Volume 28 (1874) (430 pages)

April 18, 1874.] MINING AND SCIENTi®IC PRESS. 248 Se eet el §cientiFic Procress. Storms, Fogs, Cyclones. The systematic observations in regard to the state of tho weather made at the present day at numerous meteorlogical stations in Europe aud the United States, and reported by telegraph to a central station, are beariug fruit. The predictlons dednced from laws founded on the exerience gaincd are fulfilled in the great majority of cases, while the number of erroneous predictions is growing smaller and swialler, giving strong hopéa that nitimatety they will cutircly disappear, in which ease meteorological prophecies will heleng to a class ef predictions as reliable ag aro those of eclipses and other astronomical phenomens, Slorms. To the old observatiens that genorally wind and rain are predicted by alow barometer, which means a diminished atmospheric preesnre, has been added the kuowledge that there are definite areas of low barometer which travel asa wavein certain predetermined directions, so that now we can not only predict a storm from the obsorvatien of a low barometer, but we can predict where the low haremeter may be expected, and in what regiens the snbsenent storm is to travol,aud often, even tho irection and force of the wind during its proress. The saving of hnman life and property in consequence of the timely warnings made at the signal stations of our weather bnreaus in onr marine and lake ports, has already been immense; and encouraged by these results, other signal statiens are being erected at promjnent peints on our sea-censt, so as to be as moch as possible within sight of vessels outaide, which then can take their courss according to the indicationa given of the weather to be expected. Fogs. The latest observatious have also shown that even as a storm is preceded by a lew haremeter, afeg is preceded hy a high harometer; so that the late English weather reperts prove that the dreadful fogs nnder which London suffered on the 11th, 12th and 13th of December last, were preceded hy an aerial wavo of high preseure; and as the condition ef the atmosphere in a fog is in seme respects the opposite of that duriug a storm, (namely, no wind or too mucb wind,) it is rational tosnppose that they proceed from opposite previeus cenditions—excess or deficiency of atmospherio pressure. Considering the results of the latter closely, and knowing that the capacity of the air for@moisture increases with the pressure, we find that a high baremeter or dense atmosphere is faverahle for causing the air to abserb muoh moisture, which, as soon as this pressure is relieved, hecomes visible as a cloud; and if wind he totally ahgens, a fog—more densein prepertion to the meiatnre present. To this must be added that when a gentle current of cool air passes over a warm, moist layer of air below, or ever a surface of water, warmer than this air, vapor will be cendensed and a layer or fog fermed. Considering that the capacity of air fer moisture diminishes with the pressure, itis a natural consequence that a precipitation moisture—a rain— must generally follow a low barometer, Cyclones. The knowledge of the nature ef the se-called cyeleues, or gigantic whirlwinds, which are the terrer of navigators, has also beceme more correct in consequence ef the late observations. It is found that they do not move in circles, but in ellipses, of which the longest diameter is parallel to the equator. As the center of these cyclones is the most daugerous perticn, and to be aveided by navigators, this knowledge is of tbe ntmest importance, as by means of it ship commanders will be less exposed to the danger of sailing in the elongated axis, by avoiding to sail east or west, and rather to sail north or seuth. Highest Observatory. Not centent with an obssrvatory on top of Mount Washingten, niore than 6,000 feet high, onr weather bureau is establishing one on the tep of Pike’s Peak, in Colorado, more than double that hight, namely, 14,216 feet. The observations on Mount Washington have shown that all great storms come from the soath west, and quickly disappear eastward over the Atlantic ocean. Great expectations are therefore indulged in about the results to be achieved by an observatory in the regions where the storms originate, large mountain masses and peaks being especially considered as storm brewers. Our Rocky Mountains form suchformidable barriera to the interchange of atmospheric maases aronnd them, and covered as they are with perpetual ice and snow, they influence the condition of the vapor-laden currents to such a degree that some consider them as the lahoratories where all our weather is manufactured. In any case, the establishment of a meteorological observatory in the mort ceutral and highest part of our continent, in the real Switzerland of America, amid and above the cloud regions, is of the utmest importance, and promises the grandest results in this line of investigation.