Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-02
SCIENTIFIC MISCELLANY,

From a recent discussion by the Brit
ish Astronomical Society 1t APP
pears that the cause Of a much
observed phenomenon Is still mystery
The new theory was offered by Mr.. Ce-
ell J. Dolmage that the apparent en-
largement Of the moon Is an effect OF
the skys curvature, which Is not no.
tlced at the zenith but apparently In
creases toward the horizon. This re-
called the many other suggestions OF
recent years. a Belgian astronomer
has sought 10 prove that the cause IS
physiological, and that objects over
head always seem smaller than those
at the same distance on level; another
idea is that the cause is atmospheric;
stlll another. that the illusion is mental.
About the only thing really proven is
that measurement with the sextant
shows the moons disc to have the same
size at the horizon as at the zenith,
except for the slight influence OF re-
fraction.
German experiments suggest defec-
tive water cages as the cause OF many
If not most mysterious boiler eX-
plosions. Using a magnetic indicator,
c. Remschel obtained an alarm OF low
water while the ordinary glass gage
showed four inches above the medium
level A defect in the tightness Of the
steam pipe leading TO the top cock was
found and when this was remedied the
water level in the glass fell six Inches.
II has been assumed that the depth
OF unvaryng temperature In the soil
increases from one foot at the equator
10 seventy odd feet at the poles, Yet a
shaft in northern Siberia, has reached
a depth Of 1900 feet without getting
through the frost A western mining
engineer explains that this may not
disproye the theory, as the deep freez-
ing may be result OF annual accumula
tions Of sediment on unthawed ground
Coffee berries are coated with sugar
by an English grocer, the cheaper ma
terlal increasing the weight five 10 ten
per cent. In Germany the berry Is so
closely initiated by prepared maise
that detection OF the fraul Is difficult,
even on close inspection.
The full power OF belfry bells Is felt
only through the use Of great Masses
OF metal, and II H. estimated that the
normal ia" Of $40 simple vibrations.
which is found in the center q the
keyboard Of the piano, can be given
only by bell feet In diameter and
weighing about 1000 pounds, while the
deep do" Of 30 vibrations from the
3?- foot organ pipe would require bell
iO5 feet In diameter and weighing IT,
800, 900 pounds. The Harrington cy-
llndrical bells. with which experiments
have been made In England during
several years, are claimed TO give very
results with much less
metal ANY note required is given by
a tube OF constant diameter and thick
ness. the various tones and seml-tones
differing only In length. and the posi-
bilily OF obtaining notes with mathe-
matical precision Ia an advantage OF
great importance In the TUNING OF
chimes. The range Ia less than that
Of ordinary bells, increasing with the
five diameters thus far produced from
half mile 10 three miles, These tubes
have a maximum length Of 10 feet. and
the saving In metal Is Illustrated by
the statement that a tubular bell %
2A inches diameter, with a range Of
half a mile, weighs only l.s40 pounds,
while one Of the ordinary bells OF the
satne range Weighs $1,000, the differ
ence In cost being that between 1890
and $4,000
A very few exceptions 10 the rule that
animals live with their backs toward |
The sky and away from the earth are