Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-02-21

.-Southeru Planter.
Once upon a time-and it was not 60
very many years ago-it was regarded
as somewhat singular that a man
should wish to specialize so far as to
call himself an electrical engineer.
Electricity has grown so fast. though,
that nowadays even electrical engi-
neeTs are beginning to be highly spe-
cialized, and we find railway, lighting,
power, electrochemical, telephone and
\ telegraph engineers, with perhaps
ether species Of the genus to come
later It IS curious fact, though one
! not generally known, that in an install
latlon costing given sum of money
more engineering work has to be done
if the plant happens to be a telephone
exchange than if it is any othervariety
of electrical engineering installation
-Electrical Review.
The steam turbine begins to dis
place the ordinary steam engine. It
possesses large and important advan-
tages over reciprocating forms OF
steam engines for dynamo driving. 1t
has no dead points; it has no varia-
lions of speed within the length of its
stroke, because it has no stroke: it is
a fairly economical motor: its normal
! rate Of rotation is so high that it will
| bring US back to the easier and simp-
| Ter design of machinery which has
largely been surplanted in the effort to
couple dynamos direct to engines of
the slower type now in use. To any
| one who looks back over the history
of the influence on the steam engine
Of electric products It'll evident that
the speed of engines has been de-
creased and many special alterations
made in their design to fit them for di-
rect coupling with large electrical
units. The nature of the dynamo il
such that it is normally a high-speed
machine. With a given frame and
weight, the faster the machine runs
the greater is its output, while the
floor space and house room occupied
are Observation-Disclosures Review.
There is a very general impression
that electricity is destined to super
sede steam as the great moving force
in the world, and that it will embrace
in itself all the forces of the world,
even gravitation. 1t is true that cleo
tricity only waits upon the price CT
coal to become the principal source IF
the worlds power. We see this pro-
cess now going on in Northern Italy
and in Switzerland, where water pow
er is cheap and coal is dear. The
traveller in Switzerland, after a long
absence from that country, is amazat
on his return at the manifold applica-
tons Of electricity which is generated
by water power The miry lanes IN
Zermatt, where he once picked his
way at night, guided only by dim can
die lights in the chalets, are now IL
Illuminated by electric lights, an! the
Switzer woman turns the button Of an
incandescent lamp even in her kitch-
en-. The traveller will soon be lifted
to the top of the Jungfrau by electri-
city generated from a mountain
stream.-Boston Herald
Iii recent lecture Prof. J. A Flem-
ing noted that it was not until 1864,
when Clerk Maxwell read his most III
teresting paper on the dynamic theory
of the electromagnetic field that any
reliable explanation of what takes
place in transmitting electrical waves
was available. There have been, he
said, three theories as to the nature of
electricity. By the first it was as
sumed that either was a rare gas, but
this had to be abandoned. as had also
the theory that it was an elementary
solid. The theory developed by DR..
Lamor, known as the rotating-ether
theory, was, the lecturer thought. al
present most favorable. One deduc.
ton from the theory was thai electrs-
city was atomic IN character and that
matter generally was a solid form OF
electricity. There was much to be
gained by the study Of these various
theories, Prof. Fleming said, even if
they should be discarded in favor or
others in the course Of few years.
| Theories helped us to search for new
facts which would not be discovered
but for theoretical predictions. At
the same time they helped us to rear
range the facts already aseertainel,
and in this way forwarded general
knowledge .-Western Electrician.
A simple remedy against mosquitoes
has been employed in several places in
South America and is equally well
adapted to the temperate zone It
consists in planting the castor-oil
plant (Ricinus community, or palma
christi around the house and prem
Uses.
In cold and temperate climates the
castor-oil plant grows to a height of
or feet; in these countries it be-
| comes a tall tree and is perennial. It
! seems that the smell Of the plant is
disagreeable to mosquitoes and other
insects, and it is an acknowledged Fact
that where these plants grow few NOS
quitoes will be found.
My personal experience bears this
out. My residence is surrounded by
plantain and banana trees, and | have
been much troubled in the past by TIE
great number of mosquitoes which
gathered between the leaves. Follow
: ing the example of old settlers in the
country, l planted the castor seeds,
which grew up in profusion, and there
are now no mosquitoes to be found
| among the plantain and banana trees,
although l keep the ground well irri-
| gated. By keeping branches and the
seeds Of the plant in rooms, the mos
quitoes are driven away from the lat
ter.-Consular Report from Maracibo.
i