— Manufacturer and Builder. Scunemen found in barley straw an average of .78 per cent, of nitrogen; in rye straw an ayerage of 1.65 per cent., smaller quantities than have usually been supposed. ‘The cause of this he asoribes to the removal of parasites, Scientific Notes from the French Academy. From tho reports of recent sessions of the French Academy of Sciences we glean the following interesting morsels ef acientific intelligenco, France, it seems, has experionced an uuusually mild winter. M. Tastes has investigated the matter and thinks that he has fonnd a great atmospherio curreut crossing tho country, which bears about tho saime relatien to the atmosphere as the Gulf Stream does to the ocean, This current becomes displaced in longitude; and according as a given region is in the center or on the borders of the serial tloed, the winter is calm and mild or else visited with cold and storms, Goed -results are commnnicated to the Academy from experiments in using seid taunate of pretoxide of irou as a proservative of wood. The tissne on injection hecemes thoroughly impregnated with a veritable ink, which prevents the destreying uetion of the weather. M. Monier sends some curious specimens which, though seomiug to be very hard graphite, capahle of scratching glass and even silox, sre composed of sngar—the residuum after evaporating, probably—heated, away from the air, to a white red temperature. MM. Jelly and Bar. bier suggest that the wires used fer electric hells and similar purposes in buildings may he converted into fire detectors if they are simply coated with ruhber as an insulator, The idea is that, where the wires of a cirouit touch, on the heat melting the rubber cevering, the exposed copper will come in contact, establishing the oirenit, and so sounding the alarms. M. Spinelli has construoted a halloon and proposes to ascend higher than 24,000 feet. He helieves that pure oxygen, ina compressible state and mixed with the rare atmesphere at great elevations, will enahle him to breathe without difficulty. In spito of the numherless preventives suggested, the phylloxera continues its ravages in the vineyards of France. The Minister of Agrienlture and Commerce has recently appointed a commission to examine plans, and ‘has offered a prize of $4,000 fer a means of exterminating the nuisance. M. Ballard annonnees that he has completed a long series ef experiments of the action of water on lead, and concludes that water containing sulphates and carbonates, attacks the metal very slightly, while the effect of water charged with chlorides and nitrates is very plainly marked. Veceranie Puystorocy.—Professor J eseph Behm has communicated te the Academy of Sciences of Vienna eeme curieus and interesting observations on vegetuble physiology. He has found that young plants produced frem seed germinating in pure oxygen gas of ordinary density speedily die, although they centinue to consume oxygen to as great an extent as when they are growing in atmospheric air. The yonng plants thrive, however, in pure oxygen when the density of the latter is reduced so as to represent only a pressure of abeut six inches ef mereury, or when pure oxygen of ordinary density is mixed with fourfifths of its volume of hydrogen. Professor Behm has also investigated the action of carben upon the growth and greenness of plants, and found that an intermixtnre of only 2 per cent. of carbonie acid in the airin whieh plants are growing suffices to retard the fermatien of green colering matter (chlorophyl), and that the process is almost or entirely suppressed in an atmosphere centaining 20 per cent. of tbis gas. No germination of seeds took place in an aUagep here consisting of one-half carhenic acid, Ow THe Manuracturs or Attoys or IRon.—A patent has been taken in France for obtaining alloys of iron with magnesia, titanium, tungstene, silicium, ete. Scrap-iron and iron turnings and filiugs, or iron sponge coarsely pulverized, are mixed with minerals containing the manganese, tungsten, titanium, or silicium, alse pulverized, in suitable proportions, and moistened nniformly and cempletely with an ammoniacal or an acid solutien, after which the mass is compressed in molds. Great evolution of heat takes place, and ina few hours a hard cempact mass results which is broken into fragments with a sledge. These fragments do not disaggregate at the temperature of meltingiron. They are used in a peculiarly constructed high furnace, and when reduced yield excellent alloys. The torro-manganese contains at pleasure from 20 to 75 per cent. Manganese, and the same way ferro-silicium containing 22 por cent. of silicium has been obtained. Alloys of titanium and tungsten, or of all combined, are readily procurable. The temperature required is very high.— American Chemist, A Curious InnusTRaTIoN oF CAPILLARITY.— The following experiment was described ata recent meeting of the French Academy of Sciences: Put into a flask a small quantity of carbonic disulphide (bisulphide of carbon), and let a small tight roll of filtering paper pass through a hole in the cork and dip into the liquid, which will ascond through the pores of the paper and evaporates rapidly on coming in contact with the air outside. The temperature is thus reduced to about zero of the Fahrenheit ecale, and the moisture of the air is condensed and precipitated in the state of hoar-frost, forming with the disulphide a peculiar white hydrate. As the evaporation goes on, this gradually accumulates until it rises in mushroom shape to the hight of an inch or so above the cork. MECHANICAL SP ROGRESS. Marvels of Mechanical Skill in Metal Working. The World of Wonder records the following: