Amador ledger., 1909-10-01

mas Deen eXniDiteo IN LOnoOn, stores
the heat OF constantly passing small
electric current, and uses ii for pro-
ducing hot water as needed The ap-
paratus replaces or supplements the
kitchen range heater. A hollow iron
block contains coil of pipe surround
ing small electric heater, and is
placed in the center of circular tank
holding the water to be heated by pas
sing through the coil. Both block and
tank are covered with insulating
material, the latter having double walls.
A heater two feet high and two feet in
diameter, using 200 watts of current,
heats rs to 80 gallons of water daily
from so deg to ITO deg. F., supplying a
larger quantity at lower temperature, or
smaller quantity of hotter water. 1t is
claimed that the cost to consumer for
electricity should be little more than
SIS 90 per quarter, though the rate must
necessarily vary with locality. The
general adoption of these heaters would
be advantageous to power stations, and
during the hours for electric lighting the
current could be cut off without serious
ly lessening the hot water and the
stations current load would thus be
equalized without increasing the maxi
mum demand.
Earth movements that are not true
earthquakes are recorded by seismo-
graphs Prof. Cleveland Able points
out that the covering OF gravel, clay and
sand-fve, ten or fifty feet deep-acts
like sponge, and, permeated with air
and water, responds to every change OF
pressure, so that slow fittings result
from rain, frost, changes in atmospheric
pressure and in the load of snow, and
changes in the ocean level on coasts.
Other movements of strain or release
from strain in the rocky substratum are
due to tides, volcanic heat and chemical
changes, and changes from crystalli-
zation.
In connection with the international
Labor Exhibition of 1911, a prize of
$40, 600 has been offered the author of an
invention practically advancing national
economy.
On the island of Krakatoa, in Sunda
strait, between Sumatra and Java, all
animal and vegetable life was destroyed
by the terrific volcanic explosion of Aug
IL, 1883, and the entire twelve square
miles of surface was buried under a
layer of pumice and ashes averaging
ninety feet in thickness. The return of
living forms to this new soil-Which
contains the elements necessary for plant
growth except phosphorus and nitrogen
has been eagerly watched. Within three
years, DR.. Freub of Java found that
various plants had already begun to grow,
those of the interior being quite
different from those near the coast, while
ferns were remarkably preponderant, and
Shiny blue-green algae were specially
active in preparing the soil for higher
organisms. Another scientific visit was
made in 1897, and the progress of the
new flora up to 1906 has been lately re-
ported by Prof. d. H. Campbell. The
progress OF the forest trees has been
particularly rapid, and il is evident that
the island will soon be covered with
luxuriant forest an object lesson in the
production OF new forests under favor
able tropical conditions. The nitrogen
for vegetation has been collected in the
soil by bacteria. The first plants to ar
rive--bacteria blue-green algae, ferns
and mosses-werc brought by the wind,
as were also the first grasses and flower
ing plants, but seeds and fruits seem to
have been chiefly introduced by ocean
currents
Minrg for wood is the rather I'M
usual industry found at Mongtze, Upper
Tonkin, by the French consul. At some
time pine forest was swallowed up,
and the trees-lying in slanting
direction and some of them yard in
diameter-are covered by eight or ten
yards Of sandy soil. The perfect pre-
servstion of the tops indicates that the
trees we're bnrcd at a comparatively
recent period. The timber supplied
seems to be imperishable, and is es-
pecialy priced by the Chinese as coffin
making material
The loss OF an eye through the use OF
a plated surgical instrument has been
reported by Dr. Rocklitfe, British sur
geon, Inflammation following an oper-
alton made ii necessary to remove the
eye, and bit of metal that seemed to