Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Plattsmouth daily herald. (Plattsmouth, Nebraska) 1883-19?? | View Entire Issue (June 23, 1888)
G i El 0 . V 1 7 "" " : o 1 XING IX HARNESS. 11 i ..ICENT INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS OP ELECTRICAL SCIENCE. A F1m Prophet Novelties of Electrle Ucbllng-New Thing In Telegrapby. " i:irtriclt M m Slotlve Power Many Other Hnf-irllng laro(luiu. It cannot tut be interesting to all to know antitctbiiig of the mora important stops that hdvo recently ljn taken In applying the ncU-ncu of electricity us an Industrial art. The font U oim Hint Is easily convertible into either light, liifut, power or chemical action. But a few years since scion tiflo men gen erally afllrtned that it could not be profitably emfloycd in either form. Now they are in hut competition duruoiuitrating its economic value in each. And every uew achievement reveaU further anl greater possibilities at tainable leiyond in encb of tbe several lines of application, until it almost septus that this science is iu itself the knowledge of the in finite Ho little awhile flo that It teems but yes terday the writer of this article hear J a pro fesnor in a college near New York aver in a publfo lecture that lncand'-scent electric lighting was an illusion, a humbug, an Iru IMjoMibUity. At the time Edisou's experi mental lumps were glowuig brightly uriiai umps were giowuig ongutiy at Mfcilo I'ark, but the professor saw Ct to ig nore the fact, and, exhibiting a dull, glowing f.iit of platinum wire, said triumphantly: 'There, gentlemen, is all you will ever see of tbo incanilesct-nt electric light. " The arc light con 1.1 not bo denied, for everybody knew that the JablochkolT candles were uightly glowing in tho Avenue de l'Opera in I'uri. FZVKX TEA IU1 I-4.TEO. Today, hardly seven years sinco that pro feasor did bis bad prophet act, there are, it is trtinuited. -fit least 2.000,000 incandescent elwctric lights in tho United States alono. They are used not only for indoor illumina tion, lnt for decorative purposes have been ingoiiiouHly appiiel to use as jewelry, for the adornment of ladies' hair, for pretty sur prises in bouquets and most surprising of all -for lighting up pooplo's interiors so that a doctor could look right down Into the stomachs and see what repairs were neces sary to so much of their "works" as were thus made visible. The apparatus for this latter achievement consists of a slender tube, with a gl;tsa bead on one end containing a minute carbon filament, which is connected, ly fine wires running through the tube, with a Uttio battery. There is also a small mov able mirror at tbe inner or stomach end of the tube, and when tbe batiery Is put in operation the operator can see plainly in that mirror JiiKt how dilapidated are the coats of the stomach into which the tube has been thruat. Arc lighting la quite a different matter from incandescent illumination, in that its limitations, requirements and uses are moro closely defined. For the lighting up of vast paces it has a field of its own, but, accord ing to Information given at the recent annual session of the Electric institute in this city, that field is already being uarrowej. The arc light is no longer the feature of street illumination in Paris that it was a few years ago, having been replaced by groupings of iowerful gaslights on the Avenue de l'Opera, tbe principal place of its display there. New York is now the most extensively arc lighted city in tbe world, but if the appalling perils that seem to be involved in tho employment of the tremendous current necessitated by these lights aro not prevented by such safe guards as tbe burial of tbe wires and their more perfect insulation, it is doubtful if they will long be tolerated here. There is hardly j conceivable limit to the power to which the ore light may be developed, but the . largest one yet known is that in tbe lights -"V bouse at Sydney, Australia, which equal 1SG.0U0 caudJes, and can be seen fifty miles. Mr. S. 8. W heeler, as standards of compari son to enable comprehension of what that Jiht amounts to, suggests that an ordinary gas burner U of 16 candle power; tbe bright tlectric lights in the streets are 1,200 to 1jOO candle power, and the Stat uo of Liberty light i 43,000 candle power. TI!E TEI.ECIRAPH BEItVtCTS. Of equal importance, at least with its uu for illumination, is tbe application of elec tricity for telegraphic and telephonic service, and it is really wonderful that with all the study and toil of brainy men during so many years as it has teen since the telegraph w;is put in Oration, for tbe perfecting of the science of telegraphy, tbcro should still be so taany new and important things found out in It every year. One of tho novel and probably valuable recent discoveries is bow to send by telegraph an exact fac-simile of a message, and to do so rapidly. A method has been known a long time by