Scientific American Supplement, No. 795, March 28, 1891

ᇐScientific American Supplement, No. 795, March 28, 1891

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Title: Scientific American Supplement, No. 795, March 28, 1891
Author: Various
Release Date: September 12, 2004 [EBook #13443]
Language: English
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SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN SUPPLEMENT NO. 795

NEW YORK, March 28, 1891.
Scientific American Supplement. Vol. XXXI., No. 795.
Scientific American established 1845
Scientific American Supplement, $5 a year.
Scientific American and Supplement, $7 a year.
* * * * *
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
I. AVICULTURE.--The Effect on Fowls of Nitrogenous and Carbonaceous Rations.--A very valuable report upon the effects of different diet on chickens, with tables of data.--1 illustration
II. BIOGRAPHY.--N.F. Burnham and his Life Work.--By W.H. BURNHAM. --The life of one of the earliest turbine wheel manufacturers, an inventor of turbine wheels and auxiliary machinery. --1 illustration
III. BOTANY.--The Source of Chinese Ginger.--An identification of a long unknown plant
IV. CIVIL ENGINEERING.--A Railway through the Andes.--An interesting enterprise now in progress in South America, with maps.--2 illustrations
Chicago as a Seaport.--Proposed connection of Chicago with the waters of the Mississippi River, thereby placing it in water communication with the sea.--2 illustrations
Floating Elevator and Spoil Distributor.--A machine for removing dredged material from barges, as employed on the Baltic Sea Canal Works.--10 illustrations
V. ELECTRICITY.--Alternate Current Condensers.--A valuable review of the difficulties of constructing these condensers.--An important contribution to the subject.--1 illustration
Electricity in Transitu.--From Plenum to Vacuum.--By Prof. WILLIAM CROOKES.--Continuation of this important lecture with profuse illustrations of experiments.--14 illustrations
The Telegraphic Communication between Great Britain, Europe, America, and the East.--By GEORGE WALTER NIVEN.-- The engineering aspects of electricity.--The world's cables and connections.--2 illustrations
VI. HORTICULTURE.--Herbaceous Grafting.--A hitherto little practiced and successful method of treating herbs, with curious results
VII. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING.--Improved Cold Iron Saw.--The "Demon" cold saw for cutting Iron.--Its capacity and general principles.--1 illustration
VIII. MEDICINE AND HYGIENE.--How to Prevent Hay Fever.--By ALEXANDER RIXA.--A systematic treatment of this very troublesome complaint, with a special prescription and other treatment.
IX. MISCELLANEOUS.--The Business End of the American Newspaper.--By A.H. SIEGFRIED.--A graphic presentation of the technique of the newspaper office, circulation of the American papers, methods of printing, etc.
The New Labor Exchange at Paris.--A new establishment, long demanded by the laboring population of Paris.--Its scope and prospects.--2 illustrations
X. NAVAL ENGINEERING.--The Empress of India.--The pioneer of a fast mail service to ply in connection with the Canadian Pacific Railway between Vancouver, China, and Japan.--1 illustration
XI. PHYSICS.--Stereoscopic Projections.--A most curious method of securing stereoscopic effects with the magic lantern upon the screen, involving the use of colored spectacles by the spectators. --1 illustration
XII. TECHNOLOGY.--Gaseous Illuminants.--By Prof. VIVIAN B. LEWES.--The fifth and last of Prof. Lewes' Society of Arts lectures, concluding his review of the subject of gas manufacture
* * * * *

THE NEW LABOR EXCHANGE AT PARIS.
There will soon be inaugurated (probably about the 14th of July) a new establishment that has long been demanded by the laboring population, that is to say, a new labor exchange, the buildings of which, situated on Chateau d'Eau Street, are to succeed the provisional exchange installed in the vicinity of Le Louvre Street. The new structures have been erected from plans by Mr. Bouvard, and occupy an area of seventeen hundred meters.
The main work is now entirely terminated, but the interior decorations are not yet completely finished. The distribution comprises a vast meeting room, committee rooms for the various syndicates, offices in which the workmen of the various bodies of trades will find information and advice, and will be enabled to be put in relation with employers without passing through the more or less recommendable agencies to which they have hitherto been obliged to have recourse.
[Illustration: NEW LABOR EXCHANGE, PARIS.]
Upon the whole, the institution, if wisely conducted, is capable of bearing fruit and ought to do so, and the laboring population of Paris should be grateful to the municipal council for the six million francs that our ediles have so generously voted for making this interesting work a success. On seeing the precautions, perhaps necessary, that the laborer now takes against the capitalist, we cannot help instituting a comparison with the antique and solid organization of labor that formerly governed the trades unions. Each corporation possessed a syndic charged with watching over the management of affairs, and over the receipts and the use of the common resources. These syndics were appointed for two years, and had to make annually, at least, four visits to all the masters, in order to learn how the laborers were treated and paid, and how loyally