
farmers and not by Dutch Beers. and by farmers
rather than by miners who stay is transient.
Prof. James Bryce. commenting on tho paper,
said: II believe the European countries In their
mad strife for territory on the Upper Nile are Ill
advised. The natives there cannot be taught to
work. Tho climate Is not favorable, and every
thing 10 inferior to South Africa. 1t is impor-
tant that Rhodesia DO governed by whites,
though 1t will always be principally peopled by
blacks. Rhodcsia will play an important part In
the Federation when the South African coirpies
arc united into one federation" Prof. Bryce said
he believed the extent OF the malarial influence
had been exaggerated by Selous. and he hoped
that soon physicians would discover q form Of
innoculation against fever. as no believed they
In the mechanical science section Mr.. w. Bay
ley Marshall read q paper on "Rollor Bear
ings" that. contained points Of interest for
any kind. Within the last year or two some ad.
vance has been made, along tho line OF. roller
e Ssaifin2FI pr n%a sae0 Vast Il s Dsins Of of"r money =" have sTS,
traction. as in the railway tramway and road
tween the journals and bearings OF rolling stock
or between aNles and wheels OF vehicles there 10
effected u very considerable reduction on tho
effort required to move a given load, and this
at a cost less than the consequent expense, then
the application of the principle must become
Roller bearings reduce starting effort, de-
crease revolving effort. and save in lubricants.
The reduction of starting effort is 80 great that
one locomotive with roller bearings could do the
work which now in some cases requires a second
One OF tho Americans invited to read papers
before the British ASSOCIATION was Mr.. Willard
bet SSse s St hHoutn' n !; III :ic whose rls paper was rs%a
Case drew The attention Of electrical experts all
oyer the world by his paper read last winter in
possibility OF producing electrical energy from
carbon without heat. This was doneby oxidizins
acid as agents. One OF the electrodes used was
OF platinum 1.-THE one which was not attached.
and the other Of carbon. The carbon was com
cost OF this process renders It OF no commercial
value. although 1T is Of the highest scientific in
tarAlf Stnrn than Me- TnSn Inu lnat ~sa-
menting along these lines. cndeavorins TO OK
idize carbon with other and cheaper agents.
His paper tonight told OF the latest step for
ward, the oxidation Of carbon with oxygen from
water. Mr. Case said:
the gas battery. considering 1t the most simple
Arrangement to produce electricity. He never
considered 1t a practical way to generate cleo
trical energy. Grove used platinum sponge or
platinum black as the absorbent to facilitate the
combination OF the gases. The following expert
mental determinations by the author will show.
as far as they extend. that platinum or its COM
pounds are not necessary 10 produce the comhina.
tion Of the gases in the production OF electrical
pensive drawbacks to the gas battery. The ex-
pcriments also prove that carbon is oxidizcd to
carbon dioSide at normal temperature without
the application OF heat. with the production OF
electrical energy.
platinum IL not essential TO the reactions. Both
electrodes in each case can be carbon tubes or
plates. The physical condition OF the carbon in
Its many forms plays u most important part"
Mr.. Case then went on to show that chlorine,
which Is a falrIy cheap substance, breaks I'D the
water. making 1t give up its Oxygen. and result
ing in the production OF electricity and the
formation of a by.product, hydrochloric acid.
which is itself n commercial product. With
this oxygen of the water. coal or carbon, worth
about a quarter OF a cent "a pound. is burned
Instead of zinc. which costs about : cents a
pound. as III the ordinary battery.
Perhaps the most interesting feature brought
out in the paper was that by this process car
bon is completely oxidizcd at normal tcmpera-
turc to carbon dioXidc: shat is, ii IS NIL burned
up without heat. Coal contains "A great deal OF
energy which IS wasted when the coal is burned
at high temperatures. The final object to
be attained. said Mr.. Case. Is TO oNi-
die carbon with the oxygen of the
air at ordinary temperature. Its oxidation
with the oxygen OF the water is another step in
advance. When this can he done with the oXy-
gen OF the air We shall get about ten times as
much energy from II pound of coal as We now
get. This would mean the substitution OF cleo
tFicity for steam, ut a reduced cost. as the
worlds main motive power.
Trinity University this afternoon conferred
honorary degrees on, Sir John Evans. Lord Lis
ter. Lord Kelvin. Prof. James Bryce, ana Sir
George scott Robertson. the hero of Clltrul.