In the twentieth year of Qneen Elizaboth, a blacksmith, named Mark Scaliot, made a lock consisting of cleven pieces of iron, steel and brass, all of which, together with a key, weighed but ono grain ef geld. He also made a chain of geld, cousistiug of forty-three links, and having fasteued to this tbe heforementioned leck and koy, he put tho chain abont tbe neck of o flea, which drew them all with ease, All these togothor—lock and key, chain and fleaa— weighed only one grainand a half. Oswaldus Nethingerus, who was mere famous than Sealiot for his minute contrivances, is said to have made 1,609 dishes of turued ivory, all perfect and complete in every part, yet so small, thin and slender, that all of them wero included at once in a cup turned out of a pepper corn of the commen size, Johunes Shad, of Meitehand, carried this wonderful work with him to Reme, and showed it to Pope Panl V., wbo saw and counted them all by tbe help of a pair of spectacles. They were so small as to be almost invisible to the eye. The smallest steam eugine on record was made by a Scotchman uamed Crawford, Itis potas in every part, and so small that it can e cevered hy a Jady’s thimble, It can be worked hy steam, for which Mr. Crawford has a small apparatus prepared, but he usually works it by atmospherio pressure throngh a flexible tuhe, with rabher air receiver. Mr. Crawford is an engine mannfacturer, and made the engines on the Onnard line of steamships. The pet engine was made as au amusement, and te shew what conld be done. It is nndouhtedly the smallest working machine ever made, Mr. Orawford keeps it carefully enclosed in a glass cage, and has refused several offers for it from persens who wished it as a ouriosity, Among the marvels of ingenions mecbanism, the great cleck of Strashurg Cathedral stande pre-eminent. It is said te have found a rival, however, in the handiwork of a German mechanic, of Cinciunati, who has made a clock which is thus described: We see in a glass case, athree-stery, steeple-shaped cleck, four feet wide at the first etory and three feet high. The movement is placed in the first story, on four delicate columns, withiu which swings the pendulum. The secoud stery consists of two tower-like pieces, on the doors of which there are two pictures that represent boyhood and early manhoed. A tower crowns, as third story, the ingenious structure. A cock, as a symbel of watchfulness, stands upon the top, directly over the pertal. When the clock makes the first quarter, the door of the left piece ef the second story opens, and a child issues from the background, comes forward to a little hell, gives it one blow and then disappears. At the secend quarter a youth appears, strikes the hell twice, and disappears; at the third there cemes a man in his prime; at the fonrth we have a tottering old man, leauing on a staff, who strikes the bell four times. Each time the door closes of itself. When the hours are full, the deer of the right piece of the secend story opens, and death, as 8 skeleton, scythe in hand, appears, and marks the hour by striking a bell. But it igs at the twelfth hour that we have tbe grand spectacle in the representation of the day of judgment. Then, when Death has struck three blows on the little hell, the ceck on the top of tbe tower suddenly flaps his wings, and crows in a shrill tone; and, after Death has marked the twelfth*hour with his hammer, he crows again twice. Immediately three angels, who stand as guardiaus ina central pesition, raise their trumpets with their right hands (in the left they hold swords), and blow a blast toward each of the four quarters of the earth. At the last blast the door of the tower opens, and the resmrrected children of earth appear, while the destroying angel sinks out of sight. Then, suddenly, Christ deseeuds,.surrounded by angels. On his left there is an angel who helds the scales of justice; on his right anotber carries the alpha and omega—the beginning and theend. Christ waves hig hand, and instantly the good among the resurrected are separated from the wicked, the former going to the right, the latter to the left. The archangel Michael salutes the good, while on tbe other side stands the devil, radiant with fiendish delight—he can hardly wait for the final sentence of those who fall to him, bnt, in obedience to the command of the central figure, he withdraws. The figure of Christ raises its hand with a threatening mien, and the accursed sink down to the realms of the satanic majesty. Then Christ blessea the chosen few, who draw near him. Finally we hear a cheerful chime of bells, during which Christ rises, surrounded by his angels, until he disappears and the portal closes. Improven Maonine For SovToHine or ScraPine Hocs anp Soatina Fisn.—This invention relates to a new machine for dressing hogs after the same havo been slaughtered, and more particularly for removing the bristles from their skins, and it may also be used for removing seales from fishes. The invention consists in the use of a rotary endless chain containing a series of projecting or scaling tools or plates, and also in the combination of a cleaning brush, by which the plates are kept in condition. Wire Rore.