Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1909-02-26

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Although the first attempts to manu-
facture paper from peat were made in
Ireland some years ago, it required
the Intervention of American mechan-
ical ingenuity to render the process in
dustrially successful. Peat paper is now
made at Capac Michigan, at from one
half to one-third of the cost of wood
pulp paper. Because of the oily sub
stances which it contains peat paper
is impermeable to moisture, and is not
attacked by insects. 1t is of dark
brown color, but it is hoped that pro-
cess will be found for making it white.
The great bogs of Ireland would form
almost inexhaustible supplies of mate
rial for this paper.
A native of Seryia named Merchep
has devised what he terms "a boat in a
knapsack," for army purposes. The
boat is composed of linen. rendered i'm
rermeable by coating of rubber, and
IL provided with oars, which fold into
walking stick, and a cork seat, which
also serves to keep it taut when open.
The model can accommodate one person
oily, but larger ones may be made on
the same plan for the conveyance of
troops and baggage when crossing riv-
rrs. The invention has been tried on
the Seine by French naval experts and
by tlie Russian attache, who speaks Of
1t ~ high terms and hopes to have it
introduced into the Russian army.
w. de Fonvielle announces that a
committee, appointed by the Scientific
Commission Of the Aero Club of
France, Is about to institute expert
n.ents to determine who among its
members is best fitted physically to re-
Fist the effects of high attitudes, and
tt.at then q systematic effort will be
made to penetrate into the zone OF
atmosphere lying 10000 meters-32, 900
to $4,000 feet-above the earth's sur
face. The ascensions concerned with
tLis attempt have been called 'physio-
logical" because their principal object
Is to study the vital phenomena of the
upper air. Apparatus for the inhala-
ton of oxygen as "a gaseous cordial
will play an important part in the
scheme.
Recent experiments at Sheffield, Eng,
land, suggest the possibility that In
this century shields may once more
form an important part of the equip
ment of an army, says Harper's Week
". Steel shields, three millimeters IL
thickness and about $50 square inches
in area. have been devised, which affor(
complete protection against bullets fire(
from the service rifle at range Of 40(
yards. The small size of the shield
which weighs only pounds, requires
that the soldier shall lie prone on tht
ground in order to be sheltered. Eacl
shield has loophole for the rifle an(
studs at the sides, so that series o
them can be linked. into a continuous
screen. The idea is that by the use o.
such shields the necessity of diggin.
trenches may be avoided.
The industrial value of dogwood il
probably but little appreciated excep
by manufacturers and users of bobbins
shuttles and spindles employed in cot
ton and woolen mills. These are mad,
of dogwood or persimmon wood ant
hitherto the supply has come from th,
Southern States. The Forest Servic,
now calls attention to the fact that tn,
supply in that part Of the country il
neatly exhausted. Fortunately dogwooC
abounds in Oregon, Washington ant
California, and large plants for tn,
manufacture of spindles have recent,
been erected in the Cascades in Oregon
In the East an attempt has been mad
to substitute the wood of the mesqui
and the tupelo for dogwood. The mes
quit is very hard. heavy and close
grained; the tupelo is heavy, but les
| hard. 1t has the valuable property O
wearing smooth by friction.