Miscellaneous.
Correspondence of the Scientific American.
Washington City, Feb. 12, 1850.
On Thursday, the Secretary of the Navy, accompanied by a number of scientific gentlemen, will visit Norfolk to witness the launch of the U.S., steamer, Powhatan, and to test the machinery. Before starting on her cruise, she will make an experimental trip.
There is to be a large meeting of capitalists next week, for the purpose of considering the plan of establishing a line of steamers between your city and Richmond. Bishop Potter has engaged to deliver a course of lectures at the Smithsonian Institute. He lectured last evening, on the tendency of science to cause superficial philosophers to forget the great “First Cause.” He attempted to controvert many of the positions assumed by the author of the “Vestiges of Creation,” but in the opinion of many the attempt has ⟨been⟩ by no means successful. Beside the author of the “Vestige” all along says that God is ever working, but by and through certain laws. The steam frigate Saranac, which is expected to start on a cruise in a few days, is furnished with two inclined engines of 350 horse power; cylinder 60 inches in diameter, 9 feet stroke; air pumps, 4312 inches in diameter at the neck, connecting rod 18 feet long; weight of centre shaft, 8,000 pounds; journals, 16,000 pounds each; cranks, 3,500 pounds each. The weight of the three boilers is 186,336 pounds; and the cost of the engine and boilers, $24,000.
A hundred thousand yards of cotton were manufactured at Georgetown, in this district, last month, of very superior quality. The proprietors of the factories are chiefly northern men. The Committee of the House to whom was referred the memorial, accompanied by a plan for taking the Yeas and Nays by electricity, will report against it as impracticable. During the past year, the Government has paid $14,000 for altering flint locks to percussion. The number of muskets made at the various armories in 1849 was 23,500. A Dr. Lillie has announced his intention to lecture here on electricity. He has constructed a machine of great power, and claims to have effectually overcome the difficulty in the accumulation of electricity in sufficient quantities so as to make it a main power in the movement of machinery.
An attempt is making to get up an opposition telegraph line between this city and New Orleans. The present line frequently takes 24 hours in transmitting a message, while on the northern lines would be sent in a few minutes. The Naval Committee of the House here reported a bill authorizing the purchase of the patent right of Espy's Ventilator for the use of U.S. vessels. It will not pass without great opposition. The sixth annual report of the South Carolina Railroad Company, shows a profit during the last year of $428,403. The road is 242 miles long. Specimens of the fossilized forest recently discovered beneath the mud deposits in Wallasey Pond, Lancashire, England, are to be sent to our National Institute.
Col. Pratt, President of your Mechanic's Institute, is about to present a block or marble for the Washington Monument in the name of the Mechanics' of New York.
It is reported that the brass statue of Gen. Jackson, will be erected at the east of the President's house, next week.
By a recent official document it appears, that there are 28 million spindles at work in the world, out of which the share of England is 17 millions, and the United States, 2 millions.
A Boston medical writer says that it produces chilblains, chapped skin, inflamed eyes, and colds, to go to the fire suddenly when you are very cold. Accustom yourself to the warmth by degrees.
Segar Machine in Cuba.
A machine for making segars, some of which are employed in the United States, has been introduced into the Island of Cuba, and patented there.
Flying Kites in Canton.
A foreign missionary thus writes of kite-flying in Canton: “The sky is in a universal flutter of kites. I counted this afternoon from my window ninety-three, which were flown at various heights with great skill. Some represented hawks, and admirably immitated their manœuvres in the air, poising themselves, and darting; gaudy butterflies float around; and dragons, formed of along succession of circular kites, with a fierce head, flew about the sky. The majority were of merely fanciful shape.—Loud noises, like a wind instrument, could be heard from them. The most amusing form was that of a huge fish, which swam through the blue above, moving its tail and fins with a ludicrously natural effect. Those, like animals, are also flown in pairs, and made to fight.” ⁎
Economy of Fodder for Animals.
Every farmer should be a scientific man in his line, that is, he should pursue the best methods of doing everything in the best manner, and economy is the root of science. We do not mean by “economy,” stinginess, for that is the worst kind of extravagance but we mean care, wisdom and observation. For example, it is not food to feed cattle on mere straw, but then if we can find something to combine with the straw, to make it good fodder, surely it is wise to use it as such. By cutting straw fine, and immersing it in boiling linseed meal and stirring it up, a most excellent feed is made for oxen and other cattle. Corn stalks are also good, if prepared as follows:—Cut the stalks in a machine and place them in a hogshead, steam them by pouring boiling water upon them and covering them up for sometime with a blanket. Put some salt among them, and when cold strew over them a little ground meal and a most excellent fodder is the result.
