Amador ledger., 1910-11-25

An Old.Time Mirror Mexican
Magic.
The ultra-rapid cinematograph of M.
Bull, with which the Marcy Institute
of Paris has been making stereoscopic
views of flying insects and breaking
bubbles, takes pictures with exposures
at the rate of 1000 per second, the
sensitive film being driven at the
average speed of 100 feet per second.
The usual stop of the film at each ex-
posure is impossible at this speed, but
sharp image on the moving film is
given by All electric spark not exceed
ing 1-40O,0 of second The two
long strips of film are wound on reel
or wheel 1872 inches in diameter in.
closed IN light-proof case. The reel
is driven by an electric motor, and 81
strips of copper around it's axis make
and break the primary circuit of an
induction coil 81 times at each turn,
each interruption causing the second
ary of the coil to flash across a pair
of spark gaps arranged at a short
distance in front. A series of quartz
and Iceland spar lenses transmits the
light rays to the aperture on ground
glass of the film case. Special devices
are necessary to bring a flying insect
within the field of view and in one
form the insect moves a light mica
door in escaping from a glass tube,
thus making contact starting the
shutter mechanism as flight is begun
toward the nearest window. The pic
lures made being shown by the ordi-
nary cinematograph at the rate OF Is
or less per second instead of 1,500 or
1000, the rapid motions photographed
are easily seen.
The number of plant species now
known is estimated by Prof. Chas Bes-
sey at 100000. He points out that
about 18 years ago Saccardo found the
number known to be 174, 900, and con-
cluded that it would reach 400, 000-ln
cluding 250,000 fungi-in $50 years, by
which time botanists might be ex-
pected to find all species in existence.
Linnie, $50 years before Saccardo,
knew 8, 551 species. ~
The new Austrian chainless bicycle
is claimed to save so per cent in
power. The riuer moves his feet up
and down, instead of in circle, thus
working two long levers which alter
nately pull chain passing to the
rear over pulleys to two sprocket
wheels, which in turn act upon free
wheel ratchet to drive the hub of the
rear wheel.
The power-storage plan of Prof. R.
A. Fessenden, first made known at the
last meeting of the British Association
for the Advancement of Science, de-
pends upon the use of intermittent
cheap power for pumping water from
tanks sunk 1000 feet or so into the
earth. and keeping the water in sur
face tanks until needed The power
thus stored would be made available at
any time by causing the water to drive
turbines on its way back to the lower
level. The water could be pumped in
the usual way by windmills, or by sun
engines. or, better, by both. Solar
heat is to be utilized by means of
large tank containing shallow layer
of water and having a steam-tight
covering of wired glass. 1t is stated
that the heat can be made to boil the
water, generating steam enough to
run low pressure turbine, and it is
calculated that sun-tank" $50 feet
square would develop more than 1000
horse power for hours day through
out the year. 1t seems evident, how
ever, that such result could be had
only in a favorable climate. Compar-
ing the expense OF different sources
of energy, Prof. Fessenden has esti-
mated that power from water stored
by the sun and wind pumps would be
about one-ffth of that of steam, one
fourth of that of gas, six-fifths of that
of Niagara Falls, and somewhat less
than twi"e that of the cheapest water
powers.
The rescue apparatus evolved from
experiments in British mines is claimed
to make it practicable and easy for
its wearer to work or hours in
the most noxious gases. No helmet
is used, but headpiece holds the
mouthplece in place, a light clamp
closes the nostrils, and the eyes are
protected by goggles. A bag sus-
pended from the shoulders in front