which a fac-simile was mode up of an infinite number of minute dots successively, placed on a piece of paper spread upon a cylinder in synchronous move ment with another cylinder bearing the mes sage. A pciat, pressed upon the message cylinder as it revolved, caused the break ing of tbe current each time that it touched a written line the ink employed being metallic and tnada a mark by tbe receiving instrument corresponding to just so much of tho line as had been touched. Uut that was a very slow process. In the new way an upright lever, so pinioned that it moves freely iu all directions, carries in Its top a little cup. Into that cup tbe sender of a message pokes bis pencil, and forms, one after another, the letters composing bis dis patch. It will probably rattle him a little at first to go on making shapes of letters right la tbe same sjKjt, one over another, as if be were piling up phantom symbols, and to see nona of then materialize under bis pencil, but bo (vill soon get used to that. Each movement of the lever's lower end increases or diminishes the strength of currents that, acting upon tte receiTiu g machinery, move the writing pen in such carved modifications of tbo right angled applications of tho forces as to conform to tbe motions of the trans mitting lever. This must not be confounded with tbe writ t Ing system now so extensively employed in transatlantic telegraphy to take tbe place of tl4 old, ex certain and slow light epot method of receiving cablo messagea. A strong bat tery cannot be used on ocean cables, but only a small one, hardly stronger than that em ployed to ring a call bell in a private boose. To receive the signals sent by so weak a bat tery very delicate apparatus must be pro-'-rided. A siphon shaped glass tube, thin and so slender that a human hair will hardly pass through it, if suspended with one end in a trough of very fluid ink and tbe other al most touching a moving telegraphic tape. It la connected by a tLread with a coil of fine wire, which is so bung near to a stationary magnet that it will twist slightly when at tracted toward tbe magnet, and these slight movements of tbe coil control tbe siphon, causing it to trace a faint waved line in re sponse to the vibrations of tbe signal current received by the coil and Impelling it toward tbe magnet. Each wave of the lino means a letter, and the expert operator reads the thread of faint color as plainly and correctly a anybody reads these printed words. A SURPUTSCtO Taisa It was at the Umo looked apon as a surpris ing thing when tbe practicability of sending two RMMagnt at tb aim tlma in opposite directions over tbe same wire was demon strated, but that achievement was quickly forgotten when the woncVrsof tbe quadru ples lending four mianages at once), and of multiplex (sending many) telegraphy wera made known. Now it is claimed that such Improvement has been made by a United States army officer, who is an expert electri cian, that one wire will sufllee for the simul taneous sending and receiving of a hundred mcMftagcs between fifty brunch ofTlces, with out any of the message getting mixed, going to the wrong addresses, or being understood at any other points than their individual ones of transmbViou and reception. For this, the infinitely rapid substitution of alternate currents positive and negative by means of a disc, in which alternate segments are so charged, and from which the currents are taken off by brushes, constitute tbe means employetL Another Important recent im provement in telegraphy is the Invention of a method for maintaining telegraphic com munication Lxtween a railroad train in rapid motion and cilices along the line of road upon which it is traveling. In doing this tho messugo leaj through tbe air between the metallic roof of tho moving car In which the flying office is established and the wire stretched along tho sidd of tbo road. In tho application of electricity to tbe movement of railroad trains and cars, the inventions are numerous. In a general way they mny bo classified under two heads, those in which the propelling current is supplied from storage batteries aboard the cars, and those in which it is transmitted through the track or an intermediate third rail from a generating station and taken up by wire brushes to tbe motor on the car. Tbo former U the J u lien system, already mentioned, and hardly seems capablo at present of applica tion to heavier service than the propulsion of single cars, or at most very bhort trains, on street rail ways; to tho second class belongs the Daft system, under which railroads are now very successfully operated in Daltlmore and other cities, as also tho electrio locomotives which it is contemplated shall bo employed on tho elevated roads of New York. St. Paul has a new electric railway of novel con struction. Its cars are suspended in mid air from a T shaped trestle construction, upon a single track, which carries