The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-16

cities are looking for an invention which will cut down the expenses of keeping the paving along their tracks In order The vibration of the track when one car passes over it does not injure the ad- joining paving to any appreciable ex- tent, but the endless passing of cars, day in and day out, like the erosion of the waves of the sea, finally has it's effect and the paving must be renewed every few years. Some car companies have put brick next to the rails to save the asphalt and other paving materials but even this does not remedy the trouble What is wanted Is a material which will in a practical way deaden the vibration caused by the passing cars so that the adjoining paving may not be injured.
 Railroads are always looking for in- ventions that will add to the safety and efficiency of their service. Just now one of the things they want most is a "trac- ton increaser." As a chain is no stronger than the weakest of it's links, so a rail- road engine cannot haul a heavier load than 1t can start or pull up the heaviest grade on it's run. This is determined by the weight of the driving wheels. The strength of the engine increases as the weight on the drivers increases It is impracticable to keep the whole weight of the engine on the drivers at all times, as an engine without pony trucks would be about like ship without a rudder. Therefore, what the engine builders and the railroads want is an arrangement that will permit, when occasion demands, the shifting of practically the entire weight of the engine on the drivers. There have been numerous inventions of this kind. but none of them have ever made good.'
 Another invention that will add much to human safety is a practical fire damp detector which will discover the pres ence of fire damp before enough of it has accumulated to become dangerous. There are 10000 or more lives lost an- nually by explosions in mines caused by fire damp. In Germany they have been working on an invention which promises to fill the bill It is believed that it will discover fire damp when it is pres ent in the slightest possible degree. The instruments are of the most delicate workmanship. Akin to this invention is the one now being perfected which will register in the hotel office the presence of gas in the rooms of guests. This Is intended a safeguard for men who blow out the gas and as a protection from leaky jets.
 The man who will reduce to com mercial basis the utilization of the mill lions of horsepower of solar energy now being wasted, will probably be looked upon as the greatest benefactor of his race in modern times. Today the wheels of commerce are turned by coal Yet scientific men, and even the United States geological survey itself, have stat ed that within the life time of children now living, the coal supply of America will be exhausted if the present rate of consumption continues. Conditions are reputed to be but little better in Europe. With the passing of the coal supply the power of steam could not be utilized. Likewise the electricity which is gem erated with the use of steam power could not be had. Industry would be driven back to the old-fashioned water power, supplemented by the electricity that could be generated by water power. A happy substitute for coal for heat and power would be the conservation of the heat of the sun. That 1t may be done is shown by the invention of a solar power engine by a Philadelphian. If the man arises who can reduce it to a practical proposition, the utilization of the heat and energy of the sun will re- move much apprehension for the future.
 Tomorrow The Evolution of Light