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diff --git a/43282-0.txt b/43282-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..168b81f --- /dev/null +++ b/43282-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5295 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43282 *** + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + +Italic text is denoted by _underscores_ and bold text by =equal signs=. + +The picture of a pointing finger, known in typography as an index, a +manicule, or a fist, has been rendered in this text version as "=>". + +Subscripts have been rendered using braces, so that the formula for +sulphuric acid is shown as "H{2}SO{4}", and the formula for water, if it +had appeared, would have been shown as "H{2}O". + + * * * * * + +[Illustration: SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN] + + A WEEKLY JOURNAL OF PRACTICAL INFORMATION, ART, SCIENCE, MECHANICS, + CHEMISTRY, AND MANUFACTURES. + + Vol. XXXIX.--No. 6 NEW YORK, AUGUST 10, 1878 $3.20 per Annum. + [NEW SERIES.] [POSTAGE PREPAID.] + + + + + THE PARIS EXHIBITION.--A SKETCH IN THE PARK. + +Our engraving, which represents a portion of the park at the Paris +Exhibition grounds, needs little mention beyond that it is one of those +delightful retreats so refreshing to the weary visitor, who, tired out +with tramping about the buildings and grounds, is only too pleased to +refresh his eyes with some of that exquisite miniature water scenery +which is scattered about the grounds. We take our illustration from the +London _Graphic_. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Improvements in Silk Worm Breeding.= + +_Galignani_ states that a very curious discovery has just been made, +which, if found as practicable in application as it seems to promise, +may create a very considerable change in the production of silk. It is +nothing more nor less than the possibility of obtaining two yields in +the year of the raw material instead of one, as at present. The moth +lays its eggs in May or June, and these do not hatch before the spring +of the following year. But sometimes they are observed to hatch +spontaneously ten or twelve days after they are laid. It was such a +circumstance as this coming to the attention of M. Ducloux, Professor of +the Faculty of Sciences at Lyons, that led him to undertake a series of +experiments on the subject, by means of which he has found that this +premature hatching can be produced at will. The means for effecting the +object are very simple--rubbing the eggs with a hair brush, subjecting +them to the action of electricity, or more surely still by dipping them +for half a minute in concentrated sulphuric acid. M. Bollé, who has also +turned his attention to the same subject, states that the same effect is +produced by hydrochloric, nitric, or even acetic and tartaric acid. +Finally, a submersion of a few seconds in water heated to 50° Cent. +(122° Fah.) is equally efficacious. However, M. Ducloux states that the +operation must be performed while the eggs are quite young, the second +or third day at the outside. When this new hatching is accomplished the +mulberry tree is in its full vigor, and the weather so favorable that +the rearing of the worm is liable to much less risk than during the +early days of spring, when the sudden atmospheric changes are very +detrimental, and frequently fatal to the growing caterpillars. + + * * * * * + + + + + =The Natural History of the Eel.= + +According to the reports of shad fishermen, the chief enemy of the shad +is the eel, which not only follows that fish up the streams and devours +the spawn, but often attacks the shad after they are caught in the nets. +Entering the shad at the gill openings the eels suck out the spawn and +entrails, and leave the fish perfectly clean. The finest and fattest +shad are the ones selected. It is a curious circumstance that of a fish +so well known as the eel so many of its life habits should be in +dispute. An animated discussion has been going on in Germany quite +recently with regard to the natural history of this fish, and in a late +number of a scientific journal the following points are set down as +pretty well substantiated. Though a fresh water fish which passes the +greater part of its life in rivers, the eel spawns in the sea. That it +is viviparous is extremely improbable. The eel found in the upper waters +of rivers is almost always female. At the age of four years it goes down +to the sea to spawn and never returns to fresh water. The spawning +process is somehow dangerous to the eel, thousands being found dead near +the mouths of rivers, with their ovaries empty. The descent of the fish +to the sea does not appear to take place at any definite period, but is +probably dependent on the season for spawning. The male is always much +smaller than the female, and never exceeds half a yard in length. The +males never ascend to the head waters of rivers, but keep continually in +the sea or in the lower reaches of the river. Nothing is definitely +known about the spawning season, though it is probable that the eggs are +deposited in the sea not far from the mouths of rivers. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: THE PARIS EXHIBITION.--A SKETCH IN THE PARK.] + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: "Scientific American." In Gothic script] + + Established 1845. + + MUNN & CO., Editors and Proprietors. + + PUBLISHED WEEKLY AT + + NO. 37 ARK ROW, NEW YORK. + ====================================================================== + O. D. MUNN. A. E. BEACH. + ====================================================================== + + =TERMS FOR THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.= + + One copy, one year, postage included..........................$3.20 + One copy, six months, postage included........................$1.60 + +=Clubs.=--One extra copy of THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN will be supplied +gratis for every club of five subscribers at $3.20 each; additional +copies at same proportionate rate. Postage prepaid. + +=>Single copies of any desired number of the SUPPLEMENT sent to one +address on receipt of 10 cents. + + Remit by postal order. Address + MUNN & CO., 37 Park Row New York. + + =The Scientific American Supplement= + is a distinct paper from the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN. THE SUPPLEMENT is + issued weekly; every number contains 16 octavo pages, with handsome + cover, uniform in size with SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN. Terms of subscription + for SUPPLEMENT, $5.00 a year, postage paid, to subscribers. Single + copies 10 cents. Sold by all news dealers throughout the country. + +=Combined Rates.=--THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN and SUPPLEMENT will be sent +for one year, postage free, on receipt of _seven dollars_. Both papers +to one address or different addresses, as desired. + +The safest way to remit is by draft, postal order, or registered letter. + +Address MUNN & CO., 37 Park Row, N. Y. + + =Scientific American Export Edition.= + +The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Export Edition is a large and splendid +periodical, issued once a month. Each number contains about one hundred +large quarto pages, profusely illustrated, embracing: (1.) Most of the +plates and pages of the four preceding weekly issues of the SCIENTIFIC +AMERICAN, with its splendid engravings and valuable information; (2.) +Commercial, trade, and manufacturing announcements of leading houses. +Terms for Export Edition, $5.00 a year, sent prepaid to any part of the +world. Single copies 50 cents. =>Manufacturers and others who desire to +secure foreign trade may have large, and handsomely displayed +announcements published in this edition at a very moderate cost. + +The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Export Edition has a large guaranteed +circulation in all commercial places throughout the world. Address MUNN +& CO., 37 Park Row, New York. + ====================================================================== + VOL. XXXIX., No. 6. [NEW SERIES.] _Thirty-third Year._ + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + NEW YORK, SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1878. + ====================================================================== + + + + + =Contents.= + + (Illustrated articles are marked with an asterisk.) + + American goods, excellence of 89 + Astronomical notes* 90 + Astronomical observation* 91 + Brass, recipe for cleaning [4] 91 + Cancer, treatment of 85 + Chloride of lime, to neutralize [6] 91 + Coal, distillation of* 85 + Discoveries, Prof. Marsh's recent 90 + Drawings, how to mount [19] 91 + Drawings, printing copies of [9] 91 + Edison telephone and Hughes' microphone 80 + Education, industrial 90 + Eel, natural history of the 79 + Electro-magnet, to construct [12] 91 + England, wages in 85 + Engraving, photographic 82 + Exhibition, American Institute 84 + Export edition, Scientific Amer. 80 + Fire, chemicals to extinguish [22] 91 + Flour, explosiveness of 87 + Gas, saw tempering by natural 87 + Germany, labor in 89 + Gold, how to melt [18] 91 + Hair, removing superfluous [1] 91 + Hughes, letter from Prof. 80 + Industrial enterprises, new 84 + Ink to rule faint lines [7] 91 + Inventions, new 86 + Inventions, new agricultural 86 + Inventions, new engineering 87 + Inventions, new mechanical 89 + Iron making, progress of 80 + Journalism, crooked 88 + Lathes, attachment for* 86 + Lemon verbena, new use for 89 + Life, minute forms of 85 + Lime light, how to make [14] 91 + Main joints, street 88 + Mormons, hint from the 86 + N. Y. Capitol, machinery for 87 + Paris Ex., Japanese Building* 87 + Paris Exhibition, the park* 79 + Patent law, our 84 + Pens, fountain 80 + Petroleum June review 90 + Petroleum oils as lubricators 89 + Petroleum, short history of 85 + Plants, etc., influence of light on 89 + Poisoning of a lake, remarkable 90 + Production, ill-balanced 89 + Production, more perfect 88 + Puddling, mechanical* 82 + Quick work 86 + Rainfall, decrease of N. Y. 86 + Rhinoceros Hornbill, the* 87 + Shad hatching, successful 88 + Shellac, to dissolve bleached [2] 91 + Shoes, dressing for ladies' [21] 91 + Silk worm breeding 79 + Substances, how to rate [3] 91 + Sun, the* 80, 81 + Teeth, replanting, etc. 84 + Telephone, science promoter 80 + Thermometer, new deep sea* 83 + Timber, ribs on surface of [17] 91 + Valve, new steam* 86 + Velocipede feat, extraordinary* 89 + Wires, copper finish to [24] 91 + Wood, to make sound boards [11] 91 + Wool product of the world 88 + $150,000,000 a year, trying to save 90 + + + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS OF + =THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT= + =No. 136,= + =For the Week ending August 10, 1878.= + + I. ENGINEERING AND MECHANICS.--The Manufacture of Wrought Iron Pipe. + Bending the Sheets. Welding the Tube. Manufacture of Gas Pipe. + Polishing and Smoothing. 4 figures. + + Improved Marine Engine Governor. 1 figure.--Improved Screw + Steering Apparatus. 3 figures.--West's Reversing Gear. 1 + figure.--Engineering in Peru. The Oroya Railroad over the summit + of the Andes. A remarkable engineering feat. The famous Cerro de + Pasco Silver Mines. Extensive Coal Fields. + + II. TECHNOLOGY.--Coal Ashes as a Civilizer. Grading. Coal Ashes as a + Fertilizer.--Utilization of the Waste Waters of Fulling Mills and + Woolen Works.--Suggestions in Decorative Art. Marquetry Ornaments + from Florence. 3 illustrations. + Useful Recipes. By J. W. PARKINSON. Cream cake. Kisses. Apples a + la Tongue. Mead. Bread without yeast. Biscuit. Doughnuts. Glaire + of Eggs. Crumpets. Ratafia de Framboises. Ratafia de Cerises. To + color sugar sand. Raspberry and currant paste. Cheese cake. + Cocoanut macaroons. Orange slices. Ice cream. Fruit juices. Lady + fingers. White bride cake. Scalloped clams. Iced souffle. Sugar + for crystal work. To restore the fragrance of oil of lemon. Family + bread. + + III. FRENCH INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION OF 1878.--Tobacco at the + Exhibition. Manufacture of snuff. The two processes of + fermentation. The grinding. The packing of the snuff. Manufacture + of chewing tobacco, etc. + New Cutting Apparatus for Reapers. 1 figure.--The Algerian + Court. 1 illustration.--The French Forest Pavilion. 1 + illustration. + + IV. CHEMISTRY AND METALLURGY.--A Reducing Agent.--Climbing + Salts.--Chloride of Lime.--Action of Watery Vapor.--The Active + Principles of Ergot.--Cadaveric Alkaloids. + Outlines of Chemistry. By HENRY M. MCINTIRE. + + V. ARCHITECTURE AND BUILDING.--A Cottage Costing $150. By S. B. REED, + Architect. Plans for cheap summer residence for family of four + persons. Dimensions, construction, and estimate for all materials + and labor, with 6 figures.--Buildings in Glass. Improved method of + constructing conservatories, 2 figures.--Buildings and + Earthquakes. On structures in an earthquake country. By JOHN PERRY + and W. E. AYRTON, Japan. Also a new Seismometer for the + measurement of earthquakes. + + VI. NATURAL HISTORY, GEOLOGY, ETC.--Colors of Birds and + Insects.--Microscopy. Minute and low forms of life. Poisonous + Caterpillar. Sphærosia Volvox. An Australian Polyzoon. + A Chinese Tornado. + + VII. MEDICINE AND HYGIENE.--Nervous Exhaustion. By GEORGE M. BEARD, + M.D. Symptoms continued. Mental depression with timidity; morbid + fear of special kinds; headaches; disturbances of the nerves and + organs of special sense; localized peripheral numbness and + hyperæsthesia; general and local chills and flashes of heat; local + spasms of the muscles. Suggestions and treatment. Electricity. + Application of cold; kind of food; exercise; medicines. + The Art of Preserving the Eyesight. V. From the French of Arthur + Chevalier. Presbyopy, or long sight. Symptoms. Causes. Artificial + light. Franklin's spectacles. Spectacles for artists. Hygiene for + long sight, and rules. Myopy, or short sight. Dilation of pupil, + and other symptoms of myopy. Glass not to be constantly used in + myopy. How to cure slight myopy. Choice of glasses. Colored + glasses for short sight. False or distant myopy, and glasses to be + used, 5 figures. + + VIII. MISCELLANEOUS.--The Repair of the Burned Models after the Patent + Office Fire of 1877. By GEORGE DUDLEY LAWSON. An interesting + description of the importance and difficulty of the work, and the + enterprise and care shown. Reconstructing complicated models from + miscellaneous fragments. + Verneuil, Winner of the Ascot Cup, 1 illustration. + +Price 10 cents. To be had at this office and of all newsdealers. + + * * * * * + + + + + =PROGRESS OF IRON MAKING.= + +The success of the Dank's puddling furnace fired with pulverized coal +seems to be no longer a matter of doubt in England. It is stated that +Messrs. Hopkins, Gilkes & Co., the well known iron makers of the North +of England, have succeeded in turning out from it from Cleveland pig +alone iron capable of bearing tests which Staffordshire iron has not yet +surpassed. The English iron manufacturers in their struggle with us are +wisely taking advantage of every improvement in their line to keep ahead +of us, and are likely to be successful unless our manufacturers arouse +from their fancied security. + +We are now underselling the English at home and abroad in many articles +of manufacture, because so much of our work is done by machinery, and is +consequently better and cheaper than can be produced by hand labor at +the lowest living rate of wages; but so soon as the English masters and +workmen shall fully appreciate this fact, the same machines run there +with cheaper labor will deprive us of our present advantages. + +Already we notice several instances in which the workmen, renouncing +their prejudices, have willingly consented to the substitution of +machine for hand work, and we doubt not that the success of these +innovations, conjoined with the pressure of the times, will ere long +create a complete revolution in the ideas of the British workmen, so +that instead of longer opposing they will demand the improved appliances +and facilities for work, converting them from rivals or opponents to +allies. Such a radical change is not necessarily far in the future, for +the logic of it has long been working in the brains of both masters and +men and may reasonably bear fruit at any time. We fear that when this +time arrives our makers of iron, especially, will wake up to the +consciousness that they have not kept up with the advance. + + * * * * * + + + + + =THE TELEPHONE AS A PROMOTER OF SCIENCE.= + +Every new thing, whether it be in the realm of mind or matter, has an +influence on whatever existed before, of a similar kind, to modify, +develop, and improve it, or to doom it to oblivion. Whatever is new +necessitates a better knowledge of the old, so that the world gains not +only by the acquirement of the new thing, but also by a better +understanding of things already known. + +A discovery, published, sets a thousand minds at work, and immediately +there is a host of experimentalists who, in their desire to make and try +the new thing for themselves, begin without a knowledge of the science +or art to which the discovery pertains, and inevitably fail. After +failure comes research, which to be of value must be extended. Every +investigator can recall the novelty that induced his first experiments, +and can recount his trials in his search for information. + +Among the inventions or discoveries that have induced extended +experiment, the telephone may, without doubt, be mentioned as the chief, +for no sooner was the first speaking telephone brought out than here and +there all over the country it was imitated. Persons who never had the +slightest knowledge of electrical science had a desire to see and test +the telephone. To do this first of all requires a degree of mechanical +skill. Acoustics must be understood, and a knowledge of the four +branches of electrical science is requisite, as the telephone involves +galvanism, magnetism, electrical resistance, induction, and many of the +nicer points which can be understood by investigation only, and this not +only in the direction indicated, but in the allied branches of physics +and also in chemistry. Familiarity with these things develops a +scientific taste that will not be easily satisfied. The characteristic +avidity with which the American people seize upon a novelty has been +wonderfully exemplified by the manner in which the telephone mania has +spread. In consequence of this science has received an impetus, and now +we have everywhere embryo electricians and experimentalists, where +before were only the unscientific. + + * * * * * + + + + + =LETTER FROM PROFESSOR HUGHES.= + +We print in another column a letter received from Mr. D. E. Hughes +concerning the distinction he finds between his microphone and Mr. +Edison's carbon telephone. Mr. Hughes is very confident that the two +inventions have nothing in common, and that they bear no resemblance to +each other in form, material, or principles. + +We would not question Mr. Hughes' sincerity in all this. No doubt he +honestly believes that the invention of Mr. Edison "represents no field +of discovery, and is restricted in its uses to telephony," whilst the +"microphone demonstrates and represents the whole field of nature." But +the fact of his believing this is only another proof that he utterly +fails to understand or appreciate the real scope and character of Mr. +Edison's work. + +To those familiar not only with Mr. Edison's telephone but with the long +line of experimental investigation that had to be gone through with +before he was able to control the excessive sensitiveness of the +elements of his original discovery, it is very clear that Mr. Hughes has +been working upon and over-estimating the importance of one phase, and +that a limited phase, of Mr. Edison's investigations. + +We propose shortly to review at length the evidence of Mr. Edison's +priority in the invention or discovery of all that the microphone +covers; this purely as a question of scientific interest. For the +personal elements of the controversy between Mr. Edison on the one side +and Messrs. Preece and Hughes on the other we care nothing. + + * * * * * + + + + + =THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN EXPORT EDITION.= + +The inquiry for American manufactured products and machinery abroad +seems to grow in volume and variety daily. And though, in comparison +with our capacity to produce, the foreign demand is yet small, its +possibilities are unlimited. To increase the demand the immediate +problem is to make known throughout the world in the most attractive +fashion possible the wide range of articles which America is prepared to +furnish, and which other nations have use for. As a medium for conveying +such intelligence the monthly export edition of the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN +is unequaled. The table of contents of the second issue, to be found in +another column, will give an idea of the wide range and permanent as +well as timely interest of the matter it circulates. It is a magazine of +valuable information that will be preserved and repeatedly read. The +handsomely illustrated advertising pages supplement the text, and make +it at once the freshest, fullest, and most attractive periodical of the +sort in the world. An examination of the index of advertisers will show +how widely its advantages for reaching foreign buyers have been +appreciated by leading American houses. In the advertising page XXV. +appears a list of some eight hundred foreign commercial places in which +the circulation of the paper is guaranteed, as evidence that it reaches +those for whom such publications are intended. + + * * * * * + + + + + =FOUNTAIN PENS.= + +For several days we have had in use in our office examples of the +Mackinnon Fountain Pen, and find it to be a very serviceable and +effective instrument. This is a handsome looking pen, with a hollow +handle, in which a supply of ink is carried, and the fluid flows from +the point in the act of writing. The necessity of an inkstand is thus +avoided. One of the difficulties heretofore with pens of this character +has been to insure a free and certain delivery of the ink, and also to +bring the instrument within the compass and weight of an ordinary pen. +The inventor seems to have admirably succeeded in the example before us. +The ink flows with certainty, and there is no scratching as with the +ordinary pen; it writes with facility on either smooth or rough paper; +writes even more smoothly than a lead pencil; may be carried in the +pocket; is always ready for use; there is no spilling or blotting of +ink. The construction is simple, durable, and the action effective. One +filling lasts a week or more, according to the extent of use. These are +some of the qualities that our use of the pen so far has seemed to +demonstrate; and which made us think that whoever supplies himself with +a Mackinnon Pen will possess a good thing. The sole agency is at No. 21 +Park Row, New York city. + + * * * * * + + + + + =THE SUN.= + + BY S. P. LANGLEY, ALLEGHENY OBSERVATORY, PA.* + +When, with a powerful telescope, we return to the study of the sun's +surface, we meet a formidable difficulty which our first simple means +did not present. This arises from the nearly constant tremors of our own +atmosphere, through which we have to look. It is not that the tremor +does not exist with the smaller instrument, but now our higher +magnifying power exaggerates it, causes everything to appear unsteady +and blurry, however good the glass, and makes the same kind of trouble +for the eye which we should experience if we tried to read very fine +print across the top of a hot stove, whence columns of tremulous air +were rising. There is no remedy for this, unless it is assiduous +watching and infinite patience, for in almost every day there will come +one or more brief intervals, lasting sometimes minutes, sometimes only +seconds, during which the air seems momentarily tranquil. We must be on +the watch for hours, to seize these favorable moments, and, piecing +together what we have seen in them, in the course of time we obtain such +knowledge of the more curious features of the solar surface as we now +possess. + +The eye aches after gazing for a minute steadily at the full moon, and +the sun's light is from 300,000 to 600,000 times brighter than full moon +light, while its heat is in still greater proportion. The object lens of +such a telescope as the equatorial at Allegheny is 13 inches in +diameter, and it is such light, and such heat, concentrated by it, that +we have to gaze on. The best contrivance so far found for diminishing +both, and without which our present acquaintance with the real +appearance and character of sunspots would not have been gained, depends +upon a curious property of light, discovered by a French physicist, +Malus, in the beginning of this century. Let A (Fig. 10) be a piece of +plane unsilvered glass, receiving the solar rays and reflecting them to +a second similar one, B, which itself reflects them again in the +direction C. Of course, since the glass is transparent, most of the rays +will pass through A, and not be reflected. Of those which reach B again +most will pass through, so that not a hundredth part of the original +beam reaches C. This then, is so far a gain; but of itself of little +use, since, such is the solar brilliancy, that even this small fraction +would, to an eye at C, appear blindingly bright. Now, if we rotate B +about the line joining it with A, keeping always the same reflecting +angle with it, it might naturally be supposed that the light would +merely be reflected in a new direction unchanged in quantity. + +But according to the curious discovery of Malus this is not what +happens. What does happen is that the second glass, after being given a +quarter turn (though always kept at the same angle), seems to lose its +power of reflection almost altogether. The light which comes from it now +is diminished enormously, and yet nothing is distorted or displaced; +everything is seen correctly if enough light remains to see it by at +all, and the ray is said to have been "polarized by reflection." It +would be out of place to enter here on the cause of the phenomenon; the +fact is certain, and is a very precious one, for the astronomer can now +diminish the sun's light till it is bearable by the weakest eye, without +any distortion of what he is looking at, and without disturbing the +natural tints by colored glasses. In practice, a third and sometimes a +fourth reflector, each of a wedge shaped, optically plane piece of +unsilvered glass, are thus introduced, and by a simple rotation of the +last one the light is graded at pleasure, so that with such an +instrument, called "the polarizing eyepiece" (Fig. A), I have often +watched the sun's magnified image for four or five hours together with +no more distress to the eye than in reading a newspaper. + +With this, in favorable moments, we see that the sun's surface away from +the spots, everywhere, is made up of hundreds of thousands of small, +intensely brilliant bodies, that seem to be floating in a gray medium, +which, though itself no doubt very bright, appears dark by comparison. +What these little things are is still uncertain; whatever they are, they +are the immediate principal source of the sun's light and heat. To get +an idea of their size we must resort to some more delicate means of +measurement than we used in the case of the watch. The filar micrometer +consists essentially of two excessively fine strands of cobwebs (or, +rather, of spider's cocoon), called technically "wires," stretched +parallel to each other and placed just at the focus of the telescope. +Suppose one of them to be fixed and the second to be movable (keeping +always parallel to the first) by means of a screw, having perhaps one +hundred threads to the inch, and a large drum shaped head divided into +one hundred equal parts, so that moving this head by one division +carries the second "wire" 1/10000 part of an inch nearer to the first. +Motions smaller than this can clearly be registered, but it will be +evident that everything here really depends upon the accuracy of the +screw. The guide screw of the best lathe is a coarse piece of work by +comparison with "micrometer" screws as now constructed (especially those +for making the "gratings" to be described later), for recent uses of +them demand perhaps the most accurate workmanship of anything in +mechanics--the maker of one which will pass some lately invented tests +is entitled at any rate to call himself "a workman." + +[Illustration: Fig. 11] + +Since the "wires" are stretched precisely in the focus, where the +principal image of the sun is formed, and move in it, they, and the +features of the surface, form one picture, as magnified by the eye lens, +so that they appear as if moving about on the sun itself. We can first +set them far enough apart, for instance, to take in the whole of a spot, +and then by bringing them together measure its apparent diameter, in ten +thousandths of an inch. Then, measuring the diameter of the whole sun, +we have evidently the proportion that one bears to the other, and hence +the means of easily calculating the real size. A powerful piece of +clockwork, attached to the equatorial, keeps it slowly rotating on its +axis, at the same angular rate as that with which the sun moves in the +sky, so that any spot or other object there will seem to stay fixed with +relation to the "wires," if we choose, all day long. The picture of +"wires," spots, and all, may be projected on a screen if desired; and +Fig. 11 shows the field of view, with the micrometer wires lying across +a "spot," so seen on the 6th of March, 1873. Part of a cambric needle +with the end of a fine thread is represented also as being projected on +the screen along with the "wires" to give a better idea of the delicacy +of the latter. + +Now we may measure, if we please, the size of one of those bright +objects, which have just been spoken of as being countable by hundreds +of thousands. These "little things" are then seen to be really of +considerable size, measuring from one to three seconds of arc, so that +(a second of arc here being over 400 miles) the average surface of each +individual of these myriads is found to be considerably larger than +Great Britain. Near the edge of the disk, under favorable circumstances, +they appear to rise up through the obscuring atmosphere, which darkens +the limb, and gathered here and there in groups of hundreds, to form the +white cloudlike patches (_faculæ_), which may sometimes be seen even +with a spy-glass--"something in the sun brighter than the sun itself," +to employ the expression by which Huyghens described them nearly two +hundred years ago. They are too minute and delicate objects to be +rendered at all in our engraving; but this is true also of much of the +detail to be seen at times in the spots themselves. The wood cuts make +no pretense to do more than give an outline of the more prominent +features, of which we are now about to speak. The wonderful beauty of +some of their details must be taken on trust, from the writer's +imperfect description of what no pencil has ever yet rendered and what +the photograph has not yet seized. + +[Illustration: Fig. A.