Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1901-10-26

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When the time came for the senior
class for 1901 to graduate Mt one OF
our well-known technical schools only
twelve of the forty young men ap-
pcarcd to receive their diplomas. 1t
seems that the other twenty-elght had
already received good offers, and had
gone to work, Wcll-educated mechan-
ical engineers and superintendent
can always secure positions in times
so prosperous as these.
Cold storage is not applied merely to
food nowadays. Trees and plants
transported to new climates often are
placed in cold storage to prevent them
from budding before the planter Is
ready for them. Expensive furs 90
into the refrigerator to save them from
the moths and insects that attack the
skin. Flower bulbs are put away
through the season when 1t Is desired
to keep them dormant. Ferns and
holly are stored in the cold to keep
them for ceremonies in warm weather
A man In Sweden has invented q
device for stopping the Roadway of
boats, which he believes would be an
absolute protection against collisions.
1t may be used on vessels Of all kinds.
The apparatus consists of steel plate
shutters, applied on both sides Of the
vessel, about one-quarter Of its length
from the stern. The helmsman has
the shutters under his control, and can
open or close them by means of le-
YER. In test on large steam launch
going at speed of nine knots stop
was made in fifteen seconds, within
one-half its length, by reversing the
engine and extending the shutters.
The Pacific Medical Journal Is au-
thority for the statement that the old
est living human being, Bruno Cotrim,
living in Rio de Janeiro, is $50 years |
old. Germany, with 55,000,000 Of peo-
pie, has seventyeight centenarians; |
France, with 40,000,00O, has 213; Eng
land, 14G; Scotland, forty six; Norway, |
twenty-three; Sweden, ten; Belgium,
five; Denmark, two, and Switzerland,
none at all. Spain has 401 centena-
rians, while Servia, with population
o. 2,250,O00, has $40 people over 100
years old. The difference in the eff
fects of high altitude and a warm
al to 81 tisti ct,,;I.
ing.
American smokeless powder rivals
all others. In a recent trial test of
this powder, which had been stored
for two years, the ballistic qualities
showed no signs of the chemical
changes which have sometimes Oc-
Cured in this powder. Smokeless
powder is now taking the place of the
black, slow-burning powder, which Is
likely to be used in the future only for
salutng purposes, and in the sunrise
and sunset guns. The navy Is being
literally supplied for the magazines of
all ships by the new factory at Indian
Head, and that at Newport with large
quantities received from private con-
Germs
A new device for steam automobiles
performs the functions both of regu.
lar carriage lamp and water glass
illumination. The lamp is made large
enough to allow Of placing in the bot.
tom of the case in front of the reser-
voir, and in a direct line between the
flame and the water glass. strong
lens, by means of which the glass is
brilliantly illuminated, its reading
being carried TO the eye Of the operator
by means of the mirror inside of the
This invention will be of
great value to operators of steam au-
who are obliged to be on the
alert lest the water in the boiler be-
come low and "burn-cut" results.
Professor ]. r. Mccall gives the fol-
lowing directions for welding copper
in the Record Of the University of
Tennessee: The copper should be
treated with potassium nitrate and a
cyanide, after which 1t is welded to it.
self, or to iron or steel, in the same
way that iron is welded in the ordi-
nary forge shop. A clean fire Of coke
Of charcoal and a temperature OF the
copper considerably below a white heat
insure the best results. A tempera-
ture above this makes the metal brit
tie in working, while one much below
will not give sufficient tluidity to the
fluX. In tension tests the welded
Joints developed practically the whole
strength Of the copper.