Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-01-20
SCience !
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Solid concrete cylinders, twelve
inches long by four in diameter. have
been submitted by II. Woolson of CO.
lumbia University, to loads OF 10000
to 10000 pounds. The pieces were
much compressed, the diameter being
correspondingly increased, but there
was no disintegration or powdering.
Among the most singular archaeolog-
ical remains found in Great Britain are
the ancient dew ponds" the construc-
ton of which is ascribed to people Of
the Neolithic age. The purpose of these
ponds was to furnish drinking water
for cattle. An exposed position, where
springs were absent, was selected, and
a broad, followed surface was formed,
and covered over with straw, or some
other non conducting material. Above
was spread thick layer of clay strewn
with stones. During the night the
cold surface of the clay caused an
abundance of moisture to condense
from the lower layers of the air. Some
of these ancient dew ponds are still
in working order.
Success has at last attended the eff
forts. which were begun as early as
1910, to cultivate the pe-tsai, or Chi
nese cabbage, In France. This vegeta-
BILE Is very nOurishing, and forms a
most important article of diet in China,
but the European climate seems mimi
cal to it. At last, however, In the en-
virons of Paris, 1t has been raised for
the market, but the cultivation is still
so costly a process that the pe-tsai re-
mains a luxury suitable only for the
gormand who does not mind expense
when he wishes to enjoy a novelty Of
the table. 1t Is anticipated, however,
that this favorite product Of Chinese
gardens will eventually become widely
known in Europe.
The efficacy of bomb firing in break
ing up hail storms has been questioned.
NJ. Vidal, the originator of the plan,
claims new evidence Of its value from
recent severe storm that rapidly
swept down from the Bernese Alps
through the Rhone valley and over the
north end of Lake Leman as far as
the Lake of Neuchatel. The entire dis
trict was badly damaged by the hail
except two small villages from which
bombs were thrown. 1t is pointed out
that places above 1900 feet In altitude
escape damage, and the low elevation
Of the storm clouds insures their break
| ing up by bombs and rockets, which
can be easily made to explode at
heights of 1000 to 1900 feet. It is
urged that stations for bomb firing be
established along the usual routes of
the storms, the great damage done
quite justifying the expense.
The great Simplon tunnel having
been finished, attention returns to the
audacious enterprise of building tun-
mel to the summit of the Jungfrau.
This tunnel is steadily progressing, al
though two or three years may yet
elapse before 1t Is completed. Already,
however, it has become scenic won
der Last July the first electric train
was run to the fourth station in the
tunnel, that of the Eismeer, at an ele-
walton of 10,86S feet The height of tho
Jungfrau is 13,668 feet. Two more sta
tons are to be constructed before the
summit is reached At each station an
opening, like gigantic window, Is
made In the mountain side; and from
these lofty outlooks the most extraor-
binary views are obtained. The sta
lions have been so located that no two
views are alike, and the sensational
element increases with the height.