Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-12-12


consists Of the decomposition OF water by
nuorine. and the operation takes place
when the water is at the freezing point
and has fuorlne passed into 1t rapidly.
The oxygen IL set free and when Analysed
Is found 10 contain a percentage OF ozone
which i'm some experiments was as mucn
as II per cent The ozone thus produced
IS said 10 be practically pure, ana there is
possibility that the new process Will be
available on a commercial scale
In some wireless telegraphy expert
ments between the top or Mount Blanc
and ChamouniX, number OF interesting
facts were brought out recently by Nj. NJ.
Jean and Louis Lecarme. The Ice ana
the absence Of liquid water did not appar-
emily have any effect on the signals. The
clouds also did not have any influence on
the work OF the apparatus. and though
the receiver was affected by atmospher-
ic electricity, it did not spoil the messa-
ges The most serious difficulty encoun-
tered was due 10 the three-phase electric
lighting system OF ChamouniN, which
made telegraphy impossible az night, AT
least with the form Of cOherer employed.
ChamOunix Is 900 metres above the sea-
level and NallOts observatory, where the
receiver was stationed. Is 1850 metres,
the linea distance between the two sta
lions being seven and one-half miles.
The transmitting mastwire was twenty
used was one Of the Brandy gold-filing
pattern.
A new alloy has recently been patented
i'm Germany which is intended To take
the place Of gold. 1t consists Of copper
and anthony in the proportion Of 100 10
8. the anthony being added TO the melted
copper After the anthony has melted
and a union between the two metals has
occurred some charcoal ashes, magne-
stun, and lime are added to the molten
mass i'm the crucible. The alloy can be
rolled and worked like gold, and will
Withstand for some time acid and am
moniacal vapors. 1t has color quite
similar to gold, which it does not lose by
oxidation.
A discovery that is Of great Importance
20 New South Wales is the location OF
River district, near Yugilbar. Geolo-
gists have examined the district quite
carefully and have located three parallel
lOdes, which improve as they go down.
Machinery TO mine and treat the ore Is
being erected, and the samples already
found are said to be superior to the pro-
ducts Of the American and Spanish mines.
Other deposits of quicksilver are being
investigated and If the outcome Is as
successful as present conditions indl-
cate, # will have a very important effect
on Australian mining, as mercury Is
largely used I'm treating gold ore, and is
Il very large item OF tNptUS5.
BY recent invitation Of a young Dan
ish engineer, IL Is possible 10 connect
photograph with a telephone I'm such
manner that the former becomes avail
able for receiving the record of the speak
or, in case the individual with whom he
desires TO communicate Is not at hand.
This record will reprOducs the words Of
the speaker at any time II IL desired. The
phonograph IS said TO be quite different
from Edlson's. and much less complica-
ted. Instead Of the wax roller, a steel
band is used, and the record can be wiped
OFF i'm the same manner a chalk drawing
is removed from a slate.
II will be a source OF regret 10 geOlO-
gists and others that boring has been sus-
pended AT the deep well at West Eliza
beth. near Pittsburgh. Pa. This well
depth has reached "A point 5.5Sj feet be-
low the surface Of the earth, and II was
desired to continue boring until the
depths Of some Of the European wells had
been surpassed With the loss Of the bor-
ing tools. however. operations were sus-
pended. and IL is hardly likely that they
will be continued. At Wheeling West
Virginia, there IS another deep well
which penetrates 10 a depth Of 1900 feet
and recently Prof. l. 9. White Of the
West Virginia Geological Survey has pre-
pared an account Of the geological sec
tons through which II passes. I'm Europe
%
feet, is the most famous
In China. twelve and one-half miles
from the village Of LiOu-Chek, there Is "A
mountain Of alum. which. In addition 10
being a natural curiosity, f. "a source OF
wealth for the inhabitants Of the country,
who dig from II yearly tons Of alum.
The mountain Is not less than ten miles
in circumference ar it's base, and has a
height of 1.94o feet. The alum is OBJ
tanned by quarrying large blocks Of stone,
which are first heated in great furnaces
and then i'm watts filled with boiling water.
The alum crystallizes out and forms a
layer about six inches I'm thickness. This
layer is subsequently broken up into
blocks weighing about ten pounds each.
Some recent tests have brought 10 light
the fact that iodine occurs In certain ar
ticles Of human food I'm small quantities.
and as IL occurs in fish ana shell fish. n
has recently been suggested that this fact
may be the reason why fish Is 80 valuable
a food for invaid-. Traces Of iodine have
sible that II, together with the bromine
aud phosphorus, contributes TO its tonic
eHects.
Admiral Deweys experience with the
cable IN Manila Bay, which, after he had
cut he was unable 10 make use Of, owing
10 lack Of suitable Instruments has led
TO the design OF a special gayanometer
for the British navy. which will an
swer for this style Of work. Furthermore.
the naval electricians will be trained 10
use the new instrument under such condi-
tiOns as would occur in war, and devices
may be used for instruction. i'm which
the signals given on a long cable are ac-
curately simulated. The new galvanome-
ter. which is a modification Of the Suli-
van instrument, has few changes in
trOduced by the inventor himself Two
camel s-hair brushes are placed against
the phOsphor-brOnZe strip on which the
coil Is suspended, and the electro-mag-
netic damping IL diminished by cutting
through the metal frame on which the
movable coil is hung and bridging It with
a small platinum wire. so as to add re-
sistance. The new galyanometer Is con-
structed so as 10 Withstand rough usa ge,
and was tested on one OF the Atlantic
cables. 5000 Mills In length. under condi-
tons where the signals of an ordinary
speaking gavanOmeter We're not intel
ligible. But little additional apparatus is
required TO use the new instrument TO
send messages, and the operator can
watch the signals he Is sending.
Dress Of the Highland Regiments.
Scottish American)
The Highlanders' attachment 10 the
kilt Is once more strkingly shown by the
events that have lately transpired I'm
South Africa. Correspondents describe
with an air Of wonderment how ut the
battle or Glands l-aagte the gallant Cor
dons declined to fight without their tar
tans, although the commanding officer sug-
gested their doing so TO make them less
conspicuous objects 10 the Boer marks
men. The result was that a large num-
her OF the officers and men We're killed
or wounded but II Is not The least bit
more prObable that the Highianders will