The Daily Missoulian., 1912-04-22
subjects of research work In the Uni.
vcrsity of Kansas. fsEft FL

vcrsity OF Kansas. fs
One Of the most important matters
affecting the householder Is the gas
bill and several of the universities are
planning to lessen this by the more
complete utilization Of all the by.
products In gas manufacture. and also
to secure more efficient and cconomi-
cal methods for It's distribution. The
use of gas for illumination has been
lcssencd by the electric light. and gas
manufacturers realize that there will
be still less demand for IL I'm the flu
ture f some effective means cannot be
found for lessening the expense OF It's
production. Therefore. the utilization
of gas by-products Is considered a
promising subject for study in num-
Der of universities. ,,
The demand for expert 5otanists,
biologists, and batcrIologists Is In
creasing so rapidly that any person
with taste for either of these sub
Jccts runs small risk In choosing IL
for livelihood. Botanists capable of
conducting research work are needed
by the federal government In esti-
mating the value of its newly y-acquired
territory In the tropical countries just
as expert biologists were called from
universities to estimate the coal re-
sources of Alaska. The recent de-
mands for increased botanical knowl-
edge has placed botany on the list of
commercial sciences. The dcarth of
knowledge respecting tropical flora has
caused some of the universities to ar
range special courses In this subject.
Some of them are equipping large
green houses for the accommodation of
tropical plants. Several companies
have been formed which are sending
botanists to the Philippine Islands for
the purpose of studying the fabric
producing plants, their methods. of
culture and means of Improvement.
There are several plants native to
those islands which produce fibre
more valuable than linen for clothing
material and they will be the subject
of much botanical study In the near
future. Ns*
The development Of the India rubber
industry In Mexico, chiefly by Ameri-
can capitalists, has called for re-
search work regarding the properties
Of rubber, the cultivation Of the plants
and other matters requiring expert
chemical and botanical knowledge. The
possibility Of the development of India
rubber industries IN Panama just ad-
joining the canal zone renders this
subject especially timely.
In the study of physics attention Is
possibilities. The quantity OF steel and
Il
ings calls for some positive means Of
determining flaws and strains. A few
years ago single span bridge across
the st. Lawrence river at Quebec
broke when II was about half COM
plcted and "A men lost their lives. II
has been discovered that the brcakaEc
was due to imperfcction In the rivets.
Now another attempt is 10 be made
and this time the bridge commission
has requested the University Of ILL.,
nois TO make test Of the rivcts and
bolts to be used in its construction.
The University OF Illinois is also
giving special attention To the testing
of concrete. In its experimental lab
oratory they are smashing up concrete
columns % feet long and a foot square
Girdcrs are broken and twisted to de-
terminc qualities of durability and re-
sistance one huge instrument takes
column OF concrete and pushes down
and up on 1t 100000 times day
without ceasing at night or on Sum
day. until the material loses its re-
sistancc and falls to pieces.
The effects of electric discharges
upon solids and liquids is another sub
Jeet receiving expert attention In the
universities. DR.. Il. w. Brown of the
United States navy Is this year con-
Quoting some experiments at the lab
oratories of Cornell university for the
purpose of determining the exact ma
ture of the gases given off by storage
batteries. The navy department has
had trouble in ventilatlng its subma-
rine vessels. which are propelled by
electricity from storage batteries. 1t
is hoped that these experiments VIII
overcome this difficulty.
Zoology Is another of the natural
sciences which is capable of practical
application In any number Of different
ways and thus offers Inducements to
every lover of animals. The culture of
fur bearing animals is an industry be-
ing revived I'm the northwest which Of
fers great possibilities to the Zoologist.
Problems connected with the breeding
Of the black and the silver foxes are
now before the Universities of Mime
sofa and Michigan. The distinctive
features going To the production Of the
silver fox are as yet undetermined and
there Is a great fortune awaiting the
zooIogist who can secure some means
of multiplying the species of the silver
fox. t,,f.
The United States government ~ Of
fcring an increasing number, OF posi-
tions to scientific experts OF every
kind. Astronomy IL gaining In popu-
larity among the professions because
of The increased number of desirable
positions which have developed In 1t.
The statement of President Taft a few
weeks ago before the American Assoc
citation for the Advancement OF Sell
cnce, that he would like to change the
United States naval observatory into
u scientific bureau with professor Of
astronomy at It's head, Is only indie
ative OF the trend of popular senii-
ment.
Millions Of dollar, have been spent
IN oiyiny In American universities the