—The uses of wire rope, at first almost entirely confined in its practical applioation'to the standing rigging of ships, are uew almost inuumerahle, Among the most prominent of these uses, in addition to the standing aud running riggiug of ships, may be mentioued snbmarine cahles for telegraphing; suspension bridges; guide, incliue and flat repes, for mining }purposes; special forms of rope, for engineering uses; pneumatie telegraphs; traetion ropes fer tramways; steel plow ropes; ropes for the transport of sugar canes; tent stay repes; cudless driviug Lands; bullock traces; telegraphic runnicg and stay strand; fencing strand; ropes for stagiug; railway single cords; clock lines; clothes lines; sash lines; lightning condnctors; gilt and silver cords for hanging picturos, eto. Many ether applications might alse he enumerated; while fer all these purposes they are believed to be stronger, lighter, cheaper and more durable than any other article thns employed. These ropes are manufactured from cast, hemogenous and Bessemer steel; also from charcoal and common hrands of iron, mae or annealed, and frou) oepper and brass. —Iren Age. Ir sometimes happens that hy centering, ete., the interier diameter of a tire becomes so much too large that it will not fit tho wheel. Such defects have becn corrected for a long timo hy J. Fiedler, a German machinist, by heating the tire red het, and holdiug in that cendition half immersed in celd water until cold, then heating again red hot and immersing the other half in the same way. In the first operation the uninmersed hot portion must contract with the portion rapidly ceoled, with a correspoudiug condensation of material, and consequent permanent diminution of diameter, and in the second operatien a similar effect is produced en the other half. By these two operations an interior diameter of 34 inches jean be redueed % ineh, and by feur operations % inch. ‘Yhe method given is not cenfined to tires, an instance being given where a ring of Bessemer steel, to be used as a flange ring, had been entirely misshayed by an inexperienced workman, and was drawn into shape by heating 15 times, and ceeling different portiens. Cempreseinc Cast Merars.—Mr. Horace W. Mann, of Omaha, Nebraska, hag invented a pertahle apparatue for selidifying cast metals in their liquid state by cempressed air, which is forced directly on top of the gate in the flask after the metal is poured. This invention consists of a pertable re8ervoir fer compressed air, with a pump attached, which latter is eonnected by rubber hose with a cylindrics] cap that is fitted and clamped to a cylinder fastened to the top of flask. Beth cylinders are coupled together hy projectiug flanges and clamps. The flask cylinder is provided with a clay wash, and, previous to the peuring ef the liquid metal, with a ring or cap piece, set on top to prevent the hot metal from coming in contact with the clay wash. The ring is removed as seon as the metal is poured, the cap is then clamped on the cylinder and a stop cock opened, so that the compressed air is let directly on tep of metal throngh the gate of the flask, compressing the metals in the melde, ° Wuixe America leads the world in the boldness of her suspensien and arched bridges, it is, strange te say, in conservative Hollaud that we must leok for the largest span of girderbridge yet constructed, namely, the Meerdyck bridge, of 493 feet span, while the largest English span, the Brittannia, is 460 feet, and the largest American, that at Cincinnati, is 420 feet. Even in swing bridges there appeare to be nothing in this country that eqnals the span of the bridge at Brest, in France, of 388 feet opening, or 19114 feet from the center of turn table to the outer end. Itis not unlikely that in a few years these several comparisens will all be 1eversed in favor of America, fer in no other ceuutry at present are greater engineering structures of this description in progrees or projected.— Ex, Ay Imenovement IN Instins Winpow Burbs was suggested te us the other day by one of our subscribers. He propeses to place the slats in a vertical rather than in a horizontal pesition. The effectin large halls, churches, ate., is to effectnally sereen the eyes frem the direct glare of the external light, at the same time that the light may be freely admitted to theroom. If the slats are made sufficiently wide and adjusted to stand at right angles with the sash, the room may be well lighted without any disagreeable effect either to the speaker or the audience, The gentleman referred to statea thatthis experimsnt hasbeen tried in the church at which he is an attendant, and that the resnlt is entirely satisfactory. We regard the suggestion as a good one.—Artisan. Tue national inventive faculty has taken a queer twist in the direction of cigar boxes. The patent office is said to be overrun with models. We are at a loss to gness whether thie is the effect of a freak like that which flooded the land with straw-cutters and washing machines, or a suggestion of the oxcise on cigars which makes a new box necessary for overy hundred sold, as an addition—wholly unnecessary, and uuproductive of any reveuue to the government—of eight per cent. to the cost of them. If it is the latter, probably a repeal of the onerous and nseless exaction of a new box for every new stamp would relieve the disorder.—Iron World. Atuminum is now being nsed quite extensively for gas burners,

