Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-10

ties in the way OF applying the principle
on a large scale are being gradually
overcome. Much depends on the regula-
ton of the heat necessary for bringing
about the combination. Acid by cata-
lytic methods is now being produced by
two German companies, and the aviny
in cost, with the grea ter purity OF the
product. can hardly fail to have effect in
Sthe near future upon the older factories.
{ From an Investigation Of 16 heat-in-
sulating substances for steam-pipes, Mr..
sC. u. Norton concludes that the most
efficient preparations are those made of
lcork; the next being q cover consisting
l OF an inner jacket Of earthly material and
Ian outer one Of wool felt; while the next
Ills pure magnesia. Asbestos is non-con-
kducting only through the air entrapped
I in its pores. The magnesia covering is
| safe from fire, the cork fairly so, but
wool, hair and similar material, should
/ only be used over a mineral base. The
. heat saved will usually pay the cost of
the covering in a year of 10-hOur days.
' ---
/ The greatest altitude reached by a
railway is 14,555 feet. on the Central Pc
ruvian line; the greatest by a rack rail-
way, 13,2OO feet, on Pixies Peak: the
highest European climber is the rack
railway on Corner Grat-lO,OG5 feet.
kllC OIIS LlIC IoOOS HAS DCcH
made ridiculous by rain-making vision
aries, seems to be developing into an i'm
portant service in southern Europe. The
purpose, however, is not the making of
rain, but the prevention of hail, and the
apparatus of Burgomeister Stigel Of
Syria is aid to have been used with
such effect during three seasons that
practical immunity from damage has
been secured. and hail insurance has
been abandoned. The apparatus is a
small cannon s~urmounted by a long, con-
ical trumpet, which transmits to the
threatening cloud the vortex and concus-
sion OF a small charge of black powder.
A breech-loading rapid-fire gun. throw
ing bombs with time fuses to the height
OF a mile or more. has now been brought
forward. and a system of 800 hail-pre-
venting stations, using these guns, is
pelng established for the protection Of
the vineyards In the region Of Brescia
In the experiments thus far made it has
Deen thought necessary to have the sta.
lions not more han about a half-mile
apart in regions subject to hailstorms.
Cultivation of the nettle is an impor.
tant experiment projected for the Cam.
eroons. Nettle fiber is being used il
German factories for fine yarns and It's
sues, and h products are unsurpassed
by those from any known vegetable
source. Nettle growing In districts adapt
ed to 1t Is trus made al industry of grea
promise.
The pilot torpedo Of O%becchioni, which
received a high award at the Rochell
., nautical congress, is designed to proven
collisions in fog at sea. It is driven b.
a a ten-horse power electric motor, and i
kept from 900 to 1000 feet ahead of til,
steamer 20 be protected. being connecte,
by two ropes carrying insulated wires
If an obstacle Is struck, a bell on tn
r. steamer Is rung automatically.
The rapid failure OF Welsbach burner
has been traced by a. Dutch chemist il
one instance to the deposition on TIL
mantels of ~iron-carbpnyl. which prove,
to be a result of the action of uncar
buretted water-gas on the cold iron pipe
at ordinary pressures 8. Coating Of tn
interior of the pipes with coal-tar is
suggested remedy.
India offers the best field for long
range weather foreca SITS, yet the condi
lions last June seemed to Indicate a rain
fall above the normal for the thre
months ending February, 1900, the real
ity being the create st drought of tn
century.
One of the most successful popularizer
OF science OF the day IL Prof. C. v. Boys
F. r. s. In a late Royal institution lee
ItVre, he dealt most happily with the "sur
face tension" OF liquids-the propert
that causes water to form in drop.
makes 1t cling to the meshes Of q fin
'oieve. produces capilla ry attraction. an