Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-09-09

reached 480 miles. Between MOmbaSSa
and Nairobi, a distance of about 80
miles, the communication is made by
three wires, and after the latter point
two wires are used. About forty-five
stations have been opened. Between
Rialhead and Port Florence, the ter
minal station of Victoria Nyanza sec
ton, a temporary line has been con-
structed, but from Port Florence to
Eutebbe, the capital of the Uganda pro-
tectorate, the line is in a completed
state. Instead of poles, living trees are
planted along the line. Experience
shows that the living trees are not
attacked by white ants like the poles
The trees take root and only need to
have the branches cut off from time to
time. The wires are fixed simply by
well-tarred hemp cords, which take
the place of insulators.
Hot Boxes
1t is commonly supposed that the
heatings of the bearings of machines
and of the axles of car wheels is due
exclusively to fiction, but Railway
and Locomotive Engineering puts for
ward the theory that it is due to an cleo
trio arc. This assumes that all re-
volving bodies generate a current of
electricity, which, if not properly han
died, causes trouble somewhere. In
the case of a revolving shaft or axle,
it is assumed that the current gen
Grated will pass from shaft to bearing,
and if any space exists between the
two, as it is practically bound to do,
unless the bearing is a perfect fit, an
arc is formed. AS the temperature of
the arc is supposed to be 5000 degrees,
it is said that this is the reason that
many bearings heat the small size of
the arc being the reason the tempera-
ture is not raised more rapidly. Oil is 4
to act sometimes as an in
su1ator
AcetyIene for Heat and Light.
In the Mointeur Scientifque it is
stated by M. Bourgerel that an acety-
lene blowpipe with supply Of oxygen
produces temperatures approaching
those of the electric arc. The oxygen
must, however, be somewhat diluted.
The acetylene burns with a slightly
but intensely hot flame,
which by adjusting the relative proper
lions of oxygen and air, can be made
either oxidizing or quite neutral. In
the German army maneuVerS an acety-
lene light is used for optical telegra-
ply Lime light is less convenient |
Acetylene with oxygen gives three
times as much light. as lime light, pro-
ducing flame that is seen by day for
five miles and by night for ten miles.
The oxygen is generated in a small re
tort as wanted.
Against Wrecks.
Consul Guenther, of Rockford, re-
ports an automatic system of signals
for warning vessels in stormy weather
against the proximity of reefs and
rocks, the automatic part Of the appara
tus consisting of a wheel with num-
Der of cogs arranged at suitable inter
walls, which slide over Morse appara-
tus. The latter is connected with
a ladder placed vertically on ris-
ing ground on shore or on a light
house. The electric waves emanating
are taken up by receiving apparatus on
vessels having such apparatus within
a radius of seven miles. A bell sounds
and the receiver notes the spot against |
which vessels should be warned.
Cheap Fuel Gas.
The gas invented by Ludwig Mond /
is to be sold at four cents per 1000 |
feet. 1t is made, it appears, from the
mouths of coal mines, and will be con-
veyed from the mines to consumers in
pipes It's inventor says that by his |
process ten million tons of coal will |
produce as much steam power as fifty |
million tons now produces. 1t is
thought that this will effect revolu- |
ion by cheapening electric power, and
t will also have an important bearing
IN the production of open-hearth steel.