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 10.] + +Bearing this in mind, let us now suppose that while using the polarizing +eyepiece on the part of the spot distinguished by the little circle, we +have one of those rare opportunities when we can, by the temporary +steadiness of our tremulous atmosphere, use the higher powers of the +telescope and magnify the little circle till it appears as in Fig. 12. +We have now nearly the same view as if we were brought close to the +surface of the sun, and suspended over this part of the spot. All the +faint outer shade, seen in the smaller views (the _penumbra_) is seen to +be made up of long white filaments, twisted into curious ropelike forms, +while the central part is like a great flame, ending in fiery spires. +Over these hang what look like clouds, such as we sometimes see in our +highest sky, but more transparent than the finest lace vail would be, +and having not the "fleecy" look of our clouds, but the appearance of +being filled with almost infinitely delicate threads of light. Perhaps +the best idea of what is so hard to describe, because so unlike anything +on earth, is got by supposing ourselves to look _through_ successive +vails of white lace, filled with flower-like patterns, at some great +body of white flame beyond, while between the spires of the flame and +separating it from the border are depths of shade passing into +blackness. With all this, there is something crystalline about the +appearance, which it is hard to render an idea of--frost-figures on a +window pane may help us as an image, though imperfect. In fact the +intense whiteness of everything is oddly suggestive of something very +cold, rather than very hot, as we know it really. I have had much the +same impression when looking into the open mouth of a puddling furnace +at the lumps of pure white iron, swimming half-melted in the grayer +fluid about them. Here, however, the temperature leaves nothing solid, +nothing liquid even; the iron and other metals of which we know these +spot-forms do in part at least consist are turned into vapor by the +inconceivable heat, and everything we are looking at consists probably +of clouds of such vapor; for it is fluctuating and changing from one +form into another while we look on. Forms as evanescent almost as those +of sunset clouds, and far more beautiful in everything but color, are +shifting before us, and here and there we see, or think we see, in the +sweep of their curves beyond, evidences of mighty whirlwinds (greater by +far than the largest terrestrial cyclone) at work. While we are looking, +and trying to make the most of every moment, our atmosphere grows +tremulous again, the shapes get confused, there is nothing left distinct +but such coarser features as our engraving shows, and the wonderful +sight is over. When we consider that this little portion of the spot we +have been looking at is larger than the North and South American +continents together, and that we could yet see its parts change from +minute to minute, it must be evident that the actual motion must have +been rapid almost beyond conception--a speed of from 20 to 50 miles a +_second_ being commonly observed and sometimes exceeded. (A cannon ball +moves less than ¼ of a mile per second.) I have seen a portion of the +photosphere, or bright general surface of the sun, drawn into a spot, +much as any floating thing would be drawn into a whirlpool, and then, +though it occupied by measurement over 3,000,000 miles in area, +completely break up and change so as to be unrecognizable in less than +twenty minutes. + +When we come to discuss the subject of the sun's heat, we shall find +that the temperature of a blast furnace or of the oxyhydrogen blowpipe +is low compared with that which obtains all over such a vast region, and +remembering this, it is evident that its disappearance is a cataclysm of +which the most tremendous volcanic outburst here gives no conception. We +cannot, by any terrestrial comparison, describe it, for we have no +comparison for it in human experience. If we try to picture such an +effect on the earth, we may say in another's words that these solar +whirlwinds are such as, "coming down upon us from the north, would in +thirty seconds after they had crossed the St. Lawrence be in the Gulf of +Mexico, carrying with them the whole surface of the continent in a mass, +not simply of ruin, but of glowing vapor, in which the vapors arising +from the dissolution of the materials composing the cities of Boston, +New York, and Chicago would be mixed in a single indistinguishable +cloud." + +These vast cavities then in the sun we call spots are not solid things, +and not properly to be compared even to masses of slag or scoria +swimming on a molten surface. They are rather rents in that bright cloud +surface of the sun which we call the photosphere, and through which we +look down to lower regions. Their shape may be very rudely likened to a +funnel with sides at first slowly sloping (the _penumbra_), and then +suddenly going down into the central darkness (the _umbra_). This +central darkness has itself gradations of shade, and cloud forms may be +seen there obscurely glowing with a reddish tinge far down its depths, +but we never see to any solid bottom, and the hypothesis of a habitable +sun far within the hot surface, suggested by Sir William Herschel, is +now utterly abandoned. We are able now to explain in part that +mysterious feature in the sun's rotation before insisted on, for if the +sun be not a solid or a liquid, but a mass of glowing vapor, it is +evidently possible that one part of it may turn faster than another. +_Why_ it so turns, we repeat, no one knows, but the fact that it does is +now seen to bear the strongest testimony to the probable gaseous form of +the sun throughout its mass--at any rate, to the gaseous or vaporous +nature of everything we see. We must not forget, however, that under +such enormous temperature and pressure as prevail there the conditions +may be--in fact, must be--very different from any familiar to us here, +so that when we speak of "clouds," and use like expressions, we are to +be understood as implying rather an analogy than an exact resemblance. + +[Illustration: Fig. 12] + +We must expect, with the great advances photography has lately made, to +know more of this part of our subject (which we may call solar +meteorology) at the next spot maximum than ever before, and by that time +it may be hoped that some of the wonderful forms described above so +imperfectly will have been caught for us by the camera. + +* For parts 1 and 2 see SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN for July 20 and July 27. + + * * * * * + +IN the notice in our issue for July 27 of a new screw cutting lathe made +by Messrs. Goodnow & Wightman, the address should have been 176 +Washington street instead of 128, and the diameter of the tail spindle, +which was given as 5/16, should have been 15/16 inch. + + * * * * * + +THE Olympia (Wyoming Territory) _Standard_ announces that a company has +been formed there to bring ice from a glacier. The deposit covers a +number of acres, is seventy or eighty feet deep, and is supposed to +contain a hundred thousand or more tons, some of which may have been +there as many years. The ice can be cut and sold at one and one half +cents a pound, and by the ship load at five dollars a ton. + + * * * * * + + + + + =MECHANICAL PUDDLING IN SWEDEN.= + +The accompanying engravings, which we take from _Iron_, give plan and +section of the puddling apparatus invented by Mr. Oestlund, as used at +the Finspong Ironworks. The gas generator, A, is of the common Swedish +type, as used for charcoal. The tube, _k_, conducts the gases into the +refining pot, _a_. This pot has a lining of refinery slag, which is +melted, as the apparatus revolves, to get it to adhere to the sides. The +revolution of the pot, _a_, on its axis, _d_, is effected by the action +of the beveled wheels, _b_ and _b'_, and the pulley, _c_, which takes +from an iron chain the power given off by a turbine. The spindle, _d_, +is supported in the bearings, _e_ and _e', c_ carrying a pair of +trunnions which form the axis of oscillation, and allow the apparatus to +rise or fall, the whole of this mechanism being supported on the plummer +blocks, _f f_. One of the trunnions, _e''_, is prolonged so as to form +the axis of the beveled wheel, _b_, and the pulley, _c_, the latter +sliding along the trunnion so as to put _b_ in or out of gear. The bush, +_e_ is tied by means of the stay, _g'_ to the upper end of the toothed +segment, _g_, the lower extremity of which is connected with the second +bush at the end of the spindle. By means of the pinion, _h_, revolving +on standards, _i i_, and the segmental rack, _g_, the pot can be raised +or lowered without interfering with the action of the beveled wheels. + +[Illustration: APPARATUS FOR MECHANICAL PUDDLING.] + +The gas from the generator is brought to the mouth of the pot by the +tubes, _k_ and _m_. The air necessary for the combustion of the gas is +brought in by a tube, _l_, branching from the air main, _l''_. The air +tube, _l_, passes into the gas tube and is continued concentrically +within the latter. The gas and air tubes both have joints at _m'_ and +_m''_. By means of the bar, _n_, which has a counterpoise to keep the +moving parts in position, the tubes can be brought from or toward the +mouth of the pot, so as to make it free of access to the workman. With a +key fitting on the stem, _n'_, the tubes can be turned in _m'_, so as to +give the currents of gas and air a more or less oblique direction. To +screen the workmen from the heat of the pot a disk of iron, _o_, lined +with fire clay on the side next the pot, is fitted to the end of the +tubes. + +[Illustration: APPARATUS FOR MECHANICAL PUDDLING.] + +Before running the metal into the pot, the latter must be heated, to +such a degree that the slag lining is pasty or semi-fluid at its +surface. Generally an hour and a half will be spent in heating with gas +to this point. There should be sufficient live coal in the pot when the +gas is first let in to keep up its combustion; should it be extinguished +by excess of air or gas, it must be relit. As soon as the pot begins to +get red hot the full heat can be put on. + +The gas generator is tended in the usual way with the ordinary +precautions. To keep ashes and dust out of the gas tube, lumps of +charcoal are heaped up to the height of the top of the flue. The wind +pressure for the generator was 33 to 41 millimeters of mercury, that of +the wind for the combustion of the gas (at Finspong the blast is not +heated) being only 16½ millimeters. The pressure of the gas in the tube +near the pot was 6.2 millimeters of mercury. The method of working, +viewed chemically, does not sensibly differ from puddling; although +giving as good, perhaps better, results at a much less cost. There are +three principal periods in the operation: 1. The period before boiling. +2. The boiling itself. 3. The end of the boiling, and the formation of +balls. When cast metal is poured into the pot a shovelful or two of +refinery slag is added. The temperature of the bath is thus brought +down; it thickens and boils, the pot revolving at the rate of 30 or 40 +revolutions a minute. The metal is worked with a rabble, either to cool +it or to get the slag to incorporate with it, as is done in puddling. +Note must be taken of the temperature of the melted metal and that of +the pot, at the moment of charging, the heat during working being +regulated accordingly by increasing or diminishing the inflow of air +and gas. When circumstances are favorable, boiling begins five minutes +after the metal is run into the pot, and it lasts about ten minutes. + +Boiling having begun, the batch swells, the iron forms, granulates, and +seems to cling to the rabble and the sides of the pot. The rotation of +the pot is continued, as well as the working, to separate out parts +which are not yet refined; but no more cold cinder is put in. While +boiling goes on the temperature is regulated so that the pig does not +cling to the side of the pot during a complete revolution, but so that +the particles next the side fall back into the bath when the side comes +uppermost in the revolution. The heat is raised a little when the iron +can be felt by the rabble to be completely refined, when shining lumps +make their appearance in the bath, and the iron begins to cling to the +walls. At the moment, therefore, that the temperature is brought to its +highest point, and the iron begins to agglutinate, the rotation of the +pot should be stopped, and either immediately, or after the delay of a +couple of minutes, it is removed. If the iron does not ball well, it is +not completely refined, and the pot may be started again. If the iron is +firm enough already, the isolated particles are exposed to the hottest +flame possible, the blast being carried to its maximum. The refining is +thus completely finished, and all the particles are agglomerated. The +mobility of the gas tube at _m''_ is of advantage in this operation. It +is sometimes useful to start the pot again to round up the puddled ball, +but it is best if this has been formed with the rabble. + +The iron from a charge of 75 kilos. of pig may be divided with advantage +into a couple of balls; a third may be made of the iron separated from +the walls of the pot. To get out the balls the pot is lowered, and the +workmen use tongs, pointed rabble, and hooked bar. If things have gone +well the balls ought to come out soft at a welding heat, filled with +cinder like puddled balls, but a little more resisting and solid under +the hammer. They are forged into bars, and these are at once passed to +the rolls. If nothing hinders the balling and shingling, these +operations will not consume more than fifteen minutes. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Photographic Engraving.= + +Scamoni's process is as follows: The original drawings are carefully +touched up, so that the whites are as pure and the blacks as intense as +possible, and then the negative is taken in the ordinary way, the plate +being backed in the camera with damp red blotting paper, to prevent +reflection from the camera or back of the plate. The negative is +developed in the ordinary manner, intensified by mercuric chloride, and +varnished. A positive picture is taken in the camera, the negative being +carefully screened from any light coming between it and the lens. This +is intensified by pyrogallic acid, and afterward washed with a pure +water to which a little ammonia has been added. It is then immersed in +mercuric chloride for half an hour, and again intensified with +pyrogallic acid. This is repeated several times. When the intensity of +the lines is considerable, the plate is well washed, treated with +potassium iodide, and finally with ammonia, the image successively +appearing yellow, green, brown, and then violet brown. The plate is then +thoroughly drained, and the image is treated successively with a +solution of platinic chloride, auric chloride, ferrous sulphate, and +finally by pyrogallic acid, which has the property of solidifying the +metallic deposits. The metallic relief thus obtained is dried over a +spirit lamp, and covered with an excessively thin varnish. This varnish, +which is evidently a special preparation, retains sufficient tackiness +to hold powdered graphite on its surface (the bronze powder now used may +be employed instead), which is dusted on in the usual manner. After +giving the plate a border of wax, it is placed in an electrotyping bath, +and a perfect facsimile in intaglio is obtained, from which prints may +be taken in a printing press. + + * * * * * + + + + + =A NEW DEEP SEA THERMOMETER.= + +Perhaps some of our readers may have seen a description of a form of +thermometer devised by MM. Negretti and Zambra for the purpose of +ascertaining the temperature of the ocean at great depths. This +consisted of a tube bent into the shape of a siphon, which when it had +reached the desired depth was made, by means of an ingenious +arrangement, to pour all the mercury found above a certain point near +the reservoir into the second arm of the siphon. This second arm, which, +like the other, was a capillary tube, carried a scale of divisions on +which might be read the temperature of the depths to which the +instrument had been lowered. This thermometer gave all the results that +might have been expected. The ship Challenger during its polar +expedition had on board a certain number of these instruments. The +report of Capt. G. S. Nares made to the English Admiralty describes all +the benefits that we may hope to reap from a serious study of the +temperature of the ocean at different depths, and not the least of these +are those that pertain to the fishery interest. Notwithstanding the good +results given by this instrument, its inventors have endeavored to +render it still more practical and more within the reach of all by +diminishing the cost of construction, and increasing its compactness. + +[Illustration: Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 NEW THERMOMETER FOR OBTAINING THE +TEMPERATURE OF THE OCEAN AT GREAT DEPTHS.] + +Fig. 1 represents the thermometer isolated from its case. It is an +ordinary thermometer furnished at A with a little device that M. +Negretti has already made use of in the construction of his larger +instrument, and which allows the liquid to run from the reservoir into +the capillary tube when the temperature rises, without letting it flow +back when it lowers, if moreover the precaution has been taken to +incline the tube slightly, reservoir upward. At B there is a bulge in +the tube in which a certain quantity of mercury may lodge; this bulge is +placed in such a way that the mercury resulting from the dilatation of +the reservoir may come to it and continue its ascension in the capillary +tube when the reservoir is down (the thermometer being vertical), but +cannot get out when the reservoir is upward. + +We should add that these thermometers are constructed so as to give the +variations of temperature within determined limits. + +The small reservoir, B, is indispensable to the well working of the +apparatus; for in seeking the temperature at a certain depth the +instrument may, on being drawn up, pass through warmer strata, and it is +necessary, therefore, to provide the reservoir with a means of diffusing +the small quantity of mercury resulting from this excess of temperature. +The tube has also a small bulge at its upper extremity at C. + +The thermometer is placed in a small wooden case having a double bottom +throughout its length. In this double bottom are placed a certain number +of lead balls that can run from one end of the case to the other, and of +sufficient weight to render the instrument buoyant in sea water. To use +the apparatus, one end of a cord is passed through a hole in the case +under the reservoir of the thermometer, and the other end is tied to the +sounding line at a certain distance from the lead (Fig. 2). While the +line is descending the thermometer will remain reservoir downward (Fig. +2); but when it is again drawn up the thermometer case will take the +position indicated in Fig. 3, and the column of mercury breaking at A +will fall into the capillary tube, the divisions of which, as will be +seen at Fig. 1, are reversed. + +As to the thermometer itself, it is important to protect it against the +pressure which becomes so considerable at great depths; to do this the +reservoir is surrounded by an envelope of thick glass about three +quarters full of mercury. The mercury serves to transmit the temperature +to the reservoir, and should the exterior envelope yield to the effects +of pressure, the reservoir proper would not be affected, the mercury not +exactly filling the annular part which surrounds it. + + * * * * * + + + + + =New Inventions.= + +George E. Palmer, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, has patented an improved +Ironing Board, on which the garments may be held in stretched state +while being smoothed with the irons, and readily adjusted thereon to any +required degree of tension by a simple attachment. + +William B. Rutherford and Joel T. Hawkins, of Rockdale, Texas, have +patented an improved Bale Tie, which is formed of the plate provided +with a longitudinal groove and cross ribs or loops, and having +projections or keys to adapt it to receive and hold the notched ends of +the bale band. + +An improvement in Composition Pavements has been patented by John C. +Russell, of Kensington, Eng. This invention relates to the treatment of +peat and spent tan for the manufacture of an improved product or +material suitable for paving roads and other places and for roofing, +etc. The most important steps in making the composition consist in +drying bruised or finely ground peat or spent tan, heating the same _in +vacuo_ to degree of 150° Fah., and adding sulphur and gas tar, gas +pitch, and stearine pitch in the proportions specified, then kneading +the mixture while heated and adding carbonate of lime and furnace slag. + +Louis Blanck, of New York city, has patented an improved Safety Brake or +attachment for locomotives and railroad cars, by which the entire train, +either by a collision with another train or by contact with any +obstruction, is first raised from the rails, and then moved in backward +direction for the distance of a few feet, so that all danger of accident +is avoided, and no other sensation than that of a slight rocking motion +exerted. The attachment is constructed so as to admit of being worked by +the engineer from the cab or the locomotive, or, if desired, from any +car of the train. + +An improved Evaporating Pan had been patented by Andrew D. Martin, of +Abbeville, La. This invention consists in a tapering sheet metal tank +having transverse partitions and longitudinal tapering flues that extend +through all of the partitions and terminate at the ends of the tank. + +Lloyd Arnold, of Galveston, Texas, has patented an improved Bale Tie, +which is formed of a block of iron, with a space or opening running +longitudinally through its breadth from one end nearly to the other, and +having the alternate edges of the two plates thus formed notched, the +notch of the lower plate being square and of a width equal to or a +little greater than the bale band, and the notch of the upper plate +being narrower at its bottom than the bale band, and with its sides +inclined and beveled to an edge, to adapt it to receive and hold the +bale band. + +An improved Tie for Letter Packages has been patented by John Mersellis, +of Knowersville, N. Y. The object of this invention is to provide a tie +by means of which letter packages may be quickly and securely fastened +or tied. It consists in a plate apertured to receive one end of the +string and also to receive the hook upon which the tie is hung when not +in use, and having a button and clasp spring for engaging the string in +the process of tying. + +Fred P. Hammond, of Aurora, Ill., has patented an improved Inking Pad, +which consists in a novel arrangement of layers of cloth or felt, +chamois skin, oiled silk, and printing roller composition, which enables +a clean impression of the stamp to be made. The pad retains the desired +rounded surface and proper degree of softness, and is easily manipulated +when necessary to replenish the supply of ink. + +William J. Clark and Thomas W. Roberts, of Coffeeville, Miss., have +patented an improved Trap for Catching Fish in streams, which will allow +the fish to be conveniently taken out without taking up the trap. + +John W. Cooper, of Salem, Ind., is the inventor of an improved Alcohol +Lamp for soldering and similar purposes; and it consists in a reservoir +pivoted in a supporting frame, and provided with two wick tubes, and an +extinguisher secured to a spring support, and capable of closing the +larger wick tube when it is in a vertical position. It has an +independent extinguisher for the smaller wick tube, and is provided with +a novel device for projecting the wick from the larger tube as it is +moved out of a vertical position. + +Benjamin Slater, of Attica, N. Y., has invented a simple and effective +device for Renovating Feathers by the combined action of steam and hot +air. It consists of a cylindrical receptacle, partly surrounded by a +steam jacket, and having a hot air box, a perforated bottom, a cover or +damper for the same, and an aperture in the top, to which is fitted a +perforated cover and a close cover. + +An improved Blind Fastening has been patented by George Runton and John +Runton, of Hoboken, N. J. This fastening is so constructed as to fasten +the blind or shutter automatically when swung open, and in such a way as +to prevent all rattling or shaking of the blind or shutter from the +action of the wind. + +David R. Nichols, of Alexandria Bay, N. Y., has patented an improved +Animal Trap, which is so constructed as to set itself after each animal +has been caught, and leave no trace of the trapped animal to frighten +away those that may come afterward. + +William A. Doherty, of Fall River, Mass., has patented an improved Loom +Shuttle Attachment, by which the weaving of bad cloth is prevented, and +in case any false shed is made by any irregularities in the warp, and +that part of the shed carried lower than usual, the attachment is +released and thrown over the spindle point, so as to render it +impossible to draw out the filling from the shuttle, and thus break it +and stop the loom. + +Jonas Bowman, of Somerset, O., has patented an improved Vehicle Spring, +which permits of dispensing with side bars, thus taking less space to +turn on, and by which the tilting and pitching motion usual with springs +as heretofore constructed is avoided. + +Hiram Unger, of Germantown, O., is the inventor of an improved Gate +Latch, which is so constructed that the gate cannot be opened +accidentally by being lifted or by rebounding of the catch or latch. + +Madison Calhoun, of Ocate, Ter. of New Mex., has patented an improved +Hame Fastening, which is not liable to become accidentally unfastened, +and is easily and quickly fastened and unfastened, even with cold or +gloved hands. + + * * * * * + +The Downer well at Corry, Pa., is now down over 1,300 feet, and an oil +bearing sand has been struck of about five feet thickness. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: "Communications.", in Gothic script.] + + + =Our Patent Law.