the electrical current to the motor with which each car is supplied. The motors are placed directly on tbe 6bafts of the driving wheels over the cars. It 13 represented that on the recent trials of tho system tho cars, heavily laden, started ofT easily up a 10 per cent, grade, turned sharp curves, were stopped and start ed again promptly and with case. Electrio railroads have been in operation In Europe for several years, and in this one particular branch of applied electrical scienco wo are rather behind the times, which is not Ameri ca's usual position. MANY OTHER rXVENTIOXS. Electric motors of all Eizes, from one cat up to fifteen horse power, have now come into general use, are rapidly pushing small steam engines out of favor, and ore, in fact, so much in demand that the manufacturers of tho preferable ones aro unable to supply them as rapidly as they are'called for. They are applied to all sorts of uses, from wagging a fan on a lady's work table, or running her sewing inachino up to driving the presses of a big printing bouse or supplying tho power required in large machine shops. Electricity is also successfully utilized for tbe development of heat. Professor Thom sou has made a practical application of it in tho welding of iron and steeL At Lockjxjrt, N. Y., an electrical furnace for smelting re fractory metals has been in operation now uearly a year, extracting aluminium mainly Another use for heat developed by elec tricity is tho warming of apartments by means of radiating surfaces, in which a high temperature has been induced by electric cur rents; but, though this has been successfully accomplished, it has not been done as yet at snch a cost as to popularize its use. At least three of tbe later utilizations of electric science for the service of 6urgory are worthy of mention. Tho "induction bal ancrs" invented by Hughes and IJoll first publicly applied for tbe exact location of the bullet in lresident GarficldV back is a most ingenious contrivance, tbo use of which is indicated by its employment upon that occa sion. Tbo electrical cautery and the use of a platinum wire heated to incandeseeuco by an electrical current for amputations are tbe other notable surgical uses of this powerful and versatile agent. Somebody has got up an electrical lock for a safe. Tbo only connection between tho in side and outsido of tho eafo is a little copper wire. There is no way of getting at tho lock by knocking olf tho handle; no wry of feel ing the tumblers and by delicate manipula lion finding out tbo combination; uo hole or crack to poke powder in and blow tho thing open. Electrical burglar alarms are so com mon now from the private plants in resi dences up to the big combinations with watchmen, lanterns and clubs, such as are used to guard tho jewelry district of New York, that it is hardly worth while to speak of them, except to mention that progress bas been made here, too, in making them cheaper and more effective than they used to bo. So much has been said lately about Edison's uew and improved phonograph that it hardly seems worth while to mere than revert to it hero. Edison's separator for extracting metals from ores that are diiQcuit of treatment by ordinary methods has been brought to prac tical demonstration of its merits. lie simply exposes tbo finely pulverized ores to the in fluence of a powerful magnet, that takes out tho metallic particles thoroughly and rapidly. Another novel application of electricity is for tbo Lleaching of sugar, a French inven tion. In which a number of Now York capi talists are interested. Ueeping pace with the progress of electrical science itself are tho multitude of inventions and contrivances of a secondary class to aid that progress, tools, machinery, chemicals end what not. An application of electricity that a good many people are looking forward to with curious interest and some perhaps with a little ap prehension is its employment for the exe cution of felons condemned to death. New York Sua. K road way Jewelers Show Windows. The jewelers 6hop windows used to be tbe most attractive in New York. That was in the good old days, before window dressers made Droadway.a panorama of delight to tbe female eye. To recover the prestige once ac corded them by virtue of tho brilliancy of their wares, jewelers have begun to resort to ingenious mechanical devices. These are not like the mechanical dancing girls and auto matic smokers of the cigar shops by auy means. They ore jowels themselves, but mode to look at rather than for private pur chase. A noted uptown jeweler puts far in front in his Broadway show window a small gold brooch, in tbe center of which is a mag nificent diamond star, cut from a solitaire, and revolving from left to right at a darling speed by the bidden mechanism. Each of tbe five points of tbe star as it twirls revolves in an opiosite direction a smaller diamond star. Tbe effect is grotesquely beautiful, and