Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-03-10
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY.


One of the richest sulphur deposits
| In the world has lately been discovered
in Transcaspa, Russia. The geologi-
cal formation is very similar to that
in which the Sicilian deposits occur.
1t is only in recent years that sulphur
has been found in Russia.
The crow and the blackbird fly much
alike, but there is certain air Of la
Dor in the flight of the crow that dis
tinguisheS it from the faster and easie;
winging of the blackbird. The swallow
does not fly. He sweeps through the
air in erratic circular flights, catch
ing bugs and flies on the wing, and
even nipping twigs from the trees as
he passes with which to build his
nests. He is never still.
The development Of the automobile
as an engine of war is at present occu-
pying much attention among military
authorities in Europe. The English,
the French, the Italians, the Germans
and the Russians are all at work upon
the problem. Several types of military
automobiles are being experimental
with. In Italy a special form of ar
mored machine has been devised for
the purpose of protecting railways in
time of war; Some of the German ma
chimes are intended for scouting, and
are furnished with drawing tables
and maps. Others carry Maxim guns
and can do little fighting.
Very encouraging reports have been
received from Prof. G. C. Georgeson,
in charge of the agricul-
tural experiment stations in
Alaska. On a trip into the interior
and down the Yukon early in August
he found new potatoes, cabbages, cauli.
flowers and other vegetables ready for
the table, and gardens blooming with
a variety of annual flowers. At Ram
part rye and barley were ripened this
year, and there was fair prospect for
oats and wheat. On the lower Yukon
extensive tracts were found covered
with luxuriant grasses, often six feet
in height and apparently well suited
TO agricultural purposes.
Much has been learned within few
years past of what goes on and exists
in the air, up to height of three miles,
by means of kites carrying meteoro-
logical and other scientific instruments.
Now Mr. A. Lawrence Rotch of the
Blue Hill observatory proposes to ex-
tend the field of scientific kite flying
over the ocean. Experiment with a
towboat in Massachusetts bay last
summer showed that kite can easily
be flown from moving vessel at times
when it could not be caused to rise
from the land Mr. Rotch intends to
pursue his experiments from Atlantic
steamships, whose speed renders it pos
ible to fly kites even in calm weather
He points out our comparative ig-
rorance of the conditions of the upper
air over the oceans, and the impor-
tance of acquiring knowledge in that
direction. He wishes particularly to
explore the atmosphere over the equa-
torial regions of the globe.
All readers OF the odyssey, at least,
must take a lively interest in the the
ory advocated by Dr. TIL. Zell that tho
one-eyed giant whom Ulysses blinded
in his cave on the slopes of Mt. Etna
was, in reality, a gorilla, and that the
original of Homer's story was a rem
iniscence of an actual encounter be-
tween early civilized men and one Of
their monstrous prehuman ancestors.
This is in opposition to the theory of
Grimm that the story of Polyphemus
is a mythic account of the strife of
the elements. The fact that gorillas do
not now live near tue Mediterranean
is not in conflict with Doctor Zell's
argument, because it is well know that
in prehistoric times Europe contained
many ANIMALS that at present are pc
culiar to Africa and other distant
lands.