The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-07
ITEMS OF INTEREST.


helpful when the train is late in reach
ing the breakfast car; who doesn't get
the fidgets and make every one around
her fidgetty toward the end of the jour
ney; who is quick TO overlook petty trou-
bles, TO excuse the mishaps. and appre-
ciates all the efforts for her comfort, even
when they fail dismally-the girl who
thinks first of others and last of herself
is treasure on long railway journey
Neptune, the most distant known
planet Of the solar system, presents to
the telescope only a small, greenish disk.
on which no distinct markings are visi-
bic. But during the past year the great
telescope of the Naval Observatory, at
Washington, has revealed Indications of
the existence of streaks on Neptune bear
ing a resemblance to the belts of Jupiter.
few years ago similar streaks were
them, so that it may be said that cloud
like belts are feature common to all
the four great outer planets.
Academy of Sciences NJ. Berthelot dis
cussed Egyptian metals and the presence
OF platinum among the characters of a
hieroglyphic inscription. A metallic box.
covered with inscriptions, and dating
AAOAA wv D - IldQ d ENOillOti u Ollc VI
its characters made of an alloy of plati
mum. The specimen was too small for
complete analysis. but from it's be-
havior toward aqua resia it appeared to
be native platinum, possibly obtained
from the alluvial deposits of Nubia or
the upper regions of the Nile valley.
I'm locating the Virginia and South
western Railroad through the Allie
gbenies from Virginia into Tennessee adj
vantage was taken of a natural tunnel
which is one of the wonders of the world.
The distance through the tunnel is about
1000 feet, and so nearly perfect is the
tunnel that only sixty feet of blasting
was necessary. The region is of lime
stone formation. as always where there
are extensive caves. The cliffs at each
end of the tunnel are 400 feet high and
the scenery in the locality is remarkably
fine. 4x aAasl
I'm Belgium a new method of pro-
pelling cars is being exuperimented with.
The tracks are made powerful magnets
which pull the car forward. AS there are
no moving parts on the car or tracks
the troublesome motor is got rid of. The
tracks are supplied by current from the
power station in the ordinary way. There
are field coils along the tracks, and the
car also carries COllSy the ATfdil8cIutLb
being such that the current is kept con-
stantly circulating in the track coils just
ahead of the car, so as to pull the car
forward by magnetic force. The scheme
seems to work fairly well at high speeds.
United States have just been put up in
Beaumont, Tex. So far as known, they
are the highest of any In the world, the
top being $50 feet above the ground.
They were erected on the opposite banks
of the Neches river by the Western
Union Telegraph Company in order to
string Its cables across the stream. The
span Is IA feet in length. This hight is
necessary to admit the passage of ships
through the drawbridge, their nasts be-
| ing one hundred feet tall and more. This
aerial span was preferred to laying a
| submarine cable. for 1t Is expected that
| Congress may at some future day have
the Neches river dredged and this would
| ruin the cable. 1t is also much the
| cheaper.
Some very curious societies have been
recently established in Japan. One Is en-
| titled a Society for the Study of the
| Causes of Discomfort" and 1t is al
| ready so popular that 1t proposes to is
| sue a monthly magazine, In which the
various panaceas for abolishing unhappi-
ness will be fully explained and criticised
| The object of the society rs to classify
and label the various causes of discon-
| tent and then to search vigorously until
| it finds TIM requisite cure in each case
| Another society has been founded al
1 Nakatsu with the extraordinary name OF
| the Union for Loud Laughing" 1t owes
/ it's existence to certain optimists, who
| believe that there is nothing better than
| laughter, and who hope in this way tc
| spread their wholesome creed far and
wide The main bylaw of this society
| ordains that every member must laugh
| out loud on every possible occasion.
| Experts appointed to- investigate the
workings of the pneumatic tube system
of carrying mails in cities report that
| on the present basis of cost the system is
| too expensive. It odds that a system tc
| be operated by electricity is in process Of
development and bids fair to be success.
fui. This is simply a three-rail trolley
| road operated in a tube. The tracks
| would be laid, insulated, and bonded be-
fore the top is fastened down. The car.
riers would be built with slightly rounded
! corners, so as to conform to the turn:
| made at street corners. The carriers anC
their motors would be operated between
| guides. BY cutting the tracks and thu
| Introduction of system of looping, wei
understood by electrical engineers, thu
speed of the carriers could be lessenet
at corners and also when approaching
stations. Electrical engineers. say it L
feasible and could be operated for any
distance.
Friends of the Beers in Hamburg in
tend to present beautiful sword of hon.
or TO Gen. Dewet. A superb weapon 1t is
The hilt is finely chased. silded and orna'
mented with the coat of arms Of this
| Transvaal Republic. Furthermore. In
| front is the portrait of the General anc
| nearby is the monogram, &C. Dew
Leaves of laurel and oak surround then
and are surmounted by brilliant dia.
mond. The blade is of the finest Damascu!
steel and bears on the right side the In
scription Den dapperon boerengeneraa
Christian DeWet tot aandenken Var
don waterkant Hamburg, Altoona en- ON.
| stricken" and on the left side the word:
Tot den laatsten dropped blood, onver'
schrokken, dapper getroow en- coed" ThS
inscription on the right simply shows
that the sword has been presented to the
General by his Hamburg admirers, and
the left side bears the brave words, "TC
the last drop of blood, unterrihed, fear.
less. true and good The scabbard Il
fashioned of pure German silver and /:
beautifully nickelled. chased and gilded
Experts who have examined it say thai
IL is the choicest specimen Of such work
| that had been produced In C,ern1anv for 4