The Minneapolis journal., 1902-09-11
DENSITY OF THE EARTH
Computations to Be Made by scien-
fists at Tamarack Mine.

computations TO be Made Dy OcleH-
fists at Tamarack Mine.
HOUGHTON, MICH.-To determine the
density Of the earth, President F.~W. Nc
Nair of the Michigan College of Mines
and Major John r. Hayford, chief of the
computing department OF the United
States coast and geodetic survey, will
conduct experiments at the Tamarack
mine, near Calumet. Major Hayford ar
rived in Calumet yesterday, bringing with
him instruments valued at $4,000, with
which the experiments will be made.
(. The density of the earth is largely a
question of scientific conjecture. Hereto
fore it has been computed by formula
based on the known laws of gravitation
as laid down by Newton. In 1856 Sir
George Biddell Airy, royal astronomer of
England, computed the density of the
earth, basing his calculations on data Sc
cured by experiments carried on at
Welsh colliery. His figures. however,
were so much at variance with those
based on formula that scientists, while
acknowledging they We're better than any
heretofore obtained refused to accept
them as conclusive. .....
The method to be pursued in the present
case is unique, although used by Sir
George Airy in his experiments in the
Welsh colliery. TO bark back to 1855, an
explanation Of Sir Georges experiments
will help to show what President Nc
Nair and Major Hayford purpose to do.
The astronomer royal Of England deter
mined the density Of the earth on observa-
tions and data secured by noting the ac-
ton Of two pendulums One of these was
swung on the surface for a considerable
time It was so housed as to be free from
vibration, air currents and changes in the
temperature. Another was placed in a
station In the colliery 1885 feet under
ground in a direct vertical line. This
pendulum also was free of vibration, air
currents and changes in temperature.
Upon the variations in the swing of the
pendulums, the calculations were based.
Conditions at the Tamarack for carry
Ing on these experiments could not be bet
ter. The shaft is one Of the deepest in
the world, penetrating the earth to the
depth of 1850 feet through strata Of uni
form density.
While conducting experiments with
plumb lines last winter, President Nc
Na1r conceived the idea Of determining
the density In the manner proposed.
Requisite instruments were not at hand
nor could they be constructed, so the
| professor applied to the director Of the
coast and geodetic survey for a loan of the
| necessary apparatus. To this the director
not only acquiesced, but delegated Major
:Hayford to assist President McNair
Preparations have been made at the Tam
| arack Tor the experiments. A point on
the surface has been chosen and upon this
the hrst instrument will be placed. At
| point 1880 feet below in a vertical line
| IN the thirteenth level of the mine will be
| placed the second. The Instruments will
be placed on solid foundations, where they
Will be free from vibration, air currents
| and changes in temperature during the
course Of the experiments.
DUBUQUE, IowA-About seventv-f7ve
retail lumbermen attended the annual
convention Of the Northeastern Iowa
I Lumbermen's association In this c;tv on
| wednesday,. Various subjects Of import
ance were discussed. In the afternoon
the lumbermen were given an. excursion
on the Mississippi.-Frank Van Vleet,
| charged with criminally assaulting his 12-
year-old daughter, was bound over to the
| grand jury.-The fiftieth anniversary of
i st. Catharines church in MosaIem town
ship was appropriately celebrated Wednes-
DAY. The Oldest communtcant of the
church, j. H. Noel, aged IS years, par
| t1cipated in the celebration, as did about
| one hundred priests.-In a runaway acct
dent on the Sagevil]e road Tuesday night
Peter Goodman was thrown from his bugs
! gy and sustained broken leg-While a
Great Western freight train was going at
the rate of twenty miles an hour, two no.
boes attacked a young man named Kelly
In box car. rihed his pockets and then
threw him from the train. He alighted
on grassy plot and miraculously escaped
death. :"-- :. -
PORTAGE, WiS.-Rev. Thomas Clith-
ero, who says he has been prosecuted by
members OF the Wisconsin Methodist con-
| ference, or Which he was formerly a mem
Der, has written an open letter, in which
ne makes violent attack on Methodism.
lie says: "A system of sinister aspect
has become dominant in Methodism With
an ar OF mystery this modern Babylon Of
fers its merchandise to the mercenary
among its choice spirits. You make me
book agent or bishop and I'll make you
presiding elder is the formula, and
: 1 Will spot every mans character who
cares oppose you. If necessary will send
MIN to the mad house and the modern
, Methodist inquisition.'' The trouble that
, called forth this attack had it's origin sew
| eral years ago. Clithero had trouble with
his wife. and through her influence and
the influence of fellow ministers he was
committed to an insane asylum. 4 .--~.
RAT PORTAGE, oNT.-The Northern
Light Mines company. of Buffalo, NJ Y,
1s a new company operating this season
? on Eagle Lake. It has acquired the Ell
dorado and fourteen other properties
From one Of these nine tons Of ore were
recently taken for a mill test. This ore
| was n1iiled. and yielded gold brick worth
$130.-The first cleanup at the Big Mas.
ter Mine took place last week, and was
. highly satisfactory.-The shaft on the Mi.
kado Gold Reef Mine company's location
on Shoal lake has been sunk vertically tt
a depth of eighty feet, and will be con.
tinued to a depth of 100 feet, at which
level a cross-cut wiz! be made to strike
the voin which at the surface is too neal
|, . the waters edge to permit mining opera
! tions. Much Is expected from this prop
i erty.
= HASTINGS, MInN,-William McCray
= formerly Of Knapp, Wis, died at the HON,
y of his daughter, Mrs. Daniel H. Poor, il
y Marshan yesterday morning. After
brief illness, aged 70 years.-The Presby
terian excursion to Red Wing yesterda,
t by steamer J. J. Hill, was fairly attended
8 The dwelling Of Antoine Moizo at Prai
it rie Island, was burned yesterday witt
s most of the contents: There was no in
e surance.-A large and enthusiastic meet
d ing Of the Whitford campaign club wa
IS held last night. Reports from differen
# parts of the third district indicate tha
Mr.. Whitford is in the lead.
a MASON CITY, IOWA-The first of tn
It series Of twelve buildings to compose tn
n National Memorial university was opene,
l. yesterday !. The completed building is t
Is be devoted to the liberal arts It is
n handsome structure of brick and ston
Is and will form the center Of the group O
e. buildings surrounding the campus on al
Z four sides. 40 ~ --5 p.