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Steam Color Scintillator

THIS HIS latest electrical invention is the work of W. D'Arcy Ryan, illuminating engineer of the General Electric Company, and bids fair to supersede the electric fountain that has so long held preeminence as a spectacular feature. The Scintillator has recently been tested nightly at Nahant, Mass., before shipping to Jamestown, Va., where it is to be used as an important illuminating feature

"NIAGARA NOZZLE WATERFALL." Spectacular effect produced by playing colored searchlights on bank of escaping steam.

of the Jamestown Exposition to be held in 1907.

The device comprises a number of powerful searchlights arranged in such manner that the beams of light can be

projected in any combination desired on a curtain of steam issuing at high pressure from an arrangement of pipes and nozzles. These nozzles can be arranged for a great variety of effects. A long, horizontal pipe, with nozzles at short intervals arranged to throw the steam vertically, forms a curtain on which the beams of light are thrown. Each searchlight is equipped with transparent screens of five or more colors. The effect of these lights, when thrown on the steam, is startling and beautiful. A number of figures can be worked out by suitable manipulation of the lights. The projectors are arranged to be thrown out of focus, if desired, so as to obtain either a very concentrated beam or rings of light of varying diameters. In this way it is possible to project on the steam curtain a number of colored rings around a common center. By varying the color screens, kaleidoscopic effects are obtained.

The possible combinations are limited only by the ingenuity of the operator. Fans, pinwheels, sunbursts, star effects, waterfalls, etc., can be mounted on a single inconspicuous fixture. For instance, most amusing effects are obtained by causing steam to issue from a number of loose pieces of rubber hose, and throwing the light on the wriggling steam jets, suggesting the motion of a huge serpent.

Bombs are shot into the air, containing a mixture which, when exploded, forms clouds of dense smoke; or the bombs may contain confetti. When these clouds of smoke or confetti, as they float away, are followed by the light, the effect is very pleasing.-L. I. HARRIS.

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Winged Aëro Machine WITH gigantic wings measuring 45

feet from tip to tip, M. Florencie, member of the Aëro Club of Paris, seeks to solve the secret of successful aërial navigation. The "orthopter" or "flappingwing" machine, as it is called, consists of two aeroplanes partly covered with canvas, the remaining portion of each being designed so as to imitate the action of a bird's feathers in flight. The The machine, which weighs but thirty pounds, is fitted to the aëronaut's body. His legs furnish the propelling force. He stands in stirrups, and by means of a cord from foot to wing, flaps the great pinions. The wings are lowered by outstretching the legs; a spring fixed to the frame raises them. A series of longitudinal flaps make up the "feathers" of the machine. A rudder in the rear acts as the tail.

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Light-Draught Launch THE accompanying illustration is from a photograph of the motor-launch Spider, recently constructed for British government service in southern Nigeria,

COURTESY OF SCIENT FIC AMERI-AN."

FLORENCIE AEROPLANE ATTACHED TO OPERATOR.

Africa. The boat is specially built for service in shallow waters. In order to secure this end, it was necessary to construct it on somewhat awkward lines. Nevertheless, owing to its powerful engines, fair speed can be attained. On its trial trip, bearing a load of four tons, and with a draught of 12 inches, it made eight knots an hour. The boat is constructed of galvanized stecl. In length, it is 56 feet 3 inches; beam, 9 feet. The hull is subdivided by six water-tight bulkheads, a deck being formed by fitting floor boards along the bottom of the boat. In order to facilitate steering on the light

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draught, three balanced rudders are provided.

Wood Conquers Stone NOT OT even rocks can withstand the gentle but persistent and resistless force put forth by Nature in her processes of plant growth. A remarkable in

the jungle, it will go hard with him. When alone, the bird will not attack. Supported by a flock of friends, however, often numbering several thousand, the bird will seek out his hereditary foe and give battle. On such occasions the tiger seeks safety in flight.. A hand thrust into a cage filled with these little gamesters will elicit a furious assault from their combined forces. Assembled en masse, they know no fear.

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Horse Digs a Well OUT on the Arizona desert they use horses for some odd purposes. In this case the horse has actually been put to work digging a well in the hope of finding water. The mode of digging is as follows: The horse is driven into an enclosure, the bottom of which is an endless chain consisting of slabs of wood revolving around iron cylinders placed at each end. In the effort to walk, the horse, of course, turns this treadmill. One of the cylinders is attached to a shaft, which, as it moves back and forth, pulls up and down the walking-beam shown in front of the treadmill. Passing through the right-hand arm of the walking-beam, is a rope to which is attached the drill. When the shaft fastened to the treadmill' is pulled backward, the drill is raised; and when it moves forward, the drill is lowered. In this way the apparatus is forced into the ground on the same principle that a pile-driver forces down piles in building wharves and other structures.

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Smallest Dry-Dock

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THE

HE great giant floating dry-dock Dewey, built by the United States Government and sent to the Philippines, is said to be the largest floating dry-dock, it being large enough to take in two war vessels at once. It is interesting, by way of contrast, to see a photo of what is probably the smallest of the floating drydock family. This midget, shown in the accompanying cut, is moored in the Chicago river and owned by the Great Lakes Towing Company, and is used in repairing tugs on the river.-W. HILD.

SMALLEST FLOATING DRY-DOCK. In Chicago river.

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SELF-RIGHTING AND SELF-BAILING LIFEBOAT.

The three openings on each side of the keel are part of the self-bailing device, and through them the water that has been shipped is emptied.

above its own level, and as each tube is closed at the floor level by a valve which opens downward, no water can pass up into the boat, while any dashing in from above is at once shipped through the tubes. So quickly is this accomplished, that a full boat can empty itself in about half a minute.

In order to procure the self-righting quality, each is furnished with a heavy iron keel, and well provided with ballast. If overturned, it is impossible for the boat to remain so, on account of the elevated air chambers in the bow and stern; and as it rolls upon one side, the ballast and the iron keel, which by their own

which surmounts it. On clear nights residents of remote suburbs can plainly see the lights on the tower, and these suburbanites will watch for the extinguishing of the lights at three minutes before nine o'clock. At nine to the dot, the lights will blaze again, so that anyone setting the chronometer by the appearance of these beacons will have the exact Washington time to the second.

This is only one of many unique features of this interesting timepiece. For years no satisfactory method could be found to overcome the difficulties due to high winds and the retarding effect of snow and sleet. It was determined at

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