Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-11-19
bk,lNN Science
AZ XAAS AaD


NOTWITHSTANDING Tue SUCCESS Oh tue
efforts recently made to obtain nitro
gen direct from the air for fertilizing
purposes, the discovery Of new nitrate
beds continues to be matter of the
greatest Importance to agriculture. The
Geological Survey Is now investigating
nitrate deposits In San Bernardino
County, California, which are said to
resemble those Of Chile. They cover
about $1,000 acres, and it is estimated
that they contain as much as 22,0OO,-
600 tons of fertilizers.
An amusing instance of ignorance Of
the properties Of carbid of calcium oc-
CURED recently on quay at Algiers
Five tons of carbid had been placed
near quantity Of inflammable ma
terial, which suddenly caught fire.
The firemen, instead of removing the
boxes Of carbid with hooks, smashed
them, and then turned water upon the
contents. The result was a great de-
velopment Of acetylene gas and q de-
structive fire which might have been
prevented by little practical knowl-
edge of chemistry.
A section of steel pavement has re-
Gently been laid in the Rue St Martin,
Paris, to test Its usefulness. The steel
blocks are nearly seven inches long and
an Inch and a third thick, and are
ridged on both sides. They are laid in
cement 50 that the tops of the ridges
just reach the surface. The ridges are
so close together that a horses shoe
covers at least three ranges of them.
1t Is believed that such a pavement
will prove superior to asphalt In being
less slippery, and more durable than
a pavement of wooden blocks.
An investigation of the maximum
glaciation Of the Soerra Nevada Is be-
Ing made by Willard ID. johnson. geol-
| ogist, of the United States Geological
Survey, who will this year complete a
study along the full length Of the east
flank Of the range, including border
Ing zone Of the Basin ranges, and will
also make a reconnaissance in Carson
Valley at the extreme northern end Of
the High Sierras The problems in
volved are Of great scientific interest,
and considerable field work In addition
to that of the present season will be
required for their complete solution
OF the common European languages
English is the most widely spoken at
| the present time, and seems to be in
creasing In popularity more rapidly
than any Of the others. In 1880 about
q, 100000 people spoke English. and In
1900 about 120.Oo0,Ooo, says McCall's
Magazine In the same interval OF time
the number speaking Russian increased
from 100000 to S0,000,Ce9, French
from $4,000 TO 55.Oo0.O0o. German
from 30.00O.O00,O00 to 100000. Ital-
ian from 100000 to $4,000 600,
Spanish from 100000 to $4,000 900.
and Portuguese from $4,000 to 49,
100000.
The weight Of the air has often been
tested by COMPRISING 1t in receptacles
by the air pumps, says Ideal Power.
That 1t really has weight when so COM
pressed Is shown by the fact that the
weight Of the vessels is increased
slightly by filling them with compressed
air. and that such vessels become spe-
| cIfcally lighter" as soon as the air
contained In them is exhausted Many
elaborate experiments on the weight
of air have proved that the cubic foot
weighs $50 grains. or something less
than IL ounces. The above expert
ment on the weight OF air is supposed
to be made at the surface of the earth,
with the temperature at so degrees
Fahrenheit. Heated air or air at high
elevations Is much lighter.