the stones aro superb. But tbe plate glass is enormously thick. "Twinkle, twinkle, little starf a seedy individual soliloquized last nigbt with a sigh of regret. "Twinkle, twinkle, littlo star; yoa are safe, you bet you aref New York Vorld. ALPINE FUHEIULS. CEREMONIAL OF VISIT TO THE THE . DYING. BEC Funeral Heats and Drinks Respects raid t lb Dead In Coxlnlhl Native Soci ety of the AJps Seeaee and Features After thm Barlal. In tbe remote country districts it may also be said that tbo funeral begins before tbe death. As soon as any biu or woman is supposed to be in tho last agony not oidy all neighbors and friends, but perfect strangers, are Informed of tbe fact and expected to pay a ceremonial visit. Tbe guests simply enter the sick room, take a long look at tbe dying man and go their ways. No prayer is said, hardly a word is spoken; yet even the chance wayfarer who declines to enter tbe bouse of death on such occasions is considered strangely heartless. After death the stream of visitors ceases, but only for a short tlma As soon as the body bas been prepared for burial a long ta ble is spread in the room where it lies and covered with wine, spirits and cold viand of every description, and here open bouse is held day and nigbt till tbe funeral starts for the churchyard. Whoever comes, known or unknown, rich or poor, is not only al lowed, but urged, to eat and drink as much as be can. Beside the coHn at least two huge wax candles, which have been fetched from the church, burn dimly, and near them two old women sit or kneeL They are paid for their services, and supposed to pass their time in prayer. From time to time they ore relieved by others, and they then usually make a somewhat lengthened pause at tho ta ble before going homo. After the return of the funeral the chief mourner invites every ono who bas attended it to a hot meal, which is as sumptuous as be can afford, aud which usually ends in hard drinking. rCXERAL IN CAQINTRIA. Customs of this kind aro not prevalent In Carinthia or Upper Carniola; funerals are there conducted with perfect quiet and de cency. Yet in some observances one may find either tbe germ or the relic of much that shocks us in other districts. On the whole, the arrangements seem to be adjusted to the present religious beliefs and requirements of tbe community, and it is easy to see bow they might degenerate into such excesses as have been mentioned. A simple account of a funeral in Carinthia will show this better than any amount of abstract argu ment. As soon as tbe body has been placed in the coffin and the room put in order, tbe latter is thrown open to tbo visitors. In a Roman Catholic country it is natural that rich and poor should alike wish to say a few prayers for the soul of one who bas been their friend, their companion or their benefactor. Among tbe educated classes certain hours are ap pointed for tbe purpose; among the poorer it is usual to keep tbe bouse open day and night. During the greater part of the time the mourners pray silently, but at certain hours one of them repeats aloud the prayers, in which tbe others join. On leaving tbe room each of tbe visitors is offered a piece of bread and a glass of wine or spirits, and the poor are apt to be offended if the offer is re fused. Among a hospitable population this custom cannot be considered strange, but it must be confessed that, though the refresh ments ore usually consumed in perfect si lcnce, it is open to abuse. Beggars will come six or seven times in the day for the sake of tho dram with whicb tbeir devotions aro re warded, ar.d as it often happens that no member of the family is present, and as uo one would like at such a season to be guilty of an ungracious act, it is very difficult to keep a proper check on such persona THE NATIVE SOCIETY. The native society of the AJps is some what peculiar in its character. Tbe better class of tbe officials have, for the most part. U'eo educated in the same schools, and many of tbem have there formed lasting friend ships with each other. In later years they rarely meet, except at the annual meetings of the societies of which they may happen to be members; but tbe old affection still re mains unimpaired. When the news of the death of an old forester or priest spreads from valley to valley it therefore awakens many kind memories of old times, and on the day of tbe funeral old companions will often come some thirty or forty miles, even ben a railway cannot be used, to pay tbe last tribute of respect to the dead, hi tbe towns these visitors put up at different inns, only those who are very intimate with tbe family think of entering the bouse of mourn ing. At the appointed hour they gather outside tbe door, accompany tbo funeral to tbe churchyard, and on its return speak a few words of sympathy to the family. As a rule, no refreshment is offered them. Ouly the bearers of the coffin, who are usually in timate friends or