Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1898-03-11
Velocity of Ocean Waves.

The velocity of waves is said to depend
primarily upon the power and continuance
Of the wind, but it is greatly modified by
and bears an ascertainablc relation to
their magnitude and the depth of the wa
Ser over which they travel. 1t has been
calculated by Airy that wave 100 feet in
breadth and in water 100 feet deep travels
ut the rate of about Is miles an hour; one
1000 feet broad and in water 200 feet
deep at the rate Of 4S miles; one Of 10000
feet in breadth and in water 10, coo ID :
deep will sweep forward with velocity -,
not less than l54 miles an hour. Bi: ne
stated as one Of the effects of All earth
quake at Samoda, on the island of Niphon,
In Japan, that the harbor was first emptied
OF water, and then came an enormous
wave, which again receded and left the
harhor dry. This occurred several times.
10 evaporate water enough yearly from
the ocean to cover the earth, on the aver
age, S feet deep with precipitation, to
transport it from one zone to another, to
cause it to fall in the right places, at suit
able times and in the proportions due, is
one of the offices of the grand atmosphcr-
ical machine This water is evaporated
principally from the torrid zone. Suppos.
ing it all to come thence we shall have,
encircling the earth belt of ocean 5000
miles in breadth, from which this atmos.
phere cvapOrates layer Of water annually
Is feet in depth. TO hoist up as high as
the clouds and lower down again all the
water in lake Is feet deep, 5000 miles
broad and $4,000 miles long is the yearly
business of this invisible machinery
What powerful engine is the atmosphere
How nicely adjusted must he all the cogs,
wheels, springs and compensations Of this
exquisite piece of machinery that it never
Wears out or breaks down or fails to
do it's work at the right time and in the
right way! What a field for investiga-
ton, and how singular it is that man il
placed at the bottom of this atmospheric
ocean from which to commence his re-
search st. Louis Republic.
On the posts OF one of the old beds in
the mansion at Mount Vernon are small
glass knobs with sockets drilled into them,
which fit little spikes, but do not fasten
on. 1t is perfectly natural for visitors to
place their hands upon the knobs, and
those who do Immediately perceive that
they can be taken off. The next step is to
them away as relics of the sacred place.
Although an attendant is employed to
watch this room, there are so many visit
ors that it is impossible for him to prevent
such pilferirg, and the glass knobs have
to be replaced two or three times week
during the busy season, but that costs very
little trouble and expense. A factory near
Pittsburg turns them out for 80 cents a
gross, and Mr.. Dodge is in the habit of
ordering a barrel of them every spring.
There are several thousand of these glass
knobs scattered over the world, in mu-
seums and private collections of mementos
and historical relics. Many more are
doubtless concealed for reasons of consci-
ence and fear Of discovery, but the guilty
persons need have no co1lcern. The orig
inal knobs that belonged to the bed are
safely laid away in a vault.-Chicago Rec
ord. -.-