= + +_To the Editor of the Scientific American_: + +While I cannot handle this subject with any master talent, nor afford to +devote the time which should be given to so important a subject before +expressing an opinion, yet I can less afford to keep quiet and allow +shrewd avarice to manipulate or titled ignorance to legislate my +property out of existence. "Property! There is no property in patents," +I often hear said. And how about the invention covered by a patent? Is +that property? A large majority of people may say no, and deny the +justice of a patent law. On the contrary, I, as an inventor, think an +invention is genuine property, and as such should be under the same +protection in common law as all other property, instead of requiring a +special law by which the people magnanimously grant me the privilege for +a short time of using what was never theirs, what they never knew of +until I brought it into existence. + +But what is real property, and by what title is it held? Mother earth, +from which we sprung, by which we exist, and to which we return, is, +without question, real estate. How is it obtained; how held? History +answers, By conquest, by subjugation. But these words, conquest and +subjugation, have a more significant meaning than the spoiling of one +people by another; they are the actual price of possession. He who, +toiling, subjugates the soil, is undoubted owner of its production, by +virtue of the highest blessing on record--"By the sweat of thy brow +shalt thou obtain bread." And this principle is so far acknowledged that +the laborer holds a lien on the product of his labor, even though the +property belongs to another. + +Mr. A has an unpromising piece of land on which he would like to raise +corn. He analyzes the soil, experiments upon it chemically, reads up on +the properties and components of corn, the effects of fertilizers and +acids upon the soil, and makes himself a fool and laughing-stock +generally among his neighbors because he steps out of the beaten track +by which they have succeeded in making the ground barren. He does not +have much success the first year, and is sympathizingly consoled with "I +told you so." But he perseveres and wins the reputation of being +"visionary" and "as stubborn as a mule." In the meantime he becomes more +familiar with his subject, sees more clearly the requirements of the +case, finds he must post himself more thoroughly in certain branches of +science in order to conduct his experiments, wrestles with this obstacle +and that, and finally discovers a fertilizer based on some natural law +of rotation, and produces a crop of corn never before equaled. Now his +neighbors come out with this very intelligent question, "How did you +happen to think of it?" And they further very condescendingly remark, +"That is a rousing crop; I guess I'll try the same thing myself. How did +you say you mixed the stuff?" This man is the true conqueror. He has +endured privation and scorn, fought obstacles, and in subduing them has +eliminated a new principle in agriculture that is an engine of power to +all generations. Shall his crops be his only reward? Shall they who +laughed him to scorn step into his reward without sharing the labor that +produced it? + +This is a simile for thousands of inventions, only that the inventor is +seldom situated to plant the corn on his own land and reap the harvest. +Then which of you will say that he has not a just lien on every man's +crop raised by his process for a per cent of the gains thereby? There is +a bill before Congress favoring a periodical taxation of patents under +the pretext of removing useless patents from the path of later +inventors. Let me show you how one inventor looks at that. My neighbor +has a vacant lot on which he is unable to build; but joined to mine it +would increase the value of my property vastly. Now can't you legislate +that old heap of rubbish into my possession somehow? Of course he is +waiting for the rise of property around him to sell his lot well; but +can't you make that appear unnatural, and that he is a dog in the +manger? It is also said that sharpers get control of old patents and lay +an embargo on legitimate business. I reply, first, no one could be +damaged by the owner of a patent unless he infringed that owner's right; +second, if he does infringe, it shows that said patent is valuable, +otherwise he need not infringe; and if valuable why should not he pay +for it? Mr. B, in the employ of Mr. C, watches the machine he uses, and +spends his leisure hours in working out an improvement, which he patents +and offers to C for sale; but as the invention is useless except as +attached to C's machine, he thinks B can't help himself, and adopts the +improvement without paying for it. When a few years have built up a +great industry, and C is rich from his spoils, B steps in with a few +friends at his back, incorporated especially to make C shell out. + +Of course this is bad and ought to be legislated against. If it were not +valuable C need not use it. It is not becoming to the Congress of a +great nation to spend its time in legislating worthless patents out of +existence. All such will die a natural death. And if there is sufficient +worth in any patent to claim your consideration, the inventor is +entitled to its price, whether he waits four years or fifteen for his +pay. + +I speak of myself, not as an individual, but as representing in this +letter a class, without whose achievements America, in her proud length +and breadth, could not to-day have been. For the last half of my past +life, over twenty years, I have been an inventor. Schooled in adversity, +accustomed to disappointment, sometimes successful, enjoying no +luxuries but the conquest of obstacles, and often forced to simple +pursuits to keep the pot boiling, yet I expect to spend the rest of my +life inventing, feeling strong in the school of experience, and hoping +for such prosperity as will enable me to work out some of the larger +problems in view. + +If those in power would really aid the inventor, let them increase his +facilities for information. Circulate the Patent Office _Gazette_ at one +dollar a year, a nominal subscription to insure _bona fide_ readers, and +pay the balance out of the Patent Office surplus now accumulated. This +both to educate and to save inventors from going over old ground, +bringing more talent up to the standard of to-day. Lessen rather than +increase Patent Office fees. Enable the Commissioner to give the +strictest possible examination on every application for a patent, that +when issued it shall bear a _bona fide_ value, by retaining the most +competent examiners at a salary adequate to keep them. Reduce the +cumbrous machinery of patent litigation to about this text, in two +headings: First, Is plaintiff the first inventor? Allow one month to +find that out. If not disproved in that time, allow it. Second, Does +defendant infringe? Allow one month to decide that. If not proven, +discharge the case, with cost to plaintiff. If proved, cost and damage +to be settled by defendant in thirty days. + +The ability of wealthy corporations to absorb with impunity the product +of all talent within their reach, and put off the day of reckoning until +plaintiff is swallowed in cost, is the greatest present discouragement +to inventors. Our patent law is now better than any amendment yet +proposed will leave it. If you must tinker over it, remember all laws +are for protection of the weak. The bulldog does not need law to take +the bone from the spaniel. Just in proportion as you damage the patent +law, you destroy the accomplishments and purpose of my life. Therefore I +have spoken; so could a thousand more. W. X. STEVENS. + East Brookfield, Mass. + + * * * * * + + + =The Edison Carbon Telephone and Hughes' Microphone.= + +_To the Editor of the Scientific American_: + +Mr. Edison finds a resemblance between his carbon telephone and my +microphone. + +I can find none whatever; the microphone in its numerous forms that I +have already made, and varied by many others since, is simply the +embodiment of a discovery I have made, in which I consider the +microphone as the first step to new and perhaps more wonderful +applications. + +I have proved that all bodies, solid, liquid, and gaseous, are in a +state of molecular agitation when under the influence of sonorous +vibrations; no matter if it is a piece of board, walls of a house, +street, fields or woods, sea or air, all are in this constant state of +vibration, which simply becomes more evident as the sonorous vibrations +are more powerful. This I have proved by the discovery that when two or +more electrical conducting bodies are placed in contact under very +slight constant pressure, resting on any body whatever, they will of +themselves transform a constant electrical current into an undulatory +current, representing in its exact form the vibrations of the matter on +which it reposes; it requires no complicated arrangement and no special +material, and to most experimenters the three simple iron nails that I +have described form the best and most sensitive microphone. But these +contact points would soon oxidize, so naturally I prefer some conducting +material which will not oxidize. + +Mr. Edison's carbon telephone represents the principle of the varying +pressure of a diaphragm or its equivalent on a button of carbon varying +the amount of electricity in accordance with this change of pressure; it +represents no field of discovery, and its uses are restricted to +telephony. + +The three nails I have spoken of will not only do all, and that far +better than Edison's carbon telephone in telephony, but has the power of +taking up sounds inaudible to human ears, and rendering them audible, in +fact a true microphone; besides it has the merit of demonstrating the +molecular action which is constantly occurring in all matter under the +influence of sonorous vibrations. + +Here we have certainly no resemblance in form, materials, or principles +to Mr. Edison's telephone. The carbon telephone represents a special +material in a special way to a special purpose. + +The microphone demonstrates and represents the whole field of nature; +the whole world of matter is suitable to act upon, and the whole of the +electrical conducting materials are suitable to its demonstrations. + +The one represents a patentable improvement; the other a discovery too +great and of too wide bearing for any one to be justified in holding it +by patent, and claiming as his own that which belongs to the world's +domain. + + London, July 2, 1878. D. E. HUGHES. + + * * * * * + + + + + =New Industrial Enterprises.= + +The increasing wealth of a nation, as well as the profitable and steady +employment of its capital and people, depends upon a continual increase +of the producing power. Whenever there are latent resources undeveloped +or opportunities for establishing the first foundation of an industry, +leading as it will to the originating of hundreds of auxiliary ones, an +unusual effort should be made to bring it into existence. If in the +power of individuals to accomplish, so much the better; if needing an +association with State or national influence, then this association +should be formed. It is incumbent upon individuals that they possess a +sufficient pride in the prosperity of the country to give every possible +attention and assistance to a careful practical demonstration of the +feasibility of all the new industrial enterprises which may be presented +with reasonable assurance of final success. + +Not in a great expenditure of money: influence is better than money, and +a potential interest in a new enterprise is often better than capital. +The industrial resources of the United States are by no means worked to +their full capacity. The people by no means make all they consume. The +finer articles of use, and requiring much labor and often the highest +skill, are imported from foreign nations. A premium of $10,000 offered +for an improved method in any known present process of production or +manufacture would be almost sure to be called for. + +While America exports $175,000,000 worth of raw cotton annually to be +worked up by other people, is it not possible to so increase the +manufacture in America as to keep the greater part of that raw material +and to export the cloth instead? Is it not practicable to establish +great numbers more of sugar estates in the same tropical climate? Is it +not practicable to lay the foundation of half a dozen beet sugar mills +in the country? To begin the weaving of linen goods, and to teach our +farmers that they may produce all the flax fiber as fast as required? To +start a ramie industry in a small way and teach the process to those who +will engage in it? + +Will not our silk men put a velvet industry into operation as a germ +from which a future industry may grow? And we might name a hundred other +lesser enterprises which have hardly name in this country, but every one +of which is needed and will add to the wealth of the people. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Replanting and Transplanting Teeth.= + +Dr. G. R. Thomas, of Detroit, in the current number of the _Dental +Cosmos_, states that this operation of "replanting" has become so common +with him, and the results so uniformly satisfactory, that he does not +hesitate to perform it on any tooth in the mouth, if the case demands +it; and he finds the cases that demand it, and the number that he +operates upon, continually multiplying. + +He makes it a point to examine the end of the roots of nearly all his +cases of abscessed teeth; and a record of more than 150 cases, with but +one loss (and that in the mouth of a man so timid that he utterly +refused to bear the pain which nearly always follows for a few minutes, +therefore necessitating re-extraction), convinces him that the operation +is not only practical, but decidedly beneficial to both patient and +operator. For one sitting is all that he has ever really found necessary +to the full and complete restoration of the case. + +In the present article, however, Dr. Thomas states that it is his object +not so much to speak of replanting as of transplanting, which he has +reason to believe is just as practical, so far as the mere re-attachment +is concerned, as is replanting. He details, in illustration, a case in +which he successfully performed the operation; inserting in the mouth of +a gentleman, who had lost a right superior cuspidate, a solid and +healthy tooth that he had removed from a lady's mouth four weeks +previously. He opened into canal and pulp chamber of the tooth, from the +apex of the root only; cut the end off one eighth of an inch (it being +that much too long), reduced the size somewhat in the center of the root +(it being a trifle larger than the root extracted), filled and placed it +in position. He states that the occlusion, shape, and color were +perfect, so much so that several dentists who saw the case were not able +to distinguish the transplanted tooth from the others. The two features +in the case that he calls particular attention to are: first, that +although the tooth had been in his office four weeks, there is to-day no +perceptible change in color; and second, that the re-attachment is as +perfect as though it had been transplanted or replanted the same day of +extraction. The operation was performed about three months ago. Dr. +Thomas knows of but two obstacles in the way of the perfect +practicability of "transplanting:" first, the difficulty of obtaining +the proper teeth at the proper time; and second, the possibility of +inoculation. The latter is the more formidable of the two, and, to +escape the ills that might follow, the greatest caution is necessary. +The first difficulty is more easily gotten over, for it is not necessary +that the tooth transplanted should correspond exactly in shape and size +to the one extracted; if it is too large, it may be carefully reduced; +or if too small, new osseous deposit will supply the deficiency. Neither +is it necessary, as we have seen, that the transplanted tooth should be +a freshly extracted one. + +As a demonstration of what modern dental surgery is capable of +performing Dr. Thomas' statements are very interesting; it is doubtful, +however, whether popular prejudice will allow this practice of +"transplanting" to become of much use. + + * * * * * + + + + + =American Institute Exhibition.= + +For forty-seven years the American Institute of New York has opened its +doors and invited American inventors and manufacturers to exhibit their +productions; and again this year it renews its invitation to all. To +such as wish to reach the capitalist and consumer, they must admit that +New York is the place. For details apply to the General Superintendent +by mail or otherwise. + + * * * * * + +On the 22d of June, cloud bursts occurred in the mountains northeast of +San Buenaventura, Cal., causing the Ventura river to pour down such a +volume of muddy water that the ocean was discolored for a distance of +six miles. + + * * * * * + + + + + =THE DISTILLATION OF COAL.= + +Bituminous coal, of which there are several varieties, is the best +suited for the production of coal gas. The Newcastle coal is principally +used in the manufacture of London gas. Scotch parrot coal produces a +superior gas, but the coke produced is of inferior quality. Boghead coal +is also used for gas making--in fact, every kind of coal, except +anthracite, may be used for this purpose. The bituminous shale produces +a very good gas, and it is used partly to supply the place of cannel or +parrot coal. As carbon and hydrogen, principally with oxygen, are the +elements from which gas is formed, most substances containing these +elements can be partially converted into gas. And gas has been made from +grease or kitchen waste, oil peat, rosin, and wood, besides coal. A ton +of Newcastle or caking coal yields about 9,000 cubic feet of gas, Scotch +coal about 11,000, English cannel about 10,000, and shale about 7,000, +with illuminating powers in the ratio of about 13, 25, 22, and 36 +respectively. The coal is put in retorts, _r_, commonly made of fire +clay and often of cast iron. These retorts are from 6 feet to 9 feet +long, and from 1 foot to 1 foot 8 inches in breadth. They are made like +the letter D, elliptical, cylindrical, or bean shaped. They are built +into an arched oven, and heated by furnaces, _f_, beneath. One, three, +five, seven, or more are built in the same oven. The mouthpieces are of +cast iron, and project outward from the oven, so as to allow ascension +pipes, _a p_, to be fixed, to convey the gas generated from the coal to +the hydraulic main, _h m_. After the coal has been introduced into the +retorts, their mouths are closed with lids luted round the edges with +clay, and kept tight by a screw. The retorts are kept at a bright red +heat. If the temperature be too low, less gas and more tar are produced, +less residue being left; while, should the temperature be too high, the +product is more volatile, more residue remaining. And should the gas +remain for any length of time in contact with the highly heated retort, +it is partially decomposed, carbon being deposited, thereby lessening +the illuminating power, and choking up the retort, and more carbon +disulphide is produced at a high temperature. The object is to maintain +a medium temperature, in order to obtain a better gas having the +greatest illuminating power. In about four or five hours the coal in the +retort will have given off all its gas. The mouth of the retort is +opened, and the coke is raked out into large iron vessels, and +extinguished by water. A fresh charge is immediately introduced by means +of a long scoop in the cherry-red retort, and the door luted to. The +ascension pipes, which convey the gas from the retorts, pass straight up +for a few feet, then turn round, forming an arch, then pass downward +into the hydraulic main, beneath the level of the liquid contained in +it, and bubble up through the liquid into the upper portion of the main. +On commencing the main is half filled with water, but after working some +time, this water is displaced by the fluid products of distillation. In +this way, the opening into each retort is closed, so that a charge can +be withdrawn and replaced without interfering with the action of the +other retorts and pipes. The liquid tar, ammoniacal water, and gas pass +from the end, _e_, of the hydraulic main, down through the pipe, P, and +the liquid falls down into the tar well, T W, while the crude gas goes +on into the chest, C, partially filled with the liquid, so that the +plates, _p p_, from the top dip into it to within a few inches of the +bottom. These dip plates are placed in the chest, so as to separate the +openings into each pair of condensing pipes, _c c_, so that the gas +passing into the chest finds no exit except up _c_{1}, and down +_c_{2}; and there being no dip plate between _c_{2} and _c_{3} it +passes up _c_{3}, and down _c_{4}, and as there is no dip plate to +prevent its progress, it passes up _c_{5}, and down _c_{6}, into the +lime or iron purifiers, L I. The condensers are kept cool by exposure to +the atmosphere, and are often cooled by a stream of water from a tank +above. The gas cools quickly, and liquids passing along with the gas in +a state of vapor are condensed and fall into the chest, and pass by an +overflow pipe into the tar well. The purifier is a cast iron vessel, L +I, containing a number of perforated shelves, _s_{1} _s_{1} _s_{1}, +on which slaked lime, to the depth of about 4 inches, or much greater +thickness of iron oxide and sawdust, is placed. The gas passes up +through the shelves, _s s s_, and down through the shelves, _s_{1} +_s_{1} _s_{1}, through the pipe, G, into the gas holder, and from +thence through the pipe, M, to the main pipe. The lime abstracts +carbonic anhydride, sulphureted hydrogen, cyanogen, naphthalin, and a +portion of the ammonia, but not carbon disulphide, which latter may be +absorbed by passing the gas through a solution of sodic hydrate and +plumbic oxide, mixed with sawdust. Gas containing CS{2}, on burning, +produces H{2}SO{4}, which injures books and furniture in rooms. +However, the quantity of CS{2} in gas is generally so minute as to be +practically uninjurious. By a proper regulation of the temperature +during distillation, the quantity produced is infinitesimal. When the +lime is saturated it is removed, and fresh supplied; but the iron, after +use, can be reconverted into oxide by exposure to the atmosphere, and +used repeatedly. When iron is used a separate lime purifier is necessary +to remove carbonic anhydride. The last traces of ammonia are removed +before passing to the gas holder, by passing the gas through dilute +sulphuric acid, or up through the interior of a tower having perforated +shelves covered with coke in small pieces, through which a constant +supply of fresh water percolates. This washing removes some of the more +condensable hydrocarbons, and lessens the illuminating power of the gas. +Before the gas passes from the condensers into the purifiers, it passes +through a kind of pump, termed an exhauster, driven by steam power. This +action relieves the retorts from the pressure of the gas passing through +the hydraulic main, etc. It diminishes the deposit of graphite in the +retorts, and lessens leakage in them, should there be any flaws. It also +has the beneficial effect of producing a gas of a higher illuminating +power, since the relief of pressure in the retorts produces a more +favorable condition of combustion. + +[Illustration: THE DISTILLATION OF COAL.] + +The following are some of the bodies produced in the manufacture of gas, +namely, acetylene, _g_, the carbonate, _s_, chloride, _s_, cyanide, _s_, +sulphide, _s_, and sulphate, _s_, of ammonium; aniline, _t_, anthracene, +_s_, benzine, _l_, carbonic oxide, _g_, carbonic anhydride, _g_, +carbonic disulphide, _l_, chrysene, _s_, cumene, _l_, cymene, _l_, +ethylene, _g_, hydrogen, _g_, leucoline, _l_, methyl-hydride, _g_, +naphthaline, _s_, nitrogen, _g_, paraffine, _s_, phenylic alcohol, _l_, +picoline, _l_, propene, _g_, quartene, _g_, sulphureted hydrogen, _g_, +toluene, _l_, water, _l_, xylene, _l_, etc. + +The most of the above solid and liquid substances, with the letters _s_ +and _l_ written after, are removed by cooling the gas in the condensers, +and the gaseous substances marked _g_, that are injurious in the +consumption of the gas, are removed by purification. The impurities in +the gas may consist of ammonic carbonate and sulphide, carbonic +anhydride and disulphide, nitrogen, oxygen, sulphureted hydrogen, and +water in the form of vapor; and acetylene, ethylene, and the vapors of +the acetylene, ethylene, and phenylene series of hydrocarbons are the +illuminating ingredients diluted with carbonic oxide, hydrogen, and +methyl-hydride. The approximate percentage composition of coal gas is: +H, 45.6; Me, 34.8; CO, 6.5; C{2}H{4}, 4; CO{2}, 3.6; N, 2.4; +C{4}H{8}, 2.3; SH{2}, 0.3, etc.--_Hugh Clements in English Mechanic._ + + * * * * * + + + + + =A Short History of Petroleum.= + +The _Lumberman's Gazette_ gives the following short history of +petroleum: The production of petroleum as an article of trade dates from +the 28th of August, 1859, when Colonel Drake, in a well 69½ feet +deep, "struck oil," and coined a phrase that will last as long as the +English language. From that beginning it has increased to an annual +production of 14,500,000 barrels of crude oil. The first export was in +1861, of 27,000 barrels, valued at $1,000,000, and the export of +petroleum in the year 1877 was, in round numbers, $62,000,000. The +annual product of petroleum to-day--crude and refined--is greater in +value than the entire production of iron, and is more than double that +of the anthracite coal of the State of Pennsylvania, and exceeds the +gold and silver product of the whole country. As an article of export it +is fourth, and contests closely for the third rank. Our leading exports +are relatively as follows: Cotton annually from $175,000,000 to +$227,000,000; flour from $69,000,000 to $130,000,000; pork and its +products (bacon, ham and lard) from $57,000,000 to $82,000,000; and +petroleum from $48,000,000 to $62,000,000. The total export of petroleum +from 1861 to and including 1877 (16 years) has been $442,698,968, custom +house valuation. From the best sources of information there are at this +time 10,000 oil wells, producing and drilling, which, at a cost of +$5,000 per well, would make an investment of $50,000,000 in this branch +of the business. Tankage now existing of a capacity of 6,000,000 barrels +cost $2,000,000, and $7,000,000 has been invested in about 2,000 miles +of pipe lines connected with the wells. The entire investment for the +existing oil production, including purchase money of territory, is +something over $100,000,000, which amount cannot be lessened much, if +any, for as wells cease to produce new ones have been constantly drilled +to take their place. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Minute Forms of Life.= + +The Rev. W. H. Dallinger lately delivered a lecture at the Royal +Institution, descriptive of the recent researches of Dr. Drysdale and +himself. The object of the lecture was mainly to explain the method of +research which had been employed. The first essays of the opticians to +produce "high powers" were, as might be expected, feeble. These powers +amplified, but did not analyze; hence it began to be questioned whether +"one could see more really with a high power than with a moderate one." +And this was true at the time. But it is not so now. The optician has +risen to the emergency, and provided us with powers of great magnifying +capacity which carry an equivalent capacity for analysis. They open up +structure in a wonderful way when rightly used. The lecturer began by +projecting upon the screen the magnified image of a wasp's sting--an +object about the 1-20th of an inch in natural size--and beside it was +placed a piece of the point of a cambric sewing needle of the same +length, magnified to the same extent. The details of the sting were very +delicate and refined, but the minute needle point became riven and torn +and blunt under the powerful analysis of the lens, showing what the +lecturer meant by "magnifying power;" not mere enlargement, but the +bringing out of details infinitely beyond us save through the well made +lens. This was further illustrated by means of the delicate structure of +the _Radiolaria_, and still further by means of a rarely delicate valve +of the diatom known as _N. rhomboides_. With a magnification of 600 +diameters no structure of any kind was visible; but by gradually using +1,200, 1,800, and 2,400 diameters, it was made manifest how the ultimate +structure of this organic atom displayed itself. + +But this power of analysis was carried still further by means of the +minutest known organic form, _Bacterium termo_. The lecturer had, in +connection with Dr. Drysdale, discovered that the movements of this +marvelously minute living thing were effected by means of a pair of fine +fibers or "flagella." These were so delicate as to be invisible to +everything but the most powerful and specially constructed lenses and +the most delicate retinas. But since this discovery, Dr. Koch, of +Germany, had actually photographed the flagella of much larger bacteria, +such as _Bacillus subtilis_, and expressed his conviction that the whole +group was flagellate. Mr. Dallinger determined then to try to measure +the diameter of this minute _flagellum_ of _B. termo_ that the real +power of magnification in our present lenses might be tested. This was a +most difficult task, but 200 measurements were made with four different +lenses, and the results were for the mean of the first 50 measurements +0·00000489208; for the second, 0·00000488673; for the third, +0·00000488024; for the fourth, 0·00000488200, giving a mean value for +the whole, expressed in vulgar fractions, of the 1/204700 of an inch as +the diameter of the flagellum of _B. termo_. + +With such power of analysis it was manifest that immense results might +be expected from a good use of the "highest powers." The proper method +of using them was next dwelt on, and then the apparatus was described, +by means of which a drop of fluid containing any organism that was being +studied might be prevented from evaporating while under the scrutiny of +the most powerful lenses, and for an indefinite length of time. The +importance of studying such organisms in this way--by continuous +observation--was then plainly shown, some of the peculiar inferences of +Dr. Bastian, as to the transmutation of bacteria into monads, and monads +into amoebæ, etc., being explained by discontinuity of observation. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Wages in England.= + +Consul General Badeau reports that during the past five years wages have +increased gradually about 10 per cent, while the cost of living has +increased about 25 per cent. Clothing is about 30 per cent higher, while +fuel has not risen in price. Agricultural laborers get from $2 to $3 per +week, including beer; building laborers and gardeners from $4.40 to +$5.10 per week; bricklayers, carpenters, masons, and engineers from +$6.80 to $11 per week; cabinetmakers, printers, and jewelers from $8 to +$12.30 per week, although the best marble masons and jewelers receive +$14.75. Bootmakers and tailors get from $4.86 to $7.65 per week, and +bakers from $4.65 to $7.25, with partial board. Women servants are paid +from $70 to $240 per annum. Railway porters and laborers on public works +get from $4.45 to $12 per week. Rents have risen some 30 per cent, and +are, for artisans in London, from $1.20 to $2.40 per week for one or two +rooms. + + * * * * * + + + + + =The Treatment of Cancer by Pressure.= + +M. Bouchut has recently introduced to the notice of the members of the +Académie des Sciences a cuirasse of vulcanized caoutchouc, which he has +used with success for the treatment of cancerous and other tumors of the +breast. In this country there has been much division of opinion upon the +utility of pressure in the treatment of cancer, some surgeons regarding +it as harmful, or but rarely useful, others attributing to it great +retardation of the rapidity of growth of the tumor, or even cure. The +surgeons of Middlesex Hospital studied it systematically some years ago, +and gave an unfavorable report. The theory of the plan is certainly +good: a neoplasia, like a healthy tissue, is dependent upon its blood +supply for vitality and growth, and complete anæmia causes the death of +a tumor, as it does of a patch of brain substance. It will be remembered +that Mr. Haward last year related at the Clinical Society a case in +point. He ligatured the left lingual artery for a recurrent epithelioma +of the tongue; the tumor sloughed away, and a fortnight before the +patient's death from blood poisoning the tongue was quite healed. In +just the same way ischæmia will impair the vitality and so lessen the +growth of a tumor. The difficulty is rather in the practical application +of this theory. The knowledge that we now possess of the mode of growth +of cancers gives us at least one important indication. If we have to +deal with a neoplasia that grows at the periphery by gradual +infiltration of the surrounding tissues, it is plain that, for pressure +to be useful, it must be applied around the tumor rather than over it, +where, by compressing and obstructing the capillaries, it would cause +overfullness of those at the circumference. It is the periphery of a +cancer that is its active part, and we must, therefore, produce ischæmia +around and not in the tumor. In the application of the treatment this +must be obtained by the careful adjustment of elastic pads or cotton +wool, and as the whole success of the plan depends upon the skill with +which this is done, too much attention cannot be given to it. We cannot +regard pressure as a substitute for removal of a cancer; but in the +frequent cases where this is impracticable it appears to be the best +substitute at present open to the surgeon. M. Bouchut's cuirasse would +seem to be an improvement upon the spring pads and other appliances in +use in this country.