The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1901-11-29
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Recent discovery in Jerusalem proves
that the ancient aqueduct which
brought water from Bethlehem through
the Hinnah Valley, thought to be the
work of Herod was built by the EN-
peror Severus, 195 A. d. Inscriptions
to that effect have been found.
Electric lamps are to be substituted
in the place of gas jets in England's fa
nous abbey. 1t is averred that gas has
proved injurious to the great church by
setting up chemical change in the lime
stone of which its walls, arches, vaults
and carvings are composed, thus has
tening the disintegration of the build
ing.
Signor Ceserole. Of Padua, has discov-
cred the existence of more than fifty
noxious microscopic parasites and mi
crobes in the washings of vegetables
from market gardens. Among the mi
cro-organisms found by him was the
bacillus of tetanus and another anal
ogous to that which produces typhoid
fever. He ascribes the infection large
ly to the contents of watering pots.
A simple device has been put into
practice for "truing up" or restoring the
original symmetrical shape to railway
carriage wheels, and 1t is said to have
been attended with considerable sue
cess. 1t consists of brake shoe, which
is formed with pockets filed with a
grinding material. When a wheel be
comes flattened it is necessary only to
remove the regular shoe and replace it
with the "truing" shoe, run the carriage
and do the braking as usual.
The French chemist Balland has re-
Gently analysed an annual food-plant
called woandsu, growing in tropical
Africa, and introduced in Southern Asia
and Brazil, and his conclusions are in
teresting. 1t Is, he says, the first fruit,
in the natural state, that he has ever
examined which shows all the chemical
properties of perfect nutriment. Two
pounds of 1t would supply the daily re-
quirements Of the human system. Like
the peanut, 1t natures underground. Its
eatable kernel is shaped like an egg. 1t
furnishes very white -four whose
flavor, after cooking, resembles that Of
ohestnuts.
: Count Posse, of Sweden, has invented
an apparatus for stopping the Roadway
of boats, which, he thinks will be use
full In preventing collisions between
vessels of all kinds. The apparatus,
which has recently been tested on q
large steam-launch, consists of steel.
plate shutters, applied on both sides of
the vessel about one-quarter Of its
length from the stern. These can be
opened and shut by the helmsman, with
the aid of a lever. When the launch
was going at full speed, nine knots an
within half its length, by reversing the
engine and extending the shutters.
Some of the most useful products of
our planet are confined to small areas
of It's surface, situated at a great dis
lance from the main centers of popula-
ton and industry. India rubber is one
Of these, and according to a report from
Consul General King at Bangkok, teak,
the most valuable ship timber in exist
ence, is another. Extensive teaw for
ests, he says, are restricted to Burma,
Siam and CochinChina. There are only
three ports in the world from which
teak is exported: Rangoon, Moulmein
and Bangkok. 1t is a beautiful dark
colored wood, taking a high finish, and
its value in ship-building depends upon
its strength, its durability, its resistance
TO both moisture and drought, its non
liability to be attacked by boring in
sects, its hghtness in the water, and its
resistance to the influence of iron when
brought in close contact. In this last
point of excellence 1t has no substitute
as a backing for armor plate.