colleagues of tbe deceased, are invited to a cold repast, which does not last long. In a society at once so closely united and so widely sputtered it cannot but happen that many old friends who have long boon separated should meet on such occasions. and that, after the ceremony is over, they should gather in groups in the various inns. Tbe very thought of the companion they have lost recalls memories of a less somber character. Old boyish pranks are remem bered and old bunting adventures retold, tbe wine flows freely, and, though the occa sion of their meeting is not forgotten, its mournful character no longer casts a gloom over tbe whole of tho conversation. In fact, when a respected citizen of any small town has Un buried, a stranger who entered any of the chief bouses of entertainment in the afternoon would fancy that a festival was being celebrated. London Saturday Review A Peculiarity of Genius. I believe in genius, and Shakespeare and Lincoln certainly possessed it. It is just as sensible to believe in gifts on a large scalo as in a little sense, and every primary teacher knows wbicb of her pupils will probably make their way, and whicb are positively dull and likely to remain so. No two human beings ore created with the same natuaal ability, aud genius is simply tbe inborn qua! ities of mind, wbicb, in a healthy body, car ries with them a fineness and strength supe rior to those elements in othera A peculiar ity s&srr'' " "" tbe "What, dearr laru "Why, pickled pigs' feet" an lie blushed and drew 'em op. Detroit mi$ Free Press. me - - - to I Ambitious aud Enterprising. whj The southern California resorts are ambl pr mr- bitjena ami eqterppsi11?- 4"er establfsbui a reputation as winter rsrP, vJ?ey enter tbe field as summer resorts. mcj th, The Petit Journal recently appealed anj the, sea be vk i m Bismarck to restore Alsace and Lorraine France, to kiss and make up, and then have a go at England. Googins How is this wine C-l-i-q pronounced I " Wine pealer It I? pronounced good, both not sir. 'I an-, sis. OJC, - i i, i i 1 WE MAKE OUR OWN PENS. Rapid Growth of the SteH Ten Industry. Iitlerrtttlug Statistic. "Every yea? the citizens of the United States wear out WO.OOO.OOO steel pens," said a prominent manufacturer to a reporter. "Twenty years ago most of the steel pens used In this country were Imported. Now comparatively few are imported, and there are several factories In this country in whicb they are mado in large quantities. At pres ent the importation of foreign pens n mainly confined to the high priced articles. It was firkt doubted that steel ns could bo made in this country, but it was soon learned that the requisite skilled labor could be obtained for high wages, and the success of tho pio neers led one manufacturer after another into the business, until now tbo field U pretty well occupied. "Most of the work on these little Instru ments is done with tho aid of very fine ma chlnery worked by women and girls. Tho steel used is imported, becaused it is believed that tbe quality is more uniform than the American steeL This uniformity of quality is necessary, because of tbe very delicate tempering required In tbo manufacture of the fiens. That mysterious quality of steel which gives different colors is a quality that requires expert manipulation on the part of the workman who does the tempering. lie must know tho nntui'o of the material with which be works, and with that knowledge he must exercise a celerity and skill that Heizo uon the proper Instant to fasten the steel at heat which Insures the requisite quality. "First, the steel is rolled into large sheets. These are cut iuto strips about throe laches wide. Theso strips are annealed, that is, they are heated to a red heat and permitted to cool gradually v t!:at tho l.t i all removed, and the steel is soft enough to be easily worked. Then the strips are again rolled to the required thickness. It ia the quick eye for color and tbe quick band that fastens it that constitute tbe skill to deter mine tho temper of tho steeL When tbo steel is heated for tempering it is bright. The first color that appears is straw color. This changes rapidly to a blue. Tho elasticity of the metal varies with the color, and is ar rested at any point by instant plunging in cold water. The processes of splitting, pol ishing, pointing and finishing the pens tire operations requiring dexterity, but by long practice the workmen and workwomen bo cuino very expert. There have been few changes of late years, and tho process of manufacture is much tho same as it was twenty years ngo, and tho prices are rather uniform, ranging from twenty-five cents to one dollar per gross, according to tie quality of finish. Tho boxes sold gen erally contain a gross. The txst now Iu the market ure of American make. Writers who buy foreign jx-ns at fancy prices find them far inferior iu durability to the Ameri can article. Persons who write