The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-26
ITEMS OF INTEREST.

there to be an excellent cure for mosquito
bites. 1t neutralizes the poison, even
when the spot bitten is greatly infiamed.
IL fresh bites are rubbed with naph-
thalene no swelling follows. Naphtha-
lene is considered almost a specific against
mosquito poison.
The gas invented by Ludwig Mond is
to be sold at 4 cents per 1000 feet. 1t is
made. it appears, from the dust that ac-
cumulaIes about the mouths of coal
mines, to consumers in pipes Its IN
ventor says that by his process ten mil
lion tons of coal will produce as much
steam power as fifty million tons now pro-
duce. 1t is thought that this will effect
revolution by cheapening electric power
and it will also have an important bear
ing on the productiou of open-hearth steel.
Consul Guenther of Frankfort, reports
an automatic system of signals for warn
ing vessels in stormy weather against the
proximity of reefs and rocks, the auto
matte part of the apparatus consisting of
a wheel with number of cogs arranged
at suitable intervals, which slide over u
Morse apparatus. The latter is connect
ed with ladder placed vertically on ris-
ing ground on shore or on a lighthouse
The electric waves emanatiug are taken
up by receiving apparatus on vessels hav-
ing such apparatus within radius of
seven miles A beA sounds and the re-
ceiver notes the spot against which YES
sells should be warned.
in the Mointeur Scientifque it is
stated by NJ. Bourgerel that an acetylene
blowpipe with a supply of oxygen pro-
duces temperatures approaching those of
the electric arc. The oxygen must, how
ever, be some what diluted The acetylene
Inv rvr4Fk IL.
tensely hot, flame, which, by adjusting
the relative proportions of oxygen and
air, can be made either oxidizing or quite
neutral. In the German army maneuvers
an acetylene light is used for optical teleg-
rapny. Lime light is less convenient.
Aeetylene with oxygen gives three times
as much light as lime light. producing a
flame that is seen by day for five miles
and by night for ten miles. The oxy-
gen is generated in a small retort as
wanted.
\ The construction of the Cairo-Cape
telegraph line keeps pace with the con-
struction of the railroad from Nom
bassa to Victoria Nyanza. Last Deem
Der the length of this part of the line
reached $50 miles. Between Mombossa and
Nairobi, a distance of about $40 miles,
the communication is made by three
wires, and after the latter point two
wires are used. About 10 stations have
been opened. Between RaiIhead and Port
Florence the terminal station of the Vic
oria Nyanza section, a temporary line
has been constructed, but from
Fort Florence to Eutebbe, the
capital of the Uganda protectorate
the line is in completed state Instead
Of poles, living trees are planted along
the line. Experience shows that the hv-
ing 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.
Mr.. Edison's invention of an IRON
nickel storage battery is important IL
practical use demonstrates its service
ableness. The lead storage battery is too
heavy for convenient use in automobiles,
and the Edison battery, if successful will
fill much-felt want Finely divided
iron mixed with graphite and compacted
into small cakes forms the positive ele-
ment, and a similar prepare ton of finely
divided nickel is the negative element
A solution of caustic potash is the excit-
ing fluid. 1t is claimed for the battery
that it weighs but 53.3 pounds per horse
power, whereas the lead battery weighs
from u 6to 1877 pounds for the same DOW
er. This difference would be valuable.
The Edison battery is said to be indie
structible, though critics express doubts
1t is not claimed that il is cheaper per
horsepower. A run of seventy-five miles
has been made with a battery of 240
pounds on a single charge. The inventor
claims these advantages: Light weight.
indestructibility, rapid charging, the abil-
ity to climb the heaviest hills with little
or no difficulty and indifference to cold.
The Oldest family in Philadelphia, ac-
cording to the Record of that city, is
the Shoemaker family, the original an
cestor having emigrated from the Pala-
innate in 1854. He died on the voyage but
his widow, Sarah, and twelve children
settled in the neighborhood of German
town and ShoemakertoHn. Three of the
descendants were Mayors Of Philadelphia
before the American Revolution. The
lineal ancestor of the present head of the
family was treasurer of Philadelphia for
eighteen successive years. Two of the
sons of Sarah, the widow of the Palatinate
opened drug stores. One is in Sroemak-
ertown, where it still stands after two
hundred years, with the family name as
proprietor. One of her sons grandsons
established a drug store near Second and
Vine streets. Only one of the family,
A9dlnuGle 1nO6uldkeTs WHO owned the Kan
dolph mansion, remained Royalist DUR
ing the Revolution. He could not con,
scientiously give up his allegiance and
went to England. He returned later when
peace was declared. The present head
of the family. Benjamin H. Shoemaker.
has been connected with the Pennsylva-
MIA Hospital longer than any other Of
the board of directors.
An Odessa dispatch says: For obvious
reasons the Russian war office has lat
terly been devoting a studious attention
to the armed power of Japan, and the re-
suit if its investigation is summarized
as follows in the Russd Invalid, the Off
cial military organ: All branches includ-
ed, the Japanese army numbers COZ 116
men and $1,000 horses. The infantry is
armed with magazine rifles and the cav
airy with carbines. The artillery is fur
nished with quick-firing ordnance of the
latest and NOSE improved construction
All strategic points in the interior of
the insular kingdom are we'll fortified
and the coast is protected by an almost
complete chainwork of forts. The JAPAN
csc fleet consists at present of six first
class line of battleships of from 1850 to
$1,000 displacement; seven hrst-class eruis-
ers of 10000 tons, six second-class and
eight third-class cruisers. Besides the
foregoing, Japan possesses numerous 10
tillas of gunboats and torpedo boats and
twelve first-clasS destroyerS, the latter