--_Lancet._ + + * * * * * + + + + + =NEW CUTTING AND BORING ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES.= + +Our engraving represents a useful little machine which is intended for +attachment to lathes. Although it is exceedingly simple it is capable of +performing a great variety of work. + +The machine is used in two ways, either by attachment to a rigid +support, as shown in Fig. 1, or by suspending it by a belt, so that it +is capable of universal motion, as shown in Fig. 2. + +The supporting frame, A, has three boxes for the spindle, B, and on the +shaft at one side of the middle box there are planing knives, C, on the +opposite side there is a balance wheel, and a pulley for receiving the +driving belt. The spindle, B, extends beyond the ends of the frame, A, +and has at each end a socket for receiving interchangeable cutting and +boring tools. One end of the spindle is externally threaded to receive a +face plate, to which may be attached a disk of wood for receiving +sandpaper for smoothing and polishing wood or metal. + +The frame, A, is held to its work by means of handles, A', and the +spindle is driven by a round belt that passes over a suspended pulley, +E, and also over the pulley on the lathe mandrel. + +The entire attachment is balanced by a weight, F, attached to a cord +that passes over a fixed pulley, F', to the pulley, E, to which it is +secured by a swivel hook that permits of turning the belt in any +direction. The belt is guided by small pulleys, H, so that the device +may be turned without running the belt from the pulley on the spindle. + +Guides, G, are attached to the frame, A, for guiding the material being +operated upon by the planing knives. The frame, A, may be supported by +attachment to an arm, I, at the lower end of the screw-acted follower, +J, which slides in a rigid support, K. The arm, I, has a notched disk +which is engaged by a spring detent which holds the frame at any desired +inclination. + +Among the kinds of work that may be done on this machine may be +mentioned shaping and edging, fluting and beading table legs, balusters, +etc.; dovetailing, boring, carving, paneling, shaping or friezing +mouldings, scroll or fret work, inlaying and engraving, blind stile +mortising and blind slat planing. By changing the inclination of the +spindle different varieties of mouldings may be produced by the same +cutter. + +The machine may be used as an emery grinder, and it may also be used for +drilling and shaping metals. For further information address Mathew +Rice, Augusta, Ga. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Decrease of the New York Rainfall.= + +In his report for 1876, Director Draper, of the New York Meteorological +Observatory in Central Park, showed that a careful examination of the +records in his office proved that there had been, in late years, a +change in the rainfall of New York and its vicinity, affecting seriously +its water supply. The decrease had been steady since 1869, previous to +which there had been an increase. In his report for 1877, Mr. Draper +discusses the question whether the change continues, or is likely to +continue, in the same direction, and comes to the conclusion that the +rainfall of New York will, most probably, continue to decrease by +fluctuations for several years to come; also, that the variations are +very nearly the same in the two portions of the year, the division date +being July 1. + + * * * * * + + + + + =NEW STEAM VALVE.= + +The improved valve shown partly in section in the engraving is designed +for removing the water of condensation from steam pipes, so that dry +steam may be furnished. + +[Illustration: SAUNDERS' STEAM VALVE.] + +In the engraving, the globe valve, A, is of the usual form, except that +the casing below the valve seat is enlarged, forming a pocket, B, which +communicates through an aperture at the bottom with a small valve, C. + +The steam, in passing through the valve, fills the pocket and there +deposits any water that may have condensed from the steam in its passage +through the steam pipe. The increased depth of the lower portion of the +valve prevents siphoning, which takes place in valves of the ordinary +form. The valve, C, is kept slightly open to discharge the water at the +moment it collects in the pocket; the water is thus prevented from +passing onward to the engine or other point of use. + +[Illustration: =CUTTING AND BORING ATTACHMENT FOR LATHES.=] + +This valve affords a ready means of supplying dry steam to sulphuric +acid chambers. We are informed that by its use a chamber in ordinary +working order will produce acid 3° to 5° Baumé stronger than can be +obtained with ordinary globe valves. Thirty steam pipes, arranged at +different points, are found to deliver into a chamber in the space of +five minutes from 4 to 16 ounces of condense water (according to the +circumstances of distance, temperature of the air, size of pipe, etc.). +These valves, being placed close to the chamber separating all the +condense water, deliver with certainty uniformly dry steam, without the +inconvenience of ordinary steam traps or other expensive appliances. + +This valve was patented through the Scientific American Patent Agency, +May 21, 1878. For further particulars address Mr. Joseph Saunders, 975 +Third avenue, Brooklyn, N. Y. + + * * * * * + + + + + =A Hint from the Mormons.= + +Ex-Governor Hendricks, in a recent industrial address, alluded to the +highly prosperous condition of the Mormons as existing previous to the +influx of the Gentiles into Utah, saying that "to the fact that they +produced all they consumed I attribute their wonderful prosperity." This +remark, associated with the prosperity of other communities in different +parts of the country, would suggest the query of "Why the principle +cannot be more largely applied to the whole nation?" Certainly the +resources of the whole country would indicate a much greater diversity +of production, and if there was the same regard for a uniform building +up of our industrial system there would seem to be need of but little +importation, certainly of goods which can be readily made, and which our +people need the labor to produce. + + * * * * * + + + + + =New Agricultural Inventions.= + +Joseph George, of Springfield, Greene Co., Mo., has patented an improved +form of Cultivator or Shovel Plow, designed to be convertible into +either a single, double, or triple shovel plow as occasion may require. +It consists in two detachable clamping plates, which hold the plow +beams, and their arrangement with respect to the said beams and the +handles of the plow, whereby a single bolt is made to secure the forward +ends of the handles and clamp the plates to hold the plow beams in +place. + +Russel O. Bean, of Macedonia, Miss., is the inventor of an improved Seed +Planter for planting cotton and other seeds, and for distributing +fertilizers. The details of the construction of this planter cannot be +explained without engravings. + +Rutus Sarlls and Alexander Kelman, of Navasota, Texas, have invented an +improved combined Planter, Cultivator, and Cotton Chopper, which may be +readily adjusted for use in planting seed, cultivating plants, and +chopping cotton to a stand, and is effective and reliable in operation +in either capacity. + +William H. Akens, of Penn Line, Pa., is the inventor of an improved +Dropper, for attachment to the finger bar of a reaper, to receive the +grain and deliver it in gavels at the side of the machine, so as to be +out of the way when making the next round. It is so constructed that +when attached to the finger bar of a mower it will convert it into a +harvester. + +James Goodheart, of Matawan, N. J., has devised an improved machine for +Distributing Poison upon potato plants to destroy the potato bug. It may +also be used for sowing seeds. + +William V. McConnell and Charles M. Dickerson, of Crockett, Texas, have +invented an improved Fruit Picker, having cup-shaped self-opening spring +jaws attached to its handle, and operated by a cord to close upon and +clamp the fruit. It also has a hollow extensible adjustable handle and a +fruit receiver. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Quick Work.= + +Two years ago a farmer-miller and his wife, at Carrolton, Mo., furnished +some invited guests with bread baked in eight and a quarter minutes from +the time the wheat was standing in the field. This year it was +determined to make still better time. Accordingly elaborate preparations +were made to reap, thrash, grind, and bake the grain with the least +possible loss of time. + +In 1 minute 15 seconds the wheat, about a peck, was cut and thrashed, +and put on the back of a swift horse to be carried to the mill, 16 rods +away. In 2 minutes 17 seconds the flour was delivered to Mrs. Lawton, +and in 3m. 55s. from the starting of the reaper the first griddle cake +was done. In 4 minutes 37 seconds from the starting of the reaper, a pan +of biscuits was delivered to the assembled guests. + +After that, according to the Carrolton _Democrat_, other pans of +delicious "one minute" biscuits were baked more at leisure, and eagerly +devoured, with the usual accompaniment of boiled ham and speech making. + + * * * * * + + + + + =THE RHINOCEROS HORNBILL.= + +[Illustration: =THE RHINOCEROS HORNBILL.=] + +There are many strange and wonderful forms among the feathered tribes; +but there are, perhaps, none which more astonish the beholder who sees +them for the first time than the group of birds known by the name of +hornbills. They are all distinguished by a very large beak, to which is +added a singular helmet-like appendage, equaling in size the beak itself +in some species, while in others it is so small as to attract but little +notice. On account of the enormous size of the beak and helmet, the bird +appears to be overweighted by the mass of horny substance which it has +to carry, but on closer investigation the whole structure is found to be +singularly light and yet very strong, the whole interior being composed +of numerous honeycombed cells with very thin walls and wide spaces, the +walls being so arranged as to give very great strength when the bill is +used for biting, and with a very slight expenditure of material. + +The greatest development of beak and helmet is found in the rhinoceros +hornbill, although there are many others which have these appendages of +great size. The beak varies greatly in proportion to the age of the +individual, the helmet being almost imperceptible when it is first +hatched, and the bill not very striking in dimensions. The beak gains in +size as the bird gains in strength. In the adult the helmet and beak +attain their full proportions. It is said that a wrinkle is added every +year to the number of the furrows found on the bill. The object of the +helmet is obscure, but the probability is that it may aid the bird in +producing the loud roaring cry for which it is so celebrated. The +hornbill is lively and active, leaping from bough to bough with great +lightness, and appearing not to be in the least incommoded by its huge +beak. Its flight is laborious, and when in the air the bird has a habit +of clattering its great mandibles together, which together with the +noise of the wings produces a weird sound. The food of the hornbill +seems to consist of both animal and vegetable matters. We take our +illustration from Wood's "Natural History." + + * * * * * + + + + + =Saw Tempering by Natural Gas.= + +Beaver Falls, Pa., contains several gas wells at an average depth of +eleven hundred feet, yielding about 100,000 cubic feet of gas every +twenty-four hours. This gas has been introduced into a large saw +tempering furnace at that place in the works of Emerson, Smith & Co. The +furnace is 8 feet wide by 14 feet long. It is said to be a perfect +success, giving a uniform heat, and there being no sulphur or impurity +in the gas the steel is not deteriorated in the operation of heating. + + * * * * * + + + + + =THE JAPANESE BUILDING AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION.= + +[Illustration: =THE JAPANESE BUILDING AT THE PARIS EXHIBITION.=] + +Japan, on the terrestrial globe, lies furthest away in that direction +beyond the Far West of America, and beyond the wide Pacific. The +Japanese structure has a simple and solid aspect, resembling the portal +of a half-fortified mansion, with massive timber frames at the sides; +but it is adorned with two handsome porcelain fountains, and each of +these is designed to represent the stump of a tree supporting a shell +into which the water is poured from a large flower. Before entering the +porch a large map of Japan and a plan of the city of Tokio are seen +displayed on the walls to right and left.--_Illustrated London News._ + + * * * * * + + + + + =Machinery for New York State Capitol Building.= + +The Buckeye Engine Company of this city have been awarded the contract +for a pair of condensing engines, cylinders 14 inches diameter, stroke +28 inches, for the State Capitol Building at Albany, New York. The +engines will be of the company's usual horizontal type with automatic +cut off, and will be elaborately finished. + + * * * * * + + + + + =The Explosiveness of Flour.= + +Professors Peck and Peckham, of the University of Minnesota, have been +making an extensive series of experiments to determine the cause of the +recent flour mill explosion at Minneapolis. The substances tested were +coarse and fine bran, material from stone grinding wheat; wheat dust, +from wheat dust house; middlings, general mill dust, dust from middlings +machines, dust from flour dust house (from stones), and flour. When +thrown in a body on a light, all these substances put the light out. +Blown by a bellows into the air surrounding a gas flame, the following +results were obtained: + +Coarse bran would not burn. Fine bran and flour dust burn quickly, with +considerable blaze. Middlings burn quicker, but with less flame. All the +other substances burn very quickly, very much like gunpowder. + +In all these cases there was a space around the flash where the dust was +not thick enough to ignite from particle to particle; hence it remained +in the air after the explosion. Flour dust, flour middlings, etc., when +mixed with air, thick enough to ignite from particle to particle, and +separated so that each particle is surrounded by air, will unite with +the oxygen in the air, producing a gas at high temperature, which +requires an additional space, hence the bursting. + +There is no gas which comes from flour or middlings that is an +explosive; it is the direct combination with the air that produces gas, +requiring additional space. Powerful electric sparks from the electric +machine and from the Leyden jar were passed through the air filled with +dust of the different kinds, but without an explosion in any case. A +platinum wire kept at a white heat by a galvanic battery would not +produce an explosion. The dust would collect upon it and char to black +coals, but would not blaze nor explode. + +A piece of glowing charcoal, kept hot by the bellows, would not produce +an explosion when surrounded by dust, but when fanned into a blaze the +explosion followed. A common kerosene lantern, when surrounded by dust +of all degrees of density, would not produce an explosion, but when the +dust was blown into the bottom, through the globe and out of the top, it +would ignite. To explode quickly the dust must be dry. Evidently when an +explosion has been started in a volume of dusty air, loose flour maybe +blown into the air and made a source of danger. + + * * * * * + + + + + =New Engineering Inventions.= + +Erskine H. Bronson, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, has patented an +improvement in Automatic Switches for Railways, which consists in an +arrangement of sliding cams for moving the switch rails, and in treadles +to be operated by the pilot wheels of the locomotive, and in +intermediate mechanism for connecting the treadles with the switch +operating cams, the object being to provide a switch will be operated +by the pilot wheels of the locomotive as it approaches the movable +switch rails. + +An improved Refrigerator Car has been patented by Michael Haughey, of St +Louis, Missouri. The object of this invention is to ventilate and cool +railway cars used in the transportation of perishable articles. This car +has a novel ventilator and ice box and is provided with a new form of +non-conducting walls. + + * * * * * + + + + + =CROOKED JOURNALISM.= + +In the English scientific journal _Engineering_, of June 21, 1878, +appears a six column article on "Edison's Carbon Telephone," illustrated +with ten engravings from Mr. Prescott's recent work on "The Speaking +Telephone, Talking Phonograph, and other novelties." The descriptions of +the cuts, and the rest of the information given, so far as correct, +obviously come from the same source. + +So far as correct: unhappily for the honor of scientific journalism, the +writer's desire is plainly not so much to do justice to truth as to +exalt Mr. Hughes at the expense of Mr. Edison. To this end he has +studiously suppressed from Mr. Prescott's description of the carbon +telephone the points which establish Mr. Edison's claim to the prior +invention or discovery of everything involved in Mr. Hughes' microphone, +while he has as studiously dwelt upon those same points as constituting +the peculiar merits of Mr. Hughes' work. + +For example, while he uses Fig. 21 of Mr. Prescott's book, he leaves out +the very important little diagram numbered 20. It represents one form of +the apparatus to which Sir William Thomson refers in the letter in which +he says: + +"It is certain that at the meeting of the British Association at +Plymouth last September, a method of magnifying sound in an electric +telephone was described as having been invented by Mr. Edison, which was +identical in principle and in some details with that brought forward by +Mr. Hughes." + +The figure looks altogether too much like one form of Mr. Hughes' +microphone to allow of its use in an article intended to establish the +novelty of Mr. Hughes' discovery. + +The omissions from the text are quite as significant. Under the first +cut used in _Engineering_, Mr. Prescott says: "In the latest form of +transmitter which Mr. Edison has introduced the vibrating diaphragm is +done away with altogether, it having been found that much better results +are obtained when a rigid plate of metal is substituted in its place.... +The inflexible plate, of course, merely serves, in consequence of its +comparatively large area, to concentrate a considerable portion of the +sonorous waves upon the small carbon disk or button; a much greater +degree of pressure for any given effort of the speaker is thus brought +to bear on the disk than could be obtained if only its small surface +alone were used." + +The _Engineering_ writer coolly suppresses this important statement. He +does worse: he puts in its place the false statement that "the essential +principle of Mr. Edison's transmitter consists in causing a diaphragm, +vibrating under the influence of sonorous vibrations, to vary the +pressure upon, and therefore the resistance of, a piece of carbon," and +so on. + +A little further on, while repeating Mr. Edison's account of the +experiments which led to the abandonment of the vibrating diaphragm +(page 226 of Mr. Prescott's book), the _Engineering_ writer drops out +the following remark by Mr. Edison: "I discovered that my principle, +unlike all other acoustical devices for the transmission of speech, did +not require any vibration of the diaphragm--that, in fact, the sound +waves could be transformed into electrical pulsations without the +movement of any intervening mechanism." + +Worse yet, in the very face of Mr. Edison's assertion to the +contrary--an assertion which he could not by any possibility have +overlooked--this most unscientific journalist says: "Mr. Edison finds it +necessary to insert a diaphragm in all forms of his apparatus, that +being the mechanical contrivance employed by which sonorous vibrations +are converted into variations of mechanical pressure, and by which +variations in the conductivity of the carbon or other material is +insured.... On the other hand, Mr. Hughes employs no diaphragm at all, +the sonorous vibrations in his apparatus acting directly upon the +conducting material or through whatever solid substance to which they +may be attached." + +In this way throughout the offending article, the writer persistently +robs Edison to magnify Hughes, giving credit to Mr. Hughes for exactly +what he has suppressed from Mr. Prescott's book. To insist as he does, +that, because Mr. Edison covers his carbon button with a rigid iron +plate, in his very practical telephone, therefore a vibrating diaphragm +is an essential feature of Mr. Edison's invention, is a very shallow +quibble in the face of Mr. Edison's and Mr. Prescott's statements that +the carbon button acts precisely the same in the absence of such +covering, though not so strongly. Mr. Edison's laboratory records show a +great variety of experiments in which the carbon was talked against +without "any intervening mechanism." In a telephone for popular use, +however, to be held in the hand, turned upside down, talked into, +exposed to dust and the weather, it was obviously necessary to use some +means for holding the carbon in place, and to prevent its sensitiveness +from being destroyed by dirt and the moisture of the breath when in use. +For this purpose a rigid iron partition seemed at once convenient and +durable. It is not in any sense a "vibrating diaphragm." + +With a persistence worthy of a better cause, the _Engineering_ writer +returns to the point he seems especially anxious to enforce. Toward the +end of the article he says: "In every instrument described by Mr. Edison +the diaphragm is the ruling genie of the instrument. Professor Hughes, +however, has through his great discovery been enabled to show that +variations of resistance can be imparted to an electrical current not +only without a diaphragm, but with very much better results when no such +accessory is employed." + +The animus of all this is only too apparent. Altogether the article is +the most dishonest piece of writing we have ever seen in a scientific +periodical; and although the article appears in the editorial columns of +_Engineering_, we prefer, for the honor of scientific journalism, to +think that the management of that paper was not party to the rascally +act. It is more credible that a gross imposition has been practiced by +some trusted member of the _Engineering_ staff, or by some contributor +whose position seemed to justify the acceptance of his utterances +without any attempt at their verification. It is well known here to +whom, in London, at Mr. Edison's request, Mr. Prescott sent proofs of +the matter abused, together with electros of the cuts used, in +_Engineering_. Accordingly the burden of dishonor lies upon or between a +prominent British official on the one hand, and on the other a journal +which cannot afford to leave the matter unexplained. Whoever is hurt, we +sincerely hope that the fair fame of scientific journalism for candor +and honesty may come off unstained. + + * * * * * + + + + + =A More Perfect Production.= + +The highest skill in manufacture or in production of any kind is not yet +the prevailing characteristic of American industry. Uniformity of +production, of whatever kind, is of much greater importance than to +attempt the manufacture of any grade for which the material or the +tools, the machinery or the knowledge of the workmen is not fitted. The +highest condition of product in any nation is to produce the finest or +highest cost articles in the most perfect manner, and to have material +and machinery adopted, and the skilled workmen, so as to be able to so +produce economically. But until the master hand is satisfied of all the +requisites for producing fine goods, he should confine production to the +best his facilities will make in the most perfect, uniform manner. + +Samples of fine goods are shown all over the country every day, and were +consumers or merchants sure that the product would be the same, there +would be much less difficulty in introducing and more homemade goods +used where now importations are depended upon. The Stevens crash mills +import raw flax because it is to be had according to sample, perfectly +classified, and saves the employment of skilled labor to assort and +classify, and of purchasing a great deal not wanted. The manufacturers +of edge tools and knives use imported steel because it is warranted and +the warrant proves good, while the uncertainty of American steel is such +that a knife will often crack in tempering and cause the loss of labor +worth ten times the difference in the price of the steel. Samples of +alpacas and other dress goods are shown in our jobbing houses fully +equal to any imported goods, but the goods when received are quite often +of various grades and imperfections of character. + +The imperfect or second quality productions find sale, but at a much +lower price, and are to be found at second rate places, the +imperfections slight and the goods perhaps generally quite as +serviceable, but not absolutely so, and first class houses, catering to +those who pay highest prices, cannot afford to have any other house +carry better articles than they do. The use of perfect appliances and +the best material and the employment of the highest skill are not yet +the first step and an absolute necessity, as it should be, in America. +The supply of such machinery, material, and labor can be had if those +who propose to enter the production of first class articles will insist +upon it, and if such supplies are appreciated by the payment of their +higher value. The American standard of production is not the highest, +and it can be materially elevated, and while, as at present, too many +common articles are supplied, the leading manufacturers should turn to +producing finer, the finest, and in smaller quantities, to take the +place of many articles now imported, and to supply the new market which +such productions will always create in any country. + + * * * * * + + + + + =The Wool Product of the World.= + +From an interesting article on the wool trade of the Pacific coast, +published in a recent number of the San Francisco _Journal of Commerce_, +we learn that the number of sheep in the world is now estimated at from +four hundred and eighty-four to six hundred millions, of which the +United States has about 36,000,000, and Great Britain the same number. +From 1801 to 1875 the wool clip of Great Britain and Ireland increased +from 94,000,000 to 325,000,000 pounds. That of France has increased +almost as rapidly, though the wool is finer, as a rule, and hence the +superiority of French cloths. Australia produces nearly as much wool as +the parent country--Great Britain. The United States product increased +from very little at the beginning of the century to about 200,000,000 +pounds at the present time. Of this California has produced about one +fourth, and the Pacific coast as a whole almost one third. If the ratio +of growth shown in the past prevails in the future, the day is not far +distant when the Pacific coast will produce at least one half the wool +produced in the United States, as not only California and Oregon, but +also Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and New Mexico are well adapted +to its production. The wool clip of Australia is about 284,000,000 +pounds; that of Buenos Ayres and the river Plata, 222,500,000 pounds; +other countries not previously given, 463,000,000 pounds. The total clip +of the world last year was about 1,497,500,000 pounds, worth +$150,000,000. This when scoured would yield about 852,000,000 pounds of +clean wool. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Street Main Joints.= + +At the annual meeting of the New England Association of Gas Engineers, +Mr. Thomas, of Williamsburg, made the following remarks on this subject: +"In my early experience with the Williamsburg Gaslight Company, with +which I became connected in the year 1854, I found pretty nearly all the +street mains that were laid were connected with cement joints. While +there is no doubt in my own mind that a joint can be made perfectly +tight with cement, I much prefer the lead joint. Another thing to be +taken into consideration to keep tight joints is that the mains should +be laid a sufficient depth under the surface to protect them from the +action of severe frosts. A great many of the mains were not more than 18 +inches or 2 feet below the surface of the streets, and at this depth in +our climate it is a matter of impossibility to keep joints tight, as the +action of the frost in winter will displace the mains and cause the +joints to leak. From the bad manner in which our mains were laid, and +the cement joints leaking so much, we could not afford to turn gas on +during the day. Had we done so we should not have had any to supply the +city at night, and we were thus compelled to shut off the gas just as +soon as there was any apology for daylight, and keep it shut off as late +as possible in the evening. + +"With the most careful working in this manner, for a period of nine or +twelve months, our losses from leakage amounted to about 52 to 55 per +cent of the gas manufactured. A great part of this loss was caused by +the cement joints leaking, and also a part due to the fact that the +mains were not at sufficient depth under the surface to protect them +from the action of the frost. As soon as we possibly could I went over +the whole of our mains (there was about 17 miles in all), stripping +them, cutting out the cement, and rejointing them with lead. In one +season we got the loss from leakage down to 20 per cent, and this with +the gas turned on during the 24 hours of the day. + +"One great objection to cement joints is the rigidity of them; in cases +where pipes have been disturbed by other excavations and settled, I +found in all cases that the mains were broken. In a leading main from +our old works, with cement joints, the main, a 10-inch one, was broken +entirely off and fractured lengthwise besides, by the upheaval of the +ground from frost. In some of the same mains that we had rejointed with +lead the mains were drawn apart, drawing the lead out, but with very +little loss of gas, as the gasket being driven in tight prevented any +great leakage. In cases of this kind the lead was easily driven back, +and the joint made perfectly tight again. I have never in our city put +in any street mains that I have not used lead in the joints, and in +laying mains we always make them gas tight with the gasket used. + +"At the present time we have over 90 miles of street mains laid, and +outside of our loss from street lamps (we get paid for three foot +burners and they average about 3¼ foot) our loss from leakage will not +exceed 6 per cent. We have suffered severe loss of gas from sewering in +our city. In some cases where there are railroad tracks in the streets, +the sewers have been run on both sides of the street, alongside and +parallel with our pipes; these excavations are much deeper than our +mains lie, and the earth is always filled in loosely and left to settle. + +"In cases of this kind, whole blocks of mains were dragged down, the +pipe broken, and the joints partially pulled apart; at the same time the +leakage from the joints was not so great, the gasket preventing the +leakage. In laying street mains, what you want particularly to attend +to, and especially in the East here, where you have colder weather than +we have (we have not seen much winter until we came on here), is to get +them down under the surface a sufficient depth to protect them from the +frost. With us the least depth is 2 feet 9 inches under the surface of +the street, and I am confident, could our mains remain in the ground as +we put them down, our loss from leakage by them would be very small +indeed. While, as I stated in the beginning, I have no doubt that a +cement joint can be made tight, I can see no benefit in using cement for +the purpose, as I consider lead far superior in accommodating itself to +any upheaval or settling of the earth where the mains are laid down." + + * * * * * + + + + + =Successful Shad Hatching.