Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1908-04-24

Ice.
The collapsible we'll or shaft of ers
new possibilities in marine explora
ton. This is composed of an observ-
ing or operating chamber, which is
sunk into the water and heightened
out by successive cylindrical sections
bolted together from the top, each
section consisting of series of rings
with flexible covering. The operat-
ing chamber is fitted with strong
glass windows, and sleeves to enable
the diver to manipulate apparatus on
the outside Of the shaft. In such a
tube diver can descend to consider
able depth, remaining in free com
munication with the open air and
working under ordinary pressure, and
he seems to have within reach con-
siderable range nj such work as clean
ing bulls and exploring wrecks.
Hosting and lighting apparatus can
be lowered OH the outside. Such a
shaft is likely to afford new enter
tainment at amusement resorts, and
gives ready means for observing
submarine life and conditions.
An Egyptian mining center-pro-
baby worked as early as $500 b. c.
was in the Eastern Desert, between
the Red Sea and the Nile. The lately
discovered remains described by G. j.
Afford include small irregular stone
huts, arranged in groups of two or
three to towns large enough for 1000
men. The ancient workings are
buried in sand. The only vestiges OF
mining appliances are elliptical
rubbing stones for coarse crushing
and quartz mills for reducing the
rock to fine powder, ready for wash
ing out the gold.
electromagnetic cranes have proven
the most efficient and economical de-
vices known for handling rails, kegs
OF nails and bolts, and other heavy
pieces of iron and steel. Electro
magnets are now made to lift 25,0OO
pounds with ease.
The electric violin player is one of
the most ingenious of recent musical
mechanlsms, aud this is entirely
automatic in action, unlike the fami-
liar piano players, which are some
what guided by the operators. per-
forated roll Is drawn over the strings
by small motor. With the paper in
place on the roller, contact brushes
rest upon it, and as a perforation is
reached, current from tie brush
energies corresponding electro
magnet, producing the proper effect.
revolving disc, built up of layers
of celluloid of the thickness of Nurse
hairs, is automatically moved to give
the action of the bow. A special
magnet controls the staccato move
ment by pressing the discs suddenly
against the strings; and four magnets
one for each string-yield pizzicato
effects by causing a hook to fly back
and pluck the string. An arm vibrat-
ed against the tail-piece gives the tre-
molo effect. Each string has fifteen
automatic fingers, which can be used
slngly or in combination, giving
double, treble or quadruple stopping;
or solo may be played, with &C
compartment on the lower strings.
A very creditabe violin performance
can be had by simply turning a
switch.
Carbon in an am orphous fused con-
dition-real black diamond-is pro-
duoed in simple manner by a pro
cess lately patented in France by M.
Bonnet. A vessel of bronze or other
metal contains two carbon electrodes,
between which is rod of carbon over
small vessel of carbon bisulphide;
and as the first current is passed the
liquid is vaporized, generating high
pressure. Under this pressure and
the temperature OF a high tension
current, the carbon rod is changed in
few moments to black diamond tile
material so priced for drills and as
an abrasive.
The PIeiades have long formed an
interesting test of vision. 10 ordin-
airy eyesight six stars are visible, but
keen-eyed persons see seven and even
eleven or more. Reporting late OBJ
servations, p. VIncart, an Antwerp
astronomer, mentions counting thir-
teen Pleiades with the naked eye.
The earth's interior is still a mys-
terry. but nhYsicists no longer rapard