134 



NATURE 



[July 27, i 9 u 



The power-house contains two compound vertical steam 

 engines, one of 120-150 horse-power, and the other of 30-40 

 horse-power, driving dynamos of 200-300 amperes and 160 

 amperes respectively. 



In the grounds is an experimental track 1400 metres 

 long, quite straight, and perfectly flat save for 80 metres 

 at one end which has a slope of 10 mm. in the metre to 

 facilitate the start of the rolling platforms, and a rise of 

 S mm. in the metre at the other end to assist stopping 

 and returning them. 



The rails are 12 metres in length, welded two together 

 by an aluminothermal process so as to give 24 metres 

 without a joint. The current is conveyed to the carriage 

 by live rails raised on oak standards about 07 metre high 

 on each side of the track, the return being made through 

 the track-rails themselves. 



Four rolling platforms are to be provided, each designed 

 and fitted for its special work. The first measures the 

 vertical and horizontal components of air-pressure on planes 

 and curves, both simple and compound, and determines the 

 position of the centre of pressure at various angles of 

 incidence. This has been already built. The others under 

 construction are to comprise two for propeller testing (one 

 for large dirigible propellers and the other for aeroplane 

 propellers to obtain their thrust, speed of rotation, the 

 power absorbed, and their mechanical efficiency), and one 

 for measuring the resistance of the different parts. 



Platform No. 1 weighs, including the motor of 1100 

 kgs., 4900 kgs. The iron chassis is 6'i2 metres long, 2 

 metres wide, and is rounded in front. The motor-bed is 

 carried in the centre. Two axles 3-60 metres apart carry 

 the chassis, which projects fS6 metres in front and -66 

 metres in rear. This inequality is for the purpose of 

 putting additional weight on the front axle, which tends 

 to be lifted during experiments with large horizontal sur- 

 faces. For the same reason the axis of the motor is nearer 

 the front axle than the back axle. The wheels of cast 

 steel are one metre in diameter. The steering swivels run 

 in ball-bearmgs, and special arrangements are used to 

 prevent lateral play. A svstem of brakes engaging addi- 

 tional rails at the end of the track brings the platform to 

 a standstill. All the platforms are to be fitted with the 

 following instruments : — 



(1) A registering chronograph for the number of turns 

 of the axles. 



(2) A registering cinemometer, giving the speed at every 

 point along the course. 



(3) Dynamometers. 



(4) A wattmeter registering the motive power at everv 

 point. 



The platform, at present in use can easilv obtain a speed 

 of 33 metres a second. 



As open-air experiments are not alwavs desirable or 

 possible, a whirling table has been installed in a circular 

 building 38 metres in diameter. The axis of the planes 

 or propellers tested on the end of the arm will be 16 

 metres from the centre, thus describing a circle 100 metres 

 in circumference. There are two motors, one of 20 horse- 

 power, which turns the arm, and another of 25-30 horse- 

 t P e ° s ^ er ' ch 1S connect ed up with any propeller undergoing 



There only remains to mention the library, on behalf of 

 which an appeal is made for gifts of books, 'pamphlets, and 

 prints, and the bulletin of the institution, in which will be 

 published from time to time the results of the work 

 accomplished. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 

 GLASGow.-At its last meeting for the session, the 

 University Court, with the concurrence of the Senatus 

 resolved to increase the teaching power of the University 

 by the institution of the following :— a third lectureship in 

 engineering; a second lectureship in zoology, will, special 

 reference to protozoology; a new assistantship and a new 

 assistant demonstratorship in physiology; two new 

 assistant demonstratorships in geology ; ' and a new 

 istratorship in physical chemistry and radio-activity 

 Jhe resignation by Captain Lyons, F.R.S. of 'his 

 1"> tureship in geography was acrppl.^l with regret. It was 

 XO. 2178.. VOL. 87] 



agreed to intimate the vacancy, and to take steps for the 

 appointment of a new lecturer before the beginning of next 

 session. & 



The resignation by Sir Robert Wright of the office of 

 principal and professor of the West of Scotland Agri- 

 cultural College brings into operation a provision bv which 

 the University and the College, through a joint committee, 

 take part in the appointment of the new professor. The 

 committee will meet for the purpose during the summer. 



