Amador ledger. (Jackson, Amador County, Calif.) 1875-19??, 1909-01-01

distance from a vessel, the newest
form comprises two cylindrical wood
en- shells. telescoping together, the
inner she'll being filled with unmixed
calcium carbide, calcium phosphide
and gunpowder, and having an iron
head at one end and an oritice for the
escape of gas at the other. On leav-
ing the gun, the outer cylinder at
once falls off, the other continuing
the flight alone. AS this she'll rises
after its plunge into the sea, the
water entering causes acetylene to be
evolved from the carbide aud hydro
gen phosphide from the calcium
phosphide, and the phydrogen phosp-
hide ignites spontaneously, setting
fire to the acetylene. The flame is in
extinguishable, even by high sea.
1t is claimed that the brilliant light
of 2, 600 candle-power Will last three
hours, and that the bombs can be
projected two miles or more. Though
this light has advantages over the
searchlight, however, it is not COM
plete substitute on account of the
more limited area lighted.
The great influence of forests on
rainfall is always conceded, but pro
badly few have understood that we
are so thoroughly dependent on
forests for the moisture that makes
rain as is argued by forestry author
ity in India. The water transpired
from forest is computed to be 600
times the amount evaporated from
water area of the same extent. As
Stunning the water surface of the globe
to be three times the land area, and
that forests cover one-quarter of the
land, it will be seen that the mois-
ture given off by the forests Is many
times that from the whole water sur
face.
A wear of less than O.05 inch of
metal, giving a fiat spot 2@ inches
long oil 33-inch car-wheel, is found
by Prof. Hancock of Purdue UniveI-
sity to cause the rail to be struck
with an energy of 1000 :toot-pounds
when tthe wheel is carrying 5000
pounds at 80 miles an hour, while the
same fiat wheel under 90 ton inter
urban car running 20 miles an hour
will give a hammer blow of 8, 500 foot
pounds.
The closest imitation of ivory yet
produced is claimed tn result from a
new process in which a mixture is
made of 100 parts of caustic lime, 300
of water, rs of phosphoric acid solu-
ton of specific gravity of LOS. 16 of
calcium carbonate, l to 2 of magnesia,
5 of alum. and Is of gelatine The
materials being Thoroughly mixed, the
phosphoric acid is allowed to act on
the chalk for day. Tho plastic
mass, (which may be given any desired
color, is shaped in molds, and may
be used for billiard balls, knife
handles and an endless variety of
other objects. After heating a short
f., the articles are laid aside fer
three or four weeks for thorough
seasoning. 1t is asserted that the
product has practically the same com
position and hardness of genuine
ivory, and that it must largely ktake
the place of the natural substance
that is so rapidly disappearing
through the passing of the elephant.
Children differ in development,
and DR., L, NJ, Kotch has pointed out |
that the present method of regulating |
child labor by age is unscienti6c and
unsatisfactory. One child may be az !
we'll developed and capable Of endur-
ance at - as another several years
older. lie proposes thai the X-rays
Ee used in estimating the capacity of
the young and immature, as sufficient |
study will make it practicable Ito !
gauge physical condition by the state
of development of the bones of the
body, and thus give rational basis
for determining what work may be
permitted.
The new automatic stop of two |
English hi entors is arranged to shut |
off the steam of locomotive and |
apply the vacuum brake without aid |
from either engineer or fireman. An
inclined plane is fixed between the
rails, and when the signal is set at
danger, this inclined plane is so
raised that it comes in contact with a
lever in the engine that acts on the |
steam regulator and applies the
brakes throughout the train. In the