The hatchet. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1883-19??, 1900-04-29
POPULAR " SCIENCE.

The London and Northwestern Railroad Company has Just
completed its four thouandth locomotive the works Cewe
and it will be sent to Paris to the Exposition.
writer in Russian journal estimates that to reach the
level of other European countries Russia would have
suct 3d. 600 additional miles of railroads. including
bera length of its railways
with the population
Three Prussian officers have made quick trip from Berlin
Prague in balloon They left at clock in the afternoon
and came O'clock having sen altitude of
600 feet during part journey distance between
the cities is covered by eXpesn in hours.
whale has been found with harpoon in its body which,
by its mark showed that it must have been hurled at the whale
at least thirty six years ago.
Senator Chandler has offered an amendment to the Naval
Appropriation Bill providing for civilian control of the Naval
Observatory This in accordance with the recommendation
of many American of science who consider that this i'm
portant institution should not be under the control of naval
authorities 1t is proposed to have permanent astronom
cal force astronomical director first second third and
fourth astronomers each having assistant together with
such compuers and other EMPLOYEES as are now authorized
director of The Nautical Almanac would also be appointed 1t
provides for board of visitors without compensation
posed of six and three citizens who shall annually
investigate the institution and upon whose recommendation
vacancies in the staff shall be filled.
In restoring the White House recently while the workmen
painting the doors they dCovered that they of solid
mahogany but owing mistake the original wood had
been painted in imitation of walnut The paint at
sCraped off and the doors restored to their pristine
The American hyacnth which is not inequenty
obstruction gaon in southern rivers has been
full killed the Mepomene Canal New Orleans by chemi
cal spray.
There employed the relief works of the famine
districts OF India 900 and the distress caused by
the famine increasing in extent and severity and the prices
of food very high.
Some old quarres of Oriental aabaser have recently been
discovered in the neghbohood Monte Amata Sena
very probable that the beautiful columns of that
material in the interior of the Cathedral of Siena from
those quarries The quarres are about to be worked
Secretary Gage has asked the House of Representatives o
appropriate additional to the fund to prevent the in
PRODUCTION and spread of epidemic diseases The Surgeon
General of the Marine Hospital Service reports that account
of the continued and increasing danger from plague medical
officers have also been stationed the fruit ports of Central
and South America guard against yellow fever The Con-
ulas at YOkohoma Kobe and Hong Kong also have medical
officers Three hundred thousand dollars previously ap
propriaed and this sum is almost entirely exhausted
Germany keeny alive the necessity of knowledge of
the languages of the countries in which they oee advantages
trade German commercial schools have asked the Russian
ministry of finance aid them in procuring teachers of the
Russian language.
Prof Henry S Prchett superintendent of the Coast and
Geodec Survey has resigned his place to accept the pre
dency of the Massachusetts, Institute of Technology of Boston
He the youngest superintendent that the Coast Survey has
ever had and he has been one Of the most capable.
Two French chemists have discovered process by which
rubber may be obtained from the Landoa vine which
Wild and luxuranty in all parts of Africa The process of
tapping the Landoa mpracticabe the flow of rubber
hardens quickly By the process of NM Armand and Yer
neu the vine crushed in hot water by which all the
rubber which it contains is extracted.