'^E 



October 



D» 



1903] 



NATURE 



S17 



ablished between science and industry to the enormous 

 advantage of both. 



A large part of the duties of the director consists in 

 attending congresses and in every way keeping abreast of 

 the most recent discovery, with the object, of course, of 

 gaining information which may be turned to practical 

 utility. 



While in Germany there is thus a fairly lucrative career 

 for a young chemist, in England, although there will soon 

 be many well-trained men, the openings are few. Such as 

 there are are filled by men whose minds are occupied with 

 too many things. The chemist is often analyst, works- 

 manager, and investigator all at once ; and it is no wonder 

 that he is not a success, and that manufacturers doubt his 

 utility in their business. Moreover, it is very desirable 

 that a closer touch between universities or university 

 iDlleges and manufactures should be brought about, if 

 possible, for it cannot fail to be to the advantage of both 

 industry and science — to industry, in order that technical 

 problems may receive scientific treatment, and to science, 

 1 ("cause some of the most interesting problems are often 

 L^'gested by the technologist. 



Now, we are producing trained engineers and chemists 

 :te as inventive and capable as our German competitors. 

 a the prospect of a reasonably remunerative career is 

 iierally wanting. It would obviously be to the advantage 

 manufacturers to engage such young men, not expect- 

 4 them, of course, to be able at first to introduce improve- 

 nts which will effect a saving; but by looking out for 

 yuung men with some originality, by giving them time to 

 iearn their business, and by offering an ultimate induce- 

 ment in the shape of a share of profits, our manufacturers 

 will undoubtedly reap the benefits which have given our 

 German competitors their lead in industries in which 

 chemistry plays a part. 



NOTES. 



At the Institution of Civil Engineers on Tuesday, 

 November 3, an inaugural address will be given by the 

 president. Sir William H. White, K.C.B., F.R.S. ; the 

 medals and other awards made by the council will be pre- 

 sented, and there will be a reception in the library of the 

 Institution. 



Mr. Marconi arrived at Liverpool on board the Lucania 

 last Saturday. The results of his experiments are said to 

 have been very satisfactory ; whilst in mid-Atlantic he was 

 able to receive simultaneously communications from 

 England and America. It is also stated that he hopes 

 within six or eight months to re-establish commercial com- 

 munication across the Atlantic. 



The trials of the high-speed electric cars on the Berlin- 

 Zossen military line have been continued with much success. 

 A maximum speed of 125^ miles an hour was attained by 

 the Siemens-Halske car last week ; the average speed over 

 the whole run of 14 miles, including the time of starting 

 and stopping, was 1095 miles an hour. The trials of the 

 rival car, which the Allgemeine Elektricitiits Gesellschaft 

 is building, have yet to be made. The track has been 

 relaid since the experimental runs last year, and it is stated 

 that it is now thoroughly satisfactory. The result of the 

 trials is looked upon as demonstrating the practicability of 

 high speed working over long distances, and it is estimated 

 that it will be possible to reduce the time taken over the 

 journey from Berlin to Colop'ne from nine to three and a 

 quarter hours. 



The secretary of the Institution of Electrical Engineers 

 informs us that the bronze shield subscribed for by the 

 students of the Institution at the beginning of the present 

 year has now been placed upon the tomb of Volta at 

 Camnago, near Como. The ceremony of fixing it in place 

 was performed on Sunday, October 4, with many ex- 

 pressions of international good feeling, in the presence of 



NO. 1772, VOL. O J^] 



Prof. Count Alessandro Volta, Cav, Franchi, the Sindaco 

 of Camnago, with several members of the Volta family and 

 a number of other guests. The shield is mounted on a slab 

 of green marble supported on granite in front of the tomb. 

 The electrotype reproduction, which was officially deposited 

 on the tomb on the occasion of the visit of the Institution 

 in April last, has been transferred to the Civic Museum in 

 Como, where it is placed in the collection of Volta relics. 



Dr. W. a. Noyes, of the Rose Polytechnic Institute, has 

 accepted the position of chemist in the United States 

 National Bureau of Standards. 



Dr. B. a. Whitelegge, C.B., His Majesty's Chief In- 

 spector of Factories, has been appointed president of the 

 Epidemiological Society in succession to the late Dr. W. H. 

 Corfield. 



An International Fine Art and Horticultural Exhibition 

 is to be opened at Diisseldorf on May i, 1904. A hope is 

 expressed that England will contribute largely to this 

 exhibition. 



Reuter reports that Prof. Langley's aerodrome, for which 

 the U.S. Government granted a subvention of 15,000/., was 

 launched on October 7 from the railway over the flat boat 

 on Whitewater, a section of the Potomac River. The 

 machine balanced perfectly when it started, but soon struck 

 the water, with the result that it was wrecked. Previous 

 experiments have been made with models only, and this 

 trial was the first made with the full-sized airship, which 

 is constructed to carry a passenger. 



The Home Counties Nature-Study Exhibition, which is 

 being organised by the Middlesex Field Club and Nature- 

 Study Society, and delegates from the Selborne Society, 

 will be held from October 30 to November 3 at the offices of 

 the Civil Service Commission, Burlington Gardens, London, 

 W. Intending exhibitors should communicate with the 

 honorary secretary, Mr. Wilfred Mark Webb, 20 Hanover 

 Square, London, W., who will be pleased to supply full 

 information. 



We learn from Science that the American Grape Acid 

 Association, 318 Front Street, San Francisco, Cal., offers 

 a premium of 5000/. for any person who devises a process 

 or formula for the utilisation of California grapes contain- 

 ing more than 20 per cent, of saccharin, worth 2I. a ton, 

 to produce tartaric acid at a price that would permit of 

 exportation without loss. The decision in awarding the 

 amount is to rest with a jury of five, of which Prof. E. W. 

 Hilgard, of the University of California, is one. The offer 

 closes on December i, 1904. 



The first meeting of the Manchester Astronomical Society 

 — a new local association of persons interested in astronomy 

 and observational work — was held on Wednesday, October 

 7, . when an address on solar parallax was given by the 

 president, Prof. T. Gore. The Society has its centre and 

 home in the Municipal School of Technology, Manchester, 

 and members have the privilege of using the telescopes and 

 other instruments in the new Godlee Observatory. 



The death is announced of Mr. Henry M. Brunei, the 

 second son of I. K. Brunei, the engineer. Mr. Henry 

 Brunei entered into partnership with Sir John Wolfe Barry 

 in the 'seventies of last century, and took active interest in 

 the scientific researches bearing upon naval architecture 

 carried on by the late Mr. William Froude, F.R.S. He 

 was largely associated in the work of Barry Dock, the rail- 

 way bridge over the Thames at Blackfriars, the bridge 

 erected at Connel Ferry, and with the Tower Bridge. He 

 was a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers and of 

 the Institute of Naval Architects. 