Professorships of medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and 

 Penology m connection with the Royal Infirmary, and in 

 addition to the existing chairs, have been sanctioned by 

 his Majesty in Council, and will be filled up in time for 

 next session. 



The Nevada State University, savs Science, has received 

 50,000/. from Mr. Clarence Mackav, of New York City, 

 and several of his friends, for the construction of a library 

 and administration building. 



The annual meeting of the Midland Agricultural and 

 Dairy College, Kingston, Derby, will be held at the 

 college on Monday, July 31, when the report on the year's 

 work will be presented, and the Duke of Devonshire will 

 address the meeting and present the diplomas and certifi- 

 cates awarded to students during the past session. 



It is stated in Science that all the qualified men in this 

 year's graduating class in the College of Agriculture of 

 the University of Wisconsin have secured positions, and 

 the requests for teachers are still coming in. The demand 

 is especially strong from agricultural high schools both in 

 Wisconsin and other States. Many of the requests are for 

 men who have been brought up on farms, have had some 

 teaching experience, and also have had a thorough course 

 in agriculture. The demand for such instructors in agri- 

 culture for high schools is very much greater than the 

 supply. Even as early as four' weeks ago most of the 

 seniors had accepted positions as farm managers, as 

 research assistants, or as teachers of agriculture in colleges 

 and secondary schools. The average salary of the men 

 who will teach next year in agricultural schools is 250!. 



In referring, in the issue of Nature for March 2 (vol. 

 lxxxvi., p. 30), to the centenary of the University of 

 Christiania, which was founded by King Frederic IV. in 

 1811, we were able to give the important items of the 

 interesting programme of events which has been arranged 

 for the occasion. The following representatives of British 

 universities and other institutions had, up to July 13, been 

 chosen to attend the celebration, which begins on 

 September 4 and lasts until September S : — University of 

 Bristol, Prof. I. Walker Hall; University of Cambridge 

 and the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Sir George 

 Darwin, K.C.B., F.R.S. ; University of Durham, Rev. H. 

 Gee; University of London, Dr. H. A. Miers, F.R.S.; 

 the Royal Society, Sir J. Rose Bradford, Sec.R.S. ; the 

 British Academy, Prof. W. Paton Ker ; the Royal Institu- 

 tion, Prof. H. E. Armstrong, F.R.S. ; the Victoria 

 Institute, Dr. J. W. Thirtle ; Victoria University of Man- 

 chester, Prof. C. H. Herford and Sir William j'. Sinclair; 

 University of Oxford, Prof. W. J. Sollas, F.R.S. ; Uni- 

 versity of Aberdeen, Prof. D. W. Finlav ; University of 

 St. Andrews, Dr. H. M. Kyle; University of Edinburgh, 

 Lord Edward T. Salvesen, K.C. ; the Royal Society "of 

 Edinburgh, Mr. James Currie ; University of Glasgow, 

 Prof. J. Ferguson ; Queen's University of' Belfast, Prof. 

 J. Symington, F.R.S. ; University of Dublin, Rev. T. B. 

 Willson ; the Royal Irish Academy, Prof. C. Marstrander. 



Lord Haldane distributed the prizes at Mill Hill School 



on July 22 and delivered an address. He said the British 



nation is now taking a wider view of education. A great 



deal has been learnt from the Continent and from 'hard 



nee. " For two years and a half," said Lord 



Haldane, " I have been chairman of a Royal Commission 



on University Education. How much longer we shall have 



before we have dealt with the whole of the material 



ive have lo survey I do not know." The Commission has 



two things first, that the nation is waking up 



bout ed I that very j ces arc 'being 



made; and, ll.., that those advano have come none 



too soon,_ because other natii I 1 making advances. 



This nation has come to learn that education is one and 



