The suburban citizen., 1902-03-29
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The rotation of the earth determines
the length of the day. and may be
regarded as one of the most impor-
tant elements in astronomical science.
Ii serves as a universal measure OF
time, and forms the standard OF COM
parison for the revolutions of the ce-
lestlal bodies, for all ages past and to
come.
1t is proposed to project thirteen
inch stream Of light from the sea to
the sky, which will be visible forty
miles away. The electric lights on
the lightship now on Diamond shoal
can only be seen thirteen miles The
searchlight apparatus will be arranged
between two mast-heads, and the roll
ing of the ship will produce a distinc-
tive wavering light to be reelected
from the sky.
Remarkable results have been at
tanned in the explorations at Abydos
during the past year. The consecu-
tive order of seventeen kings has been
established and the foundations of
Egyptian history settled on firm
basis. The historic character Of King
Mena has been demonstrated and
long line of a Cozen kings after him
has been fixed. The explorers have
seen and handled the gold, crystal and
ivory with his name and engraving and
even the kings preceding him are
now better known than half the Saxon
kings Of England.
The United States Geological Survey
has discovered that abundant waters
dow beneath the vast lava-plains Of
southern Idaho. Streams pouring down
from the mountains disappear on
reaching the previous surface Of the
plains, but far down the walls Of can
yons. Some Of the springs, according
to Professor Israel G. Russell, ARE
literally large enough to float a stean-
boat" The Geological Survey is
locating these hidden streams in order
to determine where deep wells may
best be driven TO fertilize the new
drought stricken plains that cover the
region Of lost waters. Somewhat Sim
liar conditions exist in parts Of Colo
rado, Wyoming and the Dakotas.
Professor Scott, of Princeton, calls the
attention to the fact that whereas diff
ferent kinds Of birds sing the songs
peculiar TO their respective Species
certain individuals develop varieties of
their own, so that the close listener can
recognize their personal song, In IL
lustratlon, Professor Scott tells the life
story Of two Baltimore orioles, taken
by him from the nest of their birth
when they were about five days old
and brought up in captivity. They
developed a novel method of song, and
four other young orioles, afterward
"isolated from wild representatives Of
their own kind ane associated with
these two who had invented the new
song, learned it from them and never
sang in any other way"
The United States Coast and Geo.
detic Survey has recently carried out
a series of experiments to determine
the difference of longitude between the
lghtship on Nantucket Shoals and the
shore, forty-eight miles distant. 1t
was possible to secure chronographlc
records of the chronometer beats and
the signals from the ship and to elimi-
nate the lag Of the instruments by
causing the chronometer break to ex-
cite the coherer and obtain new chrono-
graphic records. Time observations
were made and the first determination
of longitude by wireless telegraphy
were obtained. (The first determina-
tion Of longitude by land telegraphs
was made between Washington and
Baltimore in 1874, and the method is
today specifically named "AmericanD.
For work among islands like those of
the Alaskan archipelago the new wire
less methods are likely to be of great