davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
zaalaEzg The Great Workshop of Science EgzazYNHHB

admit that it would be possible to con-
struct such a shell, the powder above men
toned would also have to be produced, and
there are no indications whatever that
even then the cannon could be employed
"The most probable solution is the last
one which we shall consider cannon
with a new tube inside covering the entire
length of the bore, as illustrated in Figure
8. AT the same time the combustion cham
Der of the retubed cannon would remain
the same before; thus its dimensions
would be very considerable as compared to
a gun that fires shells Of the same size as
those that would be fired through the new
bore; in this way, too, the maximum utili-
zation would be made of the force of the
powder which is expressed in 'calibres'
Let me give a concrete example. Let
US take Krupp naval gun of the type
used on the large German vessels which
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15

causes, the second one was of metal
lurgic character and the construction of a
long gun even in those days was a very
difficult problem. He invented a cartridge
resembling somewhat the modern cannon
cartridge of our guns of large caibre
Figure illustrates the principle of that
cartridge: The powder is introduced into
the cartridge in plastic form and is then
perforated by a number Of holes, as is in
dicated in the illustration. The powder is
set afrc through the central hole and cx-
plodes first along the interior surface of
each of the walls of the holes. This sur
face is relatively small at tho beginning,
and as combustion goes on the diameter of
the tubes catching fire Increases and at the
same time the surface involved; as the
quantity of the burning powder increases
so does the pressure on the projectile And
so the main problem lies in the regulation
of the number and the diameter of the
holes, so that the total amount of the
powder be burned up before the projectlc
leaves the cannon.
"This way of arranging the powder is
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15

height of from 20 to so kilometres. it is
sufficient to think Of the various contrary
forces that may act upon the she'll in
changing its course. Among the factors
that interest us is the action of the air
upon the ogive of the projectilc In this
connection we call attention to the fact
that when a certain external force acts
upon gyroscope, i. e., a body in rapid
rotation on its axis, the movement which
results is called procession of the aris,
l. e., the axis describes a cone around it's
normal position.
"Now, the air which strikes q projectile
in motion at given moment produces a
resultant r, which is directed, for example.
as indicated in Figure s. This force does
not affect the centre of gravity of the
projectile. AS the projectile is all the time
in rapid rotation there is a procession of
the axis, which makes the she'll turn around
new axis that goes through its old centre
of gravity, but parallel to the external
force. But soon the movement ceases
the direction of the force of the air also
changes, and movement of procession
results along a different axis. Consequent
ly the projectile will go through series
of oscillating movements and will describe
in the air series Of scallops, which will
follow the curve illustrated in Figure 6.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
Lubricants

HVHE Austrians, it appears, are
now extracting oils from the
carcass Of the cockchafer, as
they do from bones, from fruit
pips and from the refuse in sinks. This
fact has inspired writer in every
body's" to discuss at length the subject of
lubricants, one of the numerous prod.
ucts of natural OIL He writes:
Lubricants not confined to oil. There
are solid lubricants, like graphite and soap
stone. There are half solid lubricants, like
tallow and vaseline; but, of course, the great
lubricants are liquid oils. The uses of solids
are restricted to very hard surfaces. The
seml-sollds, greases, are not as a rule used
for surfaces which move at high speeds,
though many greases which, in their normal
state are almost solid, melt and act as oils
between the surfaces they lubricate. We
can regard them as liquids with high freez-
ing points, if we wish, since they fulfil their
role only liquids. Liquid lubricants
must be used with all fast moving bear
ings, and the more viscous they are the
ject to great pressure. Such lubricants may
be of mineral, vegetable or animal origin.
Mineral oils are hydro-carbon compounds.
and they are obtained by the distilaton of
petroleums in America, Russia, Galicia, Ru-
mania and elsewhere
These natural supplies of oil come from
certain rock strata where they are associ-
ated with gases. Being consequently under
great pressure, a boring is no sooner sunk
than the oil tends to be pumped out with
the greatest violence. Odd looking high
derricks are built over the borings, so that
an oil-producing country has peculiar ap-
pearance that lives in the memory. From
these great oil springs are obtained oils Of
varying properties, from heavy COLA to the
lighter naphtha and benzine, and they also
give US petrol. 1t is not the paraffins which
form the best lubricants, but the naph-
themes, with their property of being unsat-
urated hydrocarbons. But lubricating quail
tiles are also possessed by castor oil, olive
oil and rape oil, which have this same prop
erty Of being unsaturated compounds.
"It does not seem to the present writer
that the chemistry of lubricating oils has
been very fruitful subject of inquiry as
yet. VI course, it is easy to start from
actual experience, and, having found what
compounds are good lubricators, to proceed
to analyze them and record their properties.
But apparently the only chemical property
so far discovered is that Of being unsatu-
rated and this means that these substances
combine with other substances by addition.
They are not merely like the bulk of chemi-
cal compounds-more or less unstable. with
tendency to change one of their COM
ponents for component of another sub
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
present war and the role they
FL have played in previous ones is