April 18, 1874.] MINING AND SCIENTi®IC PRESS. 248 Se eet el §cientiFic Procress. Storms, Fogs, Cyclones. The systematic observations in regard to the state of tho weather made at the present day at numerous meteorlogical stations in Europe aud the United States, and reported by telegraph to a central station, are beariug fruit. The predictlons dednced from laws founded on the exerience gaincd are fulfilled in the great majority of cases, while the number of erroneous predictions is growing smaller and swialler, giving strong hopéa that nitimatety they will cutircly disappear, in which ease meteorological prophecies will heleng to a class ef predictions as reliable ag aro those of eclipses and other astronomical phenomens, Slorms. To the old observatiens that genorally wind and rain are predicted by alow barometer, which means a diminished atmospheric preesnre, has been added the kuowledge that there are definite areas of low barometer which travel asa wavein certain predetermined directions, so that now we can not only predict a storm from the obsorvatien of a low barometer, but we can predict where the low haremeter may be expected, and in what regiens the snbsenent storm is to travol,aud often, even tho irection and force of the wind during its proress. The saving of hnman life and property in consequence of the timely warnings made at the signal stations of our weather bnreaus in onr marine and lake ports, has already been immense; and encouraged by these results, other signal statiens are being erected at promjnent peints on our sea-censt, so as to be as moch as possible within sight of vessels outaide, which then can take their courss according to the indicationa given of the weather to be expected. Fogs. The latest observatious have also shown that even as a storm is preceded by a lew haremeter, afeg is preceded hy a high harometer; so that the late English weather reperts prove that the dreadful fogs nnder which London suffered on the 11th, 12th and 13th of December last, were preceded hy an aerial wavo of high preseure; and as the condition ef the atmosphere in a fog is in seme respects the opposite of that duriug a storm, (namely, no wind or too mucb wind,) it is rational tosnppose that they proceed from opposite previeus cenditions—excess or deficiency of atmospherio pressure. Considering the results of the latter closely, and knowing that the capacity of the air for@moisture increases with the pressure, we find that a high baremeter or dense atmosphere is faverahle for causing the air to abserb muoh moisture, which, as soon as this pressure is relieved, hecomes visible as a cloud; and if wind he totally ahgens, a fog—more densein prepertion to the meiatnre present. To this must be added that when a gentle current of cool air passes over a warm, moist layer of air below, or ever a surface of water, warmer than this air, vapor will be cendensed and a layer or fog fermed. Considering that the capacity of air fer moisture diminishes with the pressure, itis a natural consequence that a precipitation moisture—a rain— must generally follow a low barometer, Cyclones. The knowledge of the nature ef the se-called cyeleues, or gigantic whirlwinds, which are the terrer of navigators, has also beceme more correct in consequence ef the late observations. It is found that they do not move in circles, but in ellipses, of which the longest diameter is parallel to the equator. As the center of these cyclones is the most daugerous perticn, and to be aveided by navigators, this knowledge is of tbe ntmest importance, as by means of it ship commanders will be less exposed to the danger of sailing in the elongated axis, by avoiding to sail east or west, and rather to sail north or seuth. Highest Observatory. Not centent with an obssrvatory on top of Mount Washingten, niore than 6,000 feet high, onr weather bureau is establishing one on the tep of Pike’s Peak, in Colorado, more than double that hight, namely, 14,216 feet. The observations on Mount Washington have shown that all great storms come from the soath west, and quickly disappear eastward over the Atlantic ocean. Great expectations are therefore indulged in about the results to be achieved by an observatory in the regions where the storms originate, large mountain masses and peaks being especially considered as storm brewers. Our Rocky Mountains form suchformidable barriera to the interchange of atmospheric maases aronnd them, and covered as they are with perpetual ice and snow, they influence the condition of the vapor-laden currents to such a degree that some consider them as the lahoratories where all our weather is manufactured. In any case, the establishment of a meteorological observatory in the mort ceutral and highest part of our continent, in the real Switzerland of America, amid and above the cloud regions, is of the utmest importance, and promises the grandest results in this line of investigation.