One of the favorite methods of forming accumula tor plates quickly is that due to Lucas, in which so-dium perchlorate plays an important part. In general it may be assumed that the best substances for assisting in quick formation are those bodies which either do not change during electrolysis or the changes of which are easily controlled. Hence one may expect that inorganic bodies will be more favorable for producing quick formation than organic bodies. Another important feature of the substance used for quick formation is its purity. Bearing these facts in mind, it seemed to Dr. Schmidt Altwegg that potassium chlorate might be very effective in hastening the formation of lead plates. Experiments were conducted to determine whether this was so. The plates were formed in an electrolyte of 0.00 specific gravity, which consisted of chemically pure sulphuric acid mixed with distilled water, and containing one per cent of potassium chlorate. The current density was 0.613 ampere per cubic decimetre of exposed surface. The charge lasted uninterruptedly for twenty-four hours, after which the plates were charged in the opposite direction at the same rate for an equal length of time. The plates were then carefully washed and set upas positive plates in a cell. They were finally charged for sixty hours at the rate of 0.413 ampere per square decimetre of surface. Following this charge they were discharged at the rate of 0.226 ampere per square decimetre of positive plate. It required twenty minutes to discharge them. Upon reformation the voltage upon discharge fell to the same point after fifty minutes, and after a third charging, two hours were required to the point. The voltage at the end of the discharge in each case was 1.83. - Electrical Review.

A new system of road locomotives has been brought out by the Siemens-Schuckert Company. It is now in use very successfully on a line running through the valley of the Veischeide as far as Belstein. Current is-taken from a double overhead line by a pole and a form of sliding trolley which is adapted to the purpose-The locomotives are equipped with two Siemens-Schuc kert motors of twenty-five kilowatts each, and weigh 6.5 tons. They can carry a load of two tons. The locomotive draws a train of three trailers, each of which can carry a net load of 5.5 tons. The present system is controlled by the Schiemann Company, which is specially engaged in operating this form of train. One feature to be noticed is that all cars are connected to the locomotive or with each other by a coupling device somewhat resembling that which is used on the Renard auto train in Paris. Part of the motive power is transmitted through the coupling to the wheels of each car so that it becomes self-propelled to a certain extent. This gives it the advantage of passing around curves in the same path with the locomotive, and it does not obstruct the track. On the other hand, the dead weight of the locomotive can be made smaller.

There are a good many rooms where the radiator is either too small or the steam pressure too iow to maintain a comfortable temperature in severe weather. If the tenant is enjoying the many advantages afforded by central station electric lighting service, the matter can easily be remedied. Take the fan that kept you cool all summer and set it where it can blow against a large part of the radiator's surface. Turn it on at low speed, or at high, if necessary, and your cold room will soon be thoroughly warmed. The philosophy of the thing is that steam at a low pressure carries much less latent heat than steam at a high pressure, and therefore warms the radiator so poorly that only a slight draft of air rises around the pipes, and condensation is slow. With the fan in operation there is a forced draft against the radiator that conducts a great deal more heat away from the iron, cooling it so much more condensation of steam occurs inside it. The heat thus snatched from the reluctant radiator is held in the circulating atmosphere of the room, which is soon changed from cold to warm at a trifling cost for electric energy. - Electricity.

Great interest has been excited among motorists by the report of the trial on the Seine in France of a new kind of motor boat, which is propelled by a 14 h. p. De Dion-Bouton motor. The peculiarity of this boat is that the principle of the aeroplane is applied to it, and that it practically glides on the surface of the water instead of through it. The boat in question is about 20 feet long and about half that in width. On the bottom are fixed inclined planes or fins, the angles of which increase as they near the stern. When the boat is at rest it floats, more or less immersed, as an ordinary raft would do; but when under power the bow lifts out of the water and the boat glides along on the inclined planes. It is reported that at the trial the speed over a measured course was at the rate of nearly 20 miles an hour, which is about double the pace that could be got out of an ordinary launch with that power of engine. The boat is fitted with two rudders, between which the propeller works.

A beautiful dead black ebony stain, largely used by camera makers for blacking the insides of camera woodwork, carriers, etc, is made by first coating the wood with a strong decoction of ground logwood, or logwood chips, in hot water and then, when nearly dry, applying a solution made by putting 6 oz. or 8 oz. of iron filings into a 20-oz. bottle, shaking occasionally for a few days before using. This will impart a fine and even black to mahogany, or any sort of wood - a black that will neither chip, powder nor rub off, and with a perfect, non-reflective surface. For external parts of apparatus, a more finished appearance will be imparted by rubbing over with boiled linseed oil.