-&aA nave pldyeu III previous ones is
discussed by writer in "The
London Graphic" who points out that
bridges have often decided the fates of
armies and nations;
every observant railway traveller in
these belhgerent days has caught at least
a fleeing glimpse of sight unique in mod
ern British history-the sight of man in
khaki on guard with fixed bayonet wherever
the train passes over an important bridge.
In the battles of the Marne, the
Aisne and the Piave, such structures were
factors of vital moment; especially in con-
nectlon with the former struggle for it was
the crossing of the Aisne which sealed the
German defeat in that historic conflict It
was a fifteen-mile stretch of the Aisne, a
deep and broad and unfordable stream,
which the British had to cross, and that
they were able to do so was due to the su-
perhuman labors of the Royal Engineers in
repairing in q single day five bridges and
building nine morel
"Yet how little attention has been de-
voted to bridges in the records of the war,
and how much less attention was given to
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
In ncreasing the Range
Of the Big Guns

with the powder chamber and barrel re-
sembling those of ordinary guns, but con-
slderably larger.
AS to the multiple -chambered she'll.
which has three or four sections, no good
results have been obtained from it, and
here are reasons: The projectie is sup
posed to function in the following man.
ner: the entire compound shell, as seen in
Figure a, is hurled by the cannon from
point U and reaches point p, where the
powder in chamber A is set afre by time
fuse; the external shell then acts as a
mortar and it's force carries the compound
she'll c to point P-1; then the same
process is repeated, and shell ID is car
rcd to point P2 by the explosion in sec
tlon B, and thus, finally section ID of the
shell reaches its point of destination A.
"Fortunately the results are not doubtful.
Without even asking ourselves how it is
possible that series of fuses can be di-
rected with any amount of precision at
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15

ing is abusing a good oppor-
tunity or misusing chance
to do something worth while. So
when you go for a hike make a def
mite object for that hike. Make it an
observation hike, a nature hike, a map
making hike, plant hike, a tree hike or
"burling," says Dan Beard in Boys
Life" "Burling" he explains as follows:
Now, then, burl you know, is scar
on a tree covering a wound of some sort
generally where a small limb has died
rotted and been broken off short by the wind
or weather, and good old Dame Nature has
tried to heal the wound by covering the
dead butt of the branch with lump OF live
flesh, that is, of growing live wood. This
makes bump, 'bunion or lump on the tree
trunk, known a burl, and burl is the
material from which real scouts fashion
their noggins or drinking cups.
LET us have the history of the noggin.
"a nodule is a little knot or lump; nog
or knag or knage is also knot, also little
mug or pot. In olden times nogs or nog-
gins were used for drinking, as. for in
stance, noggin of ale, but you must re
member that in ancient times wooden i'm
plements were used by the people in place
Of metal ones, and wooden porringers.
wooden platters and wooden cups were
common in the households of our ancestors.
Some years ago, while on an exploring
expedition with Mr.. Arthur Rice, of the
Campfire Club Of America, l had occasion
to note the advantages of wooden cup
carried by Mr.. Rice, made from burl or
knot of wood. l had seen such cups be
fore, but had to live with one to know it's
worth. After that l introduced its manu-
facture and to the Boy Scouts and
they popularzed it, so that today the noc
gin, as we named this sort of cup. is known
wherever outdoor people are to be found.
Among the Campfire men we have a
pretty bit of sentiment. The fellow who
makes the cup must always present it TO
his bunkie, each of US who owns nog-
gin carries with him not only our drinking
cup, but also souvenir of some jolly oc-
casion and priced gift from some boon
companion"
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15