A Smart Old Lady
In the town of Williamsburg, Mass, resides Mrs. Aaron Warner, a lady seventy-five years of age. During the summer and autumn of 1848; she spun one hundred runs of woolen yarn; doubled and twisted forty-five of it, knit seventy-six pair of men's seamed socks and wove sixty yards of rag carpeting, besides doing the ordinary house work for her family.— The past summer, she made four hundred weight of most excellent cheese; wove more than twenty-five yards of flannel; spun and doubled and twisted yarn for 60 pairs of men's socks, besides doing many other kinds of work. She is a perfect pattern of order, neatness and industry, and furnishes an example that all younger ladies would do well to imitate.
Curious Fact.
A curious fact is mentioned in the Wenaugh (Irish) Guardian in reference to Dr. Laughley, who was confined in hail, and who fasted for forty days. The reason for abstaining was caused by a total loss of appetite, nausea, and a disinclination to eat. All the organs of the body ceased to perform the functions in the animal economy, with the exception of the heart and lungs; and it is a curious coincidence also that during that time the loss he sustained in weight was three stones, less by two pounds, making exactly a loss of forty pounds, being one pound per day for every day he fasted.
A Munich periodical relates that a man named Matthias Mangelbacher, being attacked by a severe fit of tooth-ache, stopped up his ears with gun cotton, not knowing but what it was the common cotton he was accustomed to use in such cases. In retiring to his room for the night, he seated himself before a wood fire, from which a spark flew out and struck the tuft of the gun-cotton, which exploded with such violence that it blew the whole top of his head off.
Water was let into the new reservoir of the St. Louis Water Works, for the first time, on the 21st ult. The reservoir is of solid masonry, a heavy rock wall without, and brick lining, laid in cement, within. It is two hundred and fifty feet square and fifteen deep, and capable of holding one million gallons of water, or, with the present population of the city, a supply from the river, a distance of 10,000 feet, by steam engines.
The Late Explosion.
A Coroner's Jury composed of eminent men, have examined witnesses and reported on the cause which led to the terrific explosion in Hague Street, this city, last week, whereby 64 of our fellow-men were hurried into eternity, in a few moments, and a great number were severely wounded. It is our intention to review the whole subject next week. In the mean time, we would say, that the evidence is of a most contradictory character, excepting on one point, and that is, there were too high a pressure of steam on the boiler, and culpable recklessness on the part of the owners of the boiler. No one can erase that part of the evidence. It is too strong to be washed out by any process of pleading; interest, or alchemy.
Tribute to Colt, the American Inventor.
A letter has been received from the American Charge d'Affaires, John P. Brown, Fsq., at Constantinoble, by Mr. Samuel Colt, the inventor of the fire-arms which bears his name, announcing that the next European steamer would bring out an elegant snuff box, set indiamonds, of the value of $1,300, designed as an evidence of the very high appreciation of his weapon entertained by Mehemet Ali Pacha, Serosbi of the Army. We perceive that Mr. Colt has lately secured a patent in England.
Great Rise in the Mississippi.
The N. O. Picayune states that the Mississippi is rising rapidly. At Bayou Sara the country is partially submerged, and at Vicksburg the water is only four feet lower than at the highest mark of last year. In the Parish of St. John the Baptist, a hundred houses have been rendered untenantable by the overflow of water.
Doctors and Drugs.
The Scalpel charges that many physicians of New York are interested in drug stores, to which they send prescriptions, and are credited on all the send a large share of the charges; and that prescriptions are often made out apparently requiring great care in compounding, and for which high charges are made, but which in fact cost little or nothing.
We learn from the Jersey City Sentinel that the Directors have given orders to have that part of the Canal from Newark to Jersy City put in complete order on the opening of the navigation season, so that transportation can be made directly from the coal regions to the New-York Bay.
Peppermint.
Large fields of peppermint are cultivated in the praries of Michigan. It is cultivated for the purpose of making peppermint oil.
Throughout the vast empire of Russia—through all Finland, Lapland, Sweden, and Norway—there is no cottage so poor, no hut so destitute, but it possesses its vapor-bath, in which all its inhabitants every Saturday, at least—and every day, in cases of sickness—experience, comfort and salubrity.
According to the late accounts from California, it appears that the miners make very little money compared with what the speculators are doing.
Mass Convention.
