The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-30

ported in the Boston Journal of contmerce-that the
presence of an acid In q boiler can be accounted for
in the following manner; Int 'rnAl corrosion is not
only originated by the acids with which some canal.
pit, and other waters nre impregnated. but Is also
due to the acidity resulting from decomposition. by
the high temperatures in boilers. of the chioridcs of
lime, magncsia and sodium. and Of ~sulphntcs of lime
and magnosia, tho former sometimes developing
hydrochloric and the latter s%ulphurio acid. II, there.
fore, these acids nre not neutrallzed by introduce
ing some substance for which they have greater
aninity than the material of the boilers, tie latter
become pitted or wasted.
For the moro easy and effective publication OF the
indoor atmosphere q humidiner OF some two feet
square has been contrived by Henry J. Barnes Of
Philadelphia. This device has its top and two sides
solid, the third side Is q tight door, and tho fourth, or
front, In part 10 OF open.work brass, and the bottom
10 open. the whole being intended to stand over q
register in the door. one.half OF the interior Is taken
up with q galvanized iron water tank, with broad
edge at the top, on which rests q brass frame to hold
several rods at the top from which are sus.
pended strips of cotton felt almost the
width Of the tank and long enough to reach
TO its bottom. when in use the tank is nlied with
water, the strips of felt dipping into It become
wet, and the hot air coming up through the register
into the box has no other means of exit than past
these strips. thus becoming charged with moisture.
II the air OF the room gets too moist. So as to be seen
ny the deposit OF oew or frost on the WINDOW pancs,
then. by a simple bit OF mechanism, acting auto.
matically. tho strips are lifted from the tank and the
hot air dries them. and. passing beyond. regulates the
atmosphere of the room. the strips being then again
dipped into the tank. The window glass serves as q
guide in determining the number of evaporatlng sur
faces required in q room, and. this known, 1t works
automatically.
Some OF the English papers have much to say con.
corning the new Halford system OF railway c~onstruc-
uon-the plan. as briefly outlined in the London
Times, being one In which gravity is the motive
power and the cars are always running down hill.
This result is achieved BY making the permanent way
in sections, hinged together and at each end support
ed on hydraulic rams. As the train reaches the juno.
ton OF two sections. It puts the hydraulic machinery
in action, so that the ram rises. lifting the end OF the
section. together with the cars that are upon It; the
train thus has q decline, down which It runs by its
own weight. and. as the same process Is repeated with
each section. II is practically always running down q
falling gradient, continuous, though of varying steep.
meas. The hydraulic power necessary in carrying out
this system is conveyed through a pipe which IN laid
beneath the rails. and the admission of water to the
cylinders Of the rams is controlled either by electrical
means from the cars themselves. or by the weight OF
the train depressing the section 1t is about to leave.
and in this way actuating the supply valve.
Near Shasta, Cal. one OF the gold mines is worked
by means Of a peculiar machine. called a monitor. in
vented and operated by A. G. Annis. the machine In
question being sunk in tho river through the centre
OF q boat. twenty feet long. A cylinder OF iron, three
feet In diameter at the top and nve feet at the bot.
tom. with two windows at the top. 10 lowered through
the hole In the centre OF the boat to the bottom OF
the river; the workman enters. descends, the cylinder
is closed at the top, air is forced into 1t, and the work.
man descends to q dry surface at the bottom OF the
river to work the gravel. The compressed air. which
clears tho cylinder OF water. is ais, applied in ele.
waiting the gravel through a pipe inside to the deck OF
the boat. where It is deposited in sluices and washed.
Tho peculiar feature of construction in this arr range
ment Is that by which the water Is forc ID out OF the
cylinders and the gravel up to the top through tho
pipe inside. The value Of this method has boon
proved by thorough tests-,hree men working in
shifts of four hours each. as stated-the returns in
gold teinS eminently satisfactory.
An interesting as well as a curious scientific point
citation. at its recent meeting. by Prof. Richet
namely. o method Of ascartainiDg the amount OF tint
necessary for realizing any physical sensation OIL
mental impression. and this by mechanical means
II, Tor example. the skin be touched repeatedly with
light blows from a hammer. Prof. Richet states, one
may distinguish the fact that the blows ar, separate
and not continuous pressure when they follow on.
another as frequently as one thousand a second
Then. too. the smallest intervals of sound can bt
much better distinguished with one ear thar
with both; thus. tho separateness OF the clicks OF
n revolving toothed wheel was noted by one OBJ.
server when. they did not exceed sixty TO tn,
second. but. using both ears. they could no
be distinguished when occurring oftcner than nfteeI
times O second. Again. the sharp sound OF the cleo
trio spark OF an inductive coil was distinguished with
one ear when the rate was as high as 800 to the sec
ond; and It has been found, too. that hearing is 81
much more rapid than counting that, II a clock-cltck
ing movement runs faster than ten to the second
faur rlInka ran ha Cpuptat uvhtla With frvrpfv n fh
second two can be counted. Sight. however. is mucl
less keen than hearing, in distinguishing differences
so that, II a disk half white andhal black be revolved
1t will appear gray when its revolutions e1ceet
twenty.four per second.
The San Francisco papers have published some I'D
mirable views of the Largest engine OF its type eve
built, Z" one which Is to develop 10, 900 horse powe
and drive the excursion paddle steamer Empires
Queen from Liverpool to the Isle of Man. the steame
being $50 feet over all. This engine 10 q three
cylinder compound. diagonal type. surface condena
ing. The high. pressure cylinder, sixty.t light inche
tn diameter. is placed between two low.pressur
c~ylindes Of ninety.two inches diameter eacl
and with q stroke of eighty.four inche
length; the high.pressure cylinder has 4 pistol
valve. while the other cylinders have fla
slide valves. tho double eccentric link motion con
trolling all three. The starting and reversing is don
by means OF q direct. acting steam and hydraulic eu
CINE; the condenser. cylindrical In form. 10 place,
athwartships between the cylinders and the shaftin
supports. and q separate centrifugal circulating
pump. worked by an Independent steam pump. sur
plies tho condensing water and Is arranged to be use'
as a blge pump II necessary. The two boilers ar
installed forward Of the engine and two aft. MAXIM
two compartments. The Fairfield Shipbuilding an,
Engineering Company OF Govan. Scotland. are tn
builders, and the Empress Queen is expected to max
twenty-five statute miles an hour.
Experiments made recently by scientific men II
France. says the london Standard, have developed
somewhat curious and unexpected fact. namely. tina
certain persons possess a magnetic polarty-that is
they are found to act after the manner OF magnets
having, In fact, north and south poles. In such a case
the Individual. on being completely undressed ant
placed near a sensitive galvanometer, will. wheI
turned on a vertical axis. cause n DETECTION. nrst II
one direction and then In the opposite. Just as a mag