much appreciated ir the average boarding
house and is worthy of commentator. A
current-heated wire about the wrist is sup
posed to scorch the sleeper sufficiently to
make him open the switch, and he usually
does SO without wasting time in dreamland.
"The necessary current is supplied by
miniature battery, also worn the wrist,
and a small switch lever is inserted in a
space beneath the watch crystal opposite
the predetermined hour. When the hour
hand has reached the proper point it closes
the switch and scorches the victim prone to
oversleeping.
"The alarm itself is undoubtedly silent,
and it is just question whether the yell
emitted by the sleeper annoys the neigh
bors less than does the ordinary alarm
clock
"However, this wrist watch will prove in
valuable at the battlefront, which demands
heroic remedies for sleepinesx."
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
their supreme Importance in pre-war
strategical study!

their supreme Importance in pre-war
strategical study!
"This neglect is more excusable in Great
Britain than on the Continent Owing 20
our isolation from the European mainland,
we have been spared the frequent war ex-
periences Of the Continent, and we have far
fewer examples of war bridges to warn us
of the danger of neglecting the study of
such structures Indeed, there are probably
many who will be surprised to learn that we
possess any war bridges at all But we do.
British war bridges which still sur
vve are three in number, and are to be found
at Stirling, Warkworth and Monmouth.
"There is little to choose between these
structures on the score of age; they are all
believed to date from the late fourteenth
century. But one notable feature they have
in common, namely, defensive gatehouse or
tower. This is the feature which stamps
them emphatcaly as war bridges.
ain view of their localities they could
hardly be other than war bridges. In the
fourteenth century and for long years after,
Stirling Bridge was literally the key to the
Highlands Warkworth Bridge, too, held
an important strategical position in the
days of border fighting; while the Monnow
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
kkM A NATURE" of Paris. has
been publishing series Of
articles dealing with the

posSlplhUleS or development
OF long-range guns. In it's last issue M.
ii. Volta points out the way in which tho
range of guns can be increased. He saws:
Zone of the first means for increasing
the range of guns was suggested in 1880
by Lyman, who invented an accelerated
cannon with the aid OF which he believed
1t would be possible to obtain a speed suf-
fcent to considerably increase the power
OF the projectile. Time powder was not vet
known. In order to obtain great central
speed of the projectie it is necessary to
produce very great pressure in the interior
OF the cannon. But as soon as the she'll
begins to leave the tube the pressure is
continually decreasing and at the mouth
OF the tube it has only fraction of the
original pressure. The result is that a
great part of the propelling force is lost
at the start.
Figure | illustrates the distribution of
pressure In the interior of gun, firstly in
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
Fig. 4. The many chambered
shell, with its supposed path

employed in modern cannon charged not
with black powder, but with coloidal
powder that can be easily moulded.
$50 much for the historical side. Now
let us see the means the Germans could
have employed in their long-range gun
Three hypothesis have been made: the null
-chambered shell, the theoretical con-
struction and the range of which is illus
trated in Figure 4; cannon firing sub
calibre' shell; finally, an ordinary cannon
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
a Silent Alarm Watch

NID you ever lie awake all night while
an alarm sclock in the room ran like
a thrashing machine? Were YOU ever
awakened at o'clock Sunday morning
by the alarm bell Of neighbor off for
fishing trip? Then you will welcome
the silent alarm watch described in "The
Popular Science Monthly":
ga silent alarm wrist watch has been de-
signed with the object in view of waking a
person without annoying the neighbors. If
successfully attained, the object should be
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15

