The new age., 1907-01-26
PoPule.T:. .: Tence'


| is switzerland 10 lose its glaciers
The subject bears a close resemblance
20 that as to the exhaustion of the
British coal beds. 1t will scarcely be-
come acute in our time; but nonethe-
less scientific observations of the move
ment OF the glaciers during 1905 shows,
as similar observations in previous
years have shown, a shrinkage In the
surface. Some of the glaciers have
shrunk as much as 29O yards since
1900. In no instance has growth been
reported
The city of Vienna has undertaken
the installation of what is perhaps the
most remarkable electric, or electrical
ly lighted, fountain in existence. 1t is
situated in the Schwartzenbergplatz.
Underneath the fountain, in huge
cemented chamber, are placed twenty
seven rejecting lamps, capable of pro-
ducing seventy different luminous and
colored effects. The light is transmit
ted through the waters Of the fountain
The light power of the plant is esti-
mated as equal to 9OO.O00OOO candles.
According to the results of recent ex-
periments the fame Of acetylene is per-
haps the hottest known except that Of
the electric arc. The following figures
have been given by Mr.. Mafii: Bunsen
burner, 1871 degrees acetylene flame,
2,54S degrees; alcohol fame, 1,705 de-
greeS; DenayrOuZe burner-half alcO-
hol, half petroleum-2,0 ,053 degrees; hy-
drogen flame, in air, 300 degrees; gas
Jet flame, with oxygen, 2,200 degrees
oxygen flame, 2,420 degrees. These are
all Centigrade degrees. One degree
Centigrade equals one degree and eight
tenths Fahrenheit.
The lowest temperature yet recorded,
says medical journal, is that reached
recently by X. Olszewski in an attempt
to liquify helium. BY the aid of solid
hydrogen he cooled the gas to minus
259 degrees S. Under $50 atmospheres'
pressure; then, suddenly releasing the
pressure to that of the atmosphere,
degree of cold was created which. by
from Laplace and BLOSSOMS
formula, amounted to minus 271.3 de-
grees c. Helium, however, did not
liquify, and he accordingly assumes
that its boiling point must be below
minus 271, and that there is but little
prospect of reducing it to liquid.
A French scientific writer points out
that a mere gain in weight should not
in itself be taken as an indication Of
improved bodily condition. 1t is, ac-
eording to him, rather a question of the
density than the quantity of tissue
which covers the bones. When in
creased weight results from increased
density, then the health is really i'm |
proved. In order that this principle |
may be practically applied, he suggests !
the use of baths containing a known |
quantity Of water and supplied with !
appliances for measurement whereby |
he density Of the immersed body may |
De calculated, in the manner in which |
Archimedes ascertained the density Of |
So rapidly has the utilization Of
water power for generating electricity ,
advanced that already a tendency may |
be seen to classify rivers and streams
according to their peculiar quallfca-
Lions as furnshers of raw power. For
instance, a French engineer has point !
ed out that the glacial streams Of |
France and Italy, which have been so
largely availed of for electric purposes,
are not well suited to supply power for
lighting stations, because their flow is |
at maximum In summer. when the |
SHOWS are melting, whereas !
the greatest demand for light is in win
ter. On the other hand, the slower
navigable rivers of France are better |
adapted to furnish light. since their |
flow reaches a maximum in the winter |
season.