Connecticut western news. [volume] (Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.) 1871-1970, 1901-02-07
DOINGS OF ELECTRICIANS.
and Discoveries OF In
fereut to Lnymen.

Inventions and Discoveries OF In
terest to Lnymen.
An extensive scheme for supplying
electric power to the gold mines In Ny
sore, India, Is under contemplation.
Much interest has been excited In
England by the statement that by the
iudicious application Of electric cur
rents to growing potatoes the crop may
be very largely Increased,
The largest electric power scheme
yet promoted halls from Port Arthur
and Port Williams In Canada, where
the falls OF the Kaministiqua river are
to be utilized and no less than 00,0OD
horsepower developed. A canal Is
miles long win be required.
In the Prussian government dock
yard at Kiel electricity is to supersede
steam power. All the great machine
shops are to be electrically driven from
a central power plant of a capacity of
$500 horsepower. The same plant will
also supply energy for the powerful
dockyard pumps.
Many women are finding employment
In the higher branches OF electrical
work. Some girls are taking up the
study of electricity with a view to be-
coming electrical engineers, especially
In the department of electric lighting.
which In it's ornamental and spectacu-
lar side seems to lend itself particular
ly to the capabilities of feminine taste.
For measuring the enormous electrical
currents generated In and distributed
from modern central stations the hot
wire instrument Is becoming very pop
ular. This type Of instrument depends
tor Its operation upon the principle that
any conductor of electricity becomes
heated by the passage through 1t of
current and that any metallic sub
arance that liz heated expands.
Great expectations are entertained
and many plans are being formed in
Porto Rico for the installation of short
inland electric railways from the CEN
tlal range to the coast. The power is
20 be developed through the agency Of
many streams to be met with In every
part of the mountain range. which
traverses the island from end to end.
Ii all that is expected in the way of
new roads and other electrical works Is
accomplished, there will be a field in
Porto Rico for considerable electrical
machinery and material. The only
road on the island, from the capital to
Rio Padres, some nine miles In length.
Is shortly to be equipped electrically.
An interesting application of the eiec-
trical current has recently been made
In the manufacture of bisulphide of
carbon. This substance Is a colorless
liquid resembling water In appearance.
but possessing an intolerably offensive
odor. 1t Is used In large quantities as
a solvent for india rubber and as the
base Of various varnishes. 1t Is form
ed when carbon and sulphur are heated
together at high temperature, the b.
sulphide then passing away as a case
Gus vapor. In the new process mix
ture Of ground coke and sulphur is
subjected to the heat Of the electric
arc In a suitably designed furnace.
from which the resulting gases are led
Into worms resembling those of still.
In this they are condensed to the liquid
product, which is then bottled. 1t Is
not the least OF chemical curiosities
that this clear and limpid liquid is
formed by the combination OF two
solid substances.