~ n
X prices of the imported variety, in
- the Philippines they arc about to
begin the manufacture of their
own glassware. The Philippine Re-
view" in reporting recent experiments
bv the Bureau of Science, states that all
the required materials are to be had at
home.
"The necessary ingredients for this
manufacture arc white sand or silica, which
is found in large deposits in the island of
Lubang near Mindoro, and undoubtedly in
many other regions of the Archipelago;
limestone, which is available in large guam
titles in Bnangonan and Montalban, and
in other parts of the islands, soda ash or
sodium carbonate. which is imported, but
which may be produced in the islands, pro
vided the salt industry is developed and
metallic oxide. which is used for coloring
the glass. and of which Iocos Norto pro
duces manganese
"The experiments held in the Bureau of
Science at $3.50 p. m, on June IL, have
demonstrated that this industry is in the
embryo stage. DR.. Timoteo Oar Juan. a
chemist in the bureau, was in charge of the
experiments. A Japanese expert blower
conducted the demonstration, which was
indeed interesting. Certain quantities of
finely ground white sand or silica lime
stone. and soda ash or sodium carbonate
in varying proportions according to the
kind Of glass desired to be manufactured
are mixed into batch with great nicetv.
knowledge and skill. A small amount of
metallic oxide is also mixed 10 produce the
desired color, thus, the combination of
manganese. found in Ilocos Norte. pro
duces green color. The batch the mixture
of the materials whose chemical combina-
ton, brought about by heat, produces glass,
is placed in the furnace and subjected to
heat approximately 1900 to 1900 cent?
grades, until it becomes molten glass.
which is highly viscous. While in this
condition it is gathered up in a soft mass
at the end OF a glass tube, and the lump,
tre-red, by blowing through the tube, is
distended into hollow sphere 1t is then
thrust into iron receptacle containing a
small quantity of mineral oil to smoother
its surface. The form of this sphere or
bulb is then modified by a skilful manipu-
lation Of the glass tube. By different
processes, infinitely diversified and com
plicated by the skill of the workmen and
the nature of the product, the desired re-
suit is obtained. In order to obtain re-
quired pattern, the bulb, while in plastic
condition, is placed in a mould and blown
in through the tube. The shape is rendered
permanent by cooling. The neck of the
bottle IS then fixed, and the finished prod
uct is covered by ashes of burned straw
IN order to cool it off gradually. The melt
ing furnace has working furnaces called
glory holes where the elassworker re-
heats his work"
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15

"Now, it can be easily understood that
the shell at any definite point, as the vari-
GUS time fuse. of the any-chamb bered
shell act Independently from the direction
which the axis of the shell assumes at a
given mome ent- 1t would be impossible to
take detiM hs aim even if it were as large
as the city OF Paris.
ut is Hudson Maxim who was the first
one to come out with the hypothesis of
the existence of a German gun firing a
Sub caibre' shell.
Let US take, for example, a $50 howitzer
capable of firing a she'll weighing 1900
pounds with initial speed of 648 yards
per second, and let us load with a pro-
jectile whose diameter is half that of the
bore of the gun and which is held in the
cannon by two guides that leave it as the
projectile emerges from the muzzle of the
cannon This is shown in Figure'7
GAS the weight of this she'll is supposed
to be about fourth of that of the shell
normally fired by the cannon, the speed
which the same charge of powder would
give it would have to be much greater, for
example, more than 2,16O yards per Sec
ond, provided that the powder could burn
four times as rapidly as the one previously
employed The shell would be provided in
the back part with a cone-shaped attach
ment consisting OF four pieces and capable
of receiving the pressure of the explosive
gas, and in the front part with ring
consisting also of four pieces all these
pieces would fall apart from the shell as
soon as it left the cannon, which keeps
them together. Now, even if we should
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15

