New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

SOME STUDIES FOR PRACTICAL MEN.
In Water and Its Publication" an Enshsh WORK
repubnshed by the ]. B. Lippincott COMPANY, III.
Samuel Rideal has aimed chiefly to INSTRUCT 'oea'
authorities and sanitary officials The book Is al
mirably adapted to serve that purpose anu iSo W
enlirhten the general public on matter seriously
affecting health. The scope Of Dr. RideaIs inquiry
has been broad enough to include the sources iio,"
which water Is obtained and the impurities "Aes
TO cause trouble In steam boilers as wen as III o
household But the main object which he has kept
IN view is enlightenment in regard TO the existence
~ disease producing germs. and the most enec-
tive and economical method of getting rid OF them
The use OF chemicals to precipitate certain par
ticlcs of solid matter suspended In water ne con-
siders merely preliminary process Almost all
supplies. especially II taken from rivers where
there Is a suspicion Of contamination. should also
he SO treated as to remove bacteria. BY FAR the
best device for Wholesale operations - the saiu
Alter bed In domestic filters. asbestos, CHARCOAL
sponge and paper are pronounced untrus'wor'h'.
Confidence is expressed only In the porcelain oi
Pasteur and the infusorial earth Of Berkefeid' II
is pointed out that these materials prove en-
cacious not by straining the water mechanically
hut by exerting some mysterious attraction for inc
microbes and affixng them 10 the 'ntersu''ai sur
faces The closing chapter Of this volume on
methods OF analysis, is a particularly interesting
and up-to-date treatise on bacierology'
Alfred Anpot's Aurora Borealis" has been trans
lated from tho French for Appe'ons lh'erha-
t,onal Scientific Series" In which 1t deserves
n,ace II In some trihing respects. the work is
M, all that the student could desire. at least II IS
the most complete collection of facts ana theorles
on this interesting subject which mas appeared oi
many years. Having recounted the chel ny
potheses which have been offered to account Ior
the aurora NJ Angot declares his preference TOT
Il atmospheric eiectrlc-
ftv He is dsinclined 10 believe In the alleged con-
nections between magnetic storms and the inSs-
terious radiance that nickers occasionally IN our
Northern skies. But he suggests with force 'ha'
ANYTHING like a true understanding OF this beautl-
ful phenomenon will not be reached until oo'h
observers and philosophers discriminate between
two classes of aurora-the purely local displays
and those which are noticed over wide extent OF
territory.
Nessrs Breaker Chapman have Just pub
l,shed In q neat octave the first volume OF Inc
American Accountants Manual. ~ Is the WORK.
rr,nc,nally Of Mr. Frank Breaker. his partner nav
ing assisted him 10 a certain extent Inc poox 5
Ill .orce,vsd II advocates uniformity Of nc
counts which Is as Essential! IN It's way as the
metric system is in the world OF weights ana meas
ures-and probably as hard 10 secure IL Is ao
mrably divided. and many important topics are
,rsated fully under the following heads: Theory OF
Accounts Practical Accounting, Auditing. COM
noercal Law Balance Sheets. Statements Of Anairs
and Scope Of Accounting. The book is well printed
and should be of practical service.
The Society Of Naval Architects and Marine En-
etneers has collated and published In single VOL
une the proceedings Of the last general meeting Oh
tho society which includes the papers read ana
discussed The papers read were on professional
subjects and by experts. among them being The
Nav Rattle-ships by Chief Naval Constructor
Philip Hichborn, United States Navy; damaged
Conditions as Affecting the Stability and fighting
Efficiency of Battle-ships," by Naval constructor
Ruhm of the Navy: TEST Of an Experimental Iur-
ret OF the Battle-ship Massachusetts," by Captain
W. T. Sampson Chief of the Bureau OF Ordnance OF
the Navy; and Corn -ph Cellulose by Henry W.
Cramp The book also contains the list OF ohicers
and members Of the association, the articles OF IN
corporation and bylaws and the last pages give
drawings and copies Of photographs OF BOATS ma
terials OF construction. screw propelers etc.
s"Ths Year Book for 1897 OF the American Cham
Der of Commerce, Paris, France. has just been
issued. The organization OF this chamoer mas
proved great boon In many respects to American
interests abroad. The objects of the chamber are
10 examine questions concerning the commercial
and Industrial relations existing between the United
States and France, protect the mercantile inter-
est. subsisting between individuals and firm IN me
two aforesaid countries, and to take all measures
which may faclltate ana protect 'Ho Va
business between them. A bureau OF Information
touching the above interests for the benefit of its
members so az 10 facilitate their business opera
tons is maintained by the chamber The annual
report of the Board Of Directors shows that the
year 1896 has been period of marked and steady
progress in the work of the chamber the policy
which had inspired It's efforts in former years has
become more clearly defined. and the scope Of Its
work has been enlarged; its associations with sim
liar organizations both In America and France have
increased and II has now secured well-recog-
nized position among kindred associations. The
gradual increase OF the membership of the cham
Der year by year has brought the institution to
position in which it's future permanence and inilu-
ence are incontestably assured.
From, the Werner Company we have received the
fourth Of the five volumes in which that firm is
issuing the New American Supplement TO the Lat
e.. Edition OF the Encyclopedia Britannica" 10
which reference has already been made in this
place The work is brought up 10 date with admi-
rable enterprise, but not always with sufficient judy
ment The Republican party is but sparsey cele-
brated in Professor McMaster's brief notes. yet In
proyidjng more or less adequate articles on this
and similar themes the supplement" undoubtedly
does useful service 1t is gratifying 70 see treated
such subjects as Manual Training In the Public
Schools and the Salvation Army The biographies
and portraits are. the whole. good, though IN
some cases the latter are sadly 10 seek
The Macmillan Company publishes az usual the
annual edition OF The Statesman's Year Book
Mr. j. Scott Kettles Invaluable compendium. All
the familiar virtues Of this fine manual, now in It's
thtrtv-fourth year are the fore. with such cor
rectons have been made necessary by the pas
cage OF time: and group Of new maps shows
clearly the political changes which have taken
place during Her Majesty's reign, 1879 De-
tailed account Of this book is unnecessary 1t suf-
fees TO observe that for the Of affairs and the
Mr. Kettles work is q boon 10 be