Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1904-10-01
EklMNSCienCe
R2 1 o. ANO
NSeIl1ventiOn

minor planets.
What he calls "emanium" is sup
posed by Gisel to be a new element
existing in strongly radioactive
earth consisting chiefly of lanthanum.
On zinc blende screen this earth
gives flashes brighter than radium.
Large chimneys are usually felled
by cutting away the base and setting
A Ere to the temp orary wooden props
paced in the cavity. A new method
: h% been successfully tried at Open
!, sliw, England, three large chimneys
= bhg thrown down by dynamite car
trftiges exploded simultaneously in
holes drilled In the brickwOrk.
| The Cadiz Chamber of Commerce
reckons the total annual production of
cork for the entire world at 81 ,2S7 $50
pounds. or this Portugal produces the
largest amount. In 1902 its cork trees
contributed 32,515.104 pounds. Spain
comes next. with contribution in the
same year of 2S,45O,716 pounds. Al
gera and the other minor cork -produc-
ing countries together contributed 90
32l $40 pounds.
Contrary to the general impression
that the supply has been rapidly fall
Ing off, recent statistics show that the
| timber produced by the forests of Sax
ony continually increases in quantity
This fact Is aScribed to the scientific
| b.
developed. There has not been a dec
ade in the last eighty years in which
the total acreage covered has not in
creased, and during the same time the
income from the forest lands has
grown skiold. The growth has been
particularly rapid in the last ten years.
Late reports concerning the expert
ment of preventing dust on the roads
Of France by coating the surface with
tar Indicate that the results are salts
factory. After twelve months trial
In the Department of Seine-et-M Marine.
it has been found that the dust and
mud, formerly troublesome, have dis
appeared. and the cost Of maintaining
tile IOduS mas uttItd StU. 1 lie ulluGllllS
of the tar with the dirt forms kind
of elastic skin over the roadway,
which muftieS the sound of footsteps
and renders traction easier An un-
successful trial of a mixture of oil and
petroleum was made before the adop-
ton of tar for the purpose.
The great weight of storage bat
teres which is so serious an objection
to their use on passenger cars aud
smaller carriages, is an advantage on
switching locomotives, as ii gives nee
essary adhesion. Such locomotive Is
being tested in the yards of the Prus-
sian State railways. Among Its Spe
cial merits 1t claims that of being al
ways ready and that Of costing less
than steam for irregular service. The
battery of 200 cells Is charged once a
day from a source OF constant current
at ITO volts. The total weight of the
locomotive is $4,000 pounds, of which
22OO0 pounds is the weight of the bat
terry and $500 pounds that of the other
electric apparatus.
The proposal that the United States
shall establish game refugees for wild
animals In various forest reserve tracts
Is explained by Alden Sampson, the
game preserve expert, who last year
was sent out by the government to
study the question. 1t is intended to
prevent recurrence of what hap
pened to the buffalo. Out of the for
mer millions less than 1000 buffalo
now remain, but it is hoped that their
number will increase There are left
two large herds of elk, one of about
| 10000 in the Yellowstone Park, and
the other of about 5000 in the State
of Washington. There Is also a band
of 100 in California. and there are
smaller bands elsewhere. The ante
! lope and the Rocky Mountain sheep
are nearly exterminated, but refugees
would be formed for them also. The
overflow from the refugees would fur
niSh hunting In their neighbOrhood
as now occurs with the Yellowstone
| Park animals.
Washing the Hands.