The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-16

vent heat radiations from the ship itself
interfering with the accuracy of the in
struments. Surrounding each casing is an
outer chamber containing an alum solution
designed to intercept direct or reflected
heat radiations from the sun. Above each
thermopile is a revolving funnel which
successfully turns in every direction of the
compass. Two thermopfes are contained in
each case simply TO increase the accuracy
of the observations. From the thermopiles
wires extend to the pilot house of the yes
sci where they connect with a sensitive
galvanometer AT each side of the gavan-
ometer is a bell one to announce the heat
of approaching vessels; one to announce
the cold of approaching icebergs. On foggy
days or a night when the thermopiees are
in operation the tunnels revolve slowly. If
another vessel approaches within a mile of
the ship carrying the instruments the deli
cate substances of the thermoDiles at once
become affected and an electric current is
generated. This current flows through the
galvanometer in the pilot house and the
pilot can tell at once whether he is near
another vessel or an iceberg. The drec-
ton of the newcomer can be determined
by noting the position of the revolving
tunnels every time the bell rings. Ii may
be ascertained also whether the vessel or
iceberg is approaching or leaving by OBJ
serving whether the power of the thermo-
piles increases or decreases.
Somewhat similar to the above instru-
ment is the bolometer. This apparatus Is
also affected by the approach of heat or
cold but in a different way from it's ac-
ton on the thermepHe. The thermopi1e,
as stated, creates a. current of electricity
when heated. The bolometer on the other
hand is operated bya current from a bat
terry, but this current viii regulate its in
tensity according to the degree of heat or
cold in which the bolometer is placed In
its way it can be made as sensitive and as
effective as the thermopile. The external
operation is similar tosthe instrument de-
scribed In the foregoing paragraph.
A few weeks ago, during a boat race
on the Thames Marconi the Italian in
ventor, demonstrated one of the practical
points of wireless biography by transmit
ting the news of the race from a small
steam yacht to the shore. He operated
his instrument In the cabin of his yacht
and the result was altogether sarisfac-
tory. Here, Ii seems, might be found at
once, the solution of the difficulty as to
avoiding collisions, but there are few OBJ
jections to giving the system approval for
all cases. Expensive apparatus would have
to be installed on every vessel on the
ocean, and the safety of every vessel
would depend on the alertness of the cb-
servers on every other vessel. But grant
ing the installation and the alertness, the
question Of icebergs, and wrecks would
not be settled. This question OF the dere-
lict however is a serious one in any event
as il is difficult to see how a waterlogged
wreck floating even with the surface, Is
to be detected even by the most delicate
OF Instruments
Most remarkable Is the suggestion of
Prof. Oliver Lodge OF Liverpool Univer-
sity to dissipate fog by means Of electric
discharges on vessels. Alexander Meade,
the American electrician, has investiga-
ted this project but the idea originated
with Prof. Lodge while he was crossing
the Atlantic some years ago. During the
passage the vessel was detained several
hours by fog. Afteryard Prof. Lodge
wrote as follows:
Fog is an unmitigated nuisance. Elec-
trio light is powerless 10 penetrate ii, and
as we lay there idle it was impossible rot
to be struck with the advisability OF DIS
sipating IL. II is rash 70 predict what
can be done. IL is stil more rash 10 pre-
dict what cannot be done. would merely
point out that on board a steamer are
donkey engines, and that these can drive
a very powerful holtz or wimshurst ma
chine, one pole of which may be led TO
points on the masts. When electricity Is
discharged into fog on a small SCALE the
fog coagulates into globules, and falls as
rain. Perhaps Il viii on a large scale.
too
On his return to England Prof. Lodge