= + +Professor J. W. Milner, who has charge of the shad hatching operations +under the direction of the United States Fish Commissioner, Professor +Baird, is now engaged in the preparation of the report of the work for +the season just completed. Speaking of the work on the Atlantic +seaboard, and the distribution of young fish, the report says that at +the Salmon Creek Station, on Albemarle Sound, they obtained 12,730,000 +eggs, and turned out 3,000,000 young fish. At the Havre de Grace Station +12,230,000 eggs were obtained, and 9,575,000 young fish were turned out. +About 6,000,000 young shad have been distributed in the rivers emptying +into the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico during the season. The distribution +of shad during the past season has been carried on on a much larger +scale than in any previous year, and with great success. The restocking +of the rivers of the Atlantic is only the work of a few years. + + * * * * * + + + + + =New Use for Lemon Verbena.= + +The well known fragrant garden favorite, the sweet-scented or lemon +verbena (_Lippia citriodora_), seems to have other qualities to +recommend it than those of the fragrance for which it is usually +cultivated. The author of a recent work, entitled "Among the Spanish +People," describes it as being systematically gathered in Spain, where +it is regarded as a fine stomachic and cordial. It is used either in the +form of a cold decoction, sweetened, or five or six leaves are put into +a teacup, and hot tea poured upon them. The author says that the flavor +of the tea thus prepared "is simply delicious, and no one who has drunk +his Pekoe with it will ever again drink it without a sprig of lemon +verbena." And he further states that if this be used one need "never +suffer from flatulence, never be made nervous or old-maidish, never have +cholera, diarrhea, or loss of appetite." + + * * * * * + + + + + =A VELOCIPEDE FEAT EXTRAORDINARY.= + +Two intrepid velocipedists, M. le Baron Emanuel de Graffenried de +Burgenstein, aged twenty years and six months, and a member of the +Society of Velocipede Sport, of Paris, has accomplished, with M. A. +Laumaillé d'Angers, the greatest distance that has been made with a +velocipede in France. + +Leaving Paris on March 16, they returned on the 24th of April, after +having traveled a distance of more than three thousand miles. + +[Illustration: =A VELOCIPEDE FEAT EXTRAORDINARY.=] + +Their route extended through a part of the west, the middle, and the +south of France, Italy, and southern Switzerland. They traveled through +Orléans, Tours, Poitiers, Angoulême, Bordeaux, Montauban, Toulouse, +Montpellier, Marseilles, Toulon, Nice, Menton, San-Remo, Genoa, Turin, +Milan, the Simplon--where they barely escaped destruction by an +avalanche--Vevay, Berne, Lausanne, Geneva, Dijon, Troy, and Provins. The +longest distance that they accomplished in a single day, was between +Turin and Milan, a distance of 90 miles, which they made in 9½ hours. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Superior Excellence of American Goods.= + +The _Post_, of Birmingham, England, remarks with regard to American +competition, that "perhaps the most humiliating feature of the business +for British manufacturers is the fact that their competitors are +prevailing, not through the cheapness, but through the excellence of +their goods. Time was when English workmanship ranked second to none, +and the names of our great manufacturing firms were a guarantee for the +sterling quality of the goods they turned out; but competitions, trades +unions, piece work, short hours, and other incidents of the 'march of +progress' have altered all that. Complaints, received by hardware +merchants from their customers abroad, are not confined to the goods of +second class firms. Manufacturers who have obtained a world-wide +reputation for their products are frequently convicted of sending out +scamped and unfinished work, and they do not venture to deny the +impeachment, pleading only that the most vigilant must be sometimes at +fault, and that their men, unfortunately, are not to be depended upon. +In other cases it is the merchants or their customers who are to blame +for the inferior quality of the articles by cutting prices so low as to +preclude the possibility of honest work, thinking, probably, that +anything is good enough for a foreign or colonial market. But whatever +the cause, the fact is now undeniable, that a great deal of the +manufactured produce shipped from this country of late years has been of +a very low standard, and that the American manufacturers have +consequently had an easy task in beating it." + + * * * * * + + + + + =Petroleum Oils as Lubricators.= + +Oils from petroleum are now produced suitable for nearly every +mechanical process for which animal oils have heretofore been used, not +excepting those intended for cylinder purposes. A serious objection +attaching to the animal oils is present in petroleum. If, through the +exhaust steam, some of the oil be carried into the boiler, foaming or +priming is the consequence, but the same thing happening in the case of +petroleum is rather a benefit than otherwise, for it not only does not +cause foaming, but it prevents incrustation or adhesion of the scale or +deposit, and this aids in the preservation of the boiler, and is perhaps +the best preventive of the many everywhere suggested. + +Often, in removing the cylinder head and the plate covering the valves +of an engine, we see evidences of corrosion or action on the surfaces, +differing entirely from ordinary wear, and the engineer is generally at +a loss how to account for it. According to the general impression grease +or animal oil is the preservative of the metal, and is the last thing +suspected of being the cause of its general disintegration. The reason +of this is that vegetable and animal oils consist of fatty acids, such +as stearic, magaric, oleic, etc. They are combined with glycerin as a +base, and, under ordinary conditions, are neutrals to metals generally, +and on being applied they keep them from rusting by shielding them from +the action of air and moisture. But in the course of time the influence +of the air causes decomposition and oxidation, the oils become rancid, +as it is called, which is acid, and they act on the metals. What happens +at the ordinary temperature slowly goes on rapidly in the steam +cylinder, where a new condition is reached. The oils are subjected to +the heat of high pressure steam, which dissociates or frees these acids +from their base, and in this condition they attack the metal and hence +destroy it. + +This applies as well to vegetable as to oils of animal origin, fish or +sperm oil included. Petroleum and oils derived therefrom (generally +called mineral oils) are entirely free from this objection. Petroleum +contains no oxygen, and hence it cannot form an acid, and therefore +cannot attack metal. It is entirely neutral, and so bland that it may be +and is used medicinally as a dressing to wounds and badly abraded +surfaces where cerates of ordinary dressing would give pain.--_Coal +Trade Journal._ + + * * * * * + + + + + =Influence of Light on Plants and Animals.= + +Professor Paul Bert, who has recently devoted a great deal of attention +to the study of the influence of light on animals and plants, denies +that the leaves of the sensitive plant close on the approach of evening, +the same as if they had been touched by the hand. On the contrary, he +finds that from 9 in the evening, after drooping, they expand again and +attain the maximum of rigidity at 2 in the morning. What is commonly +called the "sensitiveness" of plants is but the external manifestations +of the influences of light. Professor Bert placed plants in lanterns of +different colored glass; those under the influence of green glass +drooped in the course of a few days as completely as if placed in utter +darkness, proving that green rays are useless, and equal to none at all. +In a few weeks all plants without exception thus treated died. It has +been proved by the experiments of Zimiriareff that the reducing power of +the green matter of plants is proportionate to the quantity of red rays +absorbed, and Bert shows that green glass precisely intercepts these +colored rays, and that plants exist more or less healthily in blue and +violet rays. In the animal world phenomena of a directly opposite nature +are found, and of a more complex character. Here the light acts on the +skin and the movements of the body, either directly or through the +visual organs. M. Pouchet has shown the changes in color that certain +animals undergo, according to the medium in which they live. For +instance, young turbots resting on white sand assume an ashy tint, but +when resting on a black bottom become brown; when deprived of its eyes +the fish exhibits no change of color in its skin; the phenomenon, +therefore, seems to be nervous or optical. Professor Bert placed a piece +of paper with a cut design on the back of a sleeping chameleon; on +bringing a lamp near the animal the skin gradually became brown, and on +removing the paper a well defined image of the pattern appeared. In this +case the light acted directly, and without nervous intervention. If, +however, the eye of the chameleon be extracted, the corresponding side +of the animal becomes insensible to the influence of the light. + +Professor Bert's conclusion, therefore, is that the circulation in the +transparent layers of the skin must be affected by light. According to +Dr. Bouchard a sunstroke is the effect of the direct action of light +upon the skin, produced by the blue and violet rays. The heat producing +rays have no part in such accidents, as proved by the fact that workmen +exposed to intense heats do not feel their fatal effect. Professor Bert, +in a series of experiments on a variety of animals, found that none +avoided light, but all rather sought it; and the lowest forms, like the +highest, absorbed the same rays. As regards intensity of color, however, +there was a difference, some being more partial to one ray than another. +Thus the microscopic daphne of the pond preferred yellow; violet was +less in request; spiders seemed to enjoy blue rather than red rays--so +resembling people suffering from color blindness. No two persons are +sensible to the same shades or tones, while absorbing the same light; +and this would seem to indicate that the retina possesses a selective +power. + + * * * * * + + + + + =New Mechanical Inventions.= + +An improved Weighing Scale has been patented by Hosea Willard, of +Vergennes, Vt. The object of this invention is to economize time in +ascertaining the weight of an article by avoiding the necessity for +shifting the poise on the scale beam. It consists in providing a scale +beam with a number of dishes suspended from different points on said +beam, and representing or corresponding with different weights, so that +the weight of an article may be ascertained by placing it in one or more +of said dishes and observing which dish is depressed. + +William John, of Rigdon, Ind., has patented an improved Tire Setting and +Cooling Apparatus, by which the tire may be set by one person, easily +and quickly, without burning the fellies, and without straining the +wheel by the unequal cooling of the tire. + +Joseph A. Mumford, of Avondale, Nova Scotia, Canada, has patented an +improved machine for Sawing and Jointing Shingles. This machine cannot +be properly described without engravings. It has an ingenious feeding +device, and its flywheel carries the jointing knives. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Ill-balanced Production.= + +The Philadelphia _Record_ sensibly remarks that the popular complaint of +over-production is a mistake. Though of a few things we make or mine too +much, our main trouble arises from not producing enough, in variety if +not in quantity. + +"The wants of mankind never can be satisfied. Every new means of +supplying a want creates new wants. They grow by what they feed on. As +long as humanity is so constituted, over-production, in a general and +enlarged sense, is impossible. It is this impossible thing with which +the reformers would deal who propose to work fewer hours each day, or +fewer hours in the week. The trouble they deplore does not exist; the +remedy they propose defeats itself. A man cannot get rid of his load by +shifting it from his right hand to his left hand. Production will not be +stopped by making men their own employers certain hours in the day or +certain days in the week, instead of allowing them to pursue their usual +avocations. + +"The real trouble, which the labor reformers seem incompetent to fathom, +is that there is not enough diversity in employments. What is desired is +more work in productive enterprises, a more diffused industry, and a +closer commercial connection with those countries wherein we can make +desirable exchanges both of our raw material and our manufactured +products. Every miner that drops his pick and takes up a hoe, every idle +man that turns himself into an earner of wages, every person that picks +up some loose thread of employment, every capitalist that takes +advantage of stagnating industry and cheap material to build a house or +beautify or improve a country seat, or set on foot some new process of +manufacture, does something toward working out the problem which is +puzzling the economists. In good time the surplus iron and coal will be +sold; new populations will want new railroads; recuperated capital will +gather confidence and take hold of new enterprises, and the whole nation +will move forward again to more assured prosperity and to vaster +undertakings." + + * * * * * + + + + + =Labor in Germany.= + +The consul at Barmen reports that for agricultural labor the pay varies +greatly, according to the proximity to or remoteness from manufacturing +centers; and ranges from fifty-six cents a day in the neighborhood of +Barmen to thirty-one cents a day in the lower Rhine valley, and as low +as eighteen cents in parts of Silesia. At Barmen, Crefeld and +Düsseldorf, carpenters, coppersmiths, plumbers, machinists and +wagonsmiths earn fifty-one to seventy-five cents daily; saddlers and +shoemakers forty-seven to fifty-two cents daily; bakers and brewers, +with board and lodging, from $1.42 to $2.14 weekly, and without board +from sixty cents a day to $4.28 a week; farm hands are paid from $107 to +$215 yearly, with maintenance; railroad laborers from fifty-six to +eighty-three cents per day, and as high as ninety-five cents daily for +piece work on tunnels; silk weavers can earn $2.15 to $2.85 a week per +loom; factory women $2.15, and children $1 a week. Business and wages +are very low. In good times wages are eighty per cent higher. The cost +of the necessaries of life has increased some fifty per cent in thirteen +years, although it is now but little higher than five years ago. A man +and wife with two or three children can live in two or three rooms in a +poor and comfortless manner for $275 a year, and to support such an +establishment all the members have to work ten or twelve hours daily. +For a family of six persons the cost is about $7 per week--an amount but +few families can earn, as the depression of trade and the reduction of +time allow few to do a full week's work, although wages are nominally a +trifle higher than five years ago. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Petroleum June Review.= + + + DRILLING WELL ACCOUNT. + +The low price of oil and large accumulation of stock in the producing +regions have had the effect to lessen operations in this department +during the month of June. + +The total number of drilling wells in all the districts, at the close of +the month, was 266, which was 110 less than in the preceding month. Rigs +erected and being erected 243, against 309 last month. The number of +drilling wells completed during the month was 269, being 151 less than +in May. Aggregate production of the new wells was 3,788 barrels, against +6,851 barrels in May. The total number of dry holes developed in the +month was 22, against 42 in May. + +The operators in the great northern field (Bradford district) have +curtailed operations to an extent which will compare favorably with the +operators in the other portions of the producing regions, as will be +seen by the following statement, namely: + +Number of wells drilling at the close of the month, 187, against 284 at +the close of the previous month. Number of drilling wells completed in +June, 193, against 346 in May. Number of rigs erected and being erected, +196, against 234 in May. + + + PRODUCTION. + +The daily average production for the month was 40,575 barrels, being a +decrease of 227 barrels. The new wells completed in June failed to make +good the falling off of the old ones, by decreasing the daily average +227 barrels. Bradford district shows a daily average production of +16,000 barrels, being an increase of 1,280 barrels over last month. + +The aggregate production in June of all the other districts combined, +with the aid of 76 new wells, decreased the daily average 1,507 barrels. + + + SHIPMENTS. + +The shipments in June, out of the producing regions, were 174,225 +barrels larger than in the preceding month. The total shipments of +crude, and refined reduced to crude equivalent, by railroad, river and +pipes to the following points, were 1,135,119 barrels: + + New York took 555,794 bbls. + Pittsburg " 153,182 " + Cleveland " 239,389 " + Philadelphia " 73,426 " + Boston " 29,266 " + Baltimore " 26,623 " + Richmond " 7,000 " + Ohio River refiners took 5,200 " + Other local points took 45,239 " + --------- + Total shipments 1,135,119 " + +Included in the above shipments there were 140,299 barrels of refined +from Titusville and Oil City, which is equal to 187,065 barrels of +crude.--_Stowell's Petroleum Reporter._ + + * * * * * + + + + + =Remarkable Poisoning of a Lake.= + +A contributor to _Nature_ describes the remarkable poisoning of Lake +Alexandrina--one of the bodies of water which form the estuary of the +Murray river, Australia. This year the water of the river has been +unusually warm and low, and the inflow to the lakes very slight. The +consequence has been an excessive growth of a conferva which is +indigenous to these lakes and confined to them. This alga, _Nodularia +spumigera_, is very light and floats on the water, except during +breezes, when it becomes diffused, and being driven to the lee shores, +forms a thick scum like green oil paint. + +This scum, which is from two to six inches thick, and of a pasty +consistency, being swallowed by cattle when drinking, acts poisonously +and rapidly causes death. The symptoms of the poisoning are stupor and +unconsciousness, falling and remaining quiet (as if asleep), unless +touched, when convulsions are induced, the head and neck being drawn +back by a rigid spasm, subsiding before death. The poison causes the +death of sheep in from one to six or eight hours; of horses, in from +eight to twenty-four hours; of dogs, in from four to five hours; and of +pigs in three or four hours. A _post mortem_ shows the plant is rapidly +absorbed into the circulation, where it must act as a ferment, and +causes disorganization. As the cattle will not touch the puddle where +the plant scum has collected and become putrid, all they take is quite +fresh, and the poisoning is therefore not due to drinking a putrescent +fluid full of bacteria, as was suggested. + +When the scum collects and dries on the banks it forms a green crust. +When, however, it is left in wet pools it rapidly decomposes, emitting a +most horrible stench, like putrid urine; but previous to reaching this +stage it gives out a smell like that of very rancid butter. + +A blue pigment exudes from this decomposing matter, having some +remarkable properties. It is remarkably fluorescent, being red by +reflected and blue by transmitted light; it appears to be a product of +the decomposition, and allied to the coloring matter found in some +lichens. + + * * * * * + + + + + =ASTRONOMICAL NOTES.= + + BY BERLIN H. WRIGHT. + + PENN YAN, N. Y., Saturday, August 10, 1878. + +The following calculations are adapted to the latitude of New York city, +and are expressed in true or clock time, being for the date given in the +caption when not otherwise stated. + + PLANETS. + + H.M. H.M. + Mercury sets 8 03 eve. | Saturn Rises 8 89 eve. + Venus rises 2 42 mo. | Saturn in meridian 2 58 mo. + Jupiter in meridian 10 52 eve. | Neptune rises 10 27 eve. + + FIRST MAGNITUDE STARS + + H.M. H.M. + Alpheratz rises 6 54 eve. | Regulus sets 7 29 eve. + Algol (var.) rises 8 34 eve. | Spica sets 9 24 eve. + 7 stars (Pleiades) rise 10 53 eve. | Arcturus sets 0 08 mo. + Aldebaran rises 0 17 mo. | Antares sets 11 24 eve. + Capella rises 9 40 eve. | Vega in meridian 9 15 eve. + Rigel Rises 2 23 mo. | Altair in meridian 10 27 eve. + Betelgeuse rises 2 08 mo. | Deneb in meridian 11 19 eve. + Sirius rises 4 24 mo. | Fomalhaut rises 9 34 eve. + Procyon rises 3 59 mo. | + + REMARKS + +Mercury is brightest this date, and furthest from the sun August 13. +Venus will be at her descending node August 17. Jupiter will be near the +moon August 17, 4h. 20m. morning, being the moon's apparent diameter +north; this will be an occultation south of the equator. Saturn will be +near the moon August 16, being about 7° south. + +There will be a partial eclipse of the moon August 16, in the evening. +The moon will rise more or less eclipsed east of Kansas, west of which +no eclipse will be visible. + + Middle. End. + H.M. H.M. + Boston 7 24 eve. 8 50 eve. + New York 7 12 eve. 8 38 eve. + Washington 7 00 eve. 8 26 eve. + Charleston 6 48 eve. 8 14 eve. + Chicago --------- 7 44 eve. + St. Louis --------- 7 33 eve. + New Orleans --------- 7 34 eve. + +The following shows the appearance of the moon when the eclipse is +greatest--7·1 digits, or 0·596 of the moon's diameter. + +[Illustration] + +The size of the eclipse will be the same for all places. The time of +middle and end for any other places may be obtained by applying the +difference of longitude from Washington, converted into time, to the +Washington time of middle and end, adding if east of Washington, and +subtracting if west. + + * * * * * + + + + + =An Interesting Astronomical Observation.= + +_To the Editor of the Scientific American:_ + +While viewing the planet Jupiter, at about 5 minutes past 10 o'clock +P.M., a very strange sight presented itself to the observers, who were +looking for a transit of one of the satellites. A very dark spot much +larger than a satellite was seen on the eastern edge of the disk, as +shown in the above diagram. It moved rapidly westward along the upper +margin of the northern belt and passed off at 1 o'clock 24 minutes A.M. +(12th). From its first internal contact till its last external contact +was just 3h. 19m., Pittsburg time. It appeared to be a solid opaque +body, truly spherical, very sharply defined, and most intensely black. +The transit of the satellite occurred at 15 minutes after 11 o'clock, +and had no unusual appearance. Now what was that dark body? We are +constant observers of the heavenly bodies, though not deeply versed in +the science of astronomy, and are anxious to know if any one can give us +some light on the subject. The telescopes used were a 2½ inch and 5 inch +achromatic, magnifying 154 and 216 diameters, but the 154 was chiefly +used. JOSEPH WAMPLER. + JAMES R. GEMMILL. + + McKeesport, Pa., July 11, 1878. + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + + + + + =Some of Professor Marsh's Recent Discoveries.= + +Mr. S. W. Williston, the assistant of Professor Marsh, has been giving +to the Omaha _Bee_ some interesting facts with regard to the great +reptilian fossils recently discovered in Wyoming and Colorado. The bones +found represent reptiles of many sizes, from that of a cat up to one +sixty feet high. The latter, found at Como, Wyoming, belonged to the +crocodile order; but the remains give evidence that the animal stood up +on its hind legs, like a kangaroo. Another found in Colorado is +estimated by Professor Marsh to have been 100 feet long. A great many +remains of the same general class, but belonging to different species, +have been collected and sent East. Among them from three to four hundred +specimens of the dinosaur, and about a thousand pterodactyls, have been +shipped from Colorado, Wyoming, and Kansas. The wings of one of the +latter were from thirty to forty feet from tip to tip. Seventeen +different species of these flying dragons have been found in the chalk +of western Kansas. There have also been found six species of toothed +birds. Comparatively little has been done toward classifying the late +finds, the task is such an enormous one. Great importance is attached to +them, however, since nothing of the kind had been found in America until +a little over a year ago and great stress had been laid by certain +geologists on their absence. Another remarkable feature of the discovery +was that the fossils which had been reported as not existing in this +country had hardly been brought to light in one locality before +thousands of tons of them were simultaneously discovered in half a dozen +different places. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Trying to Save a Hundred and Fifty Million Dollars a Year.= + +Professor Riley, recently appointed Government Entomologist and attached +to the Agricultural Department, reports that specimens of insects +injurious to agriculture are constantly being sent to the department +from all parts of the country, with requests for information. In every +instance, if a proper examination could be made, an effectual remedy +could be found, and not less than $150,000,000 saved to the country +annually. Recently a worm entirely new to science was sent to the +department by an Iowa farmer, whose orchard of several thousand apple +trees had been rendered unproductive for several years by the new +depredator. For the interests of Western fruit growers this insect +should immediately be investigated. Professor Riley asserts that the +$5,000 recently voted by Congress for the investigation of the cotton +worm, which has sometimes damaged the cotton crop of the South as much +as $20,000,000 in a single fortnight, might have been used to better +advantage by the department; the salary of the entomologist will use up +all the money, leaving next to nothing for experiments for the +eradication of the pest. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Industrial Education.= + +All are agreed that some education is necessary; but what? The great +proportion of those having the direction of our educational system and +facilities in charge still cling to a system which was established long +before the first mechanical operation came into existence. Before the +present system of man's relation to man, socially, industrially, +politically, or commercially, was heard of, and notwithstanding the +revolutions and advancement in all other things, there is a determined +resistance to any attempt at revolution in what shall be considered +education. + +There is an effort to establish compulsory education; but what is the +child to be taught? As if in league with the false theories of the +rights of labor, these efforts take the apprentices from the shops, +force them away from where they would learn something, and confine them +inside a school house to learn--what? Certainly nothing of the +materials, or tools, or pursuits by which they are to obtain their +livelihood. The child knows nothing of when or by whom the compass was +discovered, the printing press, the use of powder, electricity, of +steam, or of any one of the thousand mechanical operations now +controlling every department of life. Does any school boy know how many +kingdoms there are in the natural world, or whether an animal, a +vegetable and a mineral all belong to the same or to different ones? +Will he know that from instinct the young of animals seeks its food and +expands its lungs, as by the same instinct the root of a seed sucks up +its nourishment from the soil and sends its leaves up to breathe the +air? Will he know anything of the nature or requirements of the soils or +the plants that grow in them? Will this compulsory education teach the +boy anything of the iron furnace, the foundry or rolling mill, or the +uses or handling of any of their products? Will it teach him anything of +woods and their value, or for what and how they are useful to man? + +Will this knowledge, for which the powers of the State are to be +required to force him to know it--will it teach him anything of the +nature or uses of metals, of metal working, or the business depending +upon them? Will it teach him anything of gold or silver, copper or +brass? Anything of pottery, of bone, ivory, celluloid, etc.? Will he +learn anything of hides, leather, or the production of these necessary +articles? Will he know whether the word textile applies to anything but +a spider's web or the wing of a butterfly? Whether the United States +make, import, or grow cotton, wool, silk, flax, and hemp? + +Will he know anything of commerce, railroads, telegraphs, printing, and +the great number of clerk labors in the larger towns? Will he have +learned a single thing which will assist him in his work of life? Will +not every boy thus taken out of the shop and placed at the compulsory +schooling find after he has mastered all it has to give him that he yet +knows nothing; that he must then commence where he was and serve his +apprenticeship; that instead of compulsory education his past years have +been wasted in obtaining but a compulsory ignorance? + + * * * * * + + + + + =Business and Personal.