71 



A Problem ix Geometry. 



J. A. Cragwall. 



TO CONSTRUCT A SQUARE THAT SHALL BE ^, OF A GIVEN SQUARE. 



The method given below can not be new, nor does it involve any new pro- 

 cesses or discoveries; but in all the textbooks examined b_v the writer no mention 

 has been made of such method. 



It is here given because of its simplicity and directness, in the hope that 

 some teacher will consent to lighten the work of the pupil in geometry to that 

 extent. The construction is as follows: 



Let ABCD be the given square. Lay off 

 on one side of the square, as AD a distance 



DE equal to — of AD. Then, CDEF is a 



rectangle with base equal to a side of the 



square and altitude ~ of it. Then CDEF is 



^^ • ^ 



-TV- ot the square ^ow construct a square 



equivalent to this rectangle and we have a 

 S(iuare that is ^ of the given square. 



Some Investigations in the Electro-Deposition of Platinum. 



J. A. Cragwall. 



When the work for this paper was beguu. it was with no intention 

 of making any study of the deposition of platinum, but to obtain a foil 

 that could be used to separate an electrolyte into two compartments and 

 at the same time to set up no barriers to the passage of a current of elec- 

 tricity: it was thought that in this way some new light might be thrown 

 on the subject of the migration of ions. Not being able to secure plat- 

 inum leaf thin enough for the purpose, an effort was made to make it by 

 depositing platinum electrolytically on some metal that could afterwards 

 be dissolved and leave the platinum intact. The work proved of greater 

 proportions than was anticipated, so tliat the limited amount of time 

 would only permit a partial investigation into the action of the electrolyte 

 and the character of deposit. The available literature on the subject was 



