12 ttoe Conservative *
After nn elaborate invcstigatiou ,
covering , ton years of time , Prof.
Wilson has calculated the sun's tem
perature to be 6,200 degrees Gent.
(11,15)2 ( ) degrees Fahr.f.
A peculiar fever , occurring in ir
regular attacks of a few days , for
several months , has been reported
by Dr. J. E. Dntton in a European in
South Africa. A parasite from the
blood resembles that of the "tsetse fly
disease" of cattle.
r i ) The diameter of Jupiter , according to
Prof. T.J.J. See's now determination ,
is 88,203 miles ; that of Mars , 4,155
miles and that of Mercury , 2,657 miles.
The following are found to be the
densities of the planets , water being
I : Mercury , 8 ; Venus , 5.14 ; Earth ,
5.50 ; Moon , 8.84 ! Mars , 4 ; Jupiter ,
1.35 ; Saturn , 0.68 ; Uranus , 1.69 ;
Neptune , 2.29.
| X >
'
1 ,
The temperature of the earth is
estimated to be at least 5,000 degrees
F. at a depth of 50 miles , and in many
places comparatively high tempera
tures are found very near the surface.
The utilization of this heat is one of
the great problems now in the minds
of engineers. With the direct and
economical conversion of heat into
electricity on a largo scale , which is
looked for in the near future , the
earth's hot spots should boome impor
tant manufacturing centers.
Cloud photography is one of the
branches of science in which import
ant facts are learned through long and
careful observation. One of the most
energetic workers in this field is M.
Teisserenc do Bert , whoso observatory
near Paris includes two stations
three-quarters of a mile apart on the
same level , these stations being connected
nocted by telephone. A point of the
cloud having been fixed upon , two
photographs are taken simultaneously.
A scale shows the inclination of the
camera and another the direction of
the cloud , and from the inclination
angles of the two cameras and the
known base-line , the cloud's height is
calculated. Two more pictures sho.w
its travel in a given time.
Gold and silver silk are interesting
products that wo may expect from
South Africa. The fibers are spun by
two remarkable spiders of Rhodesia ,
and an experimenter has found that
the creatures may "be reared in cap
tivity and that the silk can be util
ized. _ The webs are stretched on
bushes and trees , often in a vast net
work. Both filaments have a bril
liant metallic luster and are very fine
and strong , the fineness of the golden
silk being about that of the silk-
worm's thread , but the strength being
much greater. A thread of steel of
the same size , in fact , has only two-
thirds the strength of this spider's
thread. The golden-silk spider at
least , the larger of the two kinds ,
exists in vast numbers "on the velt ,
where it feeds on the common fly.
Some interesting experiments with
electric waves such waves as Mar
coni has sent across the ocean illus
trated a recent Royal Institution lec
ture by Prof. Fleming. The apparatus
was contained in two boxes , each open
at one end , one box holding a radia
tor , with a battery producing sparks
between two brass balls , while in the
other. was a receiver , with nickel
filings connected with an electric
bell. With the mouths of the boxen
exactly opposite , the passage of
sparks between the two balls set up a
corresponding current in the other
box , ringing the bell. When sheet-
iron , tin foil , carbon , a bottle of
water or a piece of moist tobacco was
interposed , the boll did not ring , but
wood , a dozen sheets of window
glass , leather , brown paper or dry
tobacco caused no interruption. The
waves traveling with the velocity of
light were stopped by all electric
conductors , while non-conductors were
transparent to them.
The flow of blood to the head in
concentrated thought was shown
several years ago by Prof. Mosso , of
Turin , by means of a balance for the
body. The more sensitive apparatus ,
or "muscle bed , " of Dr.W. G. Ander
son , of the Yale Gymnasium , is a
couch balanced on knife-edges , and
capable of adjustment by rolling
from one side to the other as neces
sary. This apparatus shows that the
mental effort of a written test shifts
the center of gravity of a student up
ward , from a sixteenth of an inch to
about two inches and a half. The
balance is turned in the opposite di
rection by exercising the lower ex
tremities after study , and mere think
ing of leg gymnastics by a perfectly
poised man has sufficed to send enough
blood downward to cause the feet to
sink. Muscle weighing has proven
that uninteresting exercise has small
value. When it is carried out in a
listless and mechanical way , the extra
flow of blood to the parts is small but
this is much increased by a conscious
and interested manner , and by pleas
ure in the effort.
Spontaneous combustion continues
to endanger coal-carrying vessels in
spite of all attempts that have been
made to prevent it. Successful protec
tion is claimed at last by Mr. Thomas
Clayton , of London , whoso plan con
sists in injecting sulphur dioxide gas
into the hold after loading , and then
battening down the hatches. Explo
sion and combustion are thus made
impossible. In a recent test of this
invention torches were extinguished
in a chamber containing six per cent
of sulphur dioxide and a red-hot iron
jar failed to ignite naptha-soaked
straw and was quenched in a bucket
of naptha as in water.
ADVICE TO CATTLEMEN.
Mr. Frank Cooper , of Kansas City ,
in addressing a convention of cattle . J
feeders , recently in session at Wichita ,
Kansas , gave some timely advice ,
which may well be followed by men
of other pursuits. His discouragement
of the "got rich quick" idea may be
applied to the circumstances surround
ing men in all walks of life. Mr.
Cooper said in part :
' ' Radical and porteutious changes of
method and circumstance have been
forced upon the cattle industry by the
march of events. Neighbors are obliged - .
liged to live closer together and in
closer relation ; the congestion of
population is bringing you into closer
contact with other great fields of hu
man industry , and calls for greater
care and more thought , and closer or
ganization among ourselves. The
time has long since passed when any
individual can live unto himself , be
yond and without any organizations-
only the savage in his dugout can do
that. In other words , civilization ,
and the different degrees of perfection
to which organization lias been
brought : The nation , the statecounty
and city , with all their paraphernalia
of legislation ; courts , police systems ,
postoffices and other public service , are
but the voluntary association of in
dividuals for the general good. Side
by side , with the associations of gov-
orumeut.como the great political part
ies , and close on with them , the great
commercial organizations by which
and through which the business of the
world is carried on. The great fund
amental fact underlying commerce , in
fact , underlying civilization itself , is ,
that life is not a battle , but a co
operation. Life is a battle to no' one
but a savage with knife and gun. In
our system , every man's prosperity de
pends in the largest souse upon the
welfare of others. Wo suffer for each
others mistakes and sins ; we bear
each other's burdens wo are linked
together in bonds of fellowship that
we cannot and would not break. Wo
cannot help ourselves without helping
our neighor , and we cannot damage
our neighbor without damaging our
selves. In the largest and best sense
wo find our own in another's good.
There are many respects where your
interests are threatened "by hostile
legislation or otherwise , where they
