Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-05-17

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The extreme delicacJ of many scien-
tifc processes is indicated by the re-
port of a government scientist at Wash
ington, to the effect that bacteria are
affected favorably or otherwise by the
character Of the glass containing the
water in which they are suspended.
Marked differences in the behavior Of
cholera germs were noted, according to
the kind of glass composing the vessels
used. The degree Of alkalinity impart-
ed by the glass to the water is believed
to be an important factor IN these ex-
8periments.
Over 5OO,OOo,00O gallons OF water are
pumped out of the anthracite coal
mines of Pennsylvania every day in the
year The exact average for 1908 was
633, 100000 gallons day. Nearly 1000
powerful engines, delivering from mine
bottom to surface 100000 gallons Of
water minute, are required. Mines
may be shut down and coal production
suspended, but the water flows on for
ever. According to the Iron Age, the
cost of removing it is one of the i'm
portant items of expense that make up
the price of anthracite.
DR.. Hauthal, a German savant, has
put forward a startling theory concern
ing the remains of gigantic sloths, re-
lated to the great magatherium and the
mylodon, recently found in Patagonia.
In his opinion, these animals, whose
race is now extinct, were kept In a
domesticated state by the prehistoric
inhabitants of Patagonia. A cave at
Ultima Esperanto, where many indi-
cations of the former presence Of the
huge sloths have been found, is regard
ed by DR.. Hauthal as having been used
by the ancient Patagonians as stable
for their beasts.
Mexican employers and traders are
complaining Of the large number Of OBJ
ligatory holidays and Others demanded
by the work people. Out Of the 1885
days in the year 131 are devoted to
obligatory and traditional 'ldleness, y
they say. In the United Kingdom
there are 81 Sundays and bank hol-
idays, a total Of 81. If what many OF
the workers now claim is conceded,
there will be II more-a fortnight in
the, year-making 90, or 81 fewer than
are claimed by the Mextcan& But ex-
cessiVe holidays are injurious to work
er and employer alike and a nuisance
to the public.
Coal Is fossil peat The peat-boss
of to-day might become coal beds in
some future geological age. PrOfessos
PotOuie OF Berlin says there Is stxloi
paranelism between the diffeFeRt kinds
of peat and of coal. When the remains
OF plants collect under terrestrial
conditions, an ordinary peat bog h
formed. This correApsnds with bright
coal. If the remains collest under wa
ter, an organic slime IL formed, and
this corresponds with dull" or canned
coal When terrestrial and aquatic
conditions have alternated during thl
collection of the remains, 'strata-peat"
results, ana this corresponds with oOal
deposits consisting Of alternate layers
Of bright and dun coal. The chemical
and physical properties Of the various
kinds of peat and coal shew a similar
correspondence.
The japanese, who know so well how
to add little unexpected attraction.
to everyday life, manufacture, Ia q
great variety Of forms, iron teakettTec
which break into song when the watei
boils. The song may not be a vsry
perfect melody, lint It Is perhaps al
agreeable as the notes produced b.
some OF the insects which the japanese
also treasure for their music. RhC
harmonious sounds Of the teakettles ar.
produced by steam bubbles escaping
from beneath thin sheets Of iron fas
ssneo close together nearly at the bot.