Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-10-31
b Science
n ANO
:; : Invention


Butter with a fishy taste has arous-
ed complaint in Australia, where in
vestigation has shown that the flavor
has no connection with fish, but is
due to one or more Of four micro
organisms. The rusty iron of cans was
found to have bad effect on milk
and cream.
The newly patented electric cook
ing stove Of Prof. Elihu Thompson is
heavily jacketed outside with layer
of asbestos, fre-clay or mineral wool
and is provided with lid of the same
character. Inside is placed a mass of
refractory substance, within which is
embedded a granular resistance ma
terial. Silicon is recommended as a
resistance material, as it hs a high
specific resistance, and acquires a
suitable temperature without fusing or
oxidizing. The whole interior Of the
stove can be kept red hot, and it is
anticipated that the running cost for
cooking through the day will not be
excessive.
The British Museum authorities
have decided to make a collection of
photographic records preserving the
voices of great living orators, singers
and actors, and the instrumental rem
behring's of famous musicians. The
master records will be Of nickel, from
which molds will be taken. But for
the sake of pOsterity the records will
be very sparingly used during the life
time of those whose voices are record
ed. A similar undertaking is on foot
in Italy. Imagine, if there had been
monographs when Demosthenes de-
nounced Philip, when Cicero prosecut-
ed Verres, when Mirabeau addressed
the French revolutionists, and when
Webster answered Hayne!
The danger Of explosions In mines
is not entirely confined to infiammable
gases, carelessly managed fuses and
neglected charges or cartridges. 1t
has been observed in the Derbyshire
lead mines that some Of the great
rocks are liable to burst on being
scratched with a pick. The explosion
is supposed to be due either to gases
enclosed in the rocks, or to molecu
lar strains. Last December a severe
explosion of slate rock OccC red in
mine at Hillgrove, New South Wales
and the shock was felt for a mile or
two over the surrounding country. In
this instance it is believed that the
rock wall where the explosion oc-
Cured was subjected to a mechanical
strain.
The best results yet attained in the
various attempts that have been made
to produce a wearable cloth from
paper are said to be those produced
by patented process employed in
SaxOny. Narrow strips of paper are
spun into yarn, which may be woven
to form cloth Better results are OBJ
tanned by spinning paper and cotton
together, and still better cloth is made
by a combination of paper and wooden
yarns. The fabrics do not possess
the strength and durability of ordi-
nary cloth, but useful clothing is
made of them at a low price. They
may even be washed without injury
Yarns are also maze from WOOl-pulp,
although their manufacture has not
yet attained commercial Importance.
One of the sights of the Great Salt
| Lake Of Utah, developed by the pro-
| gress of scientific industry, is the sys-
| tenn of immense salt-making ponds
on the shore of the lake. At Saltair
the lake water is pumped into a great
| settling basin, where the impurities
! fall to the bottom, and. containing
much iron, form a reddish deposit
From this basin the water is drawn
off into harvesting ponds,' averaging
10000 square yards in area, and six
inches in depth. The ponds are kept
supplied with water, as the evapora-
ton goes on from May to September,
| when the salt harvest begins The
water having disappeared, a dazzling
layer of salt, two or three inches
thick. is found covering the bottom of
the ponds. which is broken up with
| plows before being conveyed TO the
mills, where the final crushing and
| winnowing are done.