— Manufacturer and Builder. Scunemen found in barley straw an average of .78 per cent, of nitrogen; in rye straw an ayerage of 1.65 per cent., smaller quantities than have usually been supposed. ‘The cause of this he asoribes to the removal of parasites, Scientific Notes from the French Academy. From tho reports of recent sessions of the French Academy of Sciences we glean the following interesting morsels ef acientific intelligenco, France, it seems, has experionced an uuusually mild winter. M. Tastes has investigated the matter and thinks that he has fonnd a great atmospherio curreut crossing tho country, which bears about tho saime relatien to the atmosphere as the Gulf Stream does to the ocean, This current becomes displaced in longitude; and according as a given region is in the center or on the borders of the serial tloed, the winter is calm and mild or else visited with cold and storms, Goed -results are commnnicated to the Academy from experiments in using seid taunate of pretoxide of irou as a proservative of wood. The tissne on injection hecemes thoroughly impregnated with a veritable ink, which prevents the destreying uetion of the weather. M. Monier sends some curious specimens which, though seomiug to be very hard graphite, capahle of scratching glass and even silox, sre composed of sngar—the residuum after evaporating, probably—heated, away from the air, to a white red temperature. MM. Jelly and Bar. bier suggest that the wires used fer electric hells and similar purposes in buildings may he converted into fire detectors if they are simply coated with ruhber as an insulator, The idea is that, where the wires of a cirouit touch, on the heat melting the rubber cevering, the exposed copper will come in contact, establishing the oirenit, and so sounding the alarms. M. Spinelli has construoted a halloon and proposes to ascend higher than 24,000 feet. He helieves that pure oxygen, ina compressible state and mixed with the rare atmesphere at great elevations, will enahle him to breathe without difficulty. In spito of the numherless preventives suggested, the phylloxera continues its ravages in the vineyards of France. The Minister of Agrienlture and Commerce has recently appointed a commission to examine plans, and ‘has offered a prize of $4,000 fer a means of exterminating the nuisance. M. Ballard annonnees that he has completed a long series ef experiments of the action of water on lead, and concludes that water containing sulphates and carbonates, attacks the metal very slightly, while the effect of water charged with chlorides and nitrates is very plainly marked. Veceranie Puystorocy.—Professor J eseph Behm has communicated te the Academy of Sciences of Vienna eeme curieus and interesting observations on vegetuble physiology. He has found that young plants produced frem seed germinating in pure oxygen gas of ordinary density speedily die, although they centinue to consume oxygen to as great an extent as when they are growing in atmospheric air. The yonng plants thrive, however, in pure oxygen when the density of the latter is reduced so as to represent only a pressure of abeut six inches ef mereury, or when pure oxygen of ordinary density is mixed with fourfifths of its volume of hydrogen. Professor Behm has also investigated the action of carben upon the growth and greenness of plants, and found that an intermixtnre of only 2 per cent. of carbonie acid in the airin whieh plants are growing suffices to retard the fermatien of green colering matter (chlorophyl), and that the process is almost or entirely suppressed in an atmosphere centaining 20 per cent. of tbis gas. No germination of seeds took place in an aUagep here consisting of one-half carhenic acid, Ow THe Manuracturs or Attoys or IRon.—A patent has been taken in France for obtaining alloys of iron with magnesia, titanium, tungstene, silicium, ete. Scrap-iron and iron turnings and filiugs, or iron sponge coarsely pulverized, are mixed with minerals containing the manganese, tungsten, titanium, or silicium, alse pulverized, in suitable proportions, and moistened nniformly and cempletely with an ammoniacal or an acid solutien, after which the mass is compressed in molds. Great evolution of heat takes place, and ina few hours a hard cempact mass results which is broken into fragments with a sledge. These fragments do not disaggregate at the temperature of meltingiron. They are used in a peculiarly constructed high furnace, and when reduced yield excellent alloys. The torro-manganese contains at pleasure from 20 to 75 per cent. Manganese, and the same way ferro-silicium containing 22 por cent. of silicium has been obtained. Alloys of titanium and tungsten, or of all combined, are readily procurable. The temperature required is very high.— American Chemist, A Curious InnusTRaTIoN oF CAPILLARITY.— The following experiment was described ata recent meeting of the French Academy of Sciences: Put into a flask a small quantity of carbonic disulphide (bisulphide of carbon), and let a small tight roll of filtering paper pass through a hole in the cork and dip into the liquid, which will ascond through the pores of the paper and evaporates rapidly on coming in contact with the air outside. The temperature is thus reduced to about zero of the Fahrenheit ecale, and the moisture of the air is condensed and precipitated in the state of hoar-frost, forming with the disulphide a peculiar white hydrate. As the evaporation goes on, this gradually accumulates until it rises in mushroom shape to the hight of an inch or so above the cork. MECHANICAL SP ROGRESS. Marvels of Mechanical Skill in Metal Working. The World of Wonder records the following: In the twentieth year of Qneen Elizaboth, a blacksmith, named Mark Scaliot, made a lock consisting of cleven pieces of iron, steel and brass, all of which, together with a key, weighed but ono grain ef geld. He also made a chain of geld, cousistiug of forty-three links, and