Sir John Primrose, at a recent banquent at Glasgow, made reference to a new process for obtaining a complete combustion of coal. He has experimented in his factories with many previous inventions of this kind in order to abate the smoke nuisance. Recently he tried a new furnace, which seems not only to prevent smoke, but permits a much greater efficiency of the coal used.

The speaker said of the invention that the burning of the coal takes place in a chamber surrounded by a water jacket, separated from the boiler, and that only the gaseous products of combustion are used for heating the boiler.

According to this new process a steamer would require less than one-half of the room now used for the boilers in order to generate the same amount of power, and the weight of the heating apparatus would also be diminished more than one-half. Air and fuel gas are conducted simultaneously to the boiler, and no un-burned gases can escape into the air, so that no smoke and no carbonic acid escapes through the smokestacks. For steam purposes it would also be of importance, as it is said that the process permits of the use of inferior fuel.

An experiment for the purpose of testing the durability of liquid air has been made between Berlin and Geneva. The manufacture of liquid air for scientific and technical purposes has assumed considerable proportions in Germany. For the further growth of this industry the question of how far liquid air can be transported without serious loss by evaporation is a vital one. The experiment referred to was made for this purpose.

One morning two quarts of liquid air were delivered to the railroad at Berlin, packed in a manner specially adapted for this purpose, for transportation to Geneva. The shipment arrived in Geneva in five days, and after an additional delay of half a day it was delivered to the chemical laboratory of the University of Geneva. The glass vessel in which the liquid air was sent still contained one-fourth of a quart thereof, which was at once experimented with.

It is stated that this was the longest distance over which this curious liquid has been transported, and the result is encouraging to make larger shipments, where the loss would be relatively less.

Americans will be surprised to learn that it should take five days for such an article to reach Berlin ; the same distance in the same distance in the United States would not exceed thirty-six hours.

Under date of November 7, 1904, United States Consul E. Theophilus Liefield, of Freiburg, Germany, reports that a German patent has been taken out for an electrical apparatus whereby the presence and extent of shoals of fish can be ascertained. A microphone, enclosed in a water tight case connected with an electric battery and telephone, is lowered into the water. So long as the telephone hangs free no sound is heard, but on its coming into contact with a shoal of fish, the constant tapping of the fish against the microphone case produces a series of sounds which at once betrays their presence. The rope attached to the microphone is marked so that the exact depth of the shoal is at once ascertained.

It is a good thing to put in the supply line for a gasoline engine near the tank valve which has in it a wire gauze, which will strain the gasoline as it goes toward the engine, preventing any chips, dirt or sediment from reaching the engine and causing trouble, perhaps, by preventing the valves from seating. It is surprising what a quantity of dirt and chips from barrels will some will sometimes get into the gasoline, and many an operator has spent hours trying to find out what was the matter with his engine, eventually to learn that it was from dirt in the gasoline which had prevented the check valves from seating, or some other like trouble.

Education in the true sense is not mere instruction in Latin, English, French or history. It is the unfolding of the whole human nature. It is growing up in all things to our highest possibility. - J. N. Clarke.

The New Mexico College of Agriculture has been making exhaustive tests to determine the relative value of crude petroleum, kerosene and gasoline for use in internal combustion engines. Results as given in Farm and Stock are that, with a crude oil or kerosene consuming attachment to the ordinary gasoline engine, either was as efficient as gasoline. The tests were made by an engine pumping water for irrigation, but the relative cost of each would be the same in any kind of work. With gasoline, 1,096 gallons of water a minute were pumped, and the fuel cost for 24 hours was $15.95. With kerosene, 1082 gallons a minute were pumped at a 24-hour cost of $25.76. With crude oil, 1,088 gallons a minute were pumped, at a 24-hour cost of $7.07. - Engineer.

It has been announced that an effort will be made to keep in communication with Lieut. R. E. Peary in his proposed search for the North Pole by means of wireless telegraphy. Lieut Peary will erect stations at proper points to keep in touch with the coast of Labra-der, from which place he hopes to be able to communicate with New York.

A stiff toothbrush and a little gasoline will soon remove 60ot from spark plugs under ordinary circumstances. If the deposit is hard it may be scraped off with a knife.