Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-01-07
THE SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
THE YEARS SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS.

THE YEARS SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS.
As one recalls the scientific events and
announcements of the year 1897, he finds
it difficult to match in Importance these
four: The development of speed Of
thirty.flve knots by the British torpedo
boat destroyer Turbina, the transmission
OF telegraph messages without wires to q
distance of ten or fifteen miles, the dis
covery of the bacillus of yellow fever
and the testimony which the buried city
of Nippur offers regarding the existence
of high state of civilization in MesOpo-
tamia between G,O0O and 1000 years be-
fore Christ.
That which makes the Turbinia's
achievement especially significant is that
it was rendered possible by the use of IA
new type of marine engine, the steam
turbine. Mr.. Parsons, the inventor of
the latter, may possibly be too sanguine
when he predicts speed not merely of
forty, but of fifty, knots an hour; but he
has unquestionably opened up new era
in steam engineering. Marconi's methods
are not likely to come into extensive use.
Nevertheless. it is already apparent that
his system possesses high practical
value. 1t presents exceptional advan-
tages for communication between fixed
station and moving one dixie Il ship, or
two moving stations, and for secret
service. Sanareillis brilliant perform
ance not only reveals the true nature of
a disease TO which the southern part of
this country is peculiarly subject, but it
81, TO I,o iAD nj
a new and much-needed antitOXin. Pro-
fessor Hilprecht's explorations will not
help us to travel faster, nor will they
prolong human life. They have bear
ing on the question of the antiquity of
man, however, which it would be foolish
to ignore.
Less significant, no doubt, but hardly
less interesting than the incidents just
referred to, are the Toronto meeting of
the British scientists, which gave people
on this side of the Atlantic rare oppor-
tunity to meet several of the most distin-
gushed investigators of the present day,
and at the same time happily advertised
to Europe Americas scientific activities {;
the dedication of the Yerkes telescope,
which has already demonstrated its supe-
riority in power, as well as size, to every
other refractor i'm the world; the sue
cessful trials of Lakes submarine boat
which is designed to run along the ocean
bottom; the transportation to this port
of Peary's big meteorite and the attesta-
ton of the best authorities in Europe to
irs genuincncss: the departure of the
Belgian expedition 20 explore the South
Polar region; the commencement and
rapid progress in London of work on the
greatest underground electric road in the
world, and the alleged conversion of
silver into gold by mechanical pressure.
Iuasmucu as that modern alchemist, Mr..
Emmens. has not found it convenient to
permit disintcrested experts to witness
ana tell the public about his operations,
his story must still be received with
courteous scepticism. But it is not i'm
possible that We shall hear something
interesting from him even yet.
Rontgeu rays, which were fist discov-
cred bout two fcars ago. have received
new application ito the French customs
seryice) during the last twelve months.
Chas-aGue's process Of photography in
colors. Of which sensational reports We're
heard last spring, did not Justify the
hopes which were entertained in regard
to it at that time. Aceiylene, TOO, has
failed 20 make Roadway in popular favor.
The horseless carriage, on the other
hand, has apparently come to stay; sue
cess has attended the efforts to reduce the
weight of storage batteries in proportion
to the charge which they will hold, and
alternating currents show definite ten
dency to come into more extensive use,
both for power and lighting New Yorl;
Tribune.