Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29
Science and Invention

The urgent need of greater accuracy
in the indications of the average clock
gives Importance to the suggestion OF
]. Jorgensen, a Londoner, that both
public and private clocks can be syn
ohronized at slight expense through
either the gas or electric mains of the
town. The gas works, for instance, may
have the regulator clock, which is con-
nected to the gas main by a simple at
tachment that has been invented. 4
simple mechanism is attached to eact
clock entered in the system, ana Is
connected by a small tube to the near
est gas pipe. AT any convenient time
of day or night, a lever at the regu-
lating station is pulled for fraction
OF second This slightly reduces the
pressure in the mains and causes every
connected clock throughout the town
to be set at precisely the same time.
With electric mains and connections
the clocks are similarly set at UNIFORM
time once daily by breaking the circuit
or reducing voltage
In the transmission of writing,
sketches or photographs by wireless
telegraphy Signor j. G. CULLEN Garcia,
a Spanish inventor makes use of Varla-
tions set up in Hertzian waves. Inc
transmitting apparatus includes ro-
tating Cylinder, and a stylus traVerSlng
the COPY sheet in helicoidial lines. Pho-
tographs are i'm gelatine relief, pen de-
signs in insulating ink. Varying thlcK-
ness of the reliefs traversed produces
variations in an electric current, the
lines in insulating ink produce Interrupt
tions, and the current is transformed
by a Hertzian transmitter into electro
magnetic waves of greater or less IN
tensity or broken continuity. The re-
ceiving station has a similar synchroh-
lied cylinder, on which the electric I'M
pulses can be made to give an impress
sion by one of several ways. For Wrlt-
ing and drawings the inventor suggests
that a pen making a fine line could De
made to show Interruptions correspond
ing to the position of the insulating
ink. while for photographs the register
ing line could be varied in intensity ac-
cording to the changes in the photo-
graphic relief.
In bridges and other structures of
iron or steel it often happens that some
one of several parts in tension does not
support it's share of the load, and In
stead of the usual expensive and trou-
blesome plan of taking down the parts
and forging them in blacksmith shop,
Hazenkamp. a German engineer, pro-
poses making the adjustments In
length with the structure intanct. HIS
plan is to use thermit for heating the
part TO place. This material, mix
ture of iron oxide and aluminium, IS
readily ignited, and it burns with an
intense heat. which may reach 5OOo de-
grees Fahrenheit through the affinity
of aluminium for the oxygen of the iron
oxide. Clamps are fastened to the
steel part on each side of fhe spit to
he heated. These clamps are connected
by bolts. and when the right tempera-
ture is reached turning the nuts short
ems the steel permanently to the extent
desired. The operation, requiring but
a few minutes, does not Interfere with
traffic
Comparing the reciprocating steam
engine with the new power generators
-especially with the Parsons turbine
and gas explosion motors, which are its
only real competitors-A. Berthier,
leading French engineer, finds little TO
choose from the standpoint of cost and
safety. The motor using gas from poor
fuel or refuse, though inferior in some
respects. is very satisfactory in re-
curing only a gas generator, with
nine system of low pressure, and low
temperature, and no auxiliary appa-
ratus. The steam turbine, with reduced
friction and absence of alternating mo-
tion and delicate mechanism, is doubt
less less exposed to deterioration; but,
like a piston motor it requires boilers,
hi. n pressure piping and auxiliary ap-
paratus superheaters. condensers,
economizers etc.-increasing repairs
and accident risk.
When the telephone wires are over
land the speed of transmission is at the
rate of 10000 miles a second; where the
wires are through .ables under the sea
the speed is only 6020 miles a second.