Year: 1872

A CURIOUS FACT IN ELECTRICAL
SCIENCE is illustrated in the manufac-
of a certain grade of paper. This pa
per just after passing the hot calender
rolls, develops frictiOnal electricity to
such an extent that person can, by
touching a gas burner with one hand
and the paper with the other, ignite
the gas by the passage of the current
through the body.


ECONOMICAL STEAM ENGINES.-An
engine builder in London is now con-
structing steam engines that are guar
anteed to consume less than two
pounds of coal per horse power, each
hour; and it is claimed that in some
cases those engines have consumed
only one pound per horse power, each
hour. This is nearly One-fifth of the
theoretical amount of power that is
produced by the consumption of coal.
One-tenth has been considered very
good work heretofore.


A NEW FIRE ANNIHILAToR, found
ed upon the chemical fact that carbOnic
acid gas will extinguish flames; espec-
tally those caused by the combustion
of kerosene oil and its products, was
successfully experimental with at
New York, the other day. A num-
ber Of tar and kerosene oil barrels
were placed in frame house saturated
with benZine, and the whole was then
set on fire.. The towering, cracking
flames soon obtained such headway
that the old firemen present laughed


~ 4 -, frRnr hnr
with the little annihilator; but, though
it was warm work, in DO seconds the
fire was absolutely quenChed and the
house and contents saved.


A New KIND OF PIPE has been de-
vised for conveyance of water. Hith-
erto no one could drink water that
had long stood in common lead pipes
without danger of taking a poisonous
oxide. The newpipes, it is thought,
will carry the water as pure as when
it first entered them. They are made
with an outside of iron and an inside
of glass, while between these two sur
faces there is cushion of plaster of
Paris, which, being a non-conductor
keeps the pipe cooler in summer and
warmer in winter than the ordinary
kinds. The smoOthness of the glass
also decreases the friction, so that wa
ter can be carried to greater hight
with the same force; while the pipes
cost less than lead pipe, and less than
half the price of tin lined or block-tin
pipe. This pipe, it is also said, can be
used for the convenience of gass, the
glass preventing the loss which takes
place through the pores of iron pipes,
and of other liquids which it is desira-
BILE to keep pure.


FIRE-PRoOF TARLATAN.-A Wen
nese chemist has succeeded in making
even the fiimsy material of ballet-dan-
GERS dresses fire-proof, and his high
ness, the Prince of Lichtenstein, TAX
ing q lively interest in all that concerns
the ballet, has given the new invention
q first trial on the stage in his own
palace. A numerous company was in
vited to witness the experiment.. The
rise of the curtain discovered twodolls
lars dressed as ballet-girls, to both of
whom light was applied. While one
fared up in n second and was rapidly
reduced tO.ashes, the other, impregna-
ted with the talismanic composition.
escaped with small hole burnt in her
dress. The experiment was thus con-
sidered satisfactory but the prince,
benevolently designingto to turn the dis
covery to wider use, is having a
wooden theater erected at his cost out
side VIENNA for the sole purpose II
testing once more the fre-proOf COM
position, with which the boards are to
be saturated. Fire will then be set TO
it in various places, and, if it resists
the flames, as is expected. the success
will be accepted as final. Inthat event,
the discovery has an order already
from NJ. Laube to make the scenery
and wardrobe of the Vienna city thea
ter uninflammable. He expects a rich
harvest from other theaters, likewise,
and, with this prospect, wisely de-
clines TO communicate his secret to the
public at large.