The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-11-29

tEdt piece or raQfum loses one grais
from every square inch OF its surface il
about 1o.00o. 600 years.
The amount is not great. but 1t I.
enough TO make US ask where the con-
slant supply of energy to shoot ont this
stream OF fragments comes from. II
has beenP suggested that they represen,
the ultimate atom Of which all the so
called atoms OF our elements are built U
the primordai atom of the alchemists
who held that they could transmute lead
Into gold by some Encouragement Of the
atoms.
Sir William Crookes devised an expert
ment in which a particle of radium kept
screen, bombarded forever, each coliis-
Ion producing microscopic fash OF light
the dancing and multitude of which for
chilly compelled the imagination to fol-
low the reasoning faculties and realize
the existence of atomic tumult-
The emanation was self-luninous- II
was condensed by extreme cold and va
porized again. 1t could be watched as il
oozed through stop cocks or made its
way through tubes.
The radium atom sends out three kinds
of rays. one kind being much the same as
the Roentgen ray. but wholly different in
ionizing power. Each OF the three kinds
of atoms has different penetrating power.
For anything known TO the contrary a
particle of the queer mineral. after ac-
quiring its full power. may con-
time to manufacture heat emanations,
htree kinds of rays. electricity and gases
forever.
Forever! Well, perhaps not so long as
that. but surely the loss in a thousand
year would be next to nothing. If the
power Of one gramme of radium extend
ing over a period of one thousand years
could be converted into work it would
raise 500 tons mile high
In its industrial application scientists
are restricted by the extremely limited
supply of radium available. but II is
known that small fraction of an ounce
properly employed would probably pro-
rooms and would not require renewal dur
ing the present century.
An ounce would suffice TO drive 90
horse power motor car at the rate OF
thirty miles an hour around the world.
Then what could be accomplished by
the five pounds-admitting that there are
five pounds in the subterranean radium
beds of Connecticut?
They would haul a freight train as long
as from New York TO San Francisco
around the world.
Link all the might navies of the world
together and set them to pulling against
-
out of the water.
If the power ia the five pounds OF ra
dunn in the Connecticut hills could be
applied to a rake five miles long and 500
feet high. it could rake New York City.
buildings pavements and all. in a great
tumble into the bay.
Following is q list of the few curious
things that have happened in Connecticut
in the past five years:
Oronoque-Village bombarded on Sep
tember %. 1900. by great guns through
mysterious action of bursting shells in
an ordnance companys establishment.
Huntingtcn-A mysterious disease APP
peared in January. 1901, closing schools
and throwing the town into panic.
SouthNorwalk-On January 20. 1900. tons
of fish. which had mysteriously gained
access to the reservoir shut off the water
supply.
Southport--On July 8, 1900, queer flames
discovered near warehouses where oil
and gunpowder were stored Citizens
guarded town. fearing fire and explosion.
Stratford-On July Is. 1899, strange flick
erings of light discovered issuing from
two trees in the park. People called
them witch trees" and were afraid 70
pass under their branches.
Walnut Beach-On November l3. 1899
pest OF cats appeared. The starving ami
mails infested the town, to the terror of
the inhabitants.
Winsted-In February. 1870. several
small islands in pond fioated and fish
were caught by digging through the
ground.
New H1trford-In July last. while a
freight train was passing through Sa-
tan's Kingdom. a rocky gorge. one car
rolled down the embankment into the
Pennington river without stopping the
train. The separated sections coupled
themselves together while moving.
Middletown-During the past few years
Jobs Pond. in the eastern part OF the
town. has seemingly dehed the natural
laws by rising in dry seasons and falling
during the time of food. Scientists cannot
explain the phenomenon.
Warren-On April 30. 1903 the water %
a pond in the Tamarack Swamp rose 100
feet in the air and fell back into place
with a terrific crash
~ 80.
was visited by mud storm and people
and houses were plastered with black
drops.
CHARACTERIZATION bubbling springs
appeared last month IN the walls Of old
Newgate prison. the copper mine used
for captives in the Revolutionary war.
Meriden-fn the summer Of ise suicide
became epidemic. eleven men gnd women
taking their lives in the months OF June
July and August.
Fires-Forest fires and corfagrations
structive In Connecticut during the past
FIVE years. Many OF these fires were Of
mysterious origin. New Milford was
practically destroyed By fire on Nay s
1872 TorringtOn lost great part OF its
business section by fire on july 5. 1872
salisbury's business center was consumed
on April T. 1919. Mian1us was partly de-
stroyed on March Il. 1858. Naugatuck suf-
fersa a loss OF s7ao.oe BY FIRE on Febru-
ary !. isSs Winrted and It's vicinity were
visited by foress FRA Il April Ina. which
caused great property loss Greenwich
vas swept by fierce FIRE On May e
-s.x7
The business section % Falls Village WAS