El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-24

"A LII scientific progress is due to
~ the ability of the inventor to
- - produce apparatus OF exquisite
delicacy and refinement. and while
Americans have Jagged behind sOme-
what in this direction in past gen
erations. they have been making up
lost time in these latter days. The late
professor Langley wanted TO learn
something about the heat of the stars.
so he devised the bolometer, that Won
derful little instrument of such mar
velcus senSitiveness to heat others
had perfected various kinds of heat
measuring instruments, but ICne of
them was sensitive enough TO tell pro-
lessor Langley what he wanted to
know. AT another time he was trying
to make the birds tell him their secret
of flight; but there was no means of
communica ton between them. SO he
fitted up a pair of shotgun cameras
electrically connected together. He had
two Of his assistants watch a bird and
at an agreed time point their camera
guns a the bird from different angles.
When one of the operators got a good
view, he pulled the trigger and both
cameras snapped simultaneously. The
result was that the birds picture was
secured at different angles at precise
ly the same moment.
When professor A. A Nicholson of
Chicago, sought an extremely accurate
measure of length. he found that the
most delicate measure in existence was
not accurate enough to suit his pur-
poses. So he determined to solve the
problem Of accurate linear measure
ment. He devised an instrument called
the interferometer When he had per-
| fected it. he found he had produced a
machine that would tell the length of
n ha
millionth part of an inch. Professor
Nicholson found that light waves were
almost exactly like the water waves
made when two stones are cast stimuli
taneously into a small pond. If the two
circles interfere they quickly wear
each other down; but if they coincide
the height of the little waves is in
creased.
Three IndispensabIes.
Humanity's debt to delicate scientific
instruments is well illustrated by three
things used by the scientist-the mi
croscope, the telescope, and the spec
troscOpe, none of which was invented
by an American, but all Of which have
been used by Americans to make some
wonderful discovery in the realm of
science With the microscope man has
been able to invade the regions of the
infinitesmal; while the telescope has
carried him into the realms of the in
finite. The marvels of modern surgery
came from knowledge gained with the
microscope. and the whole germ tribe
| was discovered by its use For thou
| sands Of years men lived all uncOn-
! scious that such things as germs ex-
| listed. Then doctor held a microscope
| to a drop of blood and new world OF
| living creatures was discOv- ed. Mum
| berleSs inventions and discoveries have
| been based on this instrument In the
| case of the telescope, our time, Oul
| modern methods of surveying and oul
mastery of the laws of gravity and mo-
| tion are practical things which may
! be traced to it
! Scope of the SpectrOscOpe.
! With the spectroscope the artisan is
/ able to determine the properties OF
| such mundane stuff as common sugar
| while the astronomer is able to go tril-
| lions of miles into space and catch
/ rays of light which tell him whaf
! kinds of matter are found in the stal