A convention will be held at Rust's Hotel, in the city of Syracuse, on Wednesday, the 20th day of February next, for the purpose of taking he necessary measures to procure a repeal or modification of the Act of Congress, passed July 8th, 1845, which, under the appearance of authorizing a reissue of the Woodworth Patent for Planing Machines, gives the present holders of the Letters Patent the exclusive right to combinations of machinery never invented by Wm. Woodworth, nor during his life time claimed as his invention, and which are not found in the original patent of 1828. All persons who are opposed to the odious and oppressive monopoly existing under the provisions of said act, are earnestly invited to attend.
N.B. Papers throughout the States will please to copy and oblige
Twenty Thousand Mechanics
January 23, 1850.
Works on Science and Art.
Iconographic Encyclopedia.—Part 5 of this splendid work is issued by Mr. R. Garrigue, of Barclay street, this city. From it we extracted an article on “Hail ” last week.— The plates in this part are 20 in number, and in a single plate there are about 20 different figures, making about 400 figures, and they are engravings which stand alone for correctness of execution and beauty of finish. They illustrate ornithology, marine animals, and the tribes of serpents, crocodiles, &c., being confined to natural history. The text pages are descriptive of Magnetism, Electricity and Meteorology, being confined to Physics. The text is very clear and plain: we must recommend it on that account as well as for the sake of the useful information it contains. This really is a splendid work—each part is one dollar, and no single parts sold—the subscription must be for the whole work.
Typographical Miscellany.—We have received No. 2 of a new monthly work, edited and published by Joel Munsel, No. 58 State street Albany, N. Y. This relates to the History, Art, and all that is interesting about Printing. It is illustrated with wood engravings, and is got up in what is termed “good style.” Every printer in America should be a subscriber: it is only $1 per annum. Mr. Munsell is one of the best printers in this or any other country. He has long been collecting information on the subject, and we believe that he has the best library of old and new books on the subject in this country. He has long been collecting information on the subject, and we believe that he has the best library of old and new books on the subject in this country. He is an antiquary of a printer, and has a rare taste that way. He knows how to chase up a piece of information out of any book, and how to chase it into a book better than any other man with whom we are acquainted. We believe that this will be one of the most valuable and interesting magazines in the world.
LITERARY NOTICES.
Treatise on Marine and Naval Architecture.
Number 2 of this incomparable work by J. W. Griffith, Esq., Marine and Naval Architect, is just issued. This number treats of the Laws of Resistance and Propulsion. It is beautifully illustrated. Each number is 75 cents, and can be furnished at this office. We are positive that no operative ship-carpenter in the United States, can lay out money to better advantage then by purchasing this work.
Shakspear's Works.—No. 9, of Phillip's, Sampson & Co's., splendid edition of these works, is now ready. A careful examination of this and the preceding numbers, warranty the opinion that for beauty of letter press, paper, and general arrangement, it will exceed any other ever offered to the public The present number contains the full play of “Love's Labor Lost,” with a fine engraving of the Princess of France. Dewitt and Davenport have the numbers for sale.
A Treatise on Milch Cows.—This is a most splendid little work, by J. S. Skinner, published by Bangs, Platt, & Co., No. 204 Broadway, N. Y. It is a translation of Guenon's French work, to which is added Mr. Skinner's observations. Those who desire to become better acquainted with the milch cow, whereby her qualities of quantity and quality can be known by observing her, should by all means become acquainted with this treatise. The price is only 37 1-2 cents.
Messrs. Hewitt, Tillotson & Co., 59 Beekman St. N. Y., have undertaken to furnish the literary public with the most splendid edition of the Waverly Novels ever issued from the American press, and if the specimen before us is to be the criterion from which we are to base an opinion, we can say that the task will be most faithfully performed. They are in imitation of the celebrated Abbotsford Edition published some time since, in London, and are sold for a much less price. The first of the series introduces the reader to “Ivanhoe,” one of the most famous productions of the author, richly illuminated by Mr. Hewitt. We need not express an opinion concerning Scott's Novels, they are too well known to require it. We can only say that aside from the intellectual food derived from these works, they constitute an ornament to every well selected library. The numbers can be had of booksellers generally.
C. M. Saxton, 123 Fulton Street, N. Y., has for sale a very neat pamphlet of 90 pages, devoted to breeding, rearing, diseases and management of fowels. The information is practical. Price 25 cents.
F Hagan, & Co. of Nashville, Tenn., and Samuel Hart, Sen., of Charleston, S.C., are authoized agents for the Scientific American.
Gen. Cass will please accept our thanks, for Congreessional documents.
Mr. Hale, formerly of this city, has been in Macon, Georgia, exhibiting his steam wheel.
© 1850 SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, INC
