The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1900-06-08
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The fact that nettle fiber has Of late
been found to produce the finest tissues
obtainable from any vegetable source
has led to a project In Germany to In
troduce the cultivation of nettles In the
Kamerun region of Africa. If the ex-
pertinent is successful, the enterprise
will be undertaken on large scale In
connection with the weaving indus
tries.
Among the most remarkable glimpses
into hidden corners Of nature that re-
cent scientific advance has afforded are
the frequent discoveries Of mlcro-or-
ganisms in unexpected places, where
they produce phenomena heretofore
supposed to arise from other causes
For instance, DR.. A. Petersen, Of Up
sala, Sweden, has ascertalned that In
preparations Of meat and fish contain
Ing, for purposes of preservation, salt
to the amount of 10 per cent, micro
organisms grow luxuriantly, and he
concludes that the f1avors and odors
that are peculiar to various salt con-
serves ar educ to the micro-organisms
with which they are crowded.
At the latest annual meeting of the
Geological Society of America, Prof. |.
G. Russell called attention to the recent
discovery that many of the swamps
and lakes In the southern peninsula of
Michigan are rich in calcareous mari,
suitable for making Portland cement.
Although partly composed of shells,
the Michigan mari Is principally a
chemical precipltate which is still being
formed. The precise method of its for
nation Is not yet understood. The sup
ply Is practically inexhaustible. Large
cement works have lately been con-
structed, others are in contemplation,
and Prof. Russell says that Michigan
can easily take leading place in that
industry.
In 1893 the japanese government ap-
pointed an investigating committee on
earthquakes. This committee, which
has now nearly completed its labors, re-
ports, among other things, that It
seems likely that one part or another
OF Japan will be visited by destruc-
tive earthquake once In every two and
a half years. That portion of the land
bordering the japan Sea is seldom dis
turbed by other than local earthquakes,
while the Pacific coast of the country
frequently suffers from great shocks
originating under the ocean. When a
region is shaken by constantly recur-
ring small earthquakes, 1t appears to be
rendered safe against the occurrence of
destructive shocks, because the accum-
ulation Of stress In the earth's crust at
that point Is prevented.
Prof. e. H. Barbour, of the Univer.
sity Of Nebraska, after comparing his
own observations in 1895 with those In
1899, and collecting the opinions of 9TH
er visitors to the National Park, ex-
presses the fear that within a decade
many of the scenes now most attractive
In the wonderful Yellowstone Valley
will have disappeared. He gives de-
tails showing that nearly all the hot
springs and geysers have declined in
activity. "Old Faithful geyser still
does honor to Its name, but the interval
between its eruptlons, formerly an
hour, has increased to 70 or 80 min
utes. Meanwhile there seems to be an
increase Of phullition In tho uotar oP
the greatest of all the geysers, the Ex-
celsior, whose outbursts have always
been separated by irregular periods,
covering years at stretch, and there Is
hope that it may be preparing another
exhibition Of Its power.