Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-08-13
SCIENCE NOTES.

In Chicago the subject Of solving the
congestion of the streets In some manner
is being given grave consideration. In
general way 1t is suggested to construct
comprehensive system of underground
passages for the accommodation OF
street cars, and 1t Is also proposed to do
away with the present elevated loop,
which is seriously objected to. although
it has been in operation but few years.
Two elaborate plans have been worked
out by two of the leading engineers of the
city and these will form a basis for fu-
ture work, in all probability. The work Is
complicated by the presence of the great
system OF sewers, gas mains, electric
condults and other city facilities. so that
any plan which Is evolved must take these
into consideration. and the proposed sub
way system will in all likelihood have to
take care of these matters and also
new hlgh-pressure fire main, as well as
the street cars The financiering of such
a project is almost as serious a task as
its planning. In Berlin the authorities
have taken another method of dealing
with the traffic problem. The town coun-
Gil has voted $1,000 as a prize for the
best plan of laying out future additions
10 the city with view of distributing
the traffic. The congestion is particu-
arly acute in the Leipzigerstresse, and
plans are being considered for divertfne
is also proposed to tunnel under the
Potsdamer Bahnhof, which cuts off COM
munication between busy parts Of the
town.
The systematic planning of towns is
TO be made compulsory by the terms
OF measure now before the British
parliament 1t is proposed that every
borough and district council NAV pre-
pare town-planning scheme. to which
all owners of land affected by such
scheme will be bound to adhere. In dis
trlcts where no scheme is prepared the
local government board may compel
town plan to be adopted. Local au-
thoritieS may prepare schemes of town
development, which may include the pro-
vision of parks and open spaces, either
singly or CONFORMITY. The bill contains
provisions for the formation Of a Joint
committee of two or more local authori-
ties in cases wheresthe local government
board thinks 1t expedient that such
committee should be constituted.
Steel wool is a domestic convenience
which has been recently placed on the
market. The material has become es-
tablished for use about industrial in
stitutions. but 1T has not been hereto
fore available for domestic purposes.
The wool is really very fine threads of
metal and il is designed for cleaning
kitchen utensils. bathroom fixtures, floors
and other purposes.
An interesting railroad innovation re-
Gently brought to the attention of the
mana cement of transportation COM
panies is a double-tread wheel for rail-
, road cars which is expected to result in
lonser-lived wheels and less failures.
The additional thread is on the inside
of the wheel. and this is for the pur-
pose of offering bearing for the brake
application. The line section and curva-
lures of the inner tread being the same
as those of the outer tread, no new con-
ditions arise relative to efficiency or the
result of brake applications. The in
ventor argues that by removing the
friction of the brakes from the load
bearing tread the life Of the latter will
be much increased. and relief will be
obtained from the defects caused by the
seveA hea ting of the part of the wheel
upon which safety depends 1t is stated
that the new wheels can be used for
centers for steel-tired wheels in pas
senger service with equally good re-
suits.