Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28
Achievements in Science.

Notable advance has been made in tho
realm Of scientific investigation, and dis
covcry. March II DIR. Simon Flexne
of the Rockefeller Institute Of Medica
Research made public the fact that he
had discovered the germ Of infant.le pa
ralysis. Early in September DR.. I1ideyo
Noguchi Of the same institution All
nounced that ne had identified and Guilt
waited the germ of rabies.
During the year two north polar ex-
petitions set out OH three-year voy-
ages of exploration. Vilhjalmar Stef-
ansson. who discovered the so-called
blond Eskimos" last year, headed an
June from, British Columbia. Another
party. led by DR.. Donald B. Mcmillan
left New York July = to search for
Croker Land. which Peary believes
to be a new continent.
After many attempts TO reach the
summit OF North Americas highest
MISUNDERSTANDING perilous feat
has at last been accomplished by Arch
deacon rs ssu aSs AN an Episcopal mission
topmost Observation-Disclosures to be 1850
feet-June Z. They planted a six-foot
cross on the peak and recited the Te
peum.
In his inaugural address before rhe
British Association. September ~. Sir
Oliver Lodge. the president of the as
ISOLATION and 4 worlG-renoyneo scien-
list. expressed his conviction that
memory and affection persist after
bodily death and that the souls OF the
departed may exert influence OH the
living. These startling assertions
aroused much comment all over the
world.
The last remaining obstacle at the
Pacific extremity OF the Panama canal
was removed by dynamite on the last
day Of August. The tide came il, and
within few hours the Pacific section
from the ocean to the Miraiores locks
was full and ready Tor navigation Sep
tember 10 the Atlantic dixie was blown
up and the water admitted 60 tile ia
nous Culebra cut This was the real
completion Of the great canal. al
though it was announced that it would
not be ready for the passing Of ships
before the first OF the year.
The completion of the Panama canal
has overshadowed the earlier consu,n-
nation of. another great enxineeri,,Y
feat-next to the canal the greatest Of
our time. This is the concrete, mono
Hthic dam across the Mississippi river
from Keokul,. Iowa, to Hamilton, on
the illinois shore. This. with its twenty
seven million dollar water power
plant. it's new government lock and
its dry dock. was formally dedicated
with appropriate ceremonies lasting
from August % to August 2S The
steamboat lock OF this dam is greater
than any Of those at Panama having
a higher lift and allowing two boats
to pass abreast
m September the closing Of the frat
gate in the great Ashokan dam called at
tention again to New York city's new
water supply project. This main dam
which is longer by foot than the Keo-
kuk dam. is built across Escopus creek
The immense reservoirs formed by this
and bikes across smaller streams VII,
give New York city q daily supply of
pure mountain water amounting to 500
UO0uO gallons. and the cost of obtaining
this supply is estimated at $1G1. S67, COO
The closing of the first gate made pos
Sible the delivery Of water into the Gro
ton reservoir before the end OF this year
The year also marks the completion Of
the wonderful water supply system at
Los Angeles, Cal.
Wireless telegraphy has passed the ex-
detrimental stage and has become q per-
manent, dependable factor In the worlds
daily business. The government station
at Fort Myer, near Washington. with it's
towers 40 feet in height. has been able
to read messages from Clifton. Ireland.
The most powerful of wireless stations
is to be built In connection with the PAN
anna exposition. A new tribute to the
efficiency Of the wireless was furnished
by the rescue Of 4 ajority OF the pas
sengers of the VoltuIno. which burned III
mid-Atlantic October Q. But for the aid
of the wireless in securing rescuing
steamers not soul would have been
saved.