The herald., 1897-12-21
*4SSSS$SSSSS7SSSSSSSSS5SSE
: DREv|T|ES OF SCIENCE +:
%AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA&%

Robert Whitby, an Englishman who
invented life buoy, has just completed
device for the use OF oil to smooth the
surface of a rough sea. The oil is placed in
cylindrical cases of sufficient size to hold
a quart or more, and is fired from a can
non or mortar. In this way it is possible
to throw the oil two or three miles in any
direction. The receptacle is made with
openings in it's upper and lower ends,
which are temporarily sealed, but are
exposed by the discharge of the gun. Not
until the projectile falls in the water,
though, does the oil flow out. BY weight
ing this case properly, it can be made to
stand on end, so as to insure the en-
trance of water from below and the es-
cape of all of the original contents from
above in a short period of time. More
than one shot may be fired, but the
quantity of oil actually needed Is said
to be very small. If it be properly placed.
The fluid distributes itself over very
wide area.
It must not be understood that the eff
feet Of this application Is to render the
surface Of the water absolutely level and
motionless. But the waves become flat
ter, their tops are rounded, and the huge,
rearing crests that would otherwise
overwhelm any object which they over
took disappear entirely. Such change
in the situation as this materially less
ems the danger and discomfort in a
storm. Mr.. Whitby's new device, If it
performs it's function properly. ought
to prove a great boon to the sailor
New York Tribune.
+ \ \
An electric plant Of considerable d.
mensions is required to answer the de-
mands of modern American hotel
Here the current is put to q variety OF
uses, including refrigeration, ventila-
ton, heating and elevators, and neces-
stating the conduct of several branches
Of business, each of which is generally
supposed to be an industry entirely sep
arate or distinct from the hotel business
Chicago Chronicle.
In a recent issue Of French paper
devoted to the glassware and pottery
industries, brief mention is made of q
new style Of lamp chimney. This chin
ney, invented by Enrico LaZzar, can bf
used for all kinds of lamps. 1t consists
practically of two chimneys, one o1
which is placed upon the burner or the
ring of the burner, and the second is in
serted into the former from above. The
air circulating within the space between
the two chimneys, by it's bad qualities as
a conductor, prevents the heating of the
outer chimney, so that it is kept cooler
whereby the danger of its cracking !!
greatly reduced. The outer chimney, OF
the other hand, protects the inner ont
from air currents or sudden changes Of
temperature and the action of moisture
both of which are the prolific causes Of
breakage. There is also offered the ad
vantage that, in case of the inner chin
ney's breaking, this chimney Is retained
in it's original position by the outer one
which thus prevents the falling of tn,
broken glass.
Solomon Wean of Van Horn, Iowa, ha
small washing machine which doe
not cleanse by rubbing, but by forcin,
air and water through the clothes.
| An extended discussion has been goin
| on in the German technical press as t.
whether or not a lightning rod during
thunderstorm is continuously acting
to eQualize the electrif1cation Of tn
clouds and that Of the earth. Some as
sert that the function of the lightning
rod Is to offer good conducting patl
to the earth for a lightning flash, Will
others claim that it offers cOnstan
medium between the air and the earth
Among the facts adduced by the adher
ents of the latter theory was an instanc
which occurred during the construction
of lightning rod for chimney 100 fee
high, when the uncompleted work wa
interrupted by a thunder shower. 1
| temporary wire was therefore run to
neighboring pond, so as to ground tn
rod, when it was noticed that consider
able gas was formed on the surface o
the submerged wire. indicating that
current produced by the silent discharg
of the clouds was passing and decom
posing the water by electrolysis. An
other experiment was quoted. in whicl
a plate lightning arrester, with gal
vanometer in circuit, was connected i
circuit with a lightning rod, when an al
most constant DETECTION of the galvan
ometer needle was observed, showin
that continued equalization of electri
charges does take place.-Chicag
Chronicle.
4 y y
The trolley line so popular in Amerlc
Is practically prohibited by the munic
ipal authorities Of the European cite
because Of it's unsightly features as we
as it's dangers. A variety of motiv
forces is resorted to, but the authorize
on railway matters have agreed tina
surface contact system would be tn
ideal, but 1t has not been perfected unit
now. The General Electric company ha
adopted a form, and after having trie
it experimentally is now putting down
three mile stretch at Monte Carlo in tn
province of Monaco.
Even the most sanguine champion
Of the storage battery have been force
| to abandon it as q motive power 70
street railways, except where other sys
TENS are prohibited, and the under
ground electric system Chat is, wher
the trolley or conducting wire is carrie
| in a slotted conduit) which has been oc
casionally adopted as a substitute pre-
sents many obstacles to economical op
Grafton. A surface contact system com
bines the cheapness Of operation of tn
trolley without any of the objectionabl