Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 16.djvu/788

RANGE-FINDER. The commonest means of obtaining the distance of an object whose height is known is to measure the angle it subtends by means of a sextant. Thus

let BC be the object whose height BC is known. Then l)y measuring the angle at A the distance AC may be at once picked out of a table of riglit triangles. For convenience, a special form of sextant, called a stadimeter, has been invented by Commander Fiske of the United States Navy. The reading of the instrument is in yards instead of in angular measure, so that the use of the tables is avoided.

The third type of range-finder is merely a time- measurer which gives the interval between the ob- served flash of the enemy's gim and the hearing of the report. As the velocity of sound in air is known, the distance may be readily determined. For convenience, the reading may be given in yards instead of seconds. The Watkins range- finder is an instrument of this type and consists of a small glass tube containing a liquid and a moving index. When the flash of the gun is seen the instrument, previously held upside down, is inverted and the index falls slowly through the liquid ; when the sound of the gun is heard the instrument is turned to a horizontal position. The side of the tube is graduated and the gradua- tion mark at which the index is seen shows the distance. Aside from errors of range due to faulty graduation and irregularities of the ve- locity of sound in air, accurate determination of range by an instrument of this kind is practically impossible because of the rapidity of fire of mod- ern guns, whereby the distinguishing of the sound of a particular gun is rendered very difficult. For further information, see the articles on Ballistics and on Gunnery; Proceedings of the Vnitcd fitates yiiral Institute (particularly the "Professional Xotes'' in numbers 97 to 102) ; An- nual of the Office of yaval Intellifience, United States Xavy (particularly the volume for 1900).

RANGELEY (ranj'll) LAKES. A chain of lakes near the western boundary of Maine (Map: Maine, B C). The principal members are Kenne- bago. Rangeley. Mooselookmaguntic, Molechunk- emunk, Richardson, and Umbagog. All of these are connected by streams in the'order named, and form the sources of the Androscoggin River. They lie in a wild and beautiful region, and are a favorite resort of tourists and sportsmen.

RANGER, ran'jer, Henry Ward (1858—). An American landscape painter, born in Xcw York City and self-taught. He traveled in Hol- land and (iermany, and first became known by his Dutch landscapes. Afterwards he exhib- ited several Canadian scenes, painted in the re- gion of Quebec. His subjects include marines, forest interiors, and shore and field views. His later pictures are "Pasture Lot," "ilorning at Highbridge," "Bradley's Mill Pond," a work of great tonal beauty.

RANGERS, Mounted. In 1832 the United States Government found it necessary to increase the regular army establishment, owing to in- creasing Indian troubles, and particularly be- cause of the Black Hawk War of that year. One battalion of mounted rangers was raised, and added to the establishment, but was disbanded the following year, and a regiment of dragoons .substituted, which afterwards was organized into what is now the First Regiment of regular cav- alry.

RANGOON, ran-goon', or RANGUN. The capital and chief port of Burma. India, on the Rangoon River, the eastern branch of the Irra- waddv, about 25 miles from the sea, in latitude 10° 42' N. and longitude 96° 13' E. (Map: Burma, C 3). Rangoon is finely situated for internal as well as foreign commerce, having a continuous water communication with the vast re- gion on the Irrawaddy. The town, well laid out with straight streets crossing at right angles, ex- tends for over a mile along the river front, and three-quarters of a mile inland. Rangoon is a sti'ongliold of Buddhism, and on every side are seen monuments to Gautama. The most remarkable of these is the Shoay-Dagon, a shrine, the founda- tion of which is said to have been laid 588 years B.C. It stands on an artificial elevation within the military cantonment on the north, is 370 feet high, 1355 feet in circumference, and con- tains personal relics of Buddha; it is annually visited by thousands of pilgrims. The European buildings include the Government House, the court houses, post and telegraph offices, a cathedral, college, museuiu, free library, and hospital. Other notable features are the native bazaars, Dal- housie Park, and the several pretty lakes in the vicinity. Street railways give access to all the principal points. The chief industrial establish- ments are the lumber, rice, and oil mills ; there are also manufactures of silk and cottons, mats, pottery, salts, and fish paste. The river front is lined with wharves, and two-thirds in value of the exports of Burma are shipped, and almost all the imports are received at this port, which is the third in importance of British India. The. principal exports are teak and rice ; the imports include cotton, cutlery, petroleum, hardware, liquors, wines, silks and woolens, and raw silk. The city was rebuilt by Alompra in 1755 ; the British captured it in 1824, but it was retaken by the Burmese. The British again took possession in 1852, since which time the city has been held bv them. Population, in 1891, 180,324; in 1901, 234,881.

RANIERI, ra-nya're, Antonio (1809-88). An Italian author, born in Naples. He was the devote<l friend of Leopardi. whom he faithfully nursed until his death. He edited the collected works of Leopardi and wrote Sette anni di so- ddJizio con Giacomo Leopardi (1880), the bio- graphical matter in which is not altogether re- liable. The publication of his novel, (linevra o Vorfana della Xunziafa (1839), and his history, I primi cinque secoU della storia d'ltalia da Teo- dosio a, Carlomarfno ( 1841 ), involved him ii" trouble with the Government, but United Italy recognized his abilities, and at the time of his death he was a Deputy and a professor at the University of Naples. His writings were pub- lished in 1862-64, and a volume of Scritti varii in 1891.

RANJIT-SINGH, run-jet' sTng'h' (1780- 1839). ilaharaja of the Punjab, born at Gujran- wala. the son of Maha-Singh. Sirdar of Sukur- Chukeah, who died when Ranj it-Singh was about