Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1901-07-24
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.

- new mGlQOQ OI Ul6SLluS WIluOut
report or shock has been devised. It
consists of first charging the holes
on the line Of the cleavage of the rock
with steam to heat it; then introduc-
sing charge of liquid air to suddenly
Chill it. The sudden contraction Of
the rock by the liquid air makes 1t
brittle and easy to remove.
The belief that the diamond is pro-
duced in the "blue ground" rock Of
South Africa is probably a mistaken
one. according to Professor Bonney.
He has carefully examined some blue
ground powders containing diamonds
and found them water-worn, and COM
posed Of garnetiferous rock. Two of
the specimens showed the diamond ap-
parently embedded in the garnet, which
leads the Professor to call attention
to the very close relation that evident
ly exists between the two stones. The
Professor concluded that the diamond
does not originate in the blue ground,
but is there as derivative of older
rocks.
Migrations of rats have been known,
also Of squirrels, the latter moving
over the country in thousands. Many
fishes are affected by reasons of activ-
ity. The writer once witnessed on the
Maine coast the arrival Of a devastat-
ing horde Of dog fishes or small
sharks two or three feet in length. The
day previous not one was seen, but
suddenly they appeared like an army.
The cod and haddock fishing of the To-
cality was completely ruined by the
yoracious throng, and the fishermen
began to fish for the small sharks,
which were converted into dressing
for farms, while the livers were made
into.
Aluminium, or aluminium, as 1t is
more properly called, has not been
used in the manufacturers long enough
for its qualities to be generally
known, and metal workers frequently
: ask about its strength. Under trans
verse strain it is not very rigid, but it
will bend nearly double without
breaking. Its tensile strength is
greatly increased by forging and
pressing at a temperature of GOO de-
grees Fahrenheit and if alloyed with
nickel it is much stronger than when
pure. Cast aluminium is about equal
in strength to cast iron in tension, but
in resisting compression it is compar-
atively weak.
Consul Nelson of Bergen is the au-
thor of report that Copenhagen
chemist after experimenting for sew
eral years, has invented cheap sub
stitute for rubber, which he calls
"solicum." 1t is produced from as
phalt, and can be used for the manu-
facture Of linoleum, rubbers, insula-
tors, etc. 1t is also claimed that tho
material can be used as paint, in all
colors, and that it is absolutely water
proof. The immense value which a
cheap and good substitute for rubber
would have has led to great number
Of experiments during recent years
with various substances, none OF
which, however, up to date, have
shaken the pre-eminent position
which rubber holds as an insulator
and waterproofer.
In the report of the director of the
Peabody museum of Harvard univer-
sity-Prof. Putnam-there Is a para
graph on the famous Calaveras skull,
which is now in the possession of the
museum. Prof. Putnam spent week
in careful study of the site where
the skull was found and reports that
he is at this time only prepared to
state that after a careful sitting and
cross-questioning Of all the stories
told at Angels Camp as to the finding
Of the skull, he has come to the con-
clusion that these stories "are not
worthy Of consideration as evidence"
Samples of the materials from the
shaft of the Mattison mine were
brought to Cambridge for study.
Mining work in the auriferous gravels
of Tuolumine county has recently
been again undertaken and fragments
of implements and bones have been
found, it is said. 1t Is likely that
more evidence on the antiquity of man
in California will soon be forthcom-