having fasteued to this tbe heforementioned leck and koy, he put tho chain abont tbe neck of o flea, which drew them all with ease, All these togothor—lock and key, chain and fleaa— weighed only one grainand a half. Oswaldus Nethingerus, who was mere famous than Sealiot for his minute contrivances, is said to have made 1,609 dishes of turued ivory, all perfect and complete in every part, yet so small, thin and slender, that all of them wero included at once in a cup turned out of a pepper corn of the commen size, Johunes Shad, of Meitehand, carried this wonderful work with him to Reme, and showed it to Pope Panl V., wbo saw and counted them all by tbe help of a pair of spectacles. They were so small as to be almost invisible to the eye. The smallest steam eugine on record was made by a Scotchman uamed Crawford, Itis potas in every part, and so small that it can e cevered hy a Jady’s thimble, It can be worked hy steam, for which Mr. Crawford has a small apparatus prepared, but he usually works it by atmospherio pressure throngh a flexible tuhe, with rabher air receiver. Mr. Crawford is an engine mannfacturer, and made the engines on the Onnard line of steamships. The pet engine was made as au amusement, and te shew what conld be done. It is nndouhtedly the smallest working machine ever made, Mr. Orawford keeps it carefully enclosed in a glass cage, and has refused several offers for it from persens who wished it as a ouriosity, Among the marvels of ingenions mecbanism, the great cleck of Strashurg Cathedral stande pre-eminent. It is said te have found a rival, however, in the handiwork of a German mechanic, of Cinciunati, who has made a clock which is thus described: We see in a glass case, athree-stery, steeple-shaped cleck, four feet wide at the first etory and three feet high. The movement is placed in the first story, on four delicate columns, withiu which swings the pendulum. The secoud stery consists of two tower-like pieces, on the doors of which there are two pictures that represent boyhood and early manhoed. A tower crowns, as third story, the ingenious structure. A cock, as a symbel of watchfulness, stands upon the top, directly over the pertal. When the clock makes the first quarter, the door of the left piece ef the second story opens, and a child issues from the background, comes forward to a little hell, gives it one blow and then disappears. At the secend quarter a youth appears, strikes the hell twice, and disappears; at the third there cemes a man in his prime; at the fonrth we have a tottering old man, leauing on a staff, who strikes the bell four times. Each time the door closes of itself. When the hours are full, the deer of the right piece of the secend story opens, and death, as 8 skeleton, scythe in hand, appears, and marks the hour by striking a bell. But it igs at the twelfth hour that we have tbe grand spectacle in the representation of the day of judgment. Then, when Death has struck three blows on the little hell, the ceck on the top of tbe tower suddenly flaps his wings, and crows in a shrill tone; and, after Death has marked the twelfth*hour with his hammer, he crows again twice. Immediately three angels, who stand as guardiaus ina central pesition, raise their trumpets with their right hands (in the left they hold swords), and blow a blast toward each of the four quarters of the earth. At the last blast the door of the tower opens, and the resmrrected children of earth appear, while the destroying angel sinks out of sight. Then, suddenly, Christ deseeuds,.surrounded by angels. On his left there is an angel who helds the scales of justice; on his right anotber carries the alpha and omega—the beginning and theend. Christ waves hig hand, and instantly the good among the resurrected are separated from the wicked, the former going to the right, the latter to the left. The archangel Michael salutes the good, while on tbe other side stands the devil, radiant with fiendish delight—he can hardly wait for the final sentence of those who fall to him, bnt, in obedience to the command of the central figure, he withdraws. The figure of Christ raises its hand with a threatening mien, and the accursed sink down to the realms of the satanic majesty. Then Christ blessea the chosen few, who draw near him. Finally we hear a cheerful chime of bells, during which Christ rises, surrounded by his angels, until he disappears and the portal closes. Improven Maonine For SovToHine or ScraPine Hocs anp Soatina Fisn.—This invention relates to a new machine for dressing hogs after the same havo been slaughtered, and more particularly for removing the bristles from their skins, and it may also be used for removing seales from fishes. The invention consists in the use of a rotary endless chain containing a series of projecting or scaling tools or plates, and also in the combination of a cleaning brush, by which the plates are kept in condition. Wire Rore.