Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/69

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��•topping the pumps, It was found that the amount of oil used was a liule over a hundred olid riiDeteen gal- Three hours after the close of the trial, the Boulogne paased broad strips of comparatively emootb n which the oil still lay. After this experiment, two of Mr. Gordon's iuTen- tiied. One of tbete eousiats nf a aheli from a mortar, and so arranged thai It bursts on Ikiitg the water, and frees its contents of oil. The 9 speeiallj constructed, and bos an Ingenious for insuring Its explosion, which Is eSecled by 'ftfiue and (runponder. This recommends itself as a ptkclicai ineaiis to render less dangerous the coni- municalion between ships by ttoats during heavy weather. In case of shipwreck, also, the approach of lifeboats could be greatly facilitated. The second Invention is an arrangement to make a ot oil from the shore lo a slrunded ship. To in cylinder Is Hred from a mortar in direction of the ship. The cylinder, which serves anchor, draws after it » ieather hose fastened lo b; ft line. Oil is then pumped through the hose, being spread towards the shore bj the wind, quiet surface for the rescuing tioat. Tarfous ingenious contrivances have been invented for applying the oil to the water; but the simplest and readiest, at the same time most effective, appliance Is a canvas bag, either rather loosely sewed together, or piereed with small holes to allow the oil lo escape. This hat been the method adopted In the most suc- cessful cases reported from ships at sea, and has been found eSectnal in some of Ibe lifeboats. It has the great advantage of being self-acting, insuring a regu- lar stream of oil, and being easily renewed when exhausted.

essel orboat running before a sea, one should be hung over each bow, which gives the oil time to before reaching far astern. In a ship, when , one or more bags have sometimes been bung the weather side, and sometimes been put over^ iKwrd t« windward, attached to light lines. This is the bestplan,because,uDt drifting BO fast as the ship, the bag will be carried to windward, and fulfil the condition of applying Ibe nil to the water at some distance from the ship, in the direction from which the waves are advancing. An open boat, unable always endeavor lo put oi with a rope attached to i attxched to this, and, failing every thi nuut or ■ sail loosed is very effective.

When the boat is anchored, the bag could be at- tached by a light line to the anchor as a buoy. This appliance, in addition to being efficient, has the great merits of handiness and simplicity. Two such bags, holding about a gallon of oil each, with the line attached, might be kept full, and packed in a small cylinder similar to a paint-pot or a preserved-meat tin. and would form neither an expensive nor cum- benome article of equipment in a boat. In the absence of these or similar contrivances, the could be poured from a bottle or can; but this

��before the sea. will form of sea-anchor, the bag of oil should be

��would require a man's attention when one could be ill spared possibly, and might not insure so constant or regular a supply, which is of importance. This would not be applicable to a boat at anchor.

��Thh report of Commodore S. R. Franklin, who succeeded Admiral tjhufeldl as superintendent of tha observatory on Feb. 21, gives, under dale of Oct. 29, 1884, a summary of the work accomplished during the year. In organlxation a slight change has taken place by the appointment (by the superintendent) of a board consisting of the superintendent, the senior professor of mathematics, and the senior line-officer, to determine the sco|>e and character of the work to be done. The board may be convened at the request of any member, and a weekly report is submitted (u the euperi men dent every Monday by each officer in charge of an iustrument.

The twenty-six inch equatorial, in charge of Pro- fessor Hall, lias been employed mainly in observa- tions of the satellites of Neptune, Uranus, Salurn. and Mars, and of double stars, with a few observa- tions for stellar parnltai. In the case of Uranus, the observations were confined mostly lo the outer satel- lites; and it is proposed now to discontinue them, since the favorable time for determining the position of the orbit planes of these satellites bas passed. The reductions are all well advanced.

The transit circle has been under the charge of Prof. J. R. Eastman, and has been employed in ob- servations of the suu, moon, planets, comets, and a catalogue of miscellaneous stars, as in previous years. The nine-inch equatorial, in charge of Com- mander Sampson, has been used in observing comets, minor planets, and occultatlons. The series of obser- vations with the prime vertical instrument was prac- tically finished lu May, ISSl. The reductions are being carried on by Ensign Taylor. The meridian transit ilistrument has been used priniarlty to de- termine clock corrections. In connection with ihe daily time-service. Observations for the right ascen- sions of the sun, moou, and major planets, have also been made.

The time-service has been considerably extended. In addition to the lines already existing, the Balti- more and Ohio telegraph company looped two of its main circuits into the observatory, and the signal- service looped one. In March last a proposition was submitted to the heads ot the several departmeiiia in Washington, to place in Ihe more important offices of the govenmient, Including the executive mansion and the capitol. a clock that should be regulated and controlled every day from the obeerval^ry. which establishment should be responsible for the determi- nation and Iranemission of correct time. This plan met with general approval; and an Insulated circuit was established connecting the various offices, some twenty in number, with the observatory. In each

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