= + + _The Charge for Insertion under this head is One Dollar a line for + each insertion; about eight words to a line. Advertisements must be + received at publication office as early as Thursday morning to + appear in next issue._ + + Lubricene.--A Lubricating Material in the form of a Grease. One + pound equal to two gallons of sperm oil. R. J. Chard, New York. + + Assays of Ores, Analyses of Minerals, Waters, Commercial Articles, + etc. Technical formulæ and processes. Laboratory, 33 Park Row, N. Y. + Fuller & Stillman. + + Manufacturers of Improved Goods who desire to build up a lucrative + foreign trade, will do well to insert a well displayed advertisement in + the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Export Edition. This paper has a very large + foreign circulation. + + Cutters, shaped entirely by machinery, for cutting teeth of Gear + Wheels. Pratt & Whitney Co., Manufacturers, Hartford, Conn. + + 18 ft. Steam Yacht, $250. Geo. F. Shedd, Waltham, Mass. + + Electrical instruments of all kinds. One Electric Bell, Battery, Push + Button, and 50 feet Wire for $4.00. Send for catalogue. H. Thau, 128 + Fulton St., N. Y. + + Wheels and Pinions, heavy and light, remarkably strong and durable. + Especially suited for sugar mills and similar work. Pittsburgh Steel + Casting Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. + + Boilers ready for shipment, new and 2d hand. For a good boiler, send + to Hilles & Jones, Wilmington, Del. + + Best Steam Pipe & Boiler Covering. P. Carey, Dayton, O. + + Foot Lathes, Fret Saws, 6c., 90 pp. E. Brown, Lowell, Ms. + + Sperm Oil, Pure. Wm. F. Nye, New Bedford, Mass. + + Power & Foot Presses, Ferracute Co., Bridgeton, N. J. + + Kreider, Campbell & Co., 1030 Germantown Ave., Phila., Pa., + contractors for mills for all kinds of grinding. + + Punching Presses, Drop Hammers, and Dies for working Metals, etc. The + Stiles & Parker Press Co., Middletown, Conn. + + All kinds of Saws will cut Smooth and True by filing them with our + New Machine, price $2.50. Illustrated Circular free. E. Roth & Bro., + New Oxford, Pa. + + "The Best Mill in the World," for White Lead, Dry, Paste, or Mixed + Paint, Printing Ink, Chocolate, Paris White, Shoe Blacking, etc., + Flour, Meal, Feed, Drugs, Cork, etc. Charles Boss, Jr., Williamsburgh, + N.Y. + + A Practical Engineer and Machinist, 24 years' experience. Best of + reference, marine or stationary; forge; fit; repair. W. Barker, 433 2d + Ave., N. Y. + + Hydraulic Presses and Jacks, new and second hand. Lathes and + Machinery for Polishing and Buffing metals. E. Lyon & Co., 470 Grand + St., N. Y. + + Nickel Plating.--A white deposit guaranteed by using our material. + Condit, Hanson & Van Winkle, Newark, N. J. + + Cheap but Good. The "Roberts Engine," see cut in this paper, June + 1st, 1878. Also horizontal and vertical engines and boilers. E. E. + Roberts, 107 Liberty St., N. Y. + + The Cameron Steam Pump mounted in Phosphor Bronze is an + indestructible machine. See ad. back page. + + Presses, Dies, and Tools for working Sheet Metals, etc. Fruit and + other Can Tools. Bliss & Williams, Brooklyn, N. Y., and Paris + Exposition, 1878. + + The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Export Edition is published monthly, about + the 15th of each month. Every number comprises most of the plates of + the four preceding weekly numbers of the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, with + other appropriate contents, business announcements, etc. It forms a + large and splendid periodical of nearly one hundred quarto pages, each + number illustrated with about one hundred engravings. It is a complete + record of American progress in the arts. + + Bound Volumes of the Scientific American.--I will sell bound volumes + 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 28, and 32, New Series, for $1 each, to be sent + by express. Address John Edwards, P. O. Box 773, New York. + + For Solid Wrought Iron Beams, etc., see advertisement. Address Union + Iron Mills, Pittsburgh, Pa., for lithograph, etc. + + Pulverizing Mills for all hard substance and grinding purposes. + Walker Bros. & Co., 23d and Wood St., Phila. + + 2d hand Planers, 7' x 30", $300; 6' x 24", $225; 5' x 24", $200; sc. + cutt. b'k g'd Lathe, 9' x 28", $200; A. C. Stebbins, Worcester, Mass. + + J. C. Hoadley, Consulting Engineer and Mechanical and Scientific + Expert, Lawrence, Mass. + + Best Wood Cutting Machinery, of the latest improved kinds, eminently + superior, manufactured by Bentel, Margedant & Co., Hamilton, Ohio, at + lowest prices. + + Water Wheels, increased power. O. J. Bollinger, York, Pa. + + We make steel castings from ¼ to 10,000 lbs. weight. 3 times as + strong as cast iron. 12,000 Crank Shafts of this steel now running and + proved superior to wrought iron. Circulars and price list free. Address + Chester Steel Castings Co., Evelina St., Philadelphia, Pa. + + Diamond Saws. J. Dickinson, 64 Nassau St., N. Y. + + Machine Cut Brass Gear Wheels for Models, etc. (new list). Models, + experimental work, and machine work generally. D. Gilbert & Son, 212 + Chester St., Phila., Pa. + + Holly System of Water Supply and Fire Protection for Cities and + Villages. See advertisement in Scientific American of last week. + + The only Engine in the market attached to boiler having cold + bearings. F. F. & A. B. Landis, Lancaster, Pa. + + The Turbine Wheel made by Risdon & Co., Mt. Holly, N. J., gave the + best results at Centennial tests. + + Hand Fire Engines, Lift and Force Pumps for fire and all other + purposes. Address Rumsey & Co., Seneca Falls, N. Y., U. S. A. + + For Shafts, Pulleys, or Hangers, call and see stock kept at 79 + Liberty St. Wm. Sellers & Co. + + Wm. Sellers & Co., Phila., have introduced a new Injector, worked by + a single motion of a lever. + + * * * * * + + + + + =NEW BOOKS AND PUBLICATIONS.= + + METALS AND THEIR CHIEF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS. By Charles R. Alder + Wright. London: Macmillan & Co. 12mo; pp. 191. Price $1.25. + +In this neat little volume we have the substance of a course of lectures +delivered at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in 1877, with thirty +or more engraved illustrations of various metallurgical operations. The +author discusses briefly, yet with sufficient fullness for popular +purposes, the principal processes for reducing metals from their ores, +the natural sources of metals, the metallurgy of the different metals, +the physical properties of metals, and their thermic, electric, and +chemical relations. The style is simple and the matter well chosen. + + DOSIA. A Russian Story. Translated from the French of Henry Greville, + by Mary Neal Sherwood. Boston: Estes & Lauriat. Price $1.50. + +This is the seventh of the Cobweb Series of choice fiction, a bright, +wholesome but rather thin story, as befits its associations. Novel +readers will find it an amusing companion for a rainy day in the +country, or for beguiling the tedium of a summer journey. + + * * * * * + + + + +[Illustration: Notes & Queries] + +(1) H. P. says: Please inform me of some recipe for removing superfluous +hair. A. Make a strong solution of sulphuret of barium into a paste with +powdered starch. Apply immediately after being mixed and allow to remain +for ten or fifteen minutes. See also p. 107 (8), vol. 38, and p. 25, +current volume. + +(2) M. A. C. writes: I would like to know how to dissolve bleached +shellac, to make it a cement for stone. A. Dissolve it by digestion in 3 +or 4 parts of strong alcohol, or by the aid of ¼ its weight of borax in +about 4 volumes of boiling water. + +(3) A. K. asks: 1. In rating substances as to hardness, diamond being +No. 10, how do aluminum, osmium, iridium and steel as used in steel +pens, number, also common and tempered glass? A. Aluminum about 3, +iridosmine 6.5 to 7, steel 5.5 to 6, glass 5 to 5.5. 2. Can glass 1/32 +inch in thickness be ground to angles of 15 per cent or less, and points +as fine as pins, without difficulty, and how? A. No. + +(4) D. C. S. asks for a good recipe for cleaning and polishing dirty and +tarnished brass. A. Dip for a short time in strong hot aqueous solution +of caustic alkali, rinse in water, dip for a few moments in nitric acid +diluted with an equal volume of water, rinse again, and finish with +whiting. + +(5) C. J. H. asks for the simplest way of producing a coating of the +magnetic or black oxide of iron on iron plates 3 feet x 6 feet. I think +it is called the Barff process. A. See pp. 1041 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN +SUPPLEMENT, and 232, vol. 36, and 4, vol. 37, of the SCIENTIFIC +AMERICAN. + +How can I make tissue paper impervious to air and water, and yet strong +enough to confine gas? A. You may pass the fabric through a solution of +about 1 part caoutchouc in 35 parts of carbonic disulphide, exposing it +then to the air until the solvent has evaporated. + +(6) J. H. J. asks how to use hyposulphite (?) of soda to neutralize +chloride of lime in cotton and linen goods after bleaching the same. A. +After washing from it the large excess of the hypochlorite, the fabric +is passed slowly through a solution containing about 10 per cent of the +hyposulphite, and then again thoroughly washed in clean water. + +(7) Columbus asks for a recipe for making ink to rule faint lines, such +as he is now writing on. He wants it to rule unit columns in books. A. +Dissolve in a small quantity of warm water 20 parts of Prussian blue by +the aid of 3 parts of potassium ferrocyanide, and dilute the solution +with thin gum water until the proper degree of color is obtained. + +(8) A. I. B. asks: Can I add anything to Arnold's writing fluid which +will cause it to give a good free copy in my letter book? A. Try a +little sugar. + +(9) R. & C. ask for information in regard to the process of printing +copies of drawings made on transparent materials, by using chemically +prepared paper and exposing to the sunlight. A. It is based on the fact +that an acid in the presence of potassium dichromate strikes a +blackish-green color when brought in contact with aniline. The paper is +prepared by floating it on a bath of aqueous solution of potassium +dichromate and a trace of phosphoric acid, and then drying it in the +dark. Aniline is dissolved in a little alcohol, and the mixed vapors +allowed to come into contact with the sensitive paper that has been +exposed to strong sunlight beneath the drawing, when the portions not +changed by the sunlight assume the dark color mentioned. All that is +requisite is that the paper or cloth original should be fairly +penetrable by the light. A piece of paper sensitized as indicated, a +sheet of glass to place over the drawing, and a box in which to place +the exposed print to the aniline vapor are the only necessary plant. + +(10) P. Y. P. writes: 1. To find the number of acres in a farm of valley +and hillside land, is it by measuring the general contour of the land, +allowing its actual surface, or by measuring and allowing only the +imaginary face of the plane of it? A. The latter is the correct method. +2. Can more grain, say rye, be raised on a farm of valley and hillside +land, as described above, than on a farm having a flat surface, the area +of which is equal to the plane of the former, all other things supposed +to be equal? A. No. + +(11) Inventor asks: 1. Can you tell me of a book on sound boards? A. We +do not know of a book especially devoted to the subject. 2. Also the +best kind of wood to make them out of? A. Spruce. + +(12) F. C. A. writes: I wish to construct a bar electro-magnet to go in +a cylinder 1 inch in diameter and 1 inch long. 1. What size ought the +core to be? What number of wire shall I use, and what number of +Léclanché cells shall I use (not to exceed twelve) to obtain the +greatest possible attractive power, distance 1/10 of an inch? A. Make +the core 3/8 inch, wind it with No. 24 silk covered wire. Use 6 or 8 +cells. 2. In the same space, could a horseshoe magnet be used, with a +gain of power over the bar magnet? A. A cylindrical magnet, which is +substantially the same as a horseshoe, might be substituted with +advantage for the bar magnet. + +(13) W. C. H. writes: In turning a tapering shaft in an engine lathe, +will the tool if raised above the centers of the lathe turn the taper +true from end to end, _i. e._, neither concave nor convex, the taper to +be made by sliding the tail center the required distance? A. The taper +will be concave. + +(14) H. E. H. asks how to make lime light. A. The lime light is made by +directing the jet of an oxyhydrogen blowpipe against a cylinder of lime. +The blowpipe is contrived to take the proper proportion of oxygen and +hydrogen gas, and the lime is placed in the reducing focus of the jet. + +(15) L. F. asks: 1. How many Daniell's or Smee's cells would it require +to produce the same effect as 50 Bunsen cells? A. About 100. 2. Is the +diaphragm equally necessary in Bunsen's, Smee's and Daniell's cells, or +can it be omitted in any one of them easier than in the others, and why +so? A. The diaphragm or porous cell is required in Daniell's and +Bunsen's batteries, but is not used in Smee's. The porous cell is used +only in two fluid batteries; its object is to allow the current to pass, +but to prevent the mixture of the two liquids. 3. Is the thickness of +the zinc of any importance? A. Only that the thicker zinc lasts longer. +4. Which is the cheapest way to produce electric sparks and to charge a +Leyden jar, and what will be the expense? A. By means of a frictional +electrical machine. The machines cost from $10 upward. + +(16) R. C. K. writes: I am an engineer by trade; have been at it 9 +years. Am out of a position at present and want to learn mechanical +draughting. How long would it take me to become a good draughtsman by +taking a special course at some university? And with my knowledge of +engineering and draughting, would my services be likely to be in fair +demand? A. If you are familiar with mechanical operations, you might +become a good draughtsman by close application under a competent +instructor for one or two years. At present there are many excellent +draughtsmen looking for positions. + +(17) G. B. M. asks for the cause of the ribs or ridges on the surface of +a piece of timber which has passed through a planing machine. A. They +are frequently due to the intermittent motion of the feed. + +(18) A. F. writes: Having a small quantity of gold and gold plated +things, I would like to know the simplest way to melt it. A. Put it in a +small crucible with a little borax and melt in a common kitchen fire. + +(19) J. H. S. writes: I have three drawings each 21 x 30 inches, which I +wish to mount upon cloth like a map, placing them end to end so as to +make one whole sheet 90 inches long. The drawings are upon heavy Whatman +paper. A. You should stretch wet canvas or factory cloth upon a frame, +and while it is still damp apply paste to the backs of the drawings and +lay them smoothly on the stretched cloth. When the paste becomes +thoroughly dry cut the cloth from the stretching frame and paste a tape +binding around the edges. + +(20) P. M. asks: What is the difference between the inner and outer +rails of a 10° curve 100 yards in length, gauge 4 feet 8 inches? A. If +this 100 yards is measured on the center of the curve, whose radius in + R - 2-1/3 + feet is R, the length of the inner rail is --------- X 100, and of the + R + R + 2-1/3 + outer tail --------- X 100. + R + +(21) W. B. K. asks how to make a shoe dressing for ladies' shoes. A. +Soft water, 1 gallon; extract of logwood, 6 ozs.; dissolve at a +temperature of about 120° Fah. Soft water, 1 gallon; borax, 6 ozs.; +shellac, 1½ oz.; boil until dissolved. Potassium dichromate, 3/8 oz.; +hot water, ½ pint; dissolve, and add all together. It is preferred to +add 3 ozs. of strong aqua ammonia to the liquid before bottling. + +(22) J. D. asks: What chemicals can be put into water to increase its +efficiency in extinguishing fire? A. Carbonic acid; sodium carbonate. + +(23) H. P. writes: Please give me the advantages and disadvantages of +substituting a galvanized iron tube 18 inches in diameter and 20 feet +high for a wood tank, 5 feet wide and 6 deep, as a container of water in +a dwelling house in the country. Would the narrower body of water keep +fresh or sweet longer, etc.? Also the thickness of iron necessary to +safety, and the number of gallons of water this tube would hold. A. The +advantages are in favor of the wooden tank; zinc lined vessels +(galvanized) are unsuitable for reservoirs for potable water. See p. +369, vol. 36, SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN. 0.3 inch iron would be stout enough. +A pipe of the dimensions specified would contain about 327 gallons when +full. + +(24) F. L. M. asks: 1. What is the process by which wire is given a +copper finish? A. Clean the wire by pickling it for a short time in very +dilute sulphuric acid and scouring with sand if necessary. Then pass the +clean wire through a strong bath of copper sulphate dissolved in water. +2. Can wire be thus finished and also annealed? If so, how? A. The wire +should be annealed first. 3. What other finish can be put on iron wire +(annealed), and by what process? A. Zinc--by passing the clean wire +through molten zinc covered with sal ammoniac; tin--by drawing the wire +through a bath of molten tin covered with tallow. + +MINERALS, ETC.--Specimens have been received from the following +correspondents, and examined, with the results stated: + +J. H. McF.--A fine quality of kaolin.--F. C. H.--The floury powder +consists chiefly, if not altogether, of calcium carbonate.--C. L. +G.--They are all silicious limestones. We cannot judge fairly of their +value for building purposes from the powders sent.--D. K.--Ferruginous +earth or marl.--A. E.--It is a partially decomposed feldspar. The white +powder is for the most part an impure, silicious, kaolin.--E. H.--It +consists chiefly of basic carbonate and hydrated oxide of +lead--poisonous.--J. B. V.--It is a fair quality of pipe clay--impure +silicate of alumina--probably worth about $2 per ton in New York. + + * * * * * + + + + + =COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.= + +The Editor of the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN acknowledges with much pleasure +the receipt of original papers and contributions on the following +subjects: + + Religion. By W. M. E. + Cause of Explosion in Flouring Mills. By G. M. + + * * * * * + + + + + [OFFICIAL.] + + INDEX OF INVENTIONS + + FOR WHICH + + =Letters Patent of the United States were Granted in the Week Ending= + + =May 28, 1878,= + + =AND EACH BEARING THAT DATE.= + + [Those marked (r) are reissued patents.] + +A complete copy of any patent in the annexed list, including both the +specifications and drawings, will be furnished from this office for one +dollar. In ordering, please state the number and date of the patent +desired and remit to Munn & Co., 37 Park Row, New York city. + + Acid, recovering waste sulphuric, A. Penissat 204,244 + Axle box slide, car, G. Williams 204,178 + Axle nut, adjustable, O. B. Thompson 204,399 + Axles, sand guard for carriage, M. C. Nay 204,164 + Baker and cooker, steam, J. A. McClure 204,353 + Bale tie, L. Arnold 204,183 + Bale tie, Wynkoop & Bloomingdale 204,409 + Barrel and box, moth-proof, M. L. Thompson 204,263 + Barrel for shipping bottled liquors, S. Strauss 204,259 + Barrel washer, H. Binder 204,288 + Bed bottom, T. & O. Howe 204,222 + Bed bottom, G. S. Walker 204,401 + Bedstead, wardrobe, Hand & Caulier 204,321 + Bedstead, wardrobe, E. Kiss 204,340 + Bedstead, invalid attachment for, T. T. Kendrick. 204,232 + Belting, rubber, C. T. Petchell 204,368 + Bending links, machine for, H. E. Grant 204,316 + Boiler brooms, operating, A. C. Cock 204,200 + Boilers, removing sediment from, T. C. Purves 204,250 + Boots and shoes, making, Hurst & Miller 204,330 + Bottle stopper, H. Martin 204,350 + Bottle stopper fastener, L. Kutscher 204,341 + Brake, car, J. Ramsey, Jr. 204,372 + Brake for railway carriages, R. D. Sanders 204,378 + Brake for railway trains, safety, L. Blanck 204,186 + Brake, horse, I. Spitz 204,258 + Brake pipes on cars, coupling, F. A. Sheeley 204,383 + Brake shoe, W. McConway (r) 8,255 + Brick kiln, E. F. Andrews 204,182 + Bridge eyes, making, A. Schneiderlochner 204,381 + Bridge, self-adjusting, B. Williams 204,407 + Buckle, trace, Landon & Decker 204,342 + Burial apparatus, Patterson & Wheeler 204,366 + Burial casket, W. Hamilton 204,320 + Can, fish, bait, and oyster, R. Roney 204,168 + Can, refrigerating, transportation, W. A. Moore 204,239 + Car coupling, L. Gasser 204,313 + Car coupling, C. Gifford 204,212 + Car coupling, C. A. Roberts 204,251 + Car, sleeping, A. Jaeger 204,230 + Cars, dust arrester for railway, A. Clarke 204,134 + Carbureter, gas and air, Dusenbury & Winn 204,413 + Carriage seats, corner iron for, W. B. C. Hershey 204,326 + Carriages, reversible handle for, A. Shoeninger 204,385 + Casting apparatus, J. Duff 204,307 + Castings, moulding dovetails, Burdick & Easterly 204,129 + Celluloid, etc., core and tube former, J. W. Hyatt 204,227 + Celluloid tubes and hollow articles, J. W. Hyatt 204,228 + Celluloid bar or spring coater, Hyatt & Burroughs 204,229 + Chair, convertible, M. V. Lunger 204,346 + Chair, invalid, E. C. Jones 204,231 + Chair, rocking, L. Rausch 204,373 + Chuck, A. Saunders 204,254 + Churn, Barrett & Smith 204,124 + Churning apparatus, A. N. Myers 204,241 + Churning apparatus, J. A. Perry 204,245 + Clasp for ribbons on rolls, H. G. & C. G. Hubert 204,224 + Clevis, double tree, A. Rosier 204,252 + Clew line leader, S. R. Brooks 204,290 + Clock case, G. & D. B. Hills 204,328 + Clock, repeating, H. Thompson 204,175 + Clod crusher, C. R. Polen, Sr. 204,247 + Clothes drier, W. F. Wilson 204,179 + Clothes pounder, O. Schindler 204,379 + Cock, stop, G. N. Munger 204,162 + Cooler, beer, H. F. Schmidt 204,380 + Corkscrew, A. W. Sperry 204,389 + Corn sheller, J. W. Miller 204,161 + Corpse preserver, Miller & Schneider 204,237 + Cotton roving can, J. Hill 204,220 + Cotton worm destroyer, G. Yeager 204,410 + Cream, apparatus for raising, J. W. Brady 204,127 + Cultivator, J. Young 204,412 + Cultivator, harrow, E. Crane (r) 8,260, 8,261 + Cutter, rotary, Mellor & Orum (r) 8,265 + Cutting board, F. Weed 204,176 + Desk, school, J. Edgar 204,207 + Draught equalizer, J. Branning 204,289 + Drilling apparatus, well, J. B. & G. R. Elliote 204,143 + Drilling machine, metal, D. W. Pond 204,248 + Drills, spring hoe for grain, C. E. Patric 204,365 + Drying kiln, E. T. Gennert 204,211 + Engine cylinder, steam, G. E. Banner 204,282 + Engine standard and cylinder, steam, G. E. Banner 204,283 + Engine, wind, H. N. Hill 204,221 + Engine, wind, Longyear & Clark 204,345 + Envelope, Shade & Lockwood 204,256 + Escapement, W. A. Wales 204,400 + Excavator and plow, W. M. Smith 204,387 + Eyeglasses, J. F. Traub 204,266 + Fence, hedge, I. O. Childs 204,197 + Fence, iron, F. R. Martin 204,236 + Fence post, O. Allen 204,275 + Fence post, H. A. Pierce 204,246 + Fence, wire, W. H. H. Frye 204,312 + Field roller, T. B. Rice, Jr. 204,376 + File, newspaper, D. H. King 204,233 + Fire alarm signal box, R. N. Tooker (r) 8,267 + Firearm, revolving, B. F. Joslyn 204,334, 204,335 + Firearms, extractor for, B. F. Joslyn 204,336, 204,337 + Fire escape, I. D. Cross 204,299 + Flour, manufacturing, R. L. Downton 204,302 + Fruit pitting and cutting machine, C. P. Bowen 204,189 + Fruit pitting machine, A. T. Hatch 204,217 + Furnace, brass melting, J. Fletcher 204,309 + Furnace door, P. S. Kemon 204,339 + Furnace, metallurgic, H. Swindell 204,392 + Furnace, ore roasting, C. Stetefeldt (r) 8,266 + Game apparatus, M. Entenmann 204,208 + Game counter, C. B. Wessmann 204,404 + Gas, making illuminating, H. W. Adams 204,181 + Gas burner, W. Anderson 204,278 + Gas burners, attachment for, W. W. Batchelder 204,286 + Gas meter, A. C. Blount 204,188 + Gas, scintillator for lighting, W. W. Batchelder 204,285 + Glass from lava, making, F. S. Shirley 204,384 + Globe holder, Bayles & Hunter 204,184 + Grain binder, G. H. Howe 204,329 + Grain decorticating apparatus, A. Ames 204,277 + Grain distributing machine, Fascher & Singer 204,308 + Grinding machine, S. Trethewey 204,393 + Gun, spring air, A. Pettengill 204,167 + Harness, E. R. Cahoone 204,195 + Harrow, H. F. Wasmund 204,268 + Harrow, rotary, E. & E. H. McNiel 204,354 + Harvester gearing, J. Harris 204,148 + Hat and cap sweat, J. R. Terry, Jr. 204,262 + Head protector, F. P. Cummerford 204,204 + Heaters, draught pipe for, M. A. Shepard 204,170 + Hogs from rooting, preventing, J. M. Stansifer 204,171 + Hoisting device, tobacco, C. F. Johnson 204,332 + Horse power, Bettis & Heath 204,185 + Ice, forming sheets of, J. Gamgee 204,210 + Illuminating fluid, testing, S. S. Mann 204,235 + Index tag for books, E. M. Capen 204,196 + Indicator for vessels, roll and pitch, R. Chandler 204,133 + Inkstand, W. P. Speller 204,388 + Iron for case hardening, preparing, S. A. Conrad 204,202 + Ironing apparatus, A. K. Brettell 204,128 + Jewelry, wire trimming for, L. Heckmann 204,149 + Labeling bottles, E. L. Witte 204,272 + Ladder, F. A. Copeland 204,295 + Ladder, step, J. J. Brady 204,191 + Lamp, J. S. Butler 204,193 + Lamp, E. S. Drake 204,303, 204,304, 204,305, 204,306 + Lamp, F. G. Palmer 204,364 + Lamp for cooking, H. S. Fifield 204,144 + Lantern, C. J. Swedberg 204,261 + Lap link, A. Perry 204,367 + Lap ring, H. S. Wood 204,273 + Latch, gate, H. Unger 204,267 + Leather, compound for currying E. S. Thayer 204,398 + Lemon squeezer and shaker, H. L. Heaton 204,325 + Lifting jack, T. J. Woods 204,408 + Lightning conductor, H. W. Spang 204,257 + Lightning rod, D. Munson 204,359 + Lock, C. C. Dickerman 204,139 + Lock, seal, F. G. Hunter 204,226 + Lock, vehicle seat, D. Kirk 204,234 + Log turner, C. & F. Strobel 204,391 + Loom picker, C. T. Grilley 204,213 + Loom picking mechanism, Terrell & Williams 204,396 + Magnet, multipolar, A. K. Eaton 204,141 + Manure spreader, J. S. Kemp (r) 8,254 + Marble, composition for artificial, J. F. Martin 204,348 + Meat chopper, E. W. Fawcett 204,209 + Meat chopping machine, Meahl & Kwoczalla 204,355 + Military accouterments, C. Harkins 204,322 + Milking cows, apparatus for, W. F. George 204,314 + Mordants and dyestuffs, S. Cabot, Jr. 204,130 + Mosquito bar frame, O'Sullivan & Bloom 204,243 + Mosquito net frame, E. Bloom 204,187 + Mower, lawn, F. G. Johnson 204,153 + Mower lawn, A. P. Osborne 204,242 + Mower, lawn, J. Shaw (r) 8,268 + Music box, W. Meissner 204,356 + Musical instrument, mechanical, M. J. Matthews 204,352 + Mustache guard, C. H. Barrows 204,125 + Nut cracker, F. A. Humphrey 204,225 + Oatmeal machine, G. H. Cormack 204,137 + Oatmeal machine, D. Oliver 204,165 + Organ case, L. C. Carpenter 204,131 + Paddle wheel, A. Wingard 204,180 + Paddle wheel, aerial, Cowan & Page 204,296 + Paper and other fabrics, marbleizing G. Grossheim 204,146 + Paper pulp from wood, H. B. Meech (r) 8,256, 8,257, 8,258 + Paper pulp pail, E. Hubbard 204,223 + Pea nut warmer, F. A. Bowdoin 204,190 + Pen, fountain, T. H. & J. E. Quinn 204,371 + Pencil sharpener and eraser, W. Sellers 204,169 + Pianoforte tuning attachment, H. F. Jacobs 204,152 + Pianofortes, hand guide for, M. Sudderick 204,260 + Pipe, stand, Lewis & Maloney 204,344 + Planing and sawing wood, W. H. Webb 204,403 + Planter and plow, corn, D. Hays 204,218 + Planter, corn, H. Steckler, Jr. 204,390 + Plow, T. M. Moore 204,358 + Plow, F. Nitschmann 204,361 + Plow clevis, E. A. Sanders 204,253 + Pocket for garments, Y. Chow 204,199 + Pole, carriage, A. R. Bartram (r) 8,253 + Post office apparatus, G. W. Wiles 204,270 + Press, cotton, E. L. Morse 204,240 + Press, cotton, Tate & Curtis 204,395 + Press, power, J. L. Lewis 204,158 + Pump, A. S. Baker 204,280 + Pumps, machinery for operating, J. W. Hull (r). 8,262 + Punching and beveling metal, J. Morgan (r) 8,251 + Railway gate, C. P. Austin 204,279 + Railway gate, McCaffrey & Larkin 204,160 + Railway rail joint, O. Pagen 204,363 + Refrigerator, R. T. Hambrook 204,216 + Rein guide, check, A. L. Whitney 204,269 + Rowlock, I. C. Mayo 204,159 + Rubber cutting machine, Ford, Slade, & Baylies 204,145 + Rule, lumber, A. J. Colburn 204,293 + Sad iron stand, K. E. Keeler 204,338 + Sash balance and lock, Rayner & Burr 204,374 + Saw, R. E. Poindexter 204,369 + Saw mill carriage, M. Taplin 204,394 + Saw mill head block, Brett & Perry 204,192 + Saw sharpener, W. M. Watson 204,402 + Scale beam, J. Weeks 204,177 + Scintillator for lighting cord, W. W. Batchelder 204,284 + Scraper, earth, J. H. Edmondson 204,142 + Screen, G. F. Halley 204,147 + Screen, window, G. L. Reynolds 204,375 + Scythe snath fastening, M. Hewitt 204,327 + Seed and fertilizer distributer, W. Harper 204,323 + Seed distributer, J. W. Dooley 204,301 + Sewer trap, J. M. Thatcher 204,397 + Sewer trap valve, P. J. Convery 204,135 + Sewing machine needle bar, Cook & Hill 204,294 + Sewing machine mechanism, E. Brosemann _et al._ 204,291 + Sewing machine table, S. Hill 204,219 + Sewing machine table, T. Lanston 204,157 + Sheet metal vessels, handle for, F. Grosjean 204,319 + Shipping case, J. H. Byrne 204,194 + Shoetip, H. White (r) 8,263 + Shoes, rack for holding, etc., J. Priest 204,249 + Shot, tin plated, L. Crooke 204,298 + Shovels, manufacture of, H. M. Myers 204,163 + Sink, kitchen, M. W. Scannell 204,255 + Slate, apparatus for grinding, etc., J. W. Hyatt. 