LHe DullCllg OIL concrete Sn1DS
-&A and the handicaps to their ex-
tensive use are pointed out in
the following article in 'The Illustrated
World":
"No doubt exists that the concrete ship
will function properly during the period, at
least, when it is necessary to rush soldiers,
munitions and supplies to Europe. The
question, though, still is raised, How long
may we expect concrete ship to last?'
THAT naturally one of the first ques-
tons asked by the men who would be re-
sponsible for the Inauguration of the con-
crets shipbuilding programme It is safe
to accept the belief that these same men did
not plunge into The situation with their eyes
closed On the contrary, we may accept
without reservation the statement that
they obtained all the light possible on the
subject from every available quarter.
To that end the opinion of experts not
only was sought, but bureaus of govern
mental departments were requested to make
tests and report the feasibility of the whole
project The consensus of opinion and the
results OF experiments seemed to warrant
'ne conclusion that concrete vessel, prop
efly constructed, should last for at least
several years
Unless unavoidable, direct current
should not be employed on a concrete ship
MS Is because of the danger of electrolysis
from stray current. The Bureau of Stand
aios has demonstrated that very slight
IPdkaOQ Cf 80.
weakening of the mortar at the cathode,
WIN the consequence that the bond strength
""l De decreased. Or if the leakage of the
''ec.rlc current is fairly large an oxidation
VI 'he steel at the anodc viii follow. The
pe"aity for this Will be the splitting and
cn'pping of the concrete.
another caution to avert trouble has to
w W. win the kind of merchandise carried.
'"eie are certain materials that will tend
~ oiSintegrate the concrete. Among these
"'e certain vegetable oils Cocoanut and
peanut - OILS are prominent in this category
e"ee' where there is likelihood of employ
"'s 'ne snip to carry such kind Of cargo the
inner surface Of the hull should be protect
ed with paint.
Investigations are under way to find suit
"0'e coating material that will act as a pro
'e'''on against the deterioration of the con-
crete
another problem was and still ;s that of
'"e eHects of rough seas There is little
give IN concrete, and hence there is the
exposure of the vessel to sag and, to a
'eSser degree, torsion. A safe steel stress
.iacks when applied to concrete. This prob
'e,n is now being diligently worked upon.
AS steel In considerable quantity is i'm
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
They Know Which WAY to Go

West Indian turtle catchers de-
clare that newly Matched turtles pos
sess an uncanny instinct of the direc-
ton in which the nearest water lies.
Even when. the eggs have been taken in
land and hatched several miles from the
sea, the little turtles will point in q di-
rect line toward the salt water and at
once begin to make their way toward it.
Gas Logic.
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15

Diagrams La Nature
flg. with bore which very
large powder chamber and length in
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
The Filipinos
Blow Their Own
Bottles Now

ECAUSE of the war inflated
X prices of the imported variety, in
the Philippines they are about to
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
How "Old-T Timers"
Make Their
Noggins

wv yALKING is one of the best ex-
XA/ ercises, but purposeless walk
w ing is abusing a good oppor-
New-York tribune., 1918-09-15
Concrete Ships Again

H% HE difficulties that have attended
the building Of concrete ships
-&~ and the handicaps to their ex-
tensive use are pointed out in
the following article in "The Illustrated
World":
Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1918-01-17
CARE IN MAKING PROMISES
No Agreement Should Be Made That
Can't Be Carried Out, As Keeping
Ones Word Is Important.

Keep your promises-so don't make
any you can't fill.
Don't make any in conflict with
agreements.
Neglecting the exact terms Of q def
mite promise Is often a very serious
thing.
The keeping Of promises In business
transactions Is the "sheet anchor" IN
the establishing of credit among ones
business associates.
The world of business places great
value on promises.
Not only in all business transactions
but in everyday life, the keeping OF
promises should be looked after with
care.
Whatever you do, keep your word,
for the man who breaks his promises
even In little things Is sure to break
them In more important ones.
1t Is a good plan when making a
promise as to appointments to 1ot
down In a memorandum book the
mans name, so that no mistakes can
be made.
1t is a question Of obligations that
is not Cancelled until 1t Is paid.
The man whose promise or WORD
can be relied upon is the one whose In
fuence is far-reaching In any commun-
ity or in any business.
Keep your promises-so don't make
any you can't fill.-New York Mail.