Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-05-15
,ts}@ea%ClenCe
'ss = sssseIllvention|

SpectrOScOplc ana OCner observations
show the fixed stars to be self-luminous
bodies to the other systems of
planets. An analysis of their light indi-
Gates the presence Of the same chemical
elements that exist in our own sun and
earth, together with others unknown in
our solar system.
Where ice cannot be procured, water
may be cooled by wrapping the pitcher
containing 1t In towel Of loose texture
which has been previously impregnated
with ammonium nitrate (and dried) and
moistening this with water. The same
ing dried each time.
The news from Lick Observatory that
the North star, 255,OOO,OOO of miles
away from us, has been found to be not
one star, but three-swinging around in
great orbits like the moon, earth and
SUMS another remarkable result Of
the application of photo-spectroscopy
to the telescope study Of the heavens.
An American electric manufactur-
ing company has been awarded the en-
tire contract for the equipment of nu-
merous electrical plants which will be
installed along the line of the Eastern
Chinese railroad. 1t will consist large
ly of temporary lighting plants. 1t is
thought that ultimately 100000 will
be involved in the contract.
The first century began with the first
day Of the year one and ended with the
last day Of the year one hundred. 1t
could not end with the last day of the
year. ninety-nine, for one hundred not
ninety-nine years make century. The
nineteenth century, therefore, ends at
midnight on Dec. 81, 1900, and the
twentieth century then begins.
At recent meeting Of the Geological
Society in London photograph was
exhibited, showing pair Of remark
ably large tusks which had belonged
to an African elephant. Measured along
the outer curve, each tusk was ten feet
and four inches long, but they differed
little in weight, one weighing 225 and
the other 235 pounds, or total of 460
pounds, wich the elephant had carried
about without the least Inconvenience.
One of the most important American
exhibitions at the Paris exposition will
be a model, some twenty feet long, of
the Chicago drainage canal In con-
nection with this will be shown models
of all the great variety of excavating
and conveying machinery which was
used in this important engineering
work. The models will be shown in
operation, and it is believed that it will
be one of the most interesting Of the
engineerings exhibitions at the exposi-
ton.
Considerable importance is attached
to the distance-measuring field-glass
invented by Mr.. Zeiss, Of Jena. 1t is
simply an extension of the natural pow
er of the eyes to estimate the distance
Of nearby objects. This power de-
pends upon the fact that the space be-
tween the eyes serves like a base-line
In surveying, the lines of sight con-
verging upon selected object from
the ends of the base. In the telemeter
the effective distance between the eyes
is increased by means Of prisms, and
double images Of the objects looked at
are formed. The distance between the
images varies with the remoteness of
the objects, and a scale shows what the
real distance is. Up to about two miles
the results are said to be fairly ac-
curate.