204,151 + Snuff package, B. F. Weyman (r) 8,264 + Soldering square cans, R. Gornall 204,315 + Spectacle frame, J. F. Traub 204,265 + Spinning mules, building rail for, Ogden & Garrett 204,362 + Spinning mules, mechanism for, G. Gurney 204,214 + Spring, door, O. Seely 204,382 + Spring, vehicle, N. Nilson 204,360 + Sprinkler, J. M. Josias 204,333 + Sprinklers, inlet pipe for street, G. H. Stallman 204,172 + Steam generator, Collinge & Savage 204,201 + Steam generator, M. Cullen 204,203 + Steam superheater, W. Standing 204,173 + Stone sawing machine, Jennings & Robellaz 204,331 + Stove damper, T. White 204,406 + Stove for burning crude, etc., oils, P. Martin 204,349 + Stoves, fire pot lining for, R. J. King 204,155 + Sulphur, apparatus for refining, H. H. Eames 204,206 + Suspender ends, E. Painter 204,166 + Table, S. Bobbins 204,377 + Tablet, writing, W. O. Davis 204,138 + Tanks, etc., movable hopper, F. C. Prindle 204,370 + Target, spherical, S. A. Darrach 204,300 + Tea and coffee pots, knob for, W. B. Choate 204,198 + Telegraph repeater, F. Catlin 204,132 + Thrashers, clover huller attachment for, J. Allonas 204,276 + Ticket, railway coupon, C. J. Stromberg 204,174 + Tile for fireproof buildings, bridge, M. F. Lyons 204,347 + Tin, coating lead articles with, J. J. & L. Crooke 204,297 + Tire setter, J. A. Miles 204,238 + Tire upsetter M. W. Griffiths 204,317 + Toy pistol, A. F. Able 204,123 + Toy pistol, H. J. P. Whipple 204,405 + Trace, etc., tug coupling, Hazlewood, Jr., & Reagin 204,324 + Track clearer, A. Day 204,205 + Truck shifting apparatus, car, R. H. Ramsey (r) 8,259 + Truss, hernial, Banks & Merck 204,281 + Tubing, manufacture of metal, B. C. Converse 204,136 + Valve gear for engines, L. C. Mason 204,351 + Vehicle running gear, P. Letalle 204,343 + Vehicle, side bar, J. Kauffman 204,154 + Vehicles, spring seat for, J. T. Yerkes 204,411 + Velocipede, H. A. Reynolds (r) 8,252 + Ventilator, S. S. Thompson 204,264 + Ventilator valve, railway car, E. H. Winchell 204,271 + Warming, etc., buildings, apparatus for, L. Bennet 204,126 + Wash board, F. Kueny 204,156 + Wash boiler, A. Friedley 204,311 + Wash stands, water closets, cover for, F. Grosjean 204,318 + Washing machine, E. S. M. Ford 204,310 + Watch regulator, G. Bichsel 204,287 + Watch winding device, B. Wormelle 204,274 + Watches, winding click for, C. T. Higginbotham 204,150 + Water meter, piston, T. Melling 204,357 + Water wheel, W. S. Clay 204,292 + Weather strip, D. Austin 204,122 + Whip socket and rein holder, B. J. Downing 204,140 + Wrench, Sievers & Winkler 204,386 + Wringer, mop, W. Haas 204,215 + + * * * * * + + + + + TRADE MARKS. + + Baking powder, Carter Brothers & Co. 6,136 + Cigars, Foxen, Newman & Co. 6,132 + Cigars, J. Hirsch 6,142 + Cigars, Oliver & Robinson 6,150 + Cigars, B. F. Weyman 6,154 + Cigars, J. & A. Frey 6,156 + Cigars, J. Martinez 6,161 + Cigars, cigarettes, etc., Straiten & Storm 6,144 + Cigars, cigarettes, etc., E. A. Smith 6,145 + Cigars, cigarettes, etc., C. Swartz & Co. 6,152 + Cigars, cigarettes, etc., I. Underdorfer 6,158 + Cigarettes, Seidenberg & Co 6,135 + Cheese, G. S. Hart 6,133 + Copying paper and books, W. Mann 6,159 + Cotton fabrics, Hamilton Manufacturing Company 6,141 + Cotton goods, Nashua Manufacturing Company 6,162 + Dry goods, The Eddystone Manuf. Company 6,157 + Illuminating oils, Wadsworth, Martinez & Longman 6,163 + Knitted undershirts, etc., Dunham Hosiery Co. 6,155 + Ladies' corsets, C. A. Griswold 6,139 + Lemonade compound, Abrams & Carroll 6,147 + Liquid paints, G. W. Pitkin & Co. 6,151 + Overalls, jumpers, etc., B. Greenebaum 6,138 + Perforated plasters, Holman Liver Pad Company 6,140 + Pile ointment, G. W. Frazier 6,149 + Plug tobacco, B. F. Weyman 6,148 + Prepared skins for beer, C. Maegerlein & Son 6,134 + Saleratus, soda, etc, H. A. De Land & Co. 6,137 + Smoking, etc., tobacco, Marburg Brothers 6,143 + Snuff, B. F. Weyman 6,146, 6,153 + Soap, Ecker & Co. 6,160 + Weighing scales, E. & T. Fairbanks & Co. 6,131 + + * * * * * + + + + + DESIGNS. + + Buckle, F. Crane 10,704 + Fancy cassimere, F. S. Bosworth 10,692 to 10,702 + Handkerchief, J. Grimshaw 10,703 + + * * * * * + + + + + =English Patents Issued to Americans.= + + From June 28 to July 2, inclusive. + + Bale tie.--S. H. Gilman, New Orleans, La. + Blast furnace.--J. F. Bennett, Pittsburg, Pa. + Cigarette machine.--V. L'Eplattinaire, N. Y. city. + Furnace for steam boilers.--O. Marland, Boston, Mass. + Grain binders.--C. H. McCormick, Chicago, Ill. + Grain separators.--Barnard & Leas Manufacturing Co., Moline, Ill. + Mortising chisel.--A. J. Buttler, New Brunswick, N.J. + Paper making machinery.--J. H. & G. Hatch, South Meriden, Conn. + Paper vessels or receptacles.--R. B. Crane, N. Y. city. + Skates.--P. C. Franke, St. Paul, Minn. + Teeth cleaner.--A. P. Merrill, N. Y. city. + Timber joining machine.--W. E. Brock. N. Y. city. + Wearing apparel.--Israel Crane, N. Y. city. + + * * * * * + + + + + =The Scientific American= + + =EXPORT EDITION.= + + PUBLISHED MONTHLY. + +THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN Export Edition is a large and SPLENDID +PERIODICAL, issued once a month, forming a complete and interesting +Monthly Record of all Progress in Science and the Useful Arts throughout +the World. Each number contains about ONE HUNDRED LARGE QUARTO PAGES, +profusely illustrated, embracing: + +(1.) Most of the plates and pages of the four preceding weekly issues of +the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, with its SPLENDID ENGRAVINGS AND VALUABLE +INFORMATION. + +(2.) Commercial, Trade, and Manufacturing announcements of leading +houses. + +Terms for Export Edition, $5.00 a year, sent prepaid to any part of the +world. Single copies, 50 cents. + +For sale at this office. To be had at all News and Book Stores +throughout the country. + + * * * * * + + + + + =NOW READY.= + +SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN for July, 1878, with Eighty-one Engravings. + + =GENERAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.= + + Brewster's Carriage Manufactory, New York. One engraving. + The Parlor or Cabinet Organs of Mason & Hamlin. + The New Wheeler & Wilson Sewing Machine. + Howe's Improved Scales. + The Chickering Pianos. + The Ingersoll Rock Drill. + Photo-engraving. + The Paper Product of the United States. + Electrical Indicator for Exhibiting the Rotation of the Earth. Two + engravings. + The Elevated Railroad Nuisance. + Steam Boilers. + Progress of our Western Industries. + The Decline of the Whaling Industry. + Transmitting Power by Electricity. + Native Magnesium Salts. + Scientific American Export Edition for June. + The Eothen Arctic Expedition. + Patent Matters in Congress. + The Turkish Bath. + Remarkable Locomotive Performances. + The United States Building at the Paris Exposition. + Recent Ship Designs. + Figures which Seem Untruthful. + The Hotchkiss Ship's Log. + Starting New Industries. + The Telephone at Sea. + Horizontal Condensing Engine at the Exposition. One engraving. + Deep Boring. + Whitening Positives. + Mr. Thomas A. Edison. One engraving. + Patteson's Improved Car Coupling. One engraving. + Project for Increasing the Water Power of Pennsylvania. + A Japanese Built Ironclad. + A Great Public Nuisance.--The Steam Street Railways + New York City. + What the South Owes New England. + New Mechanical Inventions. + Iridescent Glass. + Fast Paper Making. + Effect of Gas on Cotton Goods. + Electrotypes of the Brain. + Astronomical Notes for July. With Three figures, giving the + Positions, Rising and Setting of the Planets. + Sun Spots. + Removing Spots from Cloths. + "American" New Process Milling. + New Agricultural Inventions. + A Defense of Sludge Acid. + Shad Hatching at Havre de Grace, Md. + Improved Wrench. Two engravings. + A Drygoods Palace Car. + Radial Drilling Machine. One engraving. + Improved Self-oiling Car Wheel. Three engravings. + The Whitehead Torpedo. One engraving. + A Californian Wheat Farm. + Edison's Telephonic Researches. Eleven figures. + New Inventions. + New Electric Light. + Quick Freight Time. + The Adams Gas Process. Three engravings. + The Invention of the Microphone. + Preparation of Iron Fuels. + Millstones. + An Hour with Edison. Four engravings. + Suspension Bridge Accident. + Mill Explosion Science. + Learn Something. + Unsuitable Steam Vessels. One engraving. + Our Naval Tubs. + Leaves and their Functions. + Lever and Cam Valve. Two engravings. + An Ingenious Toy. One engraving. + Milk as a Substitute for Blood Transfusion. + Dr. Brown-Sequard. + Odd Uses of Paraffin. + American Institute Exhibition. + Solidification of Petroleum. + A Simple Fire-escape. + Mr. Edison on the Microphone. + Driving Piles in Sand. + Is our Globe Hollow? + The Best Penwiper. + The Etiology of Asiatic Cholera.--A New Theory. + Diagnosis. + Proposed Process for the Fixation of Atmospheric Nitrogen. Two + figures. + Hallucinations. + Perils of Base-ball Playing. + Music Boxes. + Electric Light Photography. + Improved Beehive. Three engravings. + A Good Act. + Improved Gas Condenser. Two engravings. + American Crop Prospects. + The Launch of the Nipsic. + The Swiss House at the French Exposition. One engraving. + The Ingenuity of Bees. + The St. Benoit Twins. One engraving. + Improved Method of Milling. + A Remarkable Meteoric Phenomenon. + Drinking Water. + Where to Observe the Solar Eclipse of July 29th. + Explorations and Surveys. + Tests for Good Burning Oil. + Curious Hedge Figures. One engraving. + Food Supply of Paris. + The Leona Goat Sucker. One engraving. + Oatmeal. + Salt in Beer. + Dr. Morfit's Method of Preserving Animal and Vegetable Food. + The Ring of Fire, and the Volcanic Peaks of the West Coast of the + United States. + To Imitate Ground Glass. + Railroad Birds. + Improved Variable Automatic Cut-off. Four engravings. + The Uses of Mechanism. + Working Gold Ores. + The Sun. With nine engravings. An excellent paper. + Professor Edison's New Carbon Rheostat. Two engravings. + The Chase Elemental Governor. Two engravings. + Chinese Wine Powder. + Amber Varnish. + The Alkaloids of Opium. + Microscopy. + Is the Moon Inhabited? + Description of the Recent Most Important Mechanical Inventions. + Counterfeiting American Goods. + The Steam Street Railways of New York City. + Improved Piston Rod Stuffing Box. One engraving. + Improved Automatic Fan. One engraving. + Wandering Needles. + Improved Step Box. One engraving. + Heat Conductivity. + New Volcano in Peru. + Wood Carver of Simla. One engraving. + Natural History Notes. + Belgium, Holland, and England. + Jointed Artillery. + The Armstrong 100-ton Gun. + The Phonograph. + Scientific American Boat Drawings. + Wire Tramway Worked by Water Wheels. + Shell Polishing. + Floating Batteries at Kertch. + Apparatus for Administering Medicine to Horses. One engraving. + Apprentice Shops for the Boys. + A Boat Older than the Ark. Three figures. + Employment of Ships against Forts. + The Otto Bicycle. One engraving. + A Simple Gas Generator. One engraving. + Labor in Scotland. + The Cattle Drives of 1878. + Effects of Emancipation. + A New Trouble with French Wines. + The New Twin Steamer "Calais-Douvres." One engraving. + Industrial Drawing and Art Studies. + Vulcanizing Rubber. + Strawberries and Constipation. + Professor Langley's Papers on the Sun. + Destruction vs. Construction of Ironclads. + How Raisins are Prepared. + The Sun.--A Total Eclipse. With six engravings. + The Bishop of Manchester on British Trade Depression. + A New Insect Pest. + Death of a Giant. + Edison's Phonomotor. Two engravings. + Excavating Scoop. One engraving. + Treatment of Acute Rheumatism. + How a Horse Trots. + Danger of Carbolic Acid Dressings. + Welded Union and Rebel Bullets. One engraving. + Indicator of a Steamboat Engine. + A Remedy for the Effects of the Poison Ivy. + Thymol. + Copper Oysters. + The Use of Antimony in Batteries. + Photographs on Silk. + How to Use a File. A valuable practical paper. + Our Iron Industry. + Two Ways of Looking at the Same Facts. + New Screw-cutting Lathe. One engraving. + New Cloth Measuring Apparatus. One engraving. + Moth Remedies. + Gampert's Wood-sole Shoe. Three engravings. + Science and Sentiment. + American Coal in Europe. + An Active Volcano in the Moon. + Tic-douloureux. + Landing of Cleopatra's Needle. One large engraving. + Heat Conductivity. + The Total Eclipse of the Sun, July 29. Two figures. + New Iron Fence. Two engravings. + The Adjutant. One engraving. + A New Disinfectant. + The Curiosities of Tobacco. + Preserving Fish by Hydraulic Pressure. + +Answers to Correspondents, embodying a large quantity of valuable +information, practical recipes, and instructions in various arts. + +Single numbers of the Scientific American Export Edition, 50 cents. To +be had at this office, and at all news stores. + + MUNN & CO., PUBLISHERS, + 37 PARK ROW, NEW YORK. + +To Advertisers: =>Manufacturers and others who desire to secure foreign +trade may have large and handsomely displayed announcements published in +this edition at a very moderate cost. + +The Scientific American Export Edition has a large guaranteed +circulation in all commercial places throughout the world. Address MUNN +& CO., 37 Park Row, New York. + + * * * * * + + + + + =Advertisements.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Inside Page, each insertion 75 cents a line. + Back Page, each insertion $1.00 a line.= + (About eight words to a line.) + + _Engravings may head advertisements at the same rate per line, by + measurement, as the letter press. Advertisements must be received at + publication office as early as Thursday morning to appear in next + issue._ + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + SEND 30 CENTS BY MAIL AND GET + +[Illustration: A KEY THAT WILL WIND ANY WATCH] +AND NOT WEAR OUT + +Circulars free. Mention paper. + J. S. BIRCH & CO., 33 Dey Street, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- +THE GEOLOGICAL ANTIQUITY OF Flowers and Insects. By J. E. TAYLOR, F.G.S. +A plain, comprehensive review of the subject, bringing forward many +instructive facts; with six illustrations. The invariable correlation +between insects and flowers. How they are fossilized. Fossil botany. +Geological Evidences of Evolution. Correspondence in the succession of +Animal and Vegetable life. Flowers necessary to Insects, and Insects +necessary to Flowers. Insects and Plants in the Devonian, the +Switzerland Lias, the English Stonesfield Slate, the Tertiary Strata, +the Coal Measures, a Greenland, and other formations. A Peculiar Aspect +of Evolution. Contained in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. =120.= +Price 10 cents. To be had at this office and of all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- +THE PHONOGRAPH AND ITS FUTURE. BY THOMAS A. EDISON. The instrument and +its Action. Durability, Duplication, and Postal Transmission of +Phonograph Plates. The probable great utility of the Phonograph in +Letter-writing, Business Correspondence and Dictation; Literature; +Education; Law; Music; Oratory, etc. Application to Musical Boxes, Toys, +and Clocks. Telegraphy of the Future; the Phonograph and Telephone +combined. Being a most interesting and valuable paper by the author and +inventor of the Phonograph himself. Contained in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN +SUPPLEMENT, NO. =124.= Price 10 cents. To be had at this office and of +all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + THE +[Illustration: "Scientific American." In Gothic script] + + =The Most Popular Scientific Paper in the World. + THIRTY-THIRD YEAR.= + + =Only $3.20 a Year including Postage. Weekly. + 52 Numbers a Year.= + +=This widely circulated= and splendidly illustrated paper is published +weekly. Every number contains sixteen pages of useful information, and a +large number of original engravings of new inventions and discoveries, +representing Engineering Works, Steam Machinery, New Inventions, +Novelties in Mechanics, Manufactures, Chemistry, Electricity, +Telegraphy, Photography, Architecture, Agriculture, Horticulture, +Natural History, etc. + +=All Classes of Readers= find in THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN a popular +_resume_ of the best scientific information of the day; and it is the +aim of the publishers to present it in an attractive form, avoiding as +much as possible abstruse terms. To every intelligent mind, this journal +affords a constant supply of instructive reading. It is promotive of +knowledge and progress in every community where it circulates. + +=Terms of Subscription.=--One copy of THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN will be +sent for _one year_--52 numbers--postage prepaid, to any subscriber in +the United States or Canada, on receipt of =three dollars and twenty +cents= by the publishers; six months, $1.60; three months, $1.00. + +=Clubs.=--=One extra copy= of THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN will be supplied +gratis _for every club of five subscribers_ at $3.20 each; additional +copies at same proportionate rate. Postage prepaid. + +One copy of THE SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN and one copy of THE SCIENTIFIC +AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT will be sent for one year, postage prepaid, to any +subscriber in the United States or Canada, on receipt of _seven dollars_ +by the publishers. + +The safest way to remit is by Postal Order, Draft, or Express. 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Remit by postal order or draft to order of Munn & Co., 37 +Park Row, New York. + + * * * * * + + + + + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + WALTHAM WATCHES. + + _Improved in Quality, but no higher in price._ + +After this date, we shall sell none but =New Model Waltham Watches=, +particulars of which will be found in our New Price List. + +Every one concedes that genuine WALTHAM watches are superior to all +others, and at present prices they are within the reach of all. + +We continue to send single watches by mail or express to any part of the +country, no matter how remote, without any risk to the purchaser. + +Price List sent free and postpaid. + + _Address_ HOWARD & CO., + =No. 264 Fifth Ave., New York.= + +_All silver cases for the_ NEW MODEL WATCHES _are made of sterling +silver, and cases as well as movements are guaranteed by special +certificate._ + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- +[Illustration: + + BEST AND CHEAPEST + FOOT POWER + SCREW CUTTING + $85. ENGINE LATHES + + + SEE FULL DESCRIPTION IN + SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN JULY 27 + SEND FOR ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE + GOODNOW & WIGHTMAN + 176 WASHINGTON ST. BOSTON MASS. +] + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + The Midsummer Holiday Scribner. + + ANOTHER ROYAL NUMBER. + + Charming Writers--New Artists--Superb Engraving. + +The August number of this progressive magazine is the third "Midsummer +Holiday" issue, and the publisher is confident that in literary and +artistic excellence it will be found fully equal to, if not in advance +of, its predecessors, which met with such distinguished favor from the +press and the public. + +It opens with a Frontispiece, + + =A NEW PORTRAIT OF BRYANT,= + +Drawn in crayon, from life, by WYATT EATON, and engraved by COLE, with a +sketch of the haunts and homes of Bryant, by HORATIO N. POWERS, with +numerous wood-cuts. + +Among the other illustrated material is + + "=A SEA-PORT ON THE PACIFIC,=" + +By MARY HALLOCK FOOTE. The drawings are also by Mrs. Foote, and are +engraved by Marsh, Cole, and others. They have not been excelled in +magazine literature for charm, picturesqueness, and fine engraving. A +paper of wide interest is + + "=TO SOUTH AFRICA for DIAMONDS!=" + +By Dr. W. J. MORTON, a narrative of personal experience in the mines, +with striking illustrations of this romantic and curious life. There are +also + + =TWO CHARMING FIELD PAPERS=: + +"Sharp Eyes" by JOHN BURROUGHS, with illustrations by a new artist; +"Glimpses of New England Farm Life," by R. E. ROBINSON, a paper of rare +picturesque interest. + +There are illustrated poems by Dr. HOLLAND and J. T. TROWBRIDGE; also, +poems by STEDMAN, BRET HARTE, and others. + +THE ILLUSTRATIONS are by Wyatt Eaton, Mary Hallock Foote, Vanderhoof, +Waud, Frederick Dielman, R. Swain Gifford, Jervis McEntee, Henry Farrer, +Winslow Homer, J. E. Kelly, Walter Shirlaw, L. C. Tiffany, Thomas Moran, +Will H. Low, Mrs. Fanny Eliot Gifford, and others. + +The shorter stories are by STOCKTON and HENRY JAMES, Jr. + +DR. EGGLESTON'S STORY of WESTERN LIFE reaches its climax, and will end +in October. + +A New Novel, + + "=FALCONBERG," by BOYESEN,= + +Begins in this issue. It is a story of immigrant life in America, told +by one of the most promising of the younger generation of novelists, and +will be read with interest abroad as well as at home. + +The Editorial Departments include "Our Commune," "The Death of Bryant," +"Greatness in Art," "A Rural Art Association," "Recent Improvements in +Telephony," thoughtful and suggestive Book Reviews, Humorous Sketches +and Verses by new hands, &c., &c. + +The frontispiece is upon a peculiar tint of paper, manufactured by +Warren expressly for Eaton's portrait of Bryant. The printing is by De +Vinne, from the press of Francis Hart & Co., who take rank among the +foremost printers of the world. + +EDITION =85,000.= Price 35 cents Sold by all News-dealers and +Book-sellers. + + =SCRIBNER & CO., NEW YORK.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + Baker Rotary Pressure Blower. + + [Illustration] + + (FORCED BLAST.) + + Warranted superior to any other. + + WILBRAHAM BROS. + 2318 Frankford Ave. + PHILADELPHIA. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + OUTWARD MARKS OF A GOOD COW. + + By Capt. JOHN C. MORRIS, Pa. Carelessness in Breeding. How to Select + for Breeding. Marks of the Handsome Cow. Care and Training of the + Heifer. Infallible Marks of Good Milkers. Distinguishing Marks and + Characteristics of the "Bastard" and the "Bogus" Cow, etc. Contained, + with useful Remarks on Bee Culture, in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT + NO. =135.= Price 10 cents. To be had at this office and of all + newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + PATENTS AT AUCTION. + + Regular Monthly Sales the first week of each month by George W. + Keeler, Auctioneer, at his salesrooms, 53 and 55 Liberty Street, N. + Y. For terms, etc., address The New York Patent Exchange, 53 Liberty + St., N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + SPARE THE CROTON AND SAVE THE COST. + + Driven or Tube Wells + furnished to large consumers of Croton and + Ridgewood Water. WM. D. ANDREWS & BRO., 414 Water St., N. Y., who + control the patent for Green's American Driven Well + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + BIBB'S + Celebrated Original Baltimore + Fire Place Heaters + Mantels and Registers. + B. C. BIBB & SON, + Baltimore, Md. + + Best workmanship. Lowest prices guaranteed. Send for circulars. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + JAPANESE ART MANUFACTURES. + + By Christopher Dresser, Ph.D., etc. Paper read before Society of + Arts. The Japanese Potter at Work. Curious mode of Making Scarfs. How + the Japanese Print on Cloth. Japanese Process for Silk Ornamentation. + Japanese Weaving. How Fine Japanese Fans are made. Japanese Method + of Making Moulds for Ornamental Castings for Vessels, Bronzes, + etc. Japanese Lacquer Manufacture. Curious Method of Decorating + Lacquer Work. The Love and Pursuit of the Beautiful in Japan. A very + entertaining, instructive, and comprehensive paper. Contained in + SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. =115.= Price 10 cents. To be had + at this office and of all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + BURNHAM'S + + STANDARD TURBINE + + WATER WHEEL. + + WARRANTED BEST AND CHEAPEST. + + N. F. BURNHAM, YORK, PA. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + RUPTURE + + Relieved and cured, without the injury trusses inflict, by Dr. J. A. + Sherman's method of support and curative externally applied. Office, + 251 Broadway, N. Y. His book, with photographic likenesses of bad + cases before and after cure, mailed for 10 cents. Beware of imitators. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =25= =NEW YEAR CARDS=, with name, 20c. 25 Extra Mixed, 10c. Geo. I. + Reed & Co., Nassau, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.= + + We have just introduced this important facility, which enables us to + prosecute our work in =cloudy weather=, and to push through hurried + orders =in the night=. + + [Illustration: + NEW METHOD OF ENGRAVING + Moss' Process. + Photo Engraving Co. + 67 Park Place, New York. + L. SMITH HOBART, President. JOHN C. MOSS, Superintendent. + ] + + RELIEF PLATES + + For Newspaper, Book, and Catalogue Illustrations. Engraved in + Type-Metal, by a new Photo-Chemical Method, from all kinds of Prints, + Pen Drawings, Original Designs, Photographs, etc., =much cheaper + than wood cuts=. These plates have a perfectly smooth printing + surface, and the lines are =as deep, as even, and as sharp= as they + could possibly be cut by hand. We guarantee that they will print + satisfactorily, on wet or dry paper, and on any press where type or + wood cuts can be so printed. Electrotypes may be made from them in + the usual way. + + =Our plates are now used by the principal publishers and manufacturers + in every State in the Union.= _Send stamp for illustrated Circular._ + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =State, County and Shop Rights For Sale.= + + The Patent Adjustable Die Co. invite the attention of Printers, + Lithographers, Paper Box Makers, Leather, Cloth, and Metal Workers, + and all who use dies of any description, or who cut by laborious + hand work patterns of any size or shape, to their patent device for + cutting any desired outline at a cost of a few cents, and doing + it with exactness, cutting from one to three hundred at a single + pressure. Among those who have purchased shop rights, the following + are referred to: Rand, Macnally & Co.; Donnelly, Loyd & Co.; Shoeber + & Carqueville Lithograph Co.; Wright & Leonard; Frank Roehr; Gregory + & Staiger; Western Label Man. Co.; S. A. Grant & Co., Cincinnati. + + PATENT ADJUSTABLE DIE CO., + No. 96 Dearborn Street, Chicago, Il. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + =BARNES' FOOT POWER MACHINERY.= + + 13 Different machines with which Builders, Cabinet Makers, Wagon + Makers, and Jobbers in miscellaneous work can compete as to QUALITY + AND PRICE with steam power manufacturing; also Amateurs' supplies. + MACHINES SENT ON TRIAL. + + Say where you read this, and send for catalogue and prices. + + W. F. & JOHN BARNES, + Rockford, Winnebago Co., Ill. + + Eastern Agency for + + =Barnes' Foot Power Machinery.= + + _Full line in stock_ at factory prices. Can be seen in operation at + CHAS. E. LITTLE'S, 59 Fulton St., N. Y. _Cast Steel Pump Log Augers + and Reamers a specialty._ + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =$250.= HEALD, SISCO & CO.'S "=RELIABLE=" 20 Horse Power, Stationary, + Horizontal, Double-crank Steam Engine. Complete with Judson Governor, + Boiler-feed Pump, Water Heater, etc. Best and cheapest in the world, + and fully guaranteed. TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS. Send for + circular to + HEALD, SISCO & CO., Baldwinsville, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Wood-Working Machinery,= + + Such as Woodworth Planing, Tonguing, and Grooving Machines, Daniel's + Planers, Richardson's Patent Improved Tenon Machines, Mortising, + Moulding, and Re-Saw Machines, and Wood-Working Machinery generally. + Manufactured by + + WITHERBY, RUGG & RICHARDSON, + 26 Salisbury Street, Worcester, Mass. + + (Shop formerly occupied by R. BALL & CO.) + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =PATENT MINERAL WOOL.= + + Entirely _Fireproof_, undecaying, and the best _non-conductor of heat, + cold, or sound_. Cheaper than hair-felt. + + =A. D. ELBERS=, + _P. O. Box 4461._ 26½ Broadway, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: WROUGHT IRON BEAMS & GIRDERS] + + THE UNION IRON MILLS, Pittsburgh, Pa., Manufacturers of improved + wrought iron Beams and Girders (patented). + + The great fall which has taken place in the prices of Iron, + and especially in Beams used in the construction of FIRE PROOF + BUILDINGS, induces us to call the special attention of Engineers, + Architects, and Builders to the undoubted advantages of now erecting + Fire Proof structures; and by reference to pages 52 & 54 of our + Book of Sections--which will be sent on application to those + contemplating the erection of fire proof buildings--THE COST CAN + BE ACCURATELY CALCULATED, the cost of Insurance avoided, and the + serious losses and interruption to business caused by fire; these + and like considerations fully justify any additional first cost. It + is believed, that, were owners fully aware of the small difference + which now exists between the use of Wood and Iron, in many cases the + latter would be adopted. We shall be pleased to furnish estimates + for all the Beams complete, for any specific structure, so that the + difference in cost may at once be ascertained. Address + + CARNEGIE, BROS. & CO., Pittsburgh, Pa. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Pond's Tools=, + + =Engine Lathes, Planers, Drills, &c.= + + Send for Catalogue. DAVID W. POND, Successor to LUCIUS W. POND. + =Worcester, Mass.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =$3 GOLD PLATED WATCHES.= Cheapest in the known world. _Sample Watch + Free to Agents._ Address, A. COULTER & Co., Chicago. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =EAGLE FOOT LATHES,= + + [Illustration] + + Improvement in style. Reduction in prices April 20th. Small Engine + Lathes, Slide Rests, Tools, etc. Also Scroll and Circular Saw + Attachments, Hand Planers, etc. Send for Catalogue of outfits for + Amateurs or Artisans. + + WM. L. CHASE & CO., + 95 & 97 Liberty St., New York. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =The George Place Machinery Agency= + =Machinery of Every Description.= + 121 Chambers and 103 Reade Streets, New York. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + CIVIL and MECHANICAL ENGINEERING + + At the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, N. Y. Next term + begins Sept. 12. The Annual Register for 1878 contains a list of the + graduates for the past 52 years, with their positions; also, course + of study, requirements for admission, expenses, etc. Address Wm. H. + Young, Treas'r. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =THE DRIVEN WELL.= + + Town and County privileges for making =Driven Wells= and selling + Licenses under the established =American Driven Well Patent=, leased + by the year to responsible parties, by + + =WM. D. ANDREWS & BRO.,= + NEW YORK. