XCV1. PRESIDENT S ADDRESS. 



therefore, valuable for chemical purposes, their brittleness being 

 the chief objection. The very hard substance, carborundum, 

 now manufactured commercially for whetstones, is a compound 

 of silicon and carbon, produced by intense heat in an electric 

 furnace, and is converted by a further application of heat, which 

 volatises the silica, into a very pure graphite, useful for electrodes, 

 for lubrication, and for other purposes. Calcium chloride is 

 suggested as a means of preventing coal dust in mines, which is 

 so fruitful a source of explosions. It has also been used to keep 

 roads free from dust. The art of making perfumes synthetically 

 has been greatly developed of late years, and a number of 

 different ones are now produced at a much smaller cost than 

 that of the natural article distilled from flowers. With these, 

 however, the artificial scents, though much cheaper, are not to be 

 compared in other respects. The latest development of photo- 

 graphy is the production of animated photographs in natural 

 colours, the film consisting of pictures alternately taken through 

 a red and green screen and similarly exhibited in the cinemato- 

 graph. The result is said to be very successful. 



ENGINEERING. 



The subject of aeronautics continues to occupy a foremost 

 position in the public mind, and the lately-formed British Aerial 

 League proposes to establish a National Aeronautical College to 

 forward the progress of invention and education in this subject, 

 with a view to ensuring to this country the supremacy of the air 

 as well as that of the sea. It still remains to be seen, however, 

 to what extent any such supremacy can be said to exist, as I am 

 glad to say that there does not as yet seem any immediate 

 prospect of balloons and aeroplanes, in spite of the wonderful 

 performances of the latter, being brought sufficiently under 

 control to be really useful for fighting purposes. If unmanned 

 balloons directed by wireless electricity should become practical 

 machines, they might exercise much influence in this respect. An 

 International Road Congress, having in view the improvement 



