Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-08-14
PoPuleT:5 ience.|

Supposed to be 1000 years old, the
natural mummy of a miner In excellent
preservation, which, was mummifed by
the copper oxide In Chilean mine, IS
to be sold at auction in London.
Consul General Hanna of Monterey
reports that the discovery of large coal
deposits near that Mexican city solves
the fuel question for that region, and
VIII promote the manufacturing and
railroad interests Of Monterey.
The largest gas-holder in the world
Is claimed by the Consolidated Gas
Company at its Astoria plant, Long
Island These holders are 300 feet in
diameter, with a lift of 26O feet, and
each will hold 100000 cubic feet.
The director of the Berlin observa-
tory says the Courrieres colliery dis
aster was connected with atmospheric
conditions, and that the crust of the
earth in the eastern hemisphere Is In
a dangerous condition. He predicts
other disasters.
Munich professor has Invented a
remarkable sickroom clock. When a
button is pressed, an electric lamp be-
hind the dial throws the shadow Of
the hours and hands, magnified, up the
ceiling, so that an invalid can see it
from the bed without craning his neck.
According to the census returns pub
lished in Hanover, Germany, the re-
cent census shows that several villages
in the Burgdorf district have very
small populations. At Beerbusch, for
instance, there are four inhabitants,
two men and two women Other vii
lagos have populations of IA, IS, % or
% inhabitants.
Since Yucatan, where the Mayas
built their strange cities, is a coral
limestone formation, 1t would, says a
writer In Records of the Past, have
been q barren desert but for its SUBJ
terranean rivers, and the cenotes, or
water caverns, which give access to
them. The Mayas noted the courses Of
the underground streams and built
their towns round the cenotes. Many
cenoees are now found surrounded by
ruins, and give indications of the meth
DDS employed by the Mayas to reach
their cool waters. In Uxmal a cenote
about 40 feet deep is inhabited by a
| peculiar species of fish. AT Bolanchen
there is a cenote having Eve openings
In the rocks at the bottom Of the cav
| ern, Ladders made by tying tree trunks
together lead down a total distance OF
1,400 feet. but the perpendicular depth
from the surface to the water is not
over 500 feet.
The Simplex pile, which has been In
use for some time past In England and
elsewhere, has lately been improved.
\ Its principal feature Is cylinder OF
strong metal tubing. which, in some
! cases, Is as much as two feet in diam
eter, pointed at the lower eEd, but hay-
ing the pointed end so constructed
/ that, after the tube has been driven
/ home and filled with concrete. it opens
on hinges so that the tube can be
drawn upward. leaving the shaft Of
concrete in the ground. As the con.
i crete is filed In from above and 1Jund,
ed down, the tube is gradually witk'
drawn upward. couple OF feet ar 3
time Just above the pointed end ths
diameter of the tube, for short dis
lance. Is a little enlarged. The conse'
4 quence Is that for the greater part q
It's length the tube does not press tight
! II against the ground. ard thus thE
operation Of Withdrawing it is morS
eSsily performed. After the tube i;
drawn up the ground eventually settle:
tightly round the concrete shaft.