continuously will wear out a good steel pen in two days." New York Mail and Express. Moderation In Athletic Trauihig. The means to bo adopted for tho attain ment of robust health are cleanliness, regu larity of habits, moderation in diet, exercise, preferably In the open uir, in accordance with the capacity of tho individual and na ture of tho contest, and abstinence from strong drinks aud tobacco. II a man trains simply to improve bis health be does so more or less moderately; if for a contest, more or less strictly in accordance with the impor tance of the event. A man can do either wjjhout a trainer if he has an ordinary amount of common sense and will power. The man who simply desires to live in a sound, healthy condition should follow these rules, modifying them slightly, according to age or physique: Get up not later than 7 a. m., sponge and rub yourself with a coarse towel uutil tho skin is red. Do not ttop if perspiring, but keep on till tired. It is good exercise. Then dress and take a fairly long walk before and after breakfast. Walk to your place of bu: i ness. Attend to work in tbe usual way, re sisting ovcry inclination you may havo to give way to indolence. Walk homo. Never mind tbe weather; a little raiu will not hurt you. and summer heat will not affect you when you have done it long enough to do you good. Then have dinner, avoiding, as at your lunch and breakfast, greasy, sweet, highly flavored or seasoned foot! Water is the boi-t thing to drink, and that ia bc-tter drank after finish ing your meaL Take your time over dinner in particular and other meals in general. If you have not time to get a meal leisurely go without it, as it will uot injure you a quarter much as it will to eat it in a hurry. Amuse yourself in the evening according to your taste, which, a.? you get healthier, will incline to active rather than effeminate amusements. Repeat the spouging and rub bing, and go to lied before 11 p. m. A. Aus tlu in Cleveland Ieader. Fishermen S&ilins from Port. As a rule a vessel goes on a f;sl:ug expe dition with some particular sort of prey in view. A cod "rig" will also servo for had dock, but for halibut stronger tackle and bigger books are ueeded, while mackerel and herring must bo taken in uets. Thus it is that boats usually sail from port, equipped suitably for capturing a single kind of fish, to tho netting or booking of which each craft devotes its exclusive attention. For halibut, haddock aud the toothsome cod the tianks, hundreds of miles out to sea, ara (ought by the vessels of from ninety to twice that many tons burden, which spend there as many months as aro necessary to secure a load oi "fare," as it is technically called. The system of angling pursued by these "pot hunters" would scarcely obtain the approval of lovers of sport. Lines a cailo or so in length, with hooks attached at six feet intervals, are anchored in the shal lows over the babks with buoys of wood or cork to mark them. These "trawls" for so they are designated aro set at nigbt and iu the morning, every book freshly baited with a scrap of fish, and twice, in twenty-four hours tbey are hauled up hand over hand by men in dories, who detach such victims as are caught and renew tbe free lunch offered to the scaly rounders of tbe ocean. Boston Cor. New Orleans Picayune. Work or the Klght Owls. Very much more of the work of a city like New York than is imagined by tbe unthinl;- tens of thousands who lead conventional i is doue at hours whicb compel a faithful useful minority tosleep by day. Editors, prters, compositors, pressmen, electrotyi- telegrapb operators, bakers, policemen, oad employes and hundreds of other Do tations must bring rest to their tired eves weary limbs when most of the world is tjovy ika and busy thoughtless, too, with the f-ality of the money pursuit and what may gji tnose wno are noc as cney. to t is true that a majority of the night owls to home before o or 4 o cxock in the morn- I but they are tired and nervous, not ly. Who would be sleepy immediately ?r leaving his work 1 How would a bank -k feel about resting at 5 o'clock in tbe irnoon f Tbey settle down in a cocscicu ts effort to take tbe sleep oat is as neces y as medicine to a sick man, and after an T or two of tossing drowse off. -New rte Press, "Every Day Talk." The Plattsmouth Herald Jg on joying aBorminbothita EDITIONS. The Will be one during which the subjects of national interest ami importance will be strongly agitated ami the election of a President will take place. Ibe people of Cass Count' who would like to learn of Political, Commercial and Social Transactions offliis year and would keep apace with the times should -FOJt Daily or Weekly Herald. Now while we have the subject before the people we will venture to epeak of our Which is lirst-class in all respects and from which our job printers are turning out much satisfactory work. PLATTSMOUTH, r ear 1888 EITIIEU THE- NEBRASKA f