—The uses of wire rope, at first almost entirely confined in its practical applioation'to the standing rigging of ships, are uew almost inuumerahle, Among the most prominent of these uses, in addition to the standing aud running riggiug of ships, may be mentioued snbmarine cahles for telegraphing; suspension bridges; guide, incliue and flat repes, for mining }purposes; special forms of rope, for engineering uses; pneumatie telegraphs; traetion ropes fer tramways; steel plow ropes; ropes for the transport of sugar canes; tent stay repes; cudless driviug Lands; bullock traces; telegraphic runnicg and stay strand; fencing strand; ropes for stagiug; railway single cords; clock lines; clothes lines; sash lines; lightning condnctors; gilt and silver cords for hanging picturos, eto. Many ether applications might alse he enumerated; while fer all these purposes they are believed to be stronger, lighter, cheaper and more durable than any other article thns employed. These ropes are manufactured from cast, hemogenous and Bessemer steel; also from charcoal and common hrands of iron, mae or annealed, and frou) oepper and brass. —Iren Age. Ir sometimes happens that hy centering, ete., the interier diameter of a tire becomes so much too large that it will not fit tho wheel. Such defects have becn corrected for a long timo hy J. Fiedler, a German machinist, by heating the tire red het, and holdiug in that cendition half immersed in celd water until cold, then heating again red hot and immersing the other half in the same way. In the first operation the uninmersed hot portion must contract with the portion rapidly ceoled, with a correspoudiug condensation of material, and consequent permanent diminution of diameter, and in the second operatien a similar effect is produced en the other half. By these two operations an interior diameter of 34 inches jean be redueed % ineh, and by feur operations % inch. ‘Yhe method given is not cenfined to tires, an instance being given where a ring of Bessemer steel, to be used as a flange ring, had been entirely misshayed by an inexperienced workman, and was drawn into shape by heating 15 times, and ceeling different portiens. Cempreseinc Cast Merars.—Mr. Horace W. Mann, of Omaha, Nebraska, hag invented a pertahle apparatue for selidifying cast metals in their liquid state by cempressed air, which is forced directly on top of the gate in the flask after the metal is poured. This invention consists of a pertable re8ervoir fer compressed air, with a pump attached, which latter is eonnected by rubber hose with a cylindrics] cap that is fitted and clamped to a cylinder fastened to the top of flask. Beth cylinders are coupled together hy projectiug flanges and clamps. The flask cylinder is provided with a clay wash, and, previous to the peuring ef the liquid metal, with a ring or cap piece, set on top to prevent the hot metal from coming in contact with the clay wash. The ring is removed as seon as the metal is poured, the cap is then clamped on the cylinder and a stop cock opened, so that the compressed air is let directly on tep of metal throngh the gate of the flask, compressing the metals in the melde, ° Wuixe America leads the world in the boldness of her suspensien and arched bridges, it is, strange te say, in conservative Hollaud that we must leok for the largest span of girderbridge yet constructed, namely, the Meerdyck bridge, of 493 feet span, while the largest English span, the Brittannia, is 460 feet, and the largest American, that at Cincinnati, is 420 feet. Even in swing bridges there appeare to be nothing in this country that eqnals the span of the bridge at Brest, in France, of 388 feet opening, or 19114 feet from the center of turn table to the outer end. Itis not unlikely that in a few years these several comparisens will all be 1eversed in favor of America, fer in no other ceuutry at present are greater engineering structures of this description in progrees or projected.— Ex, Ay Imenovement IN Instins Winpow Burbs was suggested te us the other day by one of our subscribers. He propeses to place the slats in a vertical rather than in a horizontal pesition. The effectin large halls, churches, ate., is to effectnally sereen the eyes frem the direct glare of the external light, at the same time that the light may be freely admitted to theroom. If the slats are made sufficiently wide and adjusted to stand at right angles with the sash, the room may be well lighted without any disagreeable effect either to the speaker or the audience, The gentleman referred to statea thatthis experimsnt hasbeen tried in the church at which he is an attendant, and that the resnlt is entirely satisfactory. We regard the suggestion as a good one.—Artisan. Tue national inventive faculty has taken a queer twist in the direction of cigar boxes. The patent office is said to be overrun with models. We are at a loss to gness whether thie is the effect of a freak like that which flooded the land with straw-cutters and washing machines, or a suggestion of the oxcise on cigars which makes a new box necessary for overy hundred sold, as an addition—wholly unnecessary, and uuproductive of any reveuue to the government—of eight per cent. to the cost of them. If it is the latter, probably a repeal of the onerous and nseless exaction of a new box for every new stamp would relieve the disorder.—Iron World. Atuminum is now being nsed quite extensively for gas burners,