The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-01-08
PROGRESS IN SCIENCE

OF the scientific advances effected
within the last twelve months perhaps
those in electricity are the most nota-
Bile. Prominent among them are the
perfecung Of two storage batteries
whose lightness especially adapts them
to the operation Of automobiles, Pup
ms system Of promoting long dis
tance telephony and now applications
Of wireless telegraphy. Whatever may
be thought OF Marconrs attempt 10 es-
tablish communication between Europe
and America, this much Is certain;
The reporting OF incoming steamships
several hours earlier than was prac-
ticable year ago is alone an innova-
;ion OF great particular value. Inas-
much as Pupins invention has not
been nut into service. one cannot well
estimate its utility with accuracy at
present. But the handsome price paid
for il by the Bell company IS signih-
cant testimony. TO say the least.
Again. concerning Cooper Hewltt's
vapor lamp and the outcome OF the
German experiments with an al,erna,-
ing current for traction. it is too soon
to speak with confidence.
Kochs announcement Of his belief that
tuberculosis is not trausmissible from
cattle to mankind was the most sensa-
tional incid of the year in the realm
Of sanitation. The suggestion has not
been very favorably received, but it
has reopened for further consideration
an exceedingly importan, question.
Gaylord's alleged discovery Of the
germ OF cancer needs confirmation. 50
does Novys invention Of a new way
to fight intestinal disease. But while
the former involves merely the cause
of a malady the latter promises a cure.
and hence should prove more servicea-
bic. There has Of late been an increas-
ed use Of electricity for therapeutic
purposes, and a growing faith in the
responsibility Of the mosquito for the
dissemination Of yellow fever and ma
laria. Both. however, date back OF the
year just closed.
Since ariel navigation IS scarcely
more than "herioc sport"-as Chief
Engineer Melville called 1.-THE per-
formance Of Santos -Dumont can hard
ly be regarded as a serious contribu-
tion 10 science. 1t does not rank, for
instance, with the successful use Of =.
steam turbine on a passenger vessel
for the first time. The latter event is
prophetic II new economies in marine
engineering. But the most marked i'm
provement in transportation facilities
recently recorded is the virtual COM
pletion Of the Mauchurian section Of
the Siberian railway. A through train
service from Europe 10 Port Arthur
has not vet been established, although
it is promised in the near future.
When that program is carried into ef- ,
feet it will materially reduce the cost
OF and time required for a journey /
from London to Peking or from Paris
70 Yokohama. Moreover, much valu-
able merchandise which now takes the |
water route will then go by land.
J. ]. Thompson's declaration that he
has measured particles Of matter a
thousand times smaller than an atom .
9f hydrogen may possibly exert an in I
fuence on industrial chemistry. But .
even If it should not, the phIIosophlc .
interest Of the statement renoyrs II
profoundly fascinating. An unprece-
dented movement in the nebuia around
the star in Perseus is another recent
event which appeals powerfully to the
imagination and sets one thinking
about the constitution Of the universe.
CuriOusly enough, the corpuscular the
ory directs attention to the infinitely
small, while the apparent change Of
position in the nebula Of Nova Per-
sci suggests inconceivably great yeloc-
tiles and distances in space.