The Opelousas courier., 1898-11-26

pioyed. In the first place, in arrans.
Ing for this purpose, the wires from
several receivers can be coupled I'D to
one transmitter, and thus a teacher car
instruct a group of children at the
same time; then, again, it is not nee
essary for a teacher to apply his mouth
close to the transmitter, so that the
pupils have a full view of the facial
expressions and lip movement, which
Is not possible when having to direct
his voice into the mouthpiece of a
speaking-tube or trumpet. While see.
Ing the movement of the lips, the pa
tient has the sound conveyed close to
bis ear drum-a most advantageous
combination.
One Of the Portland, Oregon, papers
lately announced the arrival at AS
toria of a magnificent ocean log raft
which scaled between six million and
seven million feet of lumber; a raft
which, If made Of sawed lumber,
would contain about twelve million or
thirteen million feet. 1t was 600 feet
long, with beam of fifty-three feet and
drew twenty feet six inches. or cigar
shape, it was protected by a heavy
plank bulkhea,f at each end, held in
place by four steel cables of one and
one-fourth inch in diameter. 1t was
towed by a hawser sixteen inches in
circumference and $50 fathoms long,
connecting with a chain seventy-ive
fathoms In length at the end Of the
raft, this chain being connected with
another chain running through the
whole length Of the raft, in this way
pulling the raft together wherever the
strain am on the hawser, thus tight
ening the raft more securely when on
the ocean.
1t would seem from the official re-
port Of the United States Government
timber tests that to determine the diff
ference in strength values Of specimens
Of the same kind of wood a large num-
Der of experiments are essential. Wood
being a non-homogeneous material, and
extremely variable in its strength and
other properties, the range of it's yari-
alton in these respects is of great prac-
tical Importance to builders and 9th
ers. 1t is stated that small differences
such as a few hundred pounds in
values of 10000 pounds or more-are
too small to determine the quality in
general; and the fact is made apparent
that mistaken conclusions as to the
relative values Of various wood mate
rails have arisen from differences in
data which, according to this report,
might fairly be considered within the
range of variability of each material by
itself. The result of the Government
series of experiments in this line indi-
cate how much uniformity may be ex-
pected in timber, and plainly show
that differences of less than ten Pc
cent. in ordinary wood testing with
conifers and fifteen per cent. in hard
wood may be looked for in stock OF
the same kind, and must be regarded
a criterion for or against the whole.
The Western states, inclusive Of
Alaska, which have exhibits in the
Trans-Mississippi Exposition, COM
prise in area more than twO-thirds OF
the whole United States. The region
is as large as France, Germany, Eng
land, Scotland, Ireland, Austria-Hun-
gary, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium,
Switzerland, Greece, Sweden, Norway.
the Netherlands, Turkey in Europe,
Bulgaria, Roumania, and Servia, to-
gether with Egypt and Japan, the
Islands, Hawaii, and Cuba;
and, in addition, you must add all OF
New York, New Hampshire, Vermont.
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland,
Virginia, West Virginia, and South
Carolina. According to Harper,s
Weekly there were living in this region
%half-century ago less than two mil
lion people, exclusive of Indians, three
fourths Of the white inhabitants being
In three states. To-day this population
has been increased by over twenty
millions Of people.