The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-02-23
bAk$cience |
S&&e}fVenti0nI

Solid concrete cylinders, twelve
inches long by four in diameter, have
been submitted by H. 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 o.
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
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 IN
abundance of moisture to condenS
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 q
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, it has been raised for
the market, but the cultivation is still
| 10 costly process that the pe-tsai re-
| mains 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-fring in break
Ing up hail storms has been questioned.
M. Vidal, the originator of the plan,
claims new evidence of it's 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 has
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 1900 to 1900 feet. 1t 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, AZ
elapse before 1t is completed. Already
however, 1t has become a 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 1O,368 feet. The height of tho
Jungfrau is 1868 feet. Two more sta
lions are to be constructed before the
summit Is reached. At each station an
opening, like a 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 90 located that no two
Views are alike, and the sensational
element increases with the height.