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + _NOW READY._ + + =The Army of the Republic:= + + ITS SERVICES AND DESTINY. + =BY HENRY WARD BEECHER.= + + An Oration at the Re-union of the Army of the Potomac, at Springfield, + Mass., June 5th, comprising Christian Union Extra No. 12. + + Price 10 Cents. + =THE CHRISTIAN UNION,= + 27 Park Place, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: WOOD WORKING MACHINERY. PLANING, MATCHING, MOLDING, + MORTISING, TENONING, CARVING, MACHINES. BAND & SCROLL SAWS UNIVERSAL + AND VARIETY WOOD WORKERS, &c. &c. =J. A. FAY & CO.= CINCINNATI, + O.U.S.A.] + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Lathes, Planers, Shapers= + + Drills, Bolt and Gear Cutters, Milling Machines. Special Machinery. E. + GOULD & EBERHARDT, Newark, N. J. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =A BLOCK PLANE,= + =WITH ADJUSTMENT FOR SETTING THE CUTTER.= + + [Illustration] + + =Length, 7½ inches; 1¾ inch Cutter.= + + =PRICE $1.00.= + + Sent by mail, to any address, postage prepaid, on receipt of price. + + Price of the above Plane _without_ the adjustment, 70c. Write for an + Illustrated Descriptive Circular and Price List of our full line of + "Defiance" Metallic Planes to + + BAILEY WRINGING MACHINE CO., + 99 Chambers Street, New York. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + READ THIS! READ THIS!! + + Adjustable Safety Stilts. + + A NOVELTY FOR THE BOYS. + + A Great Chance to Make Money. + + Parties wishing to invest in a paying business can do so with a small + capital by addressing + + CHAS. S. SHUTE, Springfield, Mass. + + Send Stamp for Illustrated Circular. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =VINEGAR.= + + I teach by letter the new English Quick-Vinegar-Process, that is, how + vinegar is made in one day without drugs. For particulars and terms, + address + + J. H. LAUTERBACH, Zanesville, Ohio. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Foundry and Machine Shop,= + in live Western town, for sale cheap. Address Box 275, Winona, Minn. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + WOOD ENGRAVING + + At Photo-Engraving Process Rates, by + T. P. DONALDSON, 33 Park Row, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =SHEET METAL WORKS FOR SALE.= + + The largest and best equipped establishment in the United States + for the manufacture of Sheet Metal Architectural and Cornice Works, + and Ornamental Stamped and Spun Zinc Work. Located at an important + station on the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railroad. Taxes and + rents low. The ornamental sheet metal work upon the Main Building for + the Centennial Exposition was made at these shops. The real estate, + tools, and equipments cost some sixty thousand dollars. Will be sold + at a very great sacrifice. Call on or address LUCIEN L. GILBERT, + Salem, Columbiana Co., Ohio. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + THE BEST FRICTION CLUTCH IN THE _World_ for hoisting coal, logs, or + freight. It can be fitted direct on line shaft, run at high speed, and + start without shock. _No end thrust_ on journals. Patent Safety + Elevators at low prices. + + D. FRISBIE & CO., New Haven, Conn. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: + !!New and Improved!! + + Engraving Process!!!! + + Perfect Substitute for Wood-Cuts. + + Photo-Plate Company + + 63 Duane St. New York. + + Can be printed on an ordinary Press. + + RELIEF PLATES in hard Type Metal FOR Newspaper & Book Illustration. + + Send Stamp for Illustrated Circular. + + MUCH CHEAPER THAN WOODCUTS. + + ARTISTIC PRINTING. + + FINE ELECTROTYPING. + + State where you saw this. + ] + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + =$4. TELEPHONES= + + For Business Purposes, ours excel all others in clearness and volume + of tone. Illus. circular and testimonials for 3 cts. + + Address J. R. HOLCOMB, Mallet Creek, Ohio. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + EXPLOSIVE DUST. A COMPREHENSIVE description of the Dangers from Dust + in various Manufactures and the Cause of many Fires. How combustible + substances can explode. Spontaneous Combustion of Iron, Charcoal, and + Lampblack in Air. Flour Dust and Brewery Dust Explosions. Explosions + of Coal Dust in Mines. Contained in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT + NO. =125.= Price 10 cents. To be had at this office and of all + newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Can I Obtain a Patent?= + + This is the first inquiry that naturally occurs to every author or + discoverer of a new idea or improvement. The quickest and best way + to obtain a satisfactory answer, without expense, is to write to us + (Munn & Co.), describing the invention, with a small sketch. All we + need is to get the _idea_. Do not use pale ink. Be brief. Send stamps + for postage. We will immediately answer and inform you whether or + not your improvement is probably patentable; and if so, give you the + necessary instructions for further procedure. Our long experience + enables us to decide quickly. For this advice we make _no charge_. + All persons who desire to consult us in regard to obtaining patents + are cordially invited to do so. We shall be happy to see them in + person at our office, or to advise them by letter. In all cases, they + may expect from us a careful consideration of their plans, an honest + opinion, and a prompt reply. + + _What Security Have I_ that my communication to Munn & Co. will be + faithfully guarded and remain confidential? + + _Answer._-You have none except our well-known integrity in this + respect, based upon a most extensive practice of thirty years' + standing. Our clients are numbered by hundreds of thousands. They + are to be found in every town and city in the Union. Please to + make inquiry about us. Such a thing as the betrayal of a client's + interests, when committed to our professional care, never has + occurred, and is not likely to occur. All business and communications + intrusted to us are kept _secret and confidential_. + + Address =MUNN & CO.,= + Publishers of the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, + =37 Park Row New York.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + + + + + =Advertisements.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Inside Page, each insertion - - - 75 cents a line. + Back Page, each insertion - - - $1.00 a line.= + (About eight words to a line.) + + _Engravings may head advertisements at the same rate per line, by + measurement, as the letter press. Advertisements must be received at + publication office as early as Thursday morning to appear in next + issue._ + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =TELEPHONES,= + + Perfect working, at reduced prices. Send for illustrated circular to + =TELEPHONE SUPPLY CO.,= + =Box 3224, Boston, Mass.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: + =H.W. JOHNS'= + ASBESTOS + TRADEMARK + ] + + =LIQUID PAINTS, ROOFING, BOILER COVERINGS,= + Steam Packing, Sheathings, Fire Proof Coatings, Cements. + SEND FOR SAMPLES, ILLUSTRATED PAMPHLET AND PRICE LIST. + =H. W. JOHNS M'F'G Co., 87= MAIDEN LANE, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Mill Stones and Corn Mills.= + + We make Burr Millstones, Portable Mills, Smut Machines, Packers, Mill + Picks, Water Wheels, Pulleys, and Gearing, specially adapted to Flour + Mills. Send for catalogue. + + =J. T. NOYE & SON, Buffalo, N. Y.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + =WARRANTED THE BEST. + 1 H. P. Boiler & Engine, $150. + 2 H. P., $175. 3 H. P., $200.= + + Tested to 200 lbs. Steam. + + =LOVEGROVE & CO., + 152 N. 3d St., Philadelphia, Pa.,= + + Builders of Engines and Boilers, 1 to 100 horse power. Send for + circulars and prices, and state size and style you want. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + ESTABLISHED 1844. + + =JOSEPH C. TODD,= + + ENGINEER and MACHINIST. Flax, Hemp, Jute, Rope, Oakum and Bagging + Machinery, Steam Engines, Boilers, etc. I also manufacture Baxter's + New Portable Engine of 1877. Can be seen in operation at my store. A + one horse-power, portable engine, complete, $125; two horse-power, + $225; two and a half horse-power, $250; three horse-power, $275. + Manufactured exclusively by + + =J. C. TODD,= + 10 Barclay St., New York, or Paterson, N. J. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =CAMERON= + =Steam Pumps= + + For Mines, Blast Furnaces, Rolling Mills, Oil Refineries, Boiler + Feeders, &c. + + For Illustrated Catalogue and _Reduced_ Price List send to =Works, Foot + East 23d St., New York.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: WIRE ROPE] + + Address JOHN A. ROEBLING'S SONS, Manufacturers, Trenton, N. J., or 117 + Liberty Street, New York. + + Wheels and Rope for conveying power long distances. Send for circular. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =$1200 Salary.= Salesmen wanted to sell our Staple Goods to dealers. + No peddling. =Expenses= paid. Permanent employment. address S. A. + GRANT & CO., 2, 4, 6 & 8 Home St., Cincinnati, O. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + _Working Models_ + + And Experimental Machinery, Metal or Wood, made to order by + J. F. WERNER, 62 Centre St., N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + B. W. Payne & Sons, Corning, N. Y. + Established in 1840. + + [Illustration] + + Eureka Safety Power. + + |h.p. cyl. ht. space. wt. price. + ------------------------------------------- + | 2 |3-1/8x4| 48 in.| 40x25 | 900 | $150 | + -------------------------------------------| + | 4 | 4x6 | 56 | 46x30 | 1600 | 250 | + -------------------------------------------| + | 6 | 5x7 | 72 | 72x42 | 2700 | 400 | + ------------------------------------------- + |_Also_, =SPARK ARRESTING PORTABLES=, _and_| + | =Stationary Engines= _for Plantations_. | + | Send for Circulars. | + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + Patent Wood-working Machinery, Band Saws Scroll Saws, Friezers, etc. + Cordesman, Egan & Co., Cincin'ti, O. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =CORLISS ENGINES.= + + Beam, horizontal, vertical, condensing, and non-condensing Steam + Engines. + + =Machine Tools, Sugar Machinery.= + + =Facilities for Constructing Heavy Machinery.= + + Send for Circular. + + PASSAIC MACHINE WORKS, + WATTS, CAMPBELL & CO., Proprietors, + Newark, N. J. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + THE ONLY Genuine GEISER SELF-REGULATING GRAIN SEPARATOR. Celebrated + for its light and smooth movements, also SEPARATING and CLEANING all + kinds of grain. + + Manufactured only by + THE GEISER M'F'G CO., Waynesboro, Franklin Co., Pa. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =CIGAR BOX LUMBER,= + + Manufactured by our new + + =Patented Processes.= + + Poplar 1¼c. + Mahogany 2½c. + Spanish Cedar Veneers ½c. + Spanish Cedar, 2d quality 2¾c. + " 1st and 2d quality 3¼c. + " 1st " 3¾c. + No charge for cartage. Terms cash. + + =GEO. W. READ & CO.,= + =186 to 200 Lewis Street, New York.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =BELT PULLEY,= + + Lightest, strongest, and best made. Secured to the Shaft without Keys, + Set Screws, Bolts or Pins; also, _Adjustable Dead Pulleys_ and + _Taper-Sleeve Couplings_. Send for catalogue. Address Taper-Sleeve + Pulley Works, Erie, Pa. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: + MARVIN'S + FIRE & BURGLAR + SAFES + COUNTER PLATFORM · WAGON & TRACK + SCALES + MARVIN SAFE & SCALE CO. + ·265 BROADWAY. N. Y.· + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + An assortment of + =WOOD-WORKING MACHINERY= + made by Richards, London & Kelley (dissolved); also, a number of + first-class =MACHINE TOOLS= (nearly as good as new) of Philadelphia + construction, on hand and for sale. For list or inspection of machines + and estimates, apply at the works of JOHN RICHARDS & CO., 22d and Wood + Sts., Philadelphia, manufacturers of Standard Gauges and other + Implements. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + ON THE CARE OF HORSES. BY PROF. PRITCHARD, R. V. S. Showing the Proper + Construction of Stables. Best Floor. Lighting and Ventilation. + Hay-racks. Watering and Feeding. Grooming and Exercise. Cracked Heels; + Lice; Colic; Mud Fever; Wind Galls. Also, in same number, facts about + improved Cow Stables. How to keep Cows clean and maintain Pure Air in + Stables. Increased Cleanliness and Convenience with Less Labor. + Contained in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. =123.= Price 10 cents. + To be had at this office and of all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + Every Man His Own Printer! + + [Illustration: The Excelsior] + + =$3 Press= Prints labels, cards etc. (Self-inker $5) =9= Larger sizes + For business, pleasure, young or old Catalogue of Presses, Type, + Etc., for 2 stamps. + + =KELSEY & Co.= + =Meriden, Conn= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Pyrometers=, For showing heat of Ovens, Hot Blast Pipes Boiler Flues, + Superheated Steam, Oil Stills, &c. + + HENRY W. BULKLEY, Sole Manufacturer, + 149 Broadway, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =ICE AT $1.00 PER TON.= + The PICTET ARTIFICIAL ICE CO., + LIMITED, + Room 51, Coal and Iron Exchange, P. O. Box 3083, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + LAP WELDED CHARCOAL IRON + + Boiler Tubes, Steam Pipe, Light and Heavy Forgings, Engines, Boilers, + Cotton Presses, Rolling Mill and Blast Furnace Work. + + =READING IRON WORKS,= + =261 South Fourth St., Phila.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =OPERA GLASSES= =At Reduced Prices.= Microscopes, Spectacles, + Telescopes, Thermometers. Send for Illustrated Catalogue. + + R. & J. BECK, + 921 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + WOOD-WORKING MACHINERY, + New and improved, for special work. Boring Machines, Turning Lathes, + Saw Arbors, Saw Benches, Scroll Saws, Panel Raisers, and other + Wood Tools. We build the only patented Panel Raiser, with vertical + spindles, all others being infringements on our patents of July 11 + and October 31, 1871. + + =WALKER BROS.,= + =_73 and 75 Laurel St., Phila._= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + ALCOHOLISM. AN INTERESTING Paper upon the Relations of Intemperance + and Life Insurance. The average Risks and Expectancy of Life of + the Temperate and of the Intemperate. Physiological action of + Alcohol; stimulating the Nervous System, Retarding the Circulation. + Alcohol Oxidized in the System. Insomnia, Congestion of the Lungs, + Deterioration of Structure, Calculus, and Liver Diseases as results + of Liquor. Extended Medical Testimony. Contained in SCIENTIFIC + AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. =125.= Price 10 cents. To be had at this + office and of all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =Telephones.= + + How made, adjusted, and operated by any person. Send stamp for full + and interesting description, with illustrations and instructions. One + pair first-class Telephones complete, except diaphragms, sent to any + address upon receipt of $5. J.H. BUNNELL, Electrician, + 112 Liberty St., New York. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + IMPORTANT FOR ALL CORPORATIONS AND MANF'G CONCERNS.--=Buerk's + Watchman's Time Detector=, capable of accurately controlling the + motion of a watchman or patrolman at the different stations of his + beat. Send for circular. + + =J. E. BUERK, P. O. Box 979, Boston, Mass= + + N. B.--The suit against Imhaeuser & Co., of New York, was decided in + my favor, June 10, 1874. A fine was assessed against them Nov. 11, + 1876, for selling contrary to the order of the court. Persons buying + or using clocks infringing on my patent will be dealt with according + to law. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + THE HUGHES TELEPHONE. SIX FIGURES. Sound converted into Undulatory + Electrical Currents by Unhomogeneous Conducting Substances in + Circuit. The Simplest Telephone and the most sensitive Acoustical + Instrument yet constructed. Instrument for Testing the Effect of + Pressure on Various Substances. Astonishing Experiments which may + be performed by any person with a few nails, pieces of sealing wax, + a glass tube containing powders, and a few sticks of charcoal. + Contained in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. =128.= Price 10 + cents. To be had at this office and of all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: + MEDAL & PREMIUM AWARDED TO + ALCOTT'S + TURBINE WATER WHEELS] + + MANUFACT'D AT MOUNT HOLLY N. J. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + "OLD RELIABLE." TO KNOW ALL about the =Best Pump= for Paper Makers, + Tanners, Contractors, and for irrigation, send for illustrated + pamphlet, 78 pages. HEALD, SISCO & CO., Baldwinsville, N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =BOOKS=, Papers. Want Agents. Send stamp. L. L. FAIRCHILD, Rolling + Prairie, Wis. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =IT PAYS= to sell our Rubber Stamps and Novelties. Terms free. G. A. + HARPER & BRO., Cleveland, O. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + DYSPEPSIA. BY DR. C. F. KUNZE. + Symptoms. Appetite Diminished. Stomach + Digestion much slower than Normal. Constipation. Symptoms in Children. + Chronic Cases. Dyspepsia as caused by too much Food; by Indigestible + Food; by General Derangement; by Altered Conditions of Innervation. + Treatment. Nourishment should be Easily Digestible; taken Little at a + Time; and Digested before more is taken. Necessity of Few and Plain + Dishes. Treatment when Stomach is Overloaded. Aiding Gastric Juice. + Treatment in Febrile Diseases. Contained in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN + SUPPLEMENT NO. =129.= Price 10 cents, To be had at this office and of + all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + =SHEPARD'S CELEBRATED= + + $50 Screw Cutting Foot Lathe. + + Foot and Power Lathes, Drill Presses, Scroll, Circular and Band Saws, + Saw Attachments, Chucks, Mandrills, Twist Drills, Dogs, Calipers, etc. + Send for catalogue of outfits for amateurs or artisans. + + =H. L. SHEPARD & CO., + 88, 90 & 92 Elm St., + Cincinnati, Ohio.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =TO ADVERTISERS!= We will send free to all applicants who do any + newspaper advertising, the THIRD EDITION of + =AYER & SON'S MANUAL= + =FOR ADVERTISERS.= 160 8vo. pp. More complete than any which have + preceded it. Gives the names, circulation, and advertising rates of + several thousand newspapers in the United States and Canada, and + contains more information of value to an advertiser than can be found + in any other publication. All lists have been carefully revised, and + where practicable prices have been reduced. The special offers are + numerous and unusually advantageous. Be sure to send for it before + spending any money in newspaper advertising. Address =N. W. AYER & + SON,= ADVERTISING AGENTS, Times Building, Philadelphia. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =PORTLAND CEMENT,= + + ROMAN & KEENE'S. For Walks, Cisterns, Foundations, Stables, Cellars, + Bridges, Reservoirs, Breweries, etc. + + Remit 10 cents for Practical Treatise on Cements. + + S. L. MERCHANT & CO., 53 Broadway, New York. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + =NORTH'S UNIVERSAL LATHE DOG. + S. G. NORTH + 347 North 4th Street, Philadelphia, Pa.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =MACHINISTS' TOOLS.= + NEW AND IMPROVED PATTERNS. + + Send for new illustrated catalogue. + + Lathes, Planers, Drills, &c. + =NEW HAVEN MANUFACTURING CO., + New Haven, Conn.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + POINTS OF A GOOD HORSE. BEING the Report of the Committee appointed + by the New England Agricultural Society to decide upon Rules for + Guidance of Judges of Horses. The Points of Excellence. Size, Color, + Symmetry of Body, Head and Neck, Eye and Ear, Feet and Limbs, fully + described. Speed at the Trot, and in Walking, Style and Action, etc., + with the percentage allowed for each quality. The Standard Size and + Speed for Matched Carriage Horses, Gents' Driving Horses, Family + Horses, Park or Phæton Horses, etc. An excellent Guide in selecting + animals. Contained in SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. =103=, price + 10 cents. To be had at this office and of all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + ="THE EAGLE CLAW."= + The best Trap in the World for catching + FISH, ANIMALS & GAME. + [Illustration] + One bait will catch + =Twenty Fish=. + + No. 1, for ordinary fishing, small game, &c. 35c. + No. 2, for large fish, mink, musk-rats, &c. 75c. + Sent by mail. =J. BRIDE & CO.,= + Mfrs., 297 Broadway, New-York. + + Send for Catalogue of useful novelties and mention this paper. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + EMERY AND CORUNDUM WHEELS, + for Grinding and Surfacing Metals and other materials. By ARTHUR H. + BATEMAN, F. C. S. A paper read before the Society of Arts, London. + Files, Chisels, Grindstones, Composition of Emery, where found, + Quality, Specific Gravity, and Hardness, Manufacture of the wheels, + Emery Powder, Buffing, Polishing, Cutting Power, Corundum. The + Magnesian or Union Wheel, the Tanite, the Northampton, the Vulcanite, + the Climax, the Vitrified, a porous wheel with central water supply. + Fifty uses enumerated to which the wheels are put, for Metals, + Stone, Teeth, Millboard, Wood, Agate, and Brick. How to mount a + wheel. How to hold the work, and directions for various classes of + work. Discussion and questions proposed and answered. Contained in + SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT, NO. =125=. Price 10 cents. To be had + at this office and of all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =THE BIGELOW= + =Steam Engine.= + + BOTH PORTABLE AND STATIONARY. + + =The CHEAPEST AND BEST in the market. Send for descriptive circular + and price list.= + + =H. B. BIGELOW & CO., + New Haven, Conn.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: Diamonds and Carbon] + + Shaped or Crude, furnished and set for Boring Rocks, Dressing Mill + Burrs, Emery Wheels, Grindstones, Hardened Steel, Calender Rollers, + and for Sawing Turning, or Working Stone and other hard substances: + also Glaziers' Diamonds. J. DICKINSON, 64 Nassau St., N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =SECOND-HAND ENGINES,= + + Portable and Stationary, at Low Prices. + + HARRIS IRON WORKS, TITUSVILLE, PA. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + HOW TO MAKE A PHONOGRAPH. + + Full Instructions, with Eight Working Drawings, Half Size. + Construction easy and Inexpensive. These drawings are from an actual + working Phonograph; they show the sizes, forms, and arrangement of + all the parts. The explanations are so plain and practical as to + enable any intelligent person to construct and put a Phonograph in + successful operation in a very short time. Contained in SCIENTIFIC + AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. =133.= Price 10 cents. To be had at this + office and of all newsdealers. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: + SCHLENKERS AUTOMATIC REVOLVING BOLT CUTTER + DIAMOND SELF CLAMP PAPER CUTTER + HOWARD'S SAFETY ELEVATORS + HOWARD'S PARALLEL VISE + HOWARD IRON WORKS BUFFALO N. Y. + ] + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =_PERFECT_= + =NEWSPAPER FILE= + + The Koch Patent File, for preserving newspapers, magazines, and + pamphlets, has been recently improved and price reduced. Subscribers + to the SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN and SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT can be + supplied for the low price of $1.50 by mail, or $1.25 at the office + of this paper. Heavy board sides; inscription "SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN," + in gilt. Necessary for every one who wishes to preserve the paper. + + Address + =MUNN & CO., + Publishers SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + THE TANITE CO., + STROUDSBURG, PA. + =EMERY WHEELS AND GRINDERS.= + GEO. PLACE, 121 Chambers St., New York Agent. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: + ROCK DRILLING MACHINES + AND + AIR COMPRESSORS. + + MANUFACTURED BY BURLEIGH ROCK DRILL CO. + + SEND FOR PAMPHLET. · FITCHBURG MASS. + ] + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =STEAM PUMPS.= + + HENRY R. WORTHINGTON, + + 239 Broadway, N. Y. 83 Water St., Boston. + + THE WORTHINGTON DUPLEX PUMPING ENGINES FOR WATER WORKS--Compound, + Condensing or Non-Condensing. Used in over 100 Water-Works Stations. + + STEAM PUMPS--Duplex and Single Cylinder. + + WATER METERS. OIL METERS. + + =Prices largely Reduced.= + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: WATSONS NON CHANGEABLE GAP LATHE HAS GREAT + FACILITIES FOR LARGE OR MEDIUM SIZE WORK JAMES WATSON MANR. 1608 + S. FRONT ST. PHILA. PA.] + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + HARTFORD + STEAM BOILER + Inspection & Insurance + COMPANY. + W. B. FRANKLIN V. Pres't. J. M. ALLEN, Pres't. + J. B. PIERCE, Sec'y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration] + + =Patent Portable Chuck Jaws.= + + Improved Solid Emery Wheels, for grinding Iron and Brass Castings, + Tools, etc. Manufactured by AM. TWIST DRILL CO., Woonsocket, R. I. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =$7= A DAY to Agents canvassing for the =Fireside Visitor=. Terms and + Outfit Free. Address P. O. VICKERY, Augusta, Maine. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =HAND SAW MILL= SAVES THREE MEN'S labor. + S. C. HILLS, 78 Chambers St., N. Y. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + =BEST= + + DAMPER REGULATORS + + AND WEIGHTED GAUGE COCKS. + + MURRILL & KEIZER, 44 HOLLIDAY ST., BALTIMORE. + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + [Illustration: PATENTS] + + =CAVEATS, COPYRIGHTS, TRADE MARKS, ETC.= + + Messrs. Munn & Co., in connection with the publication of the + SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, continue to examine Improvements, and to act as + Solicitors of Patents for Inventors. + + In this line of business they have had OVER THIRTY YEARS' EXPERIENCE, + and now have _unequaled facilities_ for the preparation of Patent + Drawings, Specifications, and the Prosecution of Applications for + Patents in the United States, Canada, and Foreign Countries. Messrs. + Munn & Co. also attend to the preparation of Caveats, Trade Mark + Regulations, Copyrights for Books, Labels, Reissues, Assignments, and + Reports on Infringements of Patents. All business intrusted to them + is done with special care and promptness, on very moderate terms. + + We send free of charge, on application, a pamphlet containing further + information about Patents and how to procure them; directions + concerning Trade Marks, Copyrights, Designs, Patents, Appeals, + Reissues, Infringements, Assignments, Rejected Cases, Hints on the + Sale of Patents, etc. + + =_Foreign Patents._=--We also send, _free of charge_, a Synopsis of + Foreign Patent Laws, showing the cost and method of securing patents + in all the principal countries of the world. American inventors + should bear in mind that, as a general rule, any invention that is + valuable to the patentee in this country is worth equally as much in + England and some other foreign countries. Five patents--embracing + Canadian, English, German, French, and Belgian--will secure to an + inventor the exclusive monopoly to his discovery among about ONE + HUNDRED AND FIFTY MILLIONS of the most intelligent people in the + world. The facilities of business and steam communication are such + that patents can be obtained abroad by our citizens almost as easily + as at home. The expense to apply for an English patent is $75; + German, $100; French, $100; Belgian, $100; Canadian, $50. + + =_Copies of Patents._=--Persons desiring any patent issued from + 1836 to November 26, 1867, can be supplied with official copies at + reasonable cost, the price depending upon the extent of drawings and + length of specifications. + + Any patent issued since November 27, 1867, at which time the Patent + Office commenced printing the drawings and specifications, may be had + by remitting to this office $1. + + A copy of the claims of any patent issued since 1836 will be + furnished for $1. + + When ordering copies, please to remit for the same as above, and + state name of patentee, title of invention, and date of patent. + + A pamphlet, containing full directions for obtaining United States + patents sent free. A handsomely bound Reference Book, gilt edges, + contains 140 pages and many engravings and tables important to every + patentee and mechanic, and is a useful hand book of reference for + everybody. Price 25 cents, mailed free. + + Address + =MUNN & CO.=, + Publishers SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, + 37 Park Row, N. Y. + + _BRANCH OFFICE--Corner of F and 7th Streets, Washington, D. C._ + ---------------------------------------------------------------------- + The "Scientific American" is printed with CHAS. ENEU JOHNSON & CO.'S + INK. Tenth and Lombard Sts., Philadelphia, and 59 Gold St., New York. + + + * * * * * + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES + +Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected. + +Spelling inconsistencies have been retained. + +On page 83, the clause "It has an independent extinguisher for the +smaller wick tube" had "ndependent" in the original. + +On page 91, the ad reading "The Turbine Wheel made by Risdon & Co., Mt. +Holly, N. J., gave the best results at Centennial tests." had "tets" in +the original. + +On page 92, the patent named "Gas, scintillator for lighting" was +numbered "204,28" in the original. The final "5" has been added because +sorting the list reveals that the patent numbers form a consecutive +series from 204,122 to 204,413, with the only one missing being 204,285. + +On page 92, the patent named "Shoetip" was guessed at; the "t" is +unclear in the original. + +On page 94, the phrase "Alcohol Oxidized in the System." had no +terminating punctuation in the original. + +On page 94, the illustration containing the words "Diamonds and +Carbor", the "Carbor" may be an abbreviation for "Carborundum"; the +image is unclear in the original. + +On page 94, in the advertisement for "WATSONS [sic] NON [sic] CHANGEABLE +GAP LATHE", the abbreviation "MANR." had the "R" as a superscript in the +original. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Scientific American, Vol. XXXIX.—No. +6. [New Series.], August 10, 1878, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 43282 *** |