The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1909-05-27

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A writer who has turn for re.
search and who Is a close observer
of modern progress in mechanics has
enumerated and described some of the
| many electrical devices which have
| been invented recently and which
| have gone far toward making life, in
its lesser details. more easy for hui
manity.
A large business has recently grown
up in improved forms Of incandescent
lamps, which, while giving light at
greatly enhanced efficiency, consume
less current than the older types.
An electrical ash sitter has been de-
signed to save the leak in coal and
cinders thrown out with the ashes in
household practice. The machine is
simply constructed, being built on the
revolving screen principle. Into the
hopper of the outfit the ashes are
dumped.
The cinders fall into bin and can
receives the waste. 1t is estimated
that in an ordinary household from
ton to a ton and half Of coal can
be thus recovered from the ashes in
year.
While recent progress in radio-tele-
phony-the transmission of telephone
talk without wires-has been COM
paratively slow, there is promise Of
steady development in some recent
tests in Europe.
The French navy authorities have
reported very satisfactory results in
talking from the Eiffel tower in Paris
to Dieppe, SO miles.
The apparatus used for this pur-
pose is being continually simplifed,
and 1t bids fair soon to be applicable
to large number of vessels which
cannot afford to carry Morse opera
tor, and whose necessity of wireless
telephone conversation will be met by
system effective up to 100 miles.
Electric cooking, hitherto more or
less of luxury, is being brought by
improved apparatus and reduction in
the price of current within the reach
of the ordinary householder.
One OF these writes enthusiastical-
ly of the results by the employment in
his own kitchen of an electric oven,
grill, an egg poacher. toaster, and
1-4-inch hot plate.
The cost of the current used in run
ming the whole of the outfit for eight
days was 1892, or s1.04 per day; or
Is cents per day, or cents per hour
for each grill, boiling plate and oven
in use.
The flavor of meat electrically cook
ed is said to excel that of meat treat
ed by any other method.
For the caterpillar plague which is
having such a disastrous. effect on
many of the forests of this country, q
remedy is suggested by the action OF
the municipal authorities of German
town. The brown nun moths had been
ravaging the trees of the valley In
which the town is situated, and many
of the densely planted sections were
threatened with destruction.
An electric light trap was construct
ed. Lights of high power were fixed
In position, and behind them, put over
deep receptacle and large exhaust
fans, were two powerful rehectors.
The whole was installed on the top
OF the municipal electric plant build
ing.
At night two great streams of light
are thrown from the reflectors on the
woods on the sides of the mountain
half mile away. The moths, drawn
by the shining radiance, come flutter.
ing In myriads along the broad lanes
Of light.
AS they reach the refectors they
are caught by the swirl Of the ex-
haust fans and carried down on the
grip OF the current of air to the recep.
tacle below. 1t is said that on. the
first night the trap was put In opera
tion three tons of moths were caught.
The latest thing in a mans dress.
Ing kit is the electric razor. The sta
tonary part OF this device is simply
an ordinary safety razor. consisting
OF handle, a blade, and blade hold.
er. attached directly to the spiral
shaft of vibrator. Running up the
handle OF the razor Is a rotary eccen.
